The Villages edition of STYLE, July 2014

2014

July

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cont July

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2014 // VO LU M E 1 1 N U M B E R 9

Featuring “MEAN MARIE”

Fear and uncertainty blanketed Lake County after a mother of three was kidnapped and murdered in April 1968. From day one, officers suspected Marie Dean Arrington, who was convicted and sentenced to death.

However, 46 years later, questions persist about what really happened.

STORY: GARY CORSAIR

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HOT OFF THE PRESS

The nominations for our second annual Hot List are in and the results are sizzlin’. Now it’s time for you, our readers, to vote for the hottest people, places and events Lake and Sumter have to offer.

On the cover

LAKE&SUMTER EDITION DIRECTION: JAMIE MARK PHOTOSHOP: JOSH CLARK

On the cover

VILLAGES EDITION MODEL: DR. J. MANDUME KERINA PHOTOGRAPHY: FRED LOPEZ

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tents

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Departments 13

45

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46 THE TO-DO LIST July’s jumping with a full lineup of events.

FROM THE PUBLISHER EDITOR’S COLUMN

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FIRST THINGS FIRST 18 #TRENDING Prudence Bassett shares the secret to living a long life, Cornerstone celebrates 30 years of service, and more.

22 PERSON OF INTEREST Former Secret Service agent Jo-Ann Glendinning traded in her shades for library books.

24 OUTSTANDING STUDENT Zackery Lucas has his sights set high on faith and firearms.

ON THE SCENE

52 SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT Giving ballroom dancing a whirl Local celebrities will display their ballroom dancing skills during the Education Foundation of Lake County’s Stepping Out for Education.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

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50 NEAR & FAR Living masterpieces Get your fill of botanical beauty at two near and far Southern gardens.

STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS

54 HI, SOCIETY! Highlights from Wine-A-Fare, Leesburg Art Festival, KaDee Kay’s Customer Appreciation Day and Shear Express.

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EATS! 72 IN THE KITCHEN ‘Berry’ delicious Summer’s sweetest stars take the spotlight with these cool treats.

STORY: SHEMIR WILES

76 SALUTÉ Smokin’ hot wines for summer Have a little robust red with your barbecue.

STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS

78 FORK ON THE ROAD Mellow Mushroom Imaginative pizzas, groovy ambience have locals clamoring for more Mellow.

STORY: SHEMIR WILES

96 FINAL THOUGHT Sticky subjects Honk if you agree we should bring back bumper stickers.

STORY: GARY CORSAIR

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From the publisher

IMPROVING YOUR STYLE

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 // PHOTOGRAPHY Gary Corsair Steven J. Codraro

EXECUTIVE EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR gary@akersmediagroup.com steve@akersmediagroup.com

Shemir Wiles Josh Clark

SENIOR STAFF WRITER SENIOR DESIGNER/ADVERTISING shemir@akersmediagroup.com josh@akersmediagroup.com

Mary Ann DeSantis Anthony Casto

EDITOR-AT-LARGE SENIOR DESIGNER/EDITORIAL maryann@akersmediagroup.com anthony@akersmediagroup.com

James Combs Michael Gaulin

STAFF WRITER PRODUCTION DIRECTOR james@akersmediagroup.com michael@akersmediagroup.com

Bob Tennant Rheya Tanner

COPY CHIEF DESIGNER bob@akersmediagroup.com rheya@akersmediagroup.com

Fred Lopez Matthew Gaulin

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT fred@akersmediagroup.com matt@akersmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS // PHOTOGRAPHERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Aaron Klingerman Morgan Ellis Kathy Porter Ron Vandevander SALES // MARKETING Tim McRae

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING tim@akersmediagroup.com

Mike Stegall Heidi Ressler

SENIOR MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE mike@akersmediagroup.com heidi@akersmediagroup.com

Melanie Melvin Aubrey Akers

MARKETING DIRECTOR PRODUCTION COORDINATOR melanie@akerscreative.com aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

Lacey Morgan MARKETING ASSISTANT lacey@akerscreative.com

ADMINISTRATION Tina Morrison Brittany Buell

As I mentioned last month, we are making some changes to Lake and Sumter Style. I told you last month we added an executive editor, Gary Corsair. His feature in this issue is a perfect example of the changes you will begin to see in the coming months.

Our cover feature, “Mean Marie,” is an exclusive. No other media company or publisher has told this story. Gary has spent years investigating it and has interviewed this convicted murderer multiple times. It is no doubt the Crime of the Century here in Lake, Sumter and Marion counties.

We recently discovered Marie Dean Arrington died, so we were unable to obtain a final interview with her, but the information you read here in this month’s issue will astonish you. Gary was the last person to interview this notorious criminal.

At Style, we typically focus on the great people, places and events in the community, and this story doesn’t really fit in those categories. However, this story was just too good not to tell, and we have the only guy who can share it with you. Also, we wanted to be the first to deliver it.

This type of incredible, in-depth reporting is what you can expect moving forward. Yes, we will still highlight all of the great things happening in the community, but we will bring you a lot of meat to go with it.

Don’t forget, we also have added a daily blog to our website and a weekly newsletter. Visit us at lakeandsumterstyle.com to sign up and be in the know.

See you soon,

OFFICE MANAGER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT tina@akersmediagroup.com brittany@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION Scott Hegg DISTRIBUTION MANAGER scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

LAKE & SUMTER STYLE IS A PROUD MEMBER OF

FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION

LAKE EUSTIS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LEESBURG PARTNERSHIP

SUMTER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LEESBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AMERICAN ADVERTISING ASSOCIATION

TAVARES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Kendra Akers

SOUTH LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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WINNER OF AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Lake & Sumter Style, May 2014. Published monthly by Akers Media, 1450 E. North Blvd, Leesburg, Florida 34748. All editorial contents copyright 2014 by Akers Media. All rights reserved. Lake & Sumter Style is a registered trademark of Akers Media. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. For back issues or billing information, call (352) 787-4112. Return postage must accompany all unsolicited manuscripts and artwork if they are to be returned. Manuscripts are welcomed, but no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. “Special to Lake & Sumter Style” and “Special Promotional Feature” denotes a paid advertising feature. Publisher is not responsible for claims or contents of advertisements. The ideas and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of Akers Media.

Kendra Akers, publisher kendra@akersmediagroup.com

This month on

What’s happening beyond the print edition

TINA MORRISON HOST OF “STYLE TV”

MEAN MARIE AS TOLD BY RETIRED DETECTIVE

FORK ON THE ROAD

Was Marie Dean Arrington a cold-hearted killer or was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Tina Morrison brings this month’s exclusive cover story to life by interviewing retired police detective Towles Bigelow.

Looking for the perfect slice of pizza? Give Mellow Mushroom in Mount Dora a try. “Style TV” will be bringing you the scoop on what has locals buzzing about this hot, new pizzeria.

Mellow Mushroom

FEATURING

SOUTH LAKE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION Lake David Park in Groveland will be the setting this Fourth for South Lake’s annual Independence Day extravaganza. Tina will be on site checking out all the fun and enjoying the country music stylings of former “American Idol” contestant Bucky Covington.

STEPPING OUT FOR EDUCATION It’s the next best thing to “Dancing With the Stars,” but with all the style and flair of Lake County. This year’s Stepping Out for Education promises to be hot, hot, hot and “Style TV” will be there to catch all the highlights.

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at your service get yours. hot off the press! SUBSCRIPTIONS: Order a subscription of your favorite magazine to be delivered directly to your home for just $24. Each subscription includes 12 consecutive issues of Style or Healthy Living magazine. Choose both magazines for $36 per year. To order, call 352.787.4112, go to www.akersmediagroup.com or mail us at Subscriptions at Akers Media, P.O. Box 490088 Leesburg, FL 34749.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you are a seasonal resident or have moved, send your address change request to general@ akersmediagroup.com or mail us at: Subscriptions at Akers Media, P.O. Box 490088 Leesburg, FL 34749.

BACK ISSUES: Order by mail for cover

The latest editions of Lake and Sumter Style, Villages Style, Healthy Living and Welcome to Lake County

price at $4.95+ sales tax and shipping.

To pick up a back issue from our office, please call 24 hours in advance.

Visit the Apple or Android app store today and download the Lake and Sumter Style or Healthy Living online magazine app for your mobile device. For the best in enhanced magazine entertainment, join us online for the media experience of a lifetime.

tune in.

CATCH OUR WEEKLY EPISODES OF STYLE TV ON OUR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, AND YOUTUBE.

Say ‘cheese!’

Soon, you will be able to buy photos from any of the social events we’ve covered in Lake & Sumter counties. Keep an eye out for the news on our website!

Digitize your life.

Catch our blog!

OFFERING

ADVERTISING // BRANDING // DESIGN MEDIA // INTERACTIVE // PUBLIC RELATIONS // PROMOTIONS // AUDIO/VIDEO PRODUCTION

No need to wait for next month’s magazine. Keep abreast of whats happening through the eyes of Executive Editor Gary Corsair.

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Editor’s column

CRIME OF THE CENTURY’: WAS IT REALLY SOLVED? I want to apologize to the family and friends of Vivian June Ritter, the Leesburg mother of three murdered April 22, 1968.

We don’t present this month’s cover story on convicted killer Marie Dean Arrington to reopen wounds or sensationalize one of the darkest chapters in Lake County history. Leesburg’s Crime of the Century is being revisited to introduce, as Paul Harvey liked to say, the rest of the story.

Quite a story it is. I found notes and reports in the files of law-enforcement agencies that made the hair on my neck stand up.

And Marie told me several stories that were downright bizarre.

She also said she did not kill June Ritter. I didn’t believe that for a moment.

I wasn’t nearly as convinced after spending 11 months digging through files maintained by the Leesburg Police Department, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the 5th Judicial District State Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the Hernando County Clerk of Court, which still has June Ritter’s cigarette case, keys and other exhibits used in the State v. Marie Dean Arrington.

A number of things don’t add up — things the public never heard.

The first thing that jumped

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out at me was Marie’s conduct on the morning of the crime. She dressed up, dropped her daughter at neighbors, took a taxi downtown, had a soda at McCrory’s, and called at the P.B. Howell law firm, where she talked to a secretary. She was practically screaming “Look at me! Look at me!” on the way to kidnap June Ritter in broad daylight, just before noon.

Marie maintained she visited the public defender’s office to discuss an appeal for her son, and that she walked into a kidnapping in progress. According to Marie, a heavy-set black woman and two or three men were demanding “files on two boys” from June Ritter.

Preposterous, right?

I thought so … until I examined the aforementioned files.

Three people saw June Ritter with a “Negro woman” on April 22, 1968, but Boyd Holt described the abductor as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 115 to 120 pounds, another witness said the mystery woman was 5 feet 3 inches, 150 to 160 pounds. And then we have Charles Kromer’s description — 5 feet 8 inches, 200 pounds with fat arms. Marie stood 5-2 and weighed around 120. Did Kromer see Marie? Or someone nearly twice as large — the heavy-

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set black woman.

Of course, eyewitness descriptions are far from reliable.

But Marie sure acted curiously if she was the murderer. She didn’t skip town when she learned police were looking for her. She told police about a sealed envelope (which turned out to contain June Ritter’s watch, keys and a ransom note) and led them to it. For being a master criminal, Marie sure was dumb.

Make no mistake about it: She was a master criminal.

Maybe even a murderer.

I’m not 100 percent sure she pulled the trigger April 22, 1968, but I believe she was involved in a kidnapping/ murder plot.

Someone other than Marie may have gotten away with murder.

We’ll probably never know the whole truth. Marie most certainly took secrets to the grave.

Read Leesburg’s Crime of the Century. And let me know what you think.

Until next time,

Gary Corsair Executive Editor Gary@akersmediagroup.com

First Things

f1rst 18 22 24

#TRENDING PERSON OF INTEREST OUTSTANDING STUDENT

THE SECRET’S OUT Read more about Jo-Ann Glendinning ON PAGE 22.

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First things first // #trending Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events

STRONG FUTURES A total of $11,000 was awarded to 12 Lake County students through the Scott A. Strong Memorial Scholarship program. The recipients include: $2,000 — Matthew Chandra and JaQuan Floyd of Leesburg High School. $1,000 — Mark Jackson and Kalyn Nash of Tavares High School; Samantha Holbrook of Lake Minneola

High School; and Bethany Phillips of Leesburg High School. $500 — Victoria Grable and Alexandra Campione of Eustis High School; Kiley Caggiano, Kerianne Love, and Brittany Minnig of Mount Dora High School; and Thomas Giallella of Lake Minneola High School.

The memorial scholarship is named

after the late Scott Strong, who proudly served as a Lake County School Board member from 2000 to 2008. During the past five years, 62 students have been awarded $53,250 in Strong scholarships.

Funds are administered through the Educational Foundation of Lake County.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CORNERSTONE!

Cornerstone Hospice has come a long way in 30 years.

“It started with just a small group of volunteers in Eustis who wanted to create a hospice to serve Lake County,” says Chuck Lee, Cornerstone Hospice CEO. “Now, we can say we’ve provided care and comfort to thousands of patients across Central Florida.”

To celebrate 30 years of service, Cornerstone hosted a series of open houses at their hospice houses in June, starting with The Mike Conley Hospice House in Clermont.

“We have a total of five hospice houses, but four of them are located right here in Lake and Sumter counties,” says Lee. “What our hospice houses allow for is families to be families. We take the stress away of being a caregiver and gladly take on that responsibility.”

As far as the future of Cornerstone, Lee says it will be focusing on developing the palliative care side of the organization.

“We want to work more closely with local hospitals, doctors, skilled nursing facilities and insurance companies to be more of a presence inside homes that could use our services,” he says.

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DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

36.5

%

A dog park is a paws-itive way to socialize your dog … and meet other pet lovers while you’re doing it. If you’re looking for a fun way to spend time with your pup, consider visiting an area park that’s gone to the dogs.

of U.S. households include a dog

North Lake Community Park 40730 Roger Giles Road Umatilla

30.4

Lake Idamere Park 12335 County Road 448 Tavares

%

Palatlakaha Environmental and Agricultural Reserve (PEAR) Park 5336 University Ave. Leesburg

of U.S. households include a cat

Labrador retriever has been the most popular breed in the U.S. for

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Leesburg Dog Park 9745 Silver Lake Drive Leesburg Paradise Dog Park 1300 Paradise Drive The Villages Mount Dora Dog Park 1550 E. 11th Ave. Mount Dora

JOSH TAKES ON: AN ADMITTEDLY ASKEW POINT-OF-VIEW FROM THE MIND OF ILLUSTRATOR JOSH CLARK

years

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%

of dogs sleep in their owner’s bed.

Sources: American Veterinary Medical Association; American Kennel Club; American Pet Products Association

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First things first // #trending Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events

JAMIE MARK’S JULY

THEHITLIST

_____________________________________

1 // LEESBURG BEAUTY WINS MISS FLORIDA Elizabeth Fechtel’s win makes Queen Elizabeth as American as apple pie!

2 // IRS “LOSES” INCRIMINATING EMAILS I would have thought accountability — of all things — would be easier to find at the IRS. 3 // HARRISON FORD’S LEG BROKEN FILMING NEXT “STAR WARS” MOVIE I knew this when I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of fanboys suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

4 // HOPE SOLO ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT The Olympic gold-medal soccer star said proving her innocence is now her main gooooooooooaal!

FLORIDA STAYCATION

Summer … when most of us make elaborate vacation plans. But if you want to avoid paying a fortune for gasoline or airline tickets, consider sticking closer to home to take in some of Florida’s unique towns and attractions. Here are several to consider: CEDAR KEY Located 50 miles southwest of Gainesville on the Gulf Coast, this beachside town will take you back to the days of yesteryear. There are no Walmarts, McDonald’s or Holiday Inns. In fact, there is hardly any traffic other than golf carts and boats. But there is still plenty to do on this quiet island. You can explore Cedar Key on land by renting a golf cart, scooter or bicycle. Or you can explore the Gulf of Mexico by swimming, kayaking or scuba diving. Afterward, feast on delicious seafood inside one of the many family-owned restaurants. Many hotels and bedand-breakfasts await those who stay for the weekend … or perhaps longer.

SUGGESTED SIGHT: At Cedar Key Museum State Park, you can see the collections of St. Clair Whitman, who operated the first museum in Cedar Key. These collections include antique glassware, old bottles, Timucuan Indian exhibits, sea shells, and photographs of old Cedar Key. SOURCE: cedarkey.org/visitors.html APPROXIMATE DRIVE TIME: 1 hour, 47 minutes ST. AUGUSTINE St. Augustine is in northeast Florida off I-95 and is 41 miles south of Jacksonville. According to St. Augustine’s website, the city is “the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the

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5 // BIKEFEST RAISES $187K FOR LOCAL CHARITIES Which is a huge relief to all the bikers who donated their time to the parties, cruising and drinking. Because it’s really all about the children.

6 // LOCAL MAN WINS FLORAL DESIGNER OF THE YEAR FROM THE FLORIDA STATE FLORISTS ASSOCIATION So who’s driving Miss Daisy’s? Bob Tucker!

United States.” If you love history, you’ll love this place. The city’s historical sites are preserved, allowing visitors to get a glimpse into the fascinating history and rich culture of the city. You can see its landmark fort, Castillo de San Marcos, or enjoy a day shopping in the city’s historic district. Or, you might want to go deepsea fishing or soak up the sun on the sandy beach. There is so much to do and so much to see. Plan to stay several days.

SUGGESTED SIGHT: The Castillo de san Marcos is a fort constructed by Spanish soldiers between 1672 and 1695. The fort is made of coquina, a type of shell stone, which withstood English cannonball fire in 1740.

SOURCE: staugustine.com/history/castillo-de-san-marcos APPROXIMATE DRIVE TIME: 1 hour, 57 minutes LION COUNTRY SAFARI Ever dream of taking an African safari so you can see exotic wildlife up close and personal? You can do just that … without leaving Florida. Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee in Palm Beach County is home to more than 900 wild animals. Among them are lions, rhinos and chimpanzees. With more than 300 acres, the park allows visitors to take driving and walking tours through its wildlife preserves. A KOA campground and RV resort is located on the property.

SUGGESTED SIGHT: Safari World Animal Encounters allows visitors to ride camels, feed giraffes, and explore an aviary.

SOURCE: lioncountrysafari.com/attractions/walk-through-safari/ safariworld-entertainment/ APPROXIMATE DRIVE TIME: 3 hours, 15 minutes

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

104 CANDLES

As staff and residents of The Cove at Tavares Village sang “Happy Birthday,” Linda Watts of Leesburg has been selected one of Prudence Bassett raised her arms and 20 nationwide finalists for the 2014 Citizen Honors clapped to the beat. Moments later, a staff award by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. member pushed a cart of colorful cupcakes Linda has introduced thousands of young women to her table. to the joys of volunteering and community service “I don’t want the orange one,” she said in through Florida’s Hometown USA Program and the a somewhat comical tone.

Miss Leesburg Scholarship Program, both of which She accepted a cupcake with red icing were founded in 1986. Her pageant winners visit instead. Who could deny a request from nursing homes, distribute food and personal care someone celebrating her 104th birthday? items and provide entertainment programs to bring “Even at her age, she is still very much joy to the lonely. her own woman,” says Jan Russell, “Receiving this national award was a great administrator of The Cove at Tavares honor, and to be recognized by the Congressional Village. “She is not afraid to tell you what Medal of Honor Society was a surprise,” Linda says. she wants and what she doesn’t want.”

After reviewing 200 nominees, members of the Prudence received a red sweater, Congressional Medal of Honor Society narrowed the list silverware and socks (she rarely wears to 20 “ordinary Americans who became extraordinary shoes) during her birthday party in the through their indomitable courage and selflessness.” assisted-living facility’s dining room May Linda certainly qualifies.

27. A pink balloon was placed on her favorite table where she eats meals daily.

“I was very active throughout my life and that is why I am still alive today,” Prudence says. “I still get around on my walker and

STILL SOARING HIGH

Virgil Butler is no stranger to aviation. During World War II, the 91-year-old Tavares resident was a member of the Flying Tigers, who flew combat missions in the China-Burma-India Theater with the 74th fighter squadron. He also served in the Korean War. Following his military service, he worked as a flight instructor in Bartow.

But the one thing missing in Butler’s impressive aviation resume was riding aboard a seaplane.

Several people came together to ensure his dream was fulfilled.

Tavares Mayor Robert Wolfe, fire battalion chief Jeff Hosterman, and Jones Brothers and Company Seaplane Adventures owner Richie Rowe organized a seaplane ride for Virgil on May 8. It was an amazing experience for the veteran, whose smile lit up the cockpit as he climbed into the copilot’s seat. With his wife of 52 years patiently waiting on the ground, the former pilot took to the skies and received a bird’s-eye view of Lake Dora and Tavares.

love completing puzzle books.”

Prudence was born in Cleveland in 1910.

She worked as a housekeeper for several prominent families, including the family of Walter Briggs, who owned the Detroit Tigers at the time. “I was one person doing the work of three people,” says Prudence, who was married twice and had two children.

She moved to Lake County in the late 1940s and spent five years as a school bus driver in Umatilla. She later worked in a hospital kitchen. “I always worked hard no matter what I did,” she says. “And I always had fun doing it.”

The Cove at Tavares Village’s oldest resident is still having fun. “All the staff and residents love her to death,” Russell says.

DID YOU KNOW? According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 82.8 percent of centenarians were female.

A DOWNTOWN UPGRADE Leesburg city commissioners recently agreed to move forward with plans to improve the look of the downtown throughway from U.S. Highway 27 to Ninth Street.

The $3.8 million Main Street streetscape project picks up where things left off nearly two years ago. Many elements of the original plan remain, such as a gateway arch and brick pavers that will welcome motorists entering the downtown area from U.S. 27; enlargement of the intersection at Main and 12th streets that will include brick crosswalks; and bulb-outs that will feature ornamental flowers and shrubbery.

Construction could start as early as September. The goal is to have the entire project completed by April 2015 in time for Leesburg Bikefest.

“In addition to more traffic downtown, we hope the project will also spur redevelopment and property upgrades for the betterment of downtown Leesburg,” said Joe Shipes, executive vice president of the Leesburg Partnership.

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First things first // person of interest Movers and shakers

NOT-SO-SECRET ANYMORE: Jo-Ann served as a Secret Service agent from 1984 to 1990.

“THE GREAT COMMUNICATOR:” Reagan was an outstanding man. He would acknowledge me whenever we passed in the hallway and he always remembered my name. Despite his age, he was in the gym every morning at 7a.m. and at his desk in a suit by 9a.m.

DIRECTOR OF FRUITLAND PARK LIBRARY RESIDES IN MOUNT DORA AGE: 54

IN THE HOUSE: As a Secret Service agent, I worked at the White House and my job was to protect President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George H.W. Bush, and their immediate families. My posts were on the south grounds and north grounds. I also had driving posts around the White House.

FIRST DAY ON THE JOB: I was in a patrol car with another man when we saw a fight in a park off 16th Street. One guy had a machete; the other guy had a stick. I ran up to the men and said, ‘What the hell is wrong with you guys? Put your weapons down now!’ The guy with the stick was injured, so I took off his shirt, wet it under a fountain and pressed it against his wound.

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NEVER UP IN ARMS: In those days I carried a Smith & Wesson revolver. Fortunately, I never had to draw my gun. Nothing scary ever happened as far as the lives of Reagan and Bush being threatened.

The assassination attempt on Reagan happened several years before I joined the Secret Service.

HAVING A BALL: Reagan threw some wonderful parties in the White House.

I had the honor of watching Marvin Hamlisch play the piano, hearing Johnny Mathis sing, and seeing Princess Diana and John Travolta dance together.

BOOK IT: My family moved to Mount Dora 10 years ago. I volunteered at several local elementary schools and public libraries. In 2009, I became the director of Fruitland Park Public Library.

TURNING A NEW PAGE: These days, libraries are more service-oriented. We help people find jobs, write resumes, and receive government assistance. Today, libraries are seen more as community centers. People come here to enjoy a cup of coffee or watch the news. I refer to libraries as the “third place” behind home and work.

FAVORITE AUTHOR: I am a fan of Debra Sharp, a Florida-based writer and author of the “Mama” series. I enjoy her down-toearth writing style.

FAVORITE BOOK: Anything to do with food history. I have always loved cooking.

DESIRED TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTION: “Wife.

Mother. Practical joker.”

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First things first // outstanding student Making the grade

LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP GOD’S WORK:

Zackery has served as a youth ministry leader at Heritage Community Church in Fruitland Park.

‘4’ THE RECORD:

He has served in the roles of chaplain, vice president and president of his 4-H Club.

the loving family I’ve been blessed with, have made me who I am today. Given the opportunity, I wouldn’t change a thing.

SHOOTING GUNS is one of my favorite activities. I can hit the casing of a .22-caliber bullet from 25 yards away. I finished in second place in the senior division at the Florida 4-H state rifle competition held last March. I competed against 30 other shooters at the Hernando Sportsman’s Club in Brooksville. The gun I use in competitions is a Savage Mark II .22-caliber rifle.

AGE : 1 7 HOME-SCHOOLED

MY GOAL IN LIFE in life is to attend a Bible college and become a youth pastor.

I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER of Heritage Community Church in Fruitland Park for five years.

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In February 2014, our church was given a new building free of cost. As a way to celebrate what God gave to us, I organized two MERGE Youth Rallies and invited children from other local youth groups to attend. I am planning another rally for Aug. 24 and expect 150 children.

I CREDIT GOD for my success. He has blessed me with lots of talent, and I want to glorify Him in everything I do. I want to do His work and further His kingdom.

HOMESCHOOLING HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL to me in just about every way. I credit my selfconfidence, leadership skills, outgoing personality and work ethic to being homeschooled. Those things, combined with

BEING A MEMBER OF 4-H has been very rewarding. I have tried new things that I never would have otherwise. I currently serve as treasurer of 4-H at the county level.

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ZACKERY LUCAS

IN JUNE, I COMPETED AT the 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Nebraska. The competition lasted several days, and I competed against the best 4-H shooters from around the country.

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STORY: GARY CORSAIR

Leesburg was much different 46 years ago.

Home alarm systems were exclusive to rich folk; most folk left doors unlocked.

Guns were for hunting, not protection. Fear and distrust were big-city emotions … until a mother of three was abducted from downtown Leesburg in broad daylight and subsequently murdered. Here, for the first time, is the story of Leesburg’s Crime of the Century and “the Mad Dog Killer” who made Lake County tremble.

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MAY 29, 2012 Lowell Correctional Institute Ocala

Florida Department of Corrections inmate 149933 rises slowly from a battered wheelchair, struggling to uncoil her 62-inch-tall frame, crowned with gray hair pulled into a bun. It’s a hairstyle she once used to conceal a homemade knife.

Once upright, she peers at her visitor through eyeglass frames held together by cellophane tape and faith.

A medallion of the Virgin Mary hangs from her neck.

There appears to be kindness in the 78-year-old woman’s liquid brown eyes.

She’d blend in, it seems, at a church social or a bingo parlor … if it weren’t for the baggy blue jumpsuit she wears.

This feeble granny is the “wild, cunning animal” who killed without remorse, escaped prison and terrorized Lake County for years?!!

Marie Dean Arrington was 34 when a headline writer called her a “murderess without a conscience.” When I meet her, 44 years later, she’s just Miss Marie. Four decades behind bars has drained the venom from the viper Leesburg attorney Bob Pierce called “the meanest woman I’ve ever known.”

Pierce uttered those words in 1968, the year his life turned upside down.

APRIL 22, 1968 Leesburg

Secretary June Ritter goes missing, apparently abducted just before noon on a Monday.

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And she seems to have gone willingly. There is no sign of a struggle in the office of her boss, public defender Bob Pierce.

APRIL 24, 1968 Lake County

On Wednesday, a deputy finds June’s Chevy Impala.

There’s blood inside the trunk. And a taillight wire has been pulled loose. Did June spend her last moments trying to escape from a tomb on wheels?

Fear permeates the county.

It appears a killer is on the loose. “It was a shock to the entire area. Everyone was just stunned something like that could happen,” says Neil Brisson, a friend of June Ritter and her husband “Tex.” APRIL 27, 1968 Lake County

On Saturday, searchers discover June Ritter’s body near a sandy lane about five miles north of Cassia. June’s been shot multiple times in the head and neck. And she appears to have been run over by a car.

Long time criminal Marie Dean Arrington fits the description of a woman seen with June on April 22. When questioned, Marie says she was fishing with her cousin that day. When her cousin denies the alibi, Marie admits she went to Pierce’s office, but not to commit a crime; to discuss an appeal for her son. Incredibly, Marie says she and the secretary were both kidnapped by two men and a “large colored woman.”

According to Marie, the trio

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* “MARIE WOULD DO ANYTHING. SHE WAS A MESS. MARIE WOULD THREATEN A LOT OF THEM ON PINE STREET. … SHE WAS TERRIBLE. SHE DIDN’T HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR ANYBODY, AS FAR AS I COULD SEE.” — EDWARD LYNUM, JR., PROSECUTION WITNESS IN STATE V. MARIE ARRINGTON.

left June in an orange grove, drove Marie back to Leesburg and let her out with a warning not to say anything. Police aren’t buying the story. Marie is arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Marie’s motive? Pierce theorizes Marie wanted revenge. “I told them who did it right away,” he says.

“Witnesses said it was a Negro woman Mrs. Ritter left with, and there could only be one mean enough to do this.”

Marie was supposedly furious with Pierce, who had represented her teenage children in separate bench trials. Judge Troy Hall came down hard on both kids.

Francina, 18, was sentenced to two years hard labor for passing bad checks. Lloyd, 19, got life in prison for armed robbery.

Did Marie go to Pierce’s office at 213 N. Third St. to harm the lawyer and, not finding him, decide instead to kidnap his secretary?

Too incredible to suggest ... unless you knew Marie like the cops did.

Marie was arrested for forgery in 1955; convicted of assault in ’56; convicted of larceny and robbery in ’57; convicted of passing worthless checks in ’61; arrested for larceny and vehicle theft in ’64; convicted of manslaughter after shooting her husband during an argument in ’64. Convicted, but not locked up. Marie skipped town while awaiting sentencing for manslaughter.

Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Gordon Oldham Jr. is not about to let Marie elude

justice a second time.

He’ll convict her with statements from “eyewitnesses” who saw a “Negro” woman driving June Ritter’s car, and a sealed envelope Marie had stashed under her bathtub. The envelope contained June’s keys and gold watch — and a disjointed, poorly spelled message printed in pencil: “If you want to see Mrs Ritter alive and get her back call off Willie McCalls office and the F.B.I. between your office and Troy Halls there are three boys we want freed in to weeks you will be given the naes at a later date the three boys are to be given their freedom at this time you will be notified where to find Mrs Ritter if you do not follow as you are told you will never see her alive. We will be in tought from time to time to let us no that you recived this letter mon after paper are to say that your office recives a phone call saying that Mrs Ritter is safe. That you can turfull say because

she is looking at everything that is being written will be looking for Mondays paper if its not their Wed you will recive the arm that was wareing this watch so on until you have every part of her bodypice by pice.”

Curious thing about the envelope containing the threatening message — Marie led police to the evidence that connected her to the crime.

Marie claims the envelope was left on her bed by the men who took her and June Ritter for a ride on April 22.

“I didn’t open the letter. I just took it and I throwed it under the bathtub because I figured they was going to hurt me or something,” Marie sobs to Sheriff McCall. “One knowed me. And they told me what they was going to do to me and my children ... So I know they ain’t going to let me live after I tell this.”

During their fifth search of the house Marie stays in, deputies discover a second note in a robe in a closet. The note apparently intended for

the wife of the judge who sentenced Marie’s children reads: “Mrs Hall in my right hand I have a 38cal. With this gun I have took the lives of two people. Do not be the third. Come with me and everything will be alright. Do not and you get a bulltiss right between the eyes.”

Things aren’t looking good for Marie … until lawmen take handwriting samples.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement handwriting expert James H. Kelly finds “few similarities” and a “considerable amount of variation” between Marie’s printing and the notes.

Thinking someone wrote the notes for Marie, detectives obtain handwriting samples from 16 of her relatives and friends. All 16 people are cleared.

Investigators decide Marie must be a master forger.

They’ll get no argument from Marie’s sister, Dorothy Everett.

“Marie can imitate anybody,” Dorothy told FBI agents in 1964 after

Marie mimicked her sister’s signature to steal $348 from Dorothy’s account. “If she sees yours one time, she will imitate yours.”

But lawmen don’t rule out accomplices. That’s obvious from a letter Marie’s daughter mailed to her imprisoned mom. “(Leesburg police Sgt. Ralph) Slim Perry ask me did I know any one I thought would have done this. I said any body could have. They think some body help you,’” the daughter wrote on June 21, 1968.

Investigators are having a devil of a time.

Not one hair or fiber related to June Ritter is found on any of Marie’s clothes, shoes or wigs. Where is the murder weapon? And who left fingerprints on June’s car?

Not Marie. None of the 10 clear fingerprints lifted from the Chevy matches her ridges and furrows. Three print s were made by the victim. The remaining seven belong to an unknown person or people.

Nor have two polygraph tests provided conclusive

TIMELINE OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER 26, 1957 Convicted of grand larceny, serves 18 months

AUGUST 16, 1933 Marie Swilley born

OCTOBER 10, 1955 Arrested for forgery, case dismissed

APRIL 10, 1956 Convicted of assault and battery, serves 60 days

SEPTEMBER 13, 1957 Convicted of grand larceny and robbery

MAY 11, 1961 Convicted of uttering worthless checks

MAY 19, 1961 Convicted of uttering worthless checks, serves 330 days

JULY 4, 1964 Shoots her husband, charged with manslaughter

JULY 16, 1964 Escapes from Volusia County Jail

NOVEMBER 13, 1964 Arrested for auto theft

answers. The stylus moves only slightly when Marie replies “no” when asked if she killed Mrs. Ritter.

A more predictable reading occurs when Marie’s asked, “About Mrs. Ritter being forced to leave her office, did you yourself make her leave her office?” Marie’s perspiration and blood pressure climb slightly when she answers “no,” then both readings drop noticeably.

Forty-four years later, retired polygraph examiner Dick Minnerly examines the graph paper from Marie’s test and zeroes in on the murder question.

“There should have been more there when she says ‘no’ to killing the woman,” he says.

And the question about forcing the victim to leave the office?

“There’s a concern about this office question,” he says.

“She’s not telling the truth.

The blood pressure rises and drops way off. She’s glad that question is over.”

Minnerly, who

administered between 300 and 400 polygraphs during his career, is reluctant to provide an overall assessment of Marie’s polygraph. Lie detection has always been an inexact science.

“There are too many variables,” Minnerly says. “If you had to call her based on the entire chart, you’d have to call her deceptive. There’s something she’s worried about that she’s not telling anybody. Based on what I see, she’s responsible in some way.”

Confronted with the results 44 years later, Marie becomes upset.

“Only four people know for sure who really killed Mrs. Ritter,” she says. “The person that did it, myself, Mrs. Ritter and God above. So I could not care less how many polygraph experts believe that the tests did on me showed deception. … If I killed June Ritter, I would say so. What have I got to lose?”

The answer, of course, is she has nothing to lose. Her heart is enlarged. Her lungs

JUNE 17, 1965 Convicted of contributing to delinquency of minor, uttering worthless checks, three years probation

AUGUST 27, 1966 Volusia County issues warrant for 1964 manslaughter

SEPTEMBER 13, 1967 Arrested for passing a forged check

NOVEMBER 8, 1967 Marie attacks a corrections officer with sharpened instrument

have grown weak. And her kidneys are failing. She won’t live to see her parole hearing in 2041. On a May afternoon in 2012, she says she might as well tell all.

Marie removes her glasses and emits a deep sigh. “Here’s what went down,” she says.

“I went in the door, and the (unnamed) woman got up and closed the door. ... The other man was standing in front of Miss Ritter with the gun. Miss Ritter was standing there crying. She say, ‘I don’t know anything about it.

Please, I don’t know anything about it.’ Now, they took Miss Ritter off. ... There was the lady that was driving, the big fat lady with the green dress.

There was Miss Ritter and one of the black men. In the back seat, there was me and the other two black men.”

According to Marie, the kidnappers drove to an orange grove in south Lake County.

“That was where Miss Ritter was killed,” Marie said.

“That is the first time I saw Joe Fairfax car. The white

APRIL 4, 1968 Marie’s son Lloyd convicted of robbery

FEBRUARY 1, 1968 Marie’s daughter Francina convicted of uttering worthless checks

APRIL 22, 1968 Vivian June Ritter is kidnapped

car. Joe was there. … Him and two other men, or three men. … He got out, went to Miss Ritter and the other man that was standing there with Miss Ritter that was in the front seat. That’s when it happened. He shot her. … He shot her.”

This is the first time she’s named a killer. And she admits she occasionally worked for Fairfax, a known drug dealer in the Leesburg area. In fact, she claimed she was making a delivery for Fairfax on April 22, 1968, in his Chevy, the same color, make and model as June Ritter’s car.

During a September 2012 interview, Fairfax’s daughter Terry Charles confirmed her dad owned a white Impala “in about 1972.” She does not believe her father murdered June Ritter. “Big Joe” cannot speak for himself. According to Terry, he was stabbed to death in Highlands County in the 1980s.

Was Fairfax involved?

His name appears twice in 4,200 pages of documents

APRIL 24, 1968 June Ritter’s Chevrolet found on Treasure Island Road

APRIL 27, 1968 June Ritter’s body found five miles north of Cassia

APRIL 28, 1968 Marie leads authorities to an orange grove north of Clermont where deputies find one of June Ritter’s shoes. Marie is questioned and arrested. Takes two lie detector tests

pertaining to the case, but there’s no indication Fairfax was questioned or investigated.

* “NO DOUBT IN MY MIND SHE WAS GUILTY.”

defendant and ransom-note author are the same person.

Marie indicted herself, he says, by misspelling “piece.”

Kirkland cringes.

“Even a non-handwriting expert could tell,” he says later. “She spelled it p-i-c-e, just like it was in the ransom note. Who in the hell would spell it that way twice?”

Jurors never hear the opinion of handwriting expert James H. Kelly, who doubted Marie wrote the notes.

Another definitive moment comes when Leesburg police Officer Jimmy Hutton testifies he found a slashed screen door at Judge Hall’s home, human waste on the storage room floor, and a fingerprint on the judge’s car. The print matched Marie’s fingerprint.

— DALE KNOTT, JURY FOREMAN, STATE V. MARIE ARRINGTON, 2012 INTERVIEW.

DEC. 6, 1968 Brooksville

DEC. 5, 1968 Brooksville

The trial begins, with Oldham calling two “witnesses” who observed a “colored woman” with Ritter in the secretary’s car, and Edward Lynum, a Leesburg resident who claims he followed a Chevy driven by Marie.

All three witnesses falter during cross-examination by defense lawyer Edward Kirkland. Boyd Holt testifies he’s not certain Marie was the woman he saw; Billie Shaw admits she only glimpsed the driver through the windshield of a car passing at 30 mph; Lynum reveals he waited four days before he “finally decided” to tell police he saw Marie driving Ritter’s car.

The threatening messages Marie supposedly wrote have a much bigger impact on the jury.

Oldham emphasizes the

The defense rests without calling a single witness.

Assistant State Attorney John McCormick clinches the verdict during closing arguments.

MARCH 1, 1969 Escapes from Lowell State Prison for Women

APRIL 29, 1968 Deputies find “blood-like” substance underneath June Ritter’s car

JULY 11, 1968 Marie is caught cutting a hole in her Lake County Jail cell window

SEPTEMBER 6, 1968 Change of venue granted to Hernando County

DEC. 6, 1968 Two-day murder trial ends with guilty verdict

“I knew June Ritter well,” he thunders. “I never saw a more innocent victim. Had (Marie) come after me — had she gone after Judge Hall, Mr. Oldham — somebody that she wants to blame for doing their duty, at least she could have blamed somebody that did something. But this young lady — and she was a lady, I am sure, because I knew her well — this young lady never prosecuted anybody. She was an innocent victim.”

Marie doesn’t show a flicker of emotion during the two hours and 48 minutes jurors deliberate. She remains stoic as foreman Dale Knott utters the words, “Guilty of first-degree murder.”

Marie is to be Florida’s first woman electrocuted to death for a crime.

MARCH 1, 1969 Lowell Correctional Institute Ocala

No, she won’t.

Marie escapes from the Florida Correctional Institute for Women at Lowell,

MARCH 1969 Becomes the second woman ever to appear on FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List

MARCH 4, 1969 Evades capture by shaking FHP after highspeed chase

APRIL 1, 1970 Marie’s attorney files appeal with Florida Supreme Court

JANUARY 26, 1971 Judge Troy Hall receives a package containing a voodoo doll with a pin stuck through the heart

DECEMBER 23, 1971 Marie is captured in New Orleans by FBI and U.S. Marshals.

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apparently by squeezing through a 9x14-inch opening in a wire mesh window screen and scaling two fences.

Lowell superintendent Russell Guynn is dumbfounded. How did Marie cut the screen?

And why couldn’t six bloodhounds detect her scent?

“It is like she flew out of here,” says investigator Keith Owens.

Guynn’s entire staff is questioned. All deny involvement. Five employees are suspended for 30 days for negligence.

Guynn underestimated Marie. He would have been more vigilant if he’d known Marie previously tried to escape from the Lake County jail, first by attempting to stab a jailer with the sharpened edge of a cigarette lighter, and then by cutting the window screen with a piece of metal she hid in her hair.

Forty-three years later, Marie reveals how she really broke out of Lowell.

“I walked right out the front door, “she says.” There was only supposed to be two keys to my cell. But there were three.”

Marie says two masked

men opened her cell door and ushered her to a waiting car.

According to Marie, she hid in a “garage or a barn” about a mile from the prison for two nights, stayed in a church on the third, then was taken to the bus station in Ocala and given money to buy a ticket to Wildwood.

In Wildwood, she spent another night in a church.

“From there, I was to go to Leesburg,” Marie said. “I was not to go to my family, nowhere near my family, which I did not do. But I was told where to go.”

Marie swears she doesn’t know who sprang her or why.

A growing obsession to recapture “the Mad Dog Killer” prompts Florida senators to take the unprecedented step of passing a bill offering a $5,000 reward for the capture of Marie Dean Arrington.

The hunt turns into a federal matter when a Lake County man reports seeing Florida’s most notorious fugitive in Detroit. Marie lands on the FBI Most Wanted List, only the second woman to earn that distinction.

“She disappeared off the face of the earth,” said Towles

Bigelow, the lead investigator for the Marion County sheriff at the time. “And everybody that could be looking for her was looking for her.”

They should have looked in Montclair, just outside of Leesburg.

“She came back to Leesburg,” Lynum recalled.

“She was in hiding, but I saw her. Lots of people saw her.”

No one dared turn her in.

That could cost you your life.

“She had a temper,” Lynum said. “And everybody knew that she would fight … She would fight like mad. She had a heck of a temper.”

A year passes without Marie’s capture.

Pierce tells a newspaper reporter: “The normal business of the State Attorney’s office continues; the normal business of the state of Florida continues.

However, in the town of Leesburg now, even after a year, you will note the conversation almost always ends up on the subject of Marie Dean Arrington. Is she alive? Is she dead? Will she come back? Will she kill again?”

The consensus is “yes, she will” after Judge Hall receives a voodoo doll with a pin

JUNE 29, 1972 U.S. Supreme Court issues moratorium on death penalty

FEBRUARY 1975 Marie files complaint that her rights are being violated because she’s the only female inmate and not allowed to participate in prison activities.

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1981 Transferred to Broward Correctional Facility to be near dying daughter

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1984 Transferred to Lake Butler Correctional Facility

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2005 Transferred to Lowell Correctional Facility

MAY 5, 2014 Maries dies while incarcerated at Lowell Correctional Facility

stuck through a red heart.

The package bears a Leesburg postmark.

A second year passes.

Oldham is busy prosecuting criminals in five counties, but he hasn’t forgotten the escapee he calls a “wild, cunning animal.”

Oldham orders phone taps of Marie’s family and friends.

“The thought was to do whatever it took to get her in custody,” Bigelow said.

The wiretaps pay off when Marie’s minister in Leesburg receives an out-of-state call.

The FBI traces the call to a phone booth in New Orleans and launches a systematic search of nearby homes and businesses that leads them to a lunch counter worker at Katz and Besthoff drugstore.

The workers, Lola Nero, strongly resembles Marie.

Agents order milkshakes.

When they leave, the metal cup Lola used to make their drinks leaves with them.

Back at the lab, they lift fingerprints. Lola Nero is indeed Marie Dean Arrington, fugitive from justice.

Marie’s arrest on Dec. 23, 1971, ends a 34-month manhunt. In Leesburg, Pierce tells a reporter: “I’m glad — durn glad — to learn of her

capture. The thing that I was concerned about was that I was the one she was looking for when June was killed.”

Marie spends the first 11 months in isolation at Raiford State Prison, where she is the only female. She’s then transferred to Lake Butler, which she promptly tries to escape from by cutting a screen window in her cell.

After that, no more escape attempts. But Marie’s far from reformed. She’s disciplined 54 times and spends 1,044 days in confinement between 1984 and 2010. Her primary infractions are disobeying regulations/orders and possession of contraband.

By 2012, Marie’s physically worn out, but still angry.

“When I think about it, it’s nothing but revenge — an eye for an eye, you know?” she says. “And people will stand on the Bible and say that is the way it’s supposed to be.

But I don’t believe it, I can’t believe it. It’s a wonder all the years I’ve been in prison that I haven’t gone completely mad.

Whatever I did in life, I’m paying for it.”

Yes, but on the installment plan. Breaking out of prison saved her life. Marie was one of 600-plus death-row inmates who had death sentences commuted to life in when the U.S. Supreme Court enacted a moratorium on the death penalty in 1972.

Marie’s had 40-plus years to reflect. But she never expressed remorse.

And she had reason to feel regret. According to her longtime friend, newspaper reporter Al Lee, “her career included the distribution

* “THEY GONNA FORM THEIR OWN OPINION, SO WHAT CAN I SAY? I AM A KIND PERSON, I’M NOT AN EVIL PERSON. I’M NOT A BAD PERSON, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO THINK.” — MARIE DEAN ARRINGTON, 2012 INTERVIEW.

of counterfeit money in such cities as Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. … Reportedly a confidant and employee of (Lake County crime boss Harlan) Blackburn, it was said she was involved in murder-for-hire, counterfeiting and drugs.”

“The rackets that made me,” Marie said during the interview, “broke me.”

She refused to elaborate.

According to Marie, June Ritter was killed over fake money.

Naturally, Marie’s story is incredible.

“It had something to do with two counterfeit plates,” she says. “And Tex Ritter had something to do with it.

I can’t prove that, no, but the way it was ran down to me by Joe (Fairfax)…”

June’s husband cannot refute the accusation. He’s long dead.

And so is Marie. She passed away May 5. She was 80.

In her final interview, she claimed she didn’t care what people thought of her. But she did.

“I am a kind person, I’m not an evil person,” she maintained. “I’m not asking anybody to pity me or have sympathy for me in no kind of way. Due to the fact I haven’t did anything. … I’ve lived my life. God promised me three score and 10 years.

That’s 70 years and I’m 79, he’s given me nine more than he promised me. So I must have been a pretty good person somewhere along the way.”

Now she’s at the mercy of the ultimate judge.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO… Marie Dean Arrington passed away at 80 on May 5 at the Lowell Annex of the Lowell Correctional Facility, where she spent most of her time alone, reading.

Marie’s daughter Marie “Francina” Dean was convicted of writing worthless checks in 1968 and served two years. She also served six months for escaping from Lowell Prison For Women on Oct. 2, 1968, and served five years and six months after being convicted of burglary and forgery in Pinellas County in 1976. Her whereabouts are unknown.

Marie’s son Lloyd Dean has served 46 years for robbing a Leesburg service station (without physically harming anyone) in 1967. Prior to that, Dean had only two other blemishes on his record — a ticket for jaywalking and an arrest for shoplifting a shirt. He filed appeals in 1969 and 1998. The 69-year-old is incarcerated at Union Correctional Institution.

Judge Troy Hall Jr. died in 1976. He was 65. The Orlando Sentinel described his tenure on the county and circuit bench as “stormy and controversial.”

Edward Lynum Jr. served a brief stint as a Leesburg policeman and became the first black police chief of Wildwood in 1976. He retired from law enforcement in 1986 to concentrate on his construction and real estate interests. Lynum continues to pursue those business interests.

State Attorney Gordon Oldham sent more than 50 killers to death row and prosecuted more than 200 capital cases during a 28-year career. Oldham died in 1998. He was 70.

Public Defender Robert Pierce held the office for 17 years before being defeated by Skip Babb in 1980 election. Pierce died in 1990 at 74.

Robert Joe “Tex” Ritter, June Ritter’s husband of 18 years, remarried in June 1971. He died in 1996 at 69.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT “MEAN” MARIE, VISIT LAKEANDSUMTERSTYLE.COM

Make your

When you and your knees are ready to get back in the game ...

thevision January 2013, as change was sweeping across the healthcare landscape, change was coming to Lake County.

A decision was made by Central Florida Health Alliance (CFHA), the parent organization for Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages Regional Hospital, to provide better patient care experiences through stronger collaboration with its physician providers. These collaborations were felt to be necessary

by CFHA for the success of two of its most important guiding principles. The delivery of truly patient centered care and the optimization of patient outcomes.

It was in this environment that the concept of the MOVE Orthopaedic Restoration Center evolved.

CFHA had already achieved successful hospital/physician collaborations for Cardiology, Oncology, Radiology and Pathology. Collaboration in Orthopaedics was the next logical step. The scope of Orthopaedics was so large that it was decided to approach it in phases with the first phase being the outpatient component.

“We identified a unique opportunity that existed in our area, the opportunity to collaborate with one of the nation’s leading unicompartmental knee replacement surgeons,” said Bill Pfingsten, VP, Ambulatory Services for CFHA.” Through his practice at Tri-County Orthopaedic Center, Dr. J. Mandume Kerina had redefined the

patient selection process; the surgical technique and instruments as well as the patient care processes for unicompartmental knee replacements.

In doing so, he designed the first comprehensive outpatient unicompartmental knee replacement program in the country.

“Through Tri-County Orthopaedics, we performed our first outpatient unicompartmental knee replacement in 2001 at Leesburg Regional Medical Center and the first Medicare approved outpatient unicompartmental knee in the nation in 2009,” remarked Dr. Kerina. Since 2012, he has been training surgeons both nationally and internationally in these newly developed techniques.

Dr. Kerina has taken a procedure that historically took two and a half hours with a three-day hospital stay and redeveloped it into a one-hour procedure that can be delivered in the outpatient setting.

Patients recover in three to four weeks in the comfort of their own homes with no restrictions to their final activities, except long distance running.”

Compare that to a total knee replacement that involves a two-hour or longer surgery, three-day hospitalization and three-month recovery with activity restrictions. For the patient suffering from single compartment arthritis of the knee, there is no comparison.

As Dr. Kerina mastered unicompartmental knee replacement, he began looking for a way to treat patients in a setting that delivered a truly coordinated clinical experience. Central Florida Health Alliance shared his vision. After extensive planning, the MOVE Orthopaedic Restoration Center was conceived.

theteam MOVE provides every aspect of knee care under one roof, including, but not limited to patient evaluation, pre-surgical testing, outpatient surgery and outpatient physical therapy.

“I am confident that collaborating with CFHA on the MOVE Center will not only lead to better healthcare delivery but will also allow us to provide better access to patients who may look elsewhere for their care. People with serious health problems tend to think they have to leave town to get the best treatment. For unicompartmental knee replacements you don’t need to go anywhere else, you’re already in the right place. Nobody does it better than we do,” says Dr. Kerina.

He makes this bold statement based on thousands of happy patients he and his staff have helped to reclaim their quality of life through unicompartmental knee replacement.

“I see this as the first step in a broader

collaboration to eventually bring together all the other aspects of orthopedic care in our community.”

At MOVE, a highly skilled team of medical professionals work together to provide outstanding care. “CFHA has built an outstanding team,” Dr. Kerina says. “There are aspects of this program built in to ensure the delivery of the ultimate patient experience.”

The staff includes board-certified surgeons, registered nurses, lab technicians, surgical technicians, radiology technicians, physical therapists and a Patient Care Navigator.

The Patient Care Navigator (PCN) is a position unique to the MOVE Center. These nurses work in concert with the surgeon, the clinic and the surgery center to coordinate all pre-surgical testing, surgical scheduling, home health and outpatient physical therapy delivering a seamless patient experience.

ourresults Forty million Americans are afflicted with arthritis. That’s one-in-eight people in this country. For those with single compartment arthritis of the knee, unicompartmental knee replacement makes sense. Data now shows that a unicompartmental knee replacement in these patients routinely beats total knee replacements in functional outcome as well as patient satisfaction.

“More surgeries today can be performed on an outpatient basis because of the evolution of surgical technology and techniques.” Dr. Kerina says. “This has resulted in shorter recovery times and improved patient outcomes, the complication rates for outpatient unicompartmental knee replacements are less than half of those for total knee replacements.”

Patients can get back to their active lifestyles and enjoy the activities they love most, whether it’s riding bicycles, golfing, or simply spending time with their grandchildren.

Patient satisfaction scores indicate that Dr. Kerina and his staff are hitting the bulls eye. And that means everything to Dr. Kerina. “Obviously, it’s very satisfying to have patients tell me stories of being pain-free and having quick recoveries. That’s the expected outcome, but it always makes me feel good to know we’ve restored their quality of life.”

So get a move on. The MOVE staff is ready to get your knees moving — and feeling — like they’re supposed to.

thecare Putting patients first has always been the driving force behind a quest shared

by Central Florida Health Alliance and Dr. Kerina to take the physical, emotional and financial pain out of partial knee replacement. It’s an approach the MOVE staff calls “partnering for success.”

This partnership involves a promise between the surgeon, the patient and CFHA. The surgeon’s promise is to deliver seamless evidence based care, the patient must promise to be actively engaged in the program and not be a passive passenger, while CFHA promises to provide the best facility and staff.

“We’ve pioneered a system for unicompartmental knee replacement that’s a continuum of customized knee care,” Dr. Kerina says. “That’s the result of our collaboration, to ensure that each patient receives one-on-one care through all phases of the process, from their initial diagnosis to an optimized outcome. It’s seamlessly coordinated care.”

Sounds expensive. But “total continuum of knee care” is actually more affordable because of this partnership between patients, surgeons and facility.

“An educated patient is our greatest asset.

Our program has been built to avoid wasteful spending by getting rid of unnecessary duplications and testing. The key is the coordination that leads to predictability and standardization. We don’t need to do things many different ways, we just need to do things once the right way,” says Bill Pfingsten.

Partial knee model

Full knee model

The new MOVE Center in the East Campus building of The Villages Regional Hospital is designed specifically to better meet the needs of patients who want to get back in the game as quickly as possible.

“Essentially, this is one-stop shopping,” says Bill Pfingsten, FACHE and vice president of ambulatory services for Central Florida Health Alliance. “This center responds to patient needs and wants for convenience, service, high quality and excellent outcomes. When we were in the planning stages for this center, we sought input from patients and providers because we’ve always been focused on this being patient-centered.”

“Before, patients could spend several days getting all of their diagnostic testing done prior to surgery because they had to visit multiple facilities,” Pfingsten says. “This center offers patients a muchneeded convenience at one location, while providing quality service in a cost-effective manner.”

Patients can now have their physician evaluation, pre-surgical testing and outpatient surgery followed by their outpatient physical therapy all within the same facility.

Leaving home to obtain the finest medical care is a thing of the past for people hobbling on knees affected by unicompartmental arthritis.

Their best option is a short car ride away or trip by golf cart for residents of The Villages.

1 44 y.

Hw S. U. The Villages Regional Hospital

. lvd B rse o M

-- Dr. Kerina

“

oursetting

“

More surgeries today can be performed on an outpatient basis because of the evolution of surgical technology and techniques.

This has resulted in shorter recovery times and improved patient outcomes ...

ourservices • Evaluation and diagnosis of knee pain • Follow-up evaluations • Digital x-rays • Laboratory • Therapeutic Pain Relief Injections • Pre-Surgical Assessment Testing • Partial Knee Replacement • Full Knee Replacement • Physical Therapy

Make your

Call today 352.751.8828 or toll-free 844-374-6683 (MOVE) for more information or to make an appointment moveortho.com

EXCEPTIONAL Urgent Care Center

FREE TESTING TUESDAYS JUN

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AUG

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Diabetes Anemia Kidney Disease

Come in this Summer for Free Testing Tuesdays.

Your health. Your time. Our priority.

Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Saturday 9:00am-3:30pm Closed Sunday

(352) 391-5200

Dana Plaza 11950 County Rd 101 The Villages, Fl 32162

Friday, July 4th @ 11:30

Holiday BBQ with entertainment by Earl Campbell at 2 PM

Wednesday, July 9th @ 2 PM Entertainment by Steve Robinson

Friday, July 18th @ 2 PM

Social Hour with Entertainment by Mr. October Refreshments & Beverages will be served.

Thursday, July 24th @ 2 PM

Veterans Seminar presented by Gary Marriage of Operation: Veteran Aid. Learn how to qualify for the Aid & Attendance Pension Benefit from the Veterans Administration. You may be entitled to as much as $24,648 in Tax-Free money per year. This is valuable information for veterans and their spouses and widows of veterans. This is a presentation you will not want to miss. Refreshments will be served and raffle tickets given for a chance to win a door prize.

Presented by Gary Marriage, Jr., Operation: Veteran Aid.

Wednesday, July 30th @ 2 PM Birthday Bash with Entertainment by The Shannons.

Refreshments & Beverages will be served.

Must RSVP for all events.

Please call 352-873-2036 today!

INVEST 1%

of your time and

RECOVER 30% of your strength and ability to function.

THE ACTIVERX™ SYSTEM INCLUDES: The ActivEval Comprehensive Full Body Functional Evaluation • Assessment of acute and chronic issues and potential physical function impairments • Emphasis on patient education, engagement, and two-way communication Specialized One-on-One Active Physical Therapy • Delivered by specialists in working with older adults • Patient-centric, wellness-oriented and outcomes driven • Advanced communication and behavioral change components

Their knowledge promoted quick recovery and a return to our busy lifestyle. Dr. Patel and his staff provide an environment that is fun, caring and pleasant to enable us to get the most out of our therapy.

Strenghtherapy™ Wellness Program • Based on 20 years of strength and muscle physiology and biomechanics research • Proven to enhance strength, physical function, mobility, • Small group (4-5 people), 30-minute sessions, 2-3 days per week • Supervised by specially trained, degreed exercise physiologists • We track and provide monthly outcome reports to referring physicians Specializations: • Improved Strength • Increased Endurance • Orthopedic Conditions • Neurological Disorders • Vestibular Dysfunction (Vertigo) • Arthritis • Back/Neck Pain • Various other joint pain (hip, knee, ankle, etc.)

- Frank and Rosina B., The Villages Dr. Patel was able to begin the healing After one treatment, I walked out of there with the one area he had worked on completely pain free.

Dr. Patel listens to his patient’s responses and obviously cares about them and the quality of care he gives to them.

- Linda W., The Villages

“

Utkarsh Patel —Director of Physical Therapy Bachelor’s of Exercise Physiology at University of Florida, Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University

Physical & Strength Therapy TLC Medical Arts Building 201 W. Guava St, Suite 206, Lady Lake, FL 32159 352.430.0473 • ActiveRX.com/LadyLake

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GET A LEG UP ON VEIN PROBLEMS

On June 18th, Dr. Ravi Chandra and Dr. Steven Tieche of the Vein Center of North Florida offered free vein screenings to prospective patients at their new office in The Villages. One of the patients who showed up was a familiar face — Belleview resident Jack Roberts. He did not have an appointment; he simply wanted to catch up with his favorite physician.

“Several years ago, Dr. Chandra treated me for a blood clot in my leg, and then he discovered I had blockage in my leg,” says Roberts, 80. “He probably saved my life. I’ve been treated by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, but I have never met someone as talented, personable, and likeable as Dr. Chandra.”

Trudy Richmond, a resident of Summerfield, was also there. She offered equally glowing praise of Dr. Steven Tieche, another physician at The Vein Center of North Florida. “He did such a great job treating me for varicose veins a few years back. He is very friendly, efficient, and professional.”

It is no surprise that residents of The Villages and surrounding area drive 45 minutes to the practice’s Ocala office to seek treatment for vascular problems. However, that will no longer be necessary thanks to the practice’s additional location at the

Oaks at 138th, which is owned by Munroe Regional Medical Center. “We are opening an office here for the convenience of our patients and to fill a much-needed void,” says Dr. Chandra, who has more than 15 years of experience in his respective field.

Because the practice offers total vascular care under one roof, Dr. Chandra and Dr. Tieche do not have the need to refer patients to other specialists. They can

“He did such a great job treating me for varicose veins a few years back. He is very friendly, efficient, and professional.”

—Trudy Richmond

“He probably saved my life. I’ve been treated by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, but I have never met someone as talented, personable, and likeable as Dr. Chandra.”

—Jack Roberts

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diagnose and treat arterial and venous problems. They also treat lymphedema, blood clots, and ulcers. In addition, they offer wound care and cosmetic procedures such as sclerotherapy for varicose and spider veins and phlebectomy for large varicose veins.

Dr. Chandra is board-certified in General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Endovascular Surgery, and Phlebology. He has completed 9,544 vascular and endovascular cases.

The Vein Center of North Florida has treated more than 6,000 patients to date. Dr. Tieche is board-certified in anesthesiology and specializes in vein care. The practice is accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL), which ensures the highest-quality patient care.

The Oaks at 138th is located at 8550 N.E. 138th Lane (Building 400) in Lady Lake.

For more information, call 352.237.1820.

“Men no longer need to suffer from frequent urination because they are getting older,” says Dr. James Young, a down-toearth urologist with thirty-one years of experience in treating men with prostate problems in Lake County. Although the cause of these symptoms is most likely an enlarging prostate (BPH), a normal part of the aging process in men, treatment options are more numerous and less invasive than those offered to our fathers and grandfathers.

Years ago there were two options for treating an enlarged prostate: surgical excision via an open operation (knife) or much more commonly by performing a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), commonly referred to as a “roto-rooter” by patients and physicians. Both required hospitalization as well as major anesthesia and could be fraught with complications such as bleeding, infection, loss of bladder control and even death.

“In my career I have performed over 3,000 TURPs; however, I no longer perform any,” says Dr. Young. “There are presently too many excellent alternatives to consider a hospital operation for the vast majority of patients with BPH.” “When I see a new patient I perform a physical examination and properly evaluate the patient’s symptoms, thus diagnosing the underlying problem(s),” he says.

“Next, I describe to the patient what’s normal and then explain what is abnormal with him. Lastly, I teach him his treatment options. If I’ve done a good job of teaching, he will select the correct option for himself.”

While prescribing medications for BPH

can be done by primary care physicians, only urologists are trained to thoroughly evaluate the bladder and prostate (including ruling out prostate cancer), as well as providing extremely effective minimally invasive, office-based therapies as alternatives to lifelong medical therapy.

One such option is Prostiva-RF Therapy, a procedure performed by Dr. Young in his office under local anesthesia that usually takes less than thirty minutes. Prostiva utilizes low level radiofrequency energy to ablate (destroy) the obstructing component of the enlarged prostate. “I am very happy with the results I have achieved for my patients using Prostiva-RF Therapy,” says Dr. Young, who has successfully treated more than 1,200 patients with this procedure. “Medtronic is a $13 billiona-year, publicly traded corporation that perfected the technology for Prostiva and produces the necessary hardware. Recently, Medtronic produced an educational DVD for international distribution to inform patients and physicians worldwide regarding the benefits of Prostiva therapy. Seven of the eight patients featured on the DVD are my patients. I am very proud Medtronic selected my practice to feature the benefits of Prostiva-RF Therapy. However it is sort of a bad news/good news thing. The bad news is neither my patients nor myself received a penny for our participation. The good news is Medtronic gave us all the DVD’s we want, so if anyone wants one all he needs to do is drop by my office at 801 Northshore Drive in Eustis, and we will give him one!”

And with an office staff with nearly as much experience as the doctor, (many have worked with Dr. Young more than twenty

years) you don’t spend a great deal of time waiting to see him. “We pride ourselves in being timely in seeing our patients. We respect our patient’s time as much as we do our own,” adds Dr. Young. “Patients appreciate this; many of our patients tell me I have the best office staff on the planet. I consider that a huge compliment.”

So if you are getting up at night and can’t get back to sleep because you are thinking about what may be wrong with you, it’s time to check in with Dr. Young and have him check you out.

“Many men accept frequent bladder urges as part of aging. And while it is part of the aging process, it’s not like death and taxes. There is something you can do about it,” he says.

JAMES W. YOUNG III, M.D. Board Certified Urologist Practicing in Lake County for over 31 years with extensive experience in evaluation and management of prostate problems.

For more information, contact

PHYSICIANS FOR ACCOUNTABLE CARE 920 Rolling Acres Road, Suite 201 Lady Lake, FL 32159

352.751.4990 801 Northshore Drive, Eustis, FL 32726

352.357.6786

ProstateEvaluation.com

Vacation & A Fresh Look!

Summer vacations mean various destinations to different kinds of travelers, whether you’re looking to stick an umbrella in the sand, sip drinks by the pool, or hike some hills. Vacations are a great time to meet up with family and friends and for escaping our daily routines. One thing we often leave behind when we are traveling is actually the most important part of our whole trip our SMILE! Did you ever notice the number of people walking around with a blank expression on their face?

Sometimes we get so caught up in planning and traveling, too often we forget our primary focus - to smile and be happy.

Your Smile is a FREE FACELIFT which we should wear every day! It plumps your cheeks and tightens the neck

shine through this summer and experience all of the joys of vacation with a fresh look!

Do you want to enjoy quality time with your family or grandchildren? This begins and ends with a smile. Then why not invest in yourself this summer!

When you look and feel your best, it will invigorate your relationships! Surprise people you haven’t seen in a long time by how young and good your smile looks!

If you are looking for more improvement that what your smile brings, ImageLift offers the latest technologies

and techniques available to look and feel young again! We take pride in providing our patients with the best of care, right here in The Villages.

Imagelift offers a wide range of procedures to help your improve your the ImageLift Facelift.

The ImageLift Facelift consistently maintaining a natural appearance. Our most popular facelift is split into three categories: small, medium, and large.

Your ImageLift physician will help you determine which ImageLift Facelift is right for you! Results are typical and do vary for each type of facelift. You deserve to look and feel your best, so what are you waiting for?

Leah Powell before treatment

At ImageLift, we are a National Center of Excellence for our long-term ImageLift techniques. The combined experience of two Double BoardDr. Rich Castellano and Dr. Randall Weyrich, is sough across the country and internationally. They will absolutely provide you with a customized treatment that works for you and your individual needs right here in The Villages, no travel required.

Our book is an easy read and an excellent resource. Here is a comment from ImageLift patient Leah, “I read the book and loved it! It really helped 877-789-3223.

Results after the Medium ImageLift

Results are typical and do vary.

JULY SPECIAL FREE BOTOX for ONE YEAR with any ImageLift *1 area, 4 treatments total, every 3 months

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Meet The Docs At An Upcoming Event 10 Thursday, July 10th @ 11:00 AM 24 Thursday, July 24th @ 1:00 PM ImageLift Seminar at the Waterfront Inn

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Let us help you get that younger look back!

Call now to learn what treatment is best for you at 877-789-3223 or visit our website at ImageLift.com.

With regard to free consultation: patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination, or treatment that is performed as a result of and within 72 hrs of responding to ad for the free, discounted fee, or reduced fee service, examination, or treatment.

The Villages | 8630 East County Road 466 | 877-789-3223 | ImageLift.com

NORMAN S. NOVIS, M.D., P.A.

Our patients’ care is our first priority.

WE OFFER VARIOUS MEDICAL SERVICES: • Adult medicine - preventative and routine services • Acute care • Blood pressure and heart diseases • COPD and other lung diseases • Dermatology • Minor surgeries • Osteoporosis care • Rheumatology - knee and other joint injections • Diabetes and other endocrine disorders • Nutritional/dietician services • Diabetic teaching • In-house diagnostics and lab

753 Highway 466 in Lady Lake 352.633.7659 // 352.633.7649 // www.pfpconline.com

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111 E. 4th Ave. Downtown Mount Dora

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FOOT AND ANKLE CARE Board-certified foot surgeons Dr. Michele McGowan and Dr. Timothy Henne offer a number of foot and ankle services for comprehensive foot care and ankle disorders. They are trained to handle problems as small as ingrown toenails and warts to as large and complex as bunions, hammertoes and heel pain.

The Trust Department >˜ˆViĂŠ ÂŤ>ˆÂ?Â?>Ă€`]ĂŠ >ĂŒÂ…iĂ€ÂˆÂ˜iĂŠ7>ÀÀi˜] ˆÂ?Â?ĂŠ ˆ˜˜iĂ›iÂ?`]ĂŠ `ĂŠ Ă€ÂœÂœÂŽĂƒ]ĂŠ >ĂŒĂŒĂŠ >VÂŽÂ?iĂ€] >Ă€iÂ˜ĂŠ °Ê iiĂŠ >ĂŒĂŒĂŠ If you’ve been to our Trust and Investment Services Department, then you recognize us. We’ve been dedicated to helping people build financial security for a long time, and built a lot of enduring relationships along the way.

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Trust and Investment Services are not FDIC Insured, not deposits of the bank, not guaranteed by the bank, not insured by any government agency, and may lose value.

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On the

scene THE TO-DO LIST OUT+ABOUT SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT HI, SOCIETY!

46 50 52 54

COURTESY OF BELLINGRATH GARDENS

July 20 14

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On the scene // the to-do list

JULY To have an event considered for the Calendar, send a short text description along with a color photo (if available) 60 days in advance of event to: calendar@akersmediagroup.com or Lake & Sumter Style Calendar, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749

EVENTS JULY 3

FREEDOM ON THE LAKEFRONT Fireworks and special effects on Lake Dora at Elizabeth Evans Park and Simpson Cove beginning at 5p.m., with fireworks beginning at 9:15p.m. Free. Mount Dora.

JULY 4

SOUTH LAKE FESTIVAL Classic cars, food vendors, activities, live music and fireworks, Groveland. Time: 9a.m.

CONTACT: groveland-fl.gov

JULY 4

INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE Traditional downtown parade, kicking off on Donnelly Street at Seventh Avenue. Free. Time: 10a.m. Mount Dora.

CONTACT: 352.267.2879.

JULY 8

BUTTERFLY GARDENING Children in grades K-5 can learn what it takes to attract butterflies. Open to the first 50 children. W.T. Bland Public Library, 10:30a.m. Mount Dora CONTACT: gonzalesl@ cityofmountdora.com

JULY 8

SUMMER ART FESTIVAL

spectacular fireworks display at Venetian Gardens, Leesburg.

Free. Time: 10a.m.

The Villages Art League presents its eighth annual event. There will be live demonstrations and residents’ artwork will be available to buy. Admission is free. The event starts at 9a.m. at the Lake Miona Rec Center, 1526 Buena Vista Boulevard.

JULY 8, 15, 22, 29

CONTACT: 352.430.2950

KIDS DAY AT LIBRARY Kids enjoy fun, music, interactive finger plays, songs and stories at Tavares Public Library on Tuesdays at 10a.m.

CONTACT: 352.742.6473

JULY 9, 23

LEGO CREATIONS Make original LEGO creations at the W.T. Bland Public Library at 3p.m., Mount Dora.

CONTACT: gonzalesl@ cityofmountdora.com

JULY 14, 21

HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTS A different experiment each time. Find microscopic creatures in different types of water. Grades K-5. Marion Baysinger Memorial Library, Groveland. 2p.m. CONTACT: mramirez@lakeline.lib.fl.us

JULY 14

BUCKY & GIGI SHOW Enjoy two former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns at the Cooper Memorial Library, 11a.m. Clermont. CONTACT: astultz@lakeline.lib.fl.us.\

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION Live entertainment and a

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JULY 14

MANNA MAGIC A ventriloquist, face painter, magician, puppeteer, balloon twister and storyteller. Part of the Tavares Library Summer Reading Program. All ages.

Tavares Civic Center. 2p.m.

JULY 23

PUPPET SHOW: GREAT KAPOK TREE Katie Adams of the Make Believe Theater brings the story of the “Great Kapok Tree” to life through puppetry

at 11a.m. Cooper Memorial Library, Clermont.

CONTACT: astultz@lakeline. lib.fl.us.\ JULY 23

OCEAN ANIMALS Children learn of underwater creatures that breathe air such as the dolphin and whale and make a dolphin print. Fruitland Park Library, 10:30a.m.

CONTACT: 352.360.6561

JULY 26

STEPPING OUT FOR EDUCATION It’s the local version of “Dancing with the Stars.” Lake Receptions, Mount Dora. $125.

CONTACT: cullen-battc@lake. k12.fl.us

features an easy-to-prepare recipe for a different course.

This is third class. $30. Conry Creation Health Center, 6p.m., Tavares.

JULY 30

JULY 29

THE YUM YUM CLUB Led by a professional chef and registered dietitian, these cooking classes marry taste and nutrition. Each class

LET’S GO FISHING This story time will have the kids “fishing” at Fruitland Park Library, 10:30a.m.

CONTACT: 352.360.6561

MUSIC+THEATRE JULY 17

JIGGLEMAN Wacky acrobatics and stunts with giant bouncing balls. Mount Dora Community Building 2p.m.

CONTACT: lgonzalesl@ cityofmountdora.com

JULY 19

“REMEMBERING RED” A tribute to Red Skelton on Red’s birthday by Brian Hoffman, 7p.m. Mount Dora Community Building. CONTACT: 352.383.2165

ART/HISTORY EXHIBITS JULY 14, 18, 21, 25, 28

MOUNT DORA “DECIPHER” Third in a series of exhibits featuring emerging artists at the MDCA Gallery. Exhibits are at 10a.m. Reception from 6p.m.

July 11. Mount Dora Center for the Arts Gallery CONTACT: 352.383.0880

EP

EDITOR’S PICK

JULY 12

JULY 3

BETSY ROSS DINNER SHOW AT CODY’S ON FOURTH

Enjoy your evening before the fireworks with America’s favorite flag maker in Mount Dora starting at 6p.m. Menu choices include lobster, barbecue chicken, meatloaf and a pulled pork sandwich.

RICK DERRINGER

The “All-American Boy” of rock-n-roll comes to the Mount Dora Community Building. Derringer was a member of the McCoys (“Hang On Sloopy”), played with Johnny and Edgar Winter and found a hit on his own, “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo.” The show starts at 7p.m.

CONTACT: 352.383.2165

CONTACT: 352.383.2165

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INCONCERT

LOCAL TALENT PROFILE

LOCAL LIVE MUSIC

JUNE 10

PLAYING BY HEART

BY AARON KLINGERMAN

Kelly Jarrard was 13 when her father handed down his 1971 Martin acoustic guitar. She’s been in love ever since.

For 10 years, the Stockridge, Georgia, native has patiently been honing her craft. And with heart.

“Music is my passion,” Kelly said. “There’s nothing else that makes me happier.”

It’s easy to see why. Kelly comes from a family of musicians, has been performing for years and recently earned a music degree in vocal performance from Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia.

Now living in Mount Dora, Kelly plays mostly cover songs in local establishments around Central Florida, but the requests for her original songs are increasing, and rightfully so. She won her high school talent show performing an original number, “Weatherman,” which is still among her most requested songs. Citing influences such as Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse, it’s no surprise that Kelly is all about soul. Outstanding vocal range, soulful lyrics and an infectious smile keep her fans as locked into her performances as she is.

The Ruby Street Grille in Tavares, one of her frequent gigs, is home to a wide range of local talent.

“This is becoming a hub for the local music scene, and we search long and hard to find the best talent,” said Ryan Veraghen, co-owner of the downtown restaurant. Ruby Street offers lakeside dining, and a viable “local alternative to Orlando and the theme parks.”

Kelly is among the best local talent in the area. However, with several original songs penned, a producer she’s excited to work with, and an upcoming trip to the recording mecca of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, planned for her first studio record, she may not be only a “local” talent much longer.

DATE

TIME

ARTIST

VENUE

07/02 07/03 07/03 07/03 07/04 07/04 07/04 07/04 07/05 07/05 07/05 07/05 07/06 07/08 07/09 07/09 07/10 07/10 07/11 07/11 07/12 07/12

7:30p.m.

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Jeff Whitfield (singer-songwriter/adult alternative) “Dangerous” Dave Merrill (Caribbean rock) Sonic Gypsies (rock/country/dance) Laney Jones (singer-songwriter) Jeff Whitfield (singer-songwriter/adult alternative Roy Baker Band (rock & roll) Dr. Shooker (jazz-saxophone) Bucky Covington (country) Hayfire (modern country) Jenn Weidley with Hard to Port (Irish/Celtic) Tory Wynter (world music) Brian Smalley (folk/acoustic/Americana) Bobby France (acoustic) Jeff Whitfield (singer-songwriter/blues) Jeff Whitfield (singer-songwriter/blues) Richie Q (international) Kelly Jarrard (acoustic/soul/jazz) Joe Gianti (standards/’50s/rock & roll) Brewery Boys (’60s/’70s/’80s/classics) Shuffle-Tones (blues) Hwy19 (Americana) Rich Lawrence & His Retrosonics (retro tunes)

Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Pisces Rising, Mount Dora Olivia’s Coffeehouse, Eustis Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora

07/12

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Copacabana Cuban Café, Mount Dora

Lake David Park, Groveland revival, Clermont Olivia’s Coffeehouse, Eustis Lakeridge Winery, Clermont Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora

Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Graziella’s Melody Lounge, Clermont Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Graziella’s Melody Lounge, Clermont Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora

Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Olivia’s Coffeehouse, Eustis

Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora Baby Blues & the No Attitude Band (Classic rock) Lakeridge Winery, Clermont

Big Engine (rock) Keeper (rock) Rick Derringer (rock) Da Boys (acoustic) “Dangerous” Dave Merrill (60s/’70s/’80s) Lawless Intent (classic rock) Jeff Whitfield (singer-songwriter/blues) Richie Q (rock & roll/reggae) Bobby France (acoustic) Joe Gianti (standards/’50s/rock & roll) Antic (rock/funk) Vintage Soul (Motown/funk) The Wholetones (folk/jazz/metal) The Robert Harris Group (jazz/R&B) Keeper (rock) Wade Williams (country) Sonic Gypsies (rock/country/dance) Bobby France (acoustic) Jeff Whitfield (singer-songwriter/blues) Richie Q (rock & roll/reggae) Lee Ann Noel Band (rock & roll/blues) Joe Gianti (standards/’50s/rock & roll) Retro Express (island music) Shuffle-Tones (blues) Brewery Boys (’60s/’70s/’80s/classics) Mad Hadder Band (rock/classic rock) Da Boys (acoustic) Keeper (rock) The Selwyn Birchwood Band (blues)

Gator Harley-Davidson, Leesburg Gator Bay Marina, Leesburg

Mount Dora Community Building, Mount Dora

Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Gator Harley-Davidson, Leesburg

Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Graziella’s Melody Lounge, Clermont

Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Graziella’s Melody Lounge, Clermont

Irene’s Lounge, Tavares Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora

Lakeside Inn, Mount Dora Lakeridge Winery, Clermont Hurricane Dockside Grill, Tavares Froggers Bar & Grill, Mount Dora Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora

Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Graziella’s Melody Lounge, Clermont Brownwood Paddock Square, The Villages

Graziella’s Melody Lounge, Clermont

Katie Belle’s, The Villages Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora

Irene’s Lounge, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Frank’s Place, Leesburg Lakeridge Winery, Clermont

Bands subject to change … Email Gary@akersmediagroup.com to submit an event for In Concert.

Submissions must be received by the ninth of the month prior to month of the event (example: June 9 for July issue).

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Leesburg Events!

4701 Hwy. 19A, Suite 2 Mount Dora, FL 32757 July 20 14

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On the scene // out+about A travel companion for points near and far

LIVING MASTERPIECES Claude Monet believed his greatest masterpiece was his garden, and like the great artist, others have created magical wonderlands that have become living legacies for the public to enjoy. If you are looking for gardening inspiration, you don’t have to travel as far as Monet’s garden. These two Southern gardens delight visitors all year long, and you might even learn a thing or two about gardening in your own backyard.

STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS PHOTOGRAPHY: MARY ANN DESANTIS AND COURTESY OF BELLINGRATH GARDENS

POLASEK SCULPTURE GARDENS Winter Park // polasek.org One of Central Florida’s best-kept secrets, the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens is a cultural gem in the heart of Winter Park.

I’ve talked to people in the Orlando area who didn’t even know it existed, much less its history as the home of artist and sculptor Albin Polasek. Polasek was the head of the Art Institute of Chicago’s sculpture department for 30 years before retiring to Winter Park in 1950.

The gardens are not large — less than 3 1/2 acres — but the peaceful serenity visitors achieve is immeasurable.

"A lot of people say they feel their blood pressure drop when they walk through the gardens," says director Debbie Komanski. "There is a true sense of tranquility here."

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The paved walkways wind throughout the property and overlook Lake Osceola. The array of seasonal annuals keeps the grounds in color all year, but it's the 50 outdoor sculptures that make the garden unique. Most are freestanding and architectural sculptures by Polasek himself while a few others are by 20th century sculptors.

Born in what is now the Czech Republic, Polasek moved to the U.S. in 1901 at the age of 22. Much of the art throughout the home reflects his heritage, including a chapel dedicated to his mother. He married late in life — at age 71 — and had no children. Following the death of his first wife, Ruth, he married Emily Kubat nine years

.com

later and together they set up the Albin Polasek Foundation to share his works in his gallery, chapel and gardens. Following Emily Polasek's death in 1988, the Polasek residence was opened to the public and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to Komanski, 40 percent of the 25,000 annual visitors to Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens are foreign tourists. The facility even offers tours in French and German upon request but most people like to walk though and enjoy the quiet.

"A lot of people come after they have tired of the theme parks," says Komanski. "This is the non-tourist thing to do."

Another non-tourist thing to do is to participate in the hands-on gardening workshops Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to noon. The Polasek is a nonprofit organization and relies on donations and volunteers. The twice-weekly demonstrations and informal talks cover a range of topics, but participants come dressed to work as well.

"It's surprising how far away people live but they come for the camaraderie as much as anything," says Komanski. "They realize we are a small nonprofit organization, and we rely heavily on our 'Garden Gang' volunteers. It's amazing to see the impact they have."

Trip

TIP

CALL AHEAD

before visiting any public gardens. Weddings or special events are often scheduled in the homes or gardens, which may be closed to the public for a period of time.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS & HOME Theodore, Alabama // bellingrath.org "Look what a wife will do to a perfectly good fishing camp," Walter D. Bellingrath said after his wife, Bessie Morse Bellingrath, transplanted a few azaleas to his beloved "Belle Camp" on the Fowl River just south of Mobile. She soon "dressed up" the place with camellias and roses and the Bellingraths eventually moved to the property full time in 1936.

Little did they know Bellingrath Gardens would become so popular, but they got their first inkling in 1932 when they opened the property to a Depression-weary public for a day of azalea gazing.

The response was astounding as the road between Mobile and the gardens became clogged.

"We had to call the police to untangle the traffic jam that ex-

tended more than three miles. It’s been open ever since," Bellingrath later said.

Often referred to as the "the charm spot of the Deep South," the 65-acre Bellingrath Gardens is known for its 250,000 azalea bushes. I visited when more than 2,000 roses were in full bloom, and the first glimpse of the signature rose garden was a feast for the eyes — and the nose. In homage to Bellingrath's civic pride, the layout has a familiar look.

"The rose garden layout is in the shape of a Rotary Club wagon wheel," explains Leslie Schraeder, public relations director for Bellingrath. "There are 75 different varieties of roses filling the cogs of the circle."

Beyond the rose garden is the "Great Lawn," which stays green

all year and has become one of Bellingrath's iconic spots for photography and, of course, weddings. Seasonal flower beds, which are the largest in the gardens, border the vast open tract.

Tucked away in the cool forest of cultivated landscaping is the 10,500-square-foot Bellingrath home, which still contains its original furnishings, china, crystal and silver. Bellingrath, Mobile's first Coca-Cola bottler, lived in the home alone following Mrs. Bellingrath's death in 1943.

Although the couple did not have children, they frequently entertained their nieces and nephews, and their generosity was known throughout the area. At age 80, Bellingrath founded the Bellingrath-Morse Foundation to assure the continued existence

of his and his late wife's beloved gardens in perpetuity. He died in 1955 at 86.

Bellingrath Gardens also offers programs, called "Wonderful Wednesdays," when visitors can learn more about gardening from horticulture experts. The facility is open year-around, and every season offers a spectacular array of colors. Bellingrath himself may have said it best: "The gardens are like a beautiful woman with a different dress for each week of the year."

About the writer

Mary Ann DeSantis has written features for Style publications since 2006.

She was recognized with a first-place Florida Press Club Excellence in Journalism Award for Travel Writing in 2012.

July 20 14

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On the scene // social spotlight Where you want to be

GIVING BALLROOM DANCING A WHIRL

Enjoy an evening of glitz, glamour and fun as newbie ballroom dancers twirl the night away.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

Sheri Olson has faithfully watched each season of “Dancing with the Stars.” She even converted her husband, Don, into a fan.

“The show is great because people who have never done ballroom dancing stretch well beyond their comfort zone and participate in something challenging,” she says. “They also display their ballroom dance skills in front of a national audience. It’s a very glamorous and fun show to watch.”

Sheri, director of the South Lake Hospital Foundation, will soon display some fancy footwork of her own. Stepping Out for Education, modeled after the popular television series, will allow Sheri and five other local celebrities to showcase their ballroom dance skills and raise money for the Education Foundation of Lake County.

The event will be held July 26 at Lake Receptions in Mount Dora from 6 to 11p.m. Proceeds benefit teachers and students in Lake County’s public schools.

“It’s exciting to see local people put themselves in the limelight for a good cause,” says Carman Cullen, executive director of the Education Foundation of Lake County. “It is a very elegant evening — the dancers even wear $10,000 ballroom dance costumes that we rent.”

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PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD During Stepping Out for Education, each local celebrity will be paired with a professional ballroom dancer. The partners will complete both a rhythm and smooth dance routine, each lasting two minutes. A group of professional judges will determine the top male and top female dancers based on creativity and skill, while the audience will vote for the top overall performer, who’ll walk away with the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Here’s the twist.

“One of the criteria we use in selecting local celebrities is they cannot have any previous ballroom dancing experience,” Carman says. “We do this to make the competition fair.”

So while the pressure may not be as intense as “Dancing with the Stars,” the process of turning ordinary people into trained dancers keeps teachers and students on their toes. Each celebrity receives 20 hours of instruction with their professional dance partner prior to the event. Sheri trains once a week at the Crystal Ballroom in Casselberry with Romney Reyes, a world champion ballroom dancer. The duo plan to dazzle the crowd when they perform the cha-cha to “Love Never Felt so Good.”

“Being a participant in ballroom dancing is a lot different than watching it,” Sheri says. “The dancers make it look so easy on television, but when I’m practicing I sometimes wonder whether my body will move that fast.”

For Sheri, becoming versed in proper form and routines has been challenging.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m doing everything right and then I’ll turn in the wrong direction,” she says. “However, learning ballroom dance has been a blast and I’m fortunate to have a great partner. I trust him completely when he lifts me in the air, and I know he’ll keep me safe.”

Despite the learning curve, Sheri is ready and eager to dance.

“I find myself at work walking down the hallway and practicing the routine by performing the steps and saying, ‘1, 2 … cha cha cha,’” she says. “I’ve warned my co-workers that I’m not crazy.”

Even after hours of practice, it’s normal for celebrities to feel a wide range of emotions on the night of the event.

“They are nervous and excited at the same time,” Carman says. “However, when the night is over, every celebrity has come up to me and said this was one of the most exciting things they’ve ever done.”

Participants also enjoy health benefits.

Just ask Brad Weber, a Stepping Out for Education celebrity ballroom dancer from 2011 who lost 58 pounds.

“I was out of shape, so I started going to the gym three months before training with a dance instructor,” says Brad, senior vice president of Citizens First Bank. “My blood pressure and blood-sugar level improved dramatically. Today, I dance competitively with my wife, Glenda, and enjoy both the athletic and artistic sides of ballroom dancing.”

HAVE A BALL In addition to a magical evening of dancing, guests are treated to a seven-course dinner. This year’s safari theme will feature a backdrop with palm fronds, canopies and special lighting.

Tickets cost $125 per person or $150 for preferred seating.

Seating is limited to 400 people. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Education Foundation of Lake County at 352.326.1265.

IN ADDITION TO SHERI, THE OTHER LOCAL CELEBRITIES INCLUDE: • • • • •

Heath Nailos, an attorney with Boyetee, Cummins, Nailos Bobby Rhodes, president of Eco Construction Group Freddy Williams, chief executive officer of Boys and Girls Club of Lake and Sumter Counties Sandi Moore, executive director of the Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce Dr. Melissa DeJarlais, principal of Fruitland Park Elementary

July 20 14

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On the scene // Hi, society!

STAYING A CUT ABOVE

Janet West, president and chief executive officer of Shear Express, delivered exciting news to more than 75 employees who gathered at Waterfront Inn. The owner of multiple salons in The Villages for 27 years, Janet announced the salon group was rebranding under one name: Salon Jaylee. The three salons have new building signs, menus, décor, floor mats and business cards.

LIZZIE VANHOUSEN, PAM LOVELY, JOHN ROBINSON, AMANDA MASTRAPA, TARYN WILLIFORD KAEGI GREENE AND EVELYN JACA

PHOTOS: MORGAN ELLIS

SARAH PETRO, BRANDY SMITH, TRICIA DURHAM

JERRI TAYLOR, CARLA LANSFORD, BETHANY BANDY, CRYSTAL EALUM

“Rebranding our salons under one name makes it easier for guests to acknowledge they’re receiving exceptional service at multiple locations.”

—Molly Soltis

MICHELLE MARTINEZ AND LEIGHA MILLER, JANI BAZE, AIMEE ANDRADE JAIME BUTNER, DANIELLE HARNUM JACKIE JOHNSON AND KAREN POPLIN

LINDSAY TURNER, ERIKA STOCKDALE, KELSEY FORT, HEATHER NICHLES

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www.MissDaisysFlowers.c om July 20 14

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55

On the scene // Hi, society!

TAMARA SNYDER, KERI PHILLIPS, DR. GEORGE HAGERTY, DONNA MARTIN, AND CHELSEA EUBANK JIM AND WINFRED COX

HOW SWEET

The Lake Eustis Museum of Art, the first dedicated art museum in Lake County, held its annual signature gala, Wine-A-Fare. Guests enjoyed a spectacular display of fine art, two silent auctions, fine wines and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres. Culinary students from Lake Tech served patrons throughout the evening. Proceeds from the event help support the organization’s various programs, art classes and exhibitions.

JEROME BROUHARD

AUSTIN SIMMONS AND MAXINE GREEN LEE ANN GILSON AND GAYLE SIKKEMA

TOM MIRANDA AND MARVYN RIVETT

DEAN AND TERESA SIMMONS DAVID SILSETH, CAROLINE BRUECHE, RICHARD COLVIN

MAXINE GREEN AND BETTY BREEDLOVE

SUE AND BILL CHELSETH PHOTOS: AUBREY AKERS

BARBARA AND DAVID BARDLEY

“I’m the queen of 50/50.”

—Suzy Bunn

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“After having a peripheral nerve stimulator implanted, my pain has been decreased by 85 percent. I am no longer on pain medication and muscle relaxers. Dr. Pyles is excellent, and I’ve recommended him to friends.”

—MELISSA HOLYCROSS, OCALA`

Stephen T. Pyles, M.D.

Pain Treatment Centers of Florida Pain is inevitable,

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On the scene // Hi, society!

ART OF GOLD

PHOTOS: RON VANDEVANDER

White tents lined Main Street as some of the nation’s most talented artists displayed their work during the 37th annual Leesburg Art Festival. In addition to eye-catching art, the festival featured book signings with local authors, a classic car show, gourmet food trucks and live entertainment. Local children also exhibited their artwork at the Student Art Exhibit.

JESSICA SENTENERI WITH AMELIA AND ABIGAIL RESSLER

CHELSEY WEBER KYRI AND KRISTI BAILEY

RHYS AND HALEY MCCOY HAYLEE, LORI AND JUDY VANDERBILT LISA AND DORIS TROUT

ALEX CLEMMER

SHANNON WILKERSON

LYNN FERRIS

“Smithing is a craft that’s going away. The Leesburg Art Festival gives me an opportunity to introduce people to my teaching studio in Mount Dora. I also teach for the Mount Dora Center for the Arts and the Maitland Art Center.”

— Barb Boyce

The local version of Dancing with the Stars Six area celebrities will be dancing the fox trot, rumba, cha cha, swing, and tango with professional dancers from around the state. Each dancer has receiced 20 hours of instruction and is ready to perform in front of nationally renowned judges and you. Audience voting will be combined with judges’ scores to name the winner of Stepping Out for Education, a local version of “Dancing with the Stars.”

The Stars of 2014

Freddy Williams CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of L&S with Hannah Pickard

Sheri Olson

Director, South Lake Hospital Foundation with Romney Reyes

Sandi Moore

Executive Director, Leesburg Chamber with Eddie Rivera

Bobby Rhodes

President Eco Construction Group with Lora Costantini

Dr. Melissa DeJarlais Principal Fruitland Park Elementary with Bruce Monsanty

Heath Nailos

Attorney Boyette, Cummins & Nailos, PLLC with Melanie Sandvig

This event sells out, reserve your seat today. General seating $125, preferred seating $150 includes a 7 course meal, and a chance to vote for your star.

Call 352-326-1265, www.edfoundationlake.com or www.eventbrite.com

On the scene // Hi, society!

GIVING THANKS

KaDee Kay in Mount Dora has enjoyed a robust loyal following since opening in 2010. KaDee Kay employees recently showed their gratitude with a customer appreciation day that included product demonstrations and hourly drawings. The 200-plus customers who attended also received a gift with each purchase.

HEATHER MCPHERSON, KATIE FARMAND, PAM BRANDEN KIM FRIEDMAN AND JAN WEAVER

EMILY BELL AND DARLA FOWLER

LORIN MCCLELLAN AND GAILE GIBSON CAROLYN FORNATARO, BARBARA PACE, KATHY DAWSON, KATHY HELLUM

“We came all the way from Savannah,Georgia.”

— Pat Bonner and Jerri Pierce

PHOTOS: MATTHEW GAULIN

ALEXANDER GANDIA

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As an industry and community leader for more than 45 years, ERA Grizzard Real of their brand with a new name and logo.

unveiled to the public their new look at

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“It’s way beyond a simple name and logo change,” said Gus Grizzard, Broker/ Owner of ERA Grizzard Real Estate, “Real Estate is one of the fastest evolving industries, and this is a visual cue to the public that we are evolving with it.”

Since their founding in 1968, ERA Grizzard Real Estate has grown from a local Real

“ERA Grizzard has been a member of the ERA® family for nearly 40 years. So, it

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retina care improving

through research

In the ever-expanding field of retina care, vitreoretinal specialist and surgeon Dr. Shalesh Kaushal is excited that the Retina Specialty Institute continues to play a key role in furthering medical advances through its participation in clinical trials and giving patients access to the most advanced care.

A clinician scientist with a strong academic background, Dr. Kaushal takes great pride in being involved in cutting-edge clinical trials to treat many conditions of retinal disease. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md., and his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

His work as head of the retina division at the University of Florida in Gainesville has helped cultivate his passion for solving problems for both his patients and the scientific community. As result, he has earned a reputation as being a selfless visionary and compassionate practitioner.

As an avid researcher, Dr. Kaushal has participated in numerous clinical trials involving revolutionary breakthroughs in retina care such as gene therapy, stem cell treatment, and new drugs. And he is bringing these breakthroughs to Retina Specialty Institute’s Villages office, which is conveniently located in the Sharon Morse building Suite 532.

High on the list of innovations is the use of stem cells. “There are many types of stem cells, but there are two basic kinds that we look at. There are cells that can rejuvenate tissue and then there are types that can actually regenerate and replace cells that are lost through normal wear and tear, injury, or disease,” says Dr. Kaushal.

“We want to bring those types of trials to The Villages.”

The Retina Specialty Institute is also highly involved in researching the use of nutraceuticals to treat a variety of visionthreatening diseases, especially within his field of specialty: inherited retinal and macular diseases like retinitis pigmentosa

(RP) and Stargardt disease as well as age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). “Instead of patients receiving injections to treat dry macular degeneration, we are hoping to find oral medications to mediate the disease,” he says. “We’re bringing exciting research to Central Florida.”

As a FDA-approved clinical trial study center, Retina Specialty Institute is known widely among major pharmaceutical companies, peers, and patients for delivering continual peak performance. The goal is to use the research to provide patients with better results while being less intrusive.

Aside from his contributions and active involvement in clinical research, Dr. Kaushal carries a real passion for charity — as proven by his many diligent hours caring for and treating underserved populations in local communities as well as abroad.

Dr. Kaushal also enjoys the sacred relationship between doctor and patient and makes it a point to communicate in a way that is both clear and understandable. He considers it a great honor to provide quality patient care that not only restores sight and improves vision but also increases quality of life.

The surgeons of Retina Specialty Institute are lending shape to the unknown, forging the next generation of knowledge and technology that help preserve the gift of sight from retina diseases like diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

Experience visionary retina care. Preserving. Treating. Advancing Now accepting patients at The Villages.

Call today for an appointment at 850.529.7077

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

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MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED

SCAN HERE with your smart phone To learn more about Tri-County Podiatry

1585 Santa Barbara Blvd., Suite B, The Villages tricountypodiatry.net // 352.259.1919

FOOTC A R E F OR PE OPL E OF A L L AG E S W I T H AC T I V E LIFEST Y LES.

“I suffered from pronation in both feet, as well as rheumatoid arthritis. I could not walk for three months. I visited Dr. Felix Esarey, who prescribed custom orthotics and recommended special footwear. Now I walk three miles a day and also do yoga and ride horses. Dr. Esarey is an excellent doctor who strives for the best results. He makes you feel like you are the only patient in the entire office.”

—Pauline Piazza

S E RVICE S

Ocala 4730 SW 49th Rd. Tavares 2754 Dora Ave. Summerfield 10435 SE 170th Pl. Williston 412 W. Noble Ave. The Villages 1050 Old Camp Rd. The Villages 1950 Laurel Manor Dr., Bldg 240 352.854.0681 // ocalaice.com // limbstitute.com

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innovation. compassion. excellence.

OF

Featuring

PUCKER UP FOR PICKLEBALL

TWO “SUPERSTARS” TALK ABOUT THE GAME’S POPULARITY IN THE VILLAGES. Page 7 ONE FOR ALL

THE POLICE AND FIRE RETIREES CLUB OF THE VILLAGES BRINGS RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS TOGETHER. Page 2

Plus

THE AVIATOR’S WIFE

THE STORY OF ANNE MORROW LINDBERGH COMES TO Page LIFE.14

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CLUB OF THE MONTH STORY: JAMES COMBS PHOTOS: MATTHEW GAULIN

BAND OF BROTHERS POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS SHARE CAMARADERIE AND GOOD TIMES.

As a New York City police officer, protecting Pope John Paul II was one of Jack McTigue’s most memorable duties.

“My biggest fear was something would happen to him on my watch,” says Jack. “Fortunately, nothing bad happened. To this day he was one of the most special people I’ve ever met.

He radiated happiness and was a joy to be with. He was great, and I don’t call many people great.”

McTigue spent 23 years and three months with the NYPD before he retired as a sergeant in 1987. Though he enjoys life after law enforcement as a retiree in The Villages, he still maintains a strong camaraderie with police officers and firefighters alike. He’s the president of the Police and Fire Retirees Club of The Villages, a 242-member club founded in 1996. The club is open to all police officers and firefighters who live in The Villages.

“It’s always great to meet people who have the same interests, backgrounds and stories to tell,” Jack says. “We can open up to one another because we’ve all experienced difficult times in our careers that only other police officers or firefighters can understand. One for all and all for one — that’s what we’re all about.”

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There is no shortage of pride and patriotism in the club.

During Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15, the club members present a wreath at Veterans Memorial Park of The Villages to honor fellow officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. They also hold an annual gathering at St. Mark The Evangelist Church to read the name of each victim killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“Unfortunately,” Jack says, “too many people forget 9/11.”

Members also hold many social activities throughout the year, including picnics, golf outings and a Christmas party.

Jack, who recently was named president, plans to add several activities.

“One thing I want to do is visit local attractions, which would allow us to spend an entire day of fun together while getting to know each other on a more personal level. I would also like to have ice cream socials in the summer. I want this club to be enjoyable for both members and their spouses.”

THE CLUB MEETS FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 7P.M. INSIDE LA HACIENDA CENTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL JACK AT 205.7101 OR VISIT POLICEANDFIRERETIREESCLUB.US.

THIS IS YOUR INVITATION TO

The Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce Here is why you should be a part of Leesburg’s Chamber of Commerce: A Voice for your Business: • Supporting members with issues affecting their business Networking through Programs and Events • The Sunrise Breakfast Meeting • Business After Hours • Volunteer opportunities • Involvement in committees Offering Visibility and Information – We help you get your business noticed • Sponsorship opportunities • Business to Business advertising • Membership listing and link on website • Training and Education

Call now to join today 352.787.2131 leesburgareachamber.com

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meet a villager STORY: JAMES COMBS PHOTO: MATTHEW GAULIN

MOST NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENT: I was part of a team that developed one of the country’s first early intervention programs and curricula for babies and children with serious developmental disabilities. The focus was on giving parents the skills they needed to be their child’s first and best teacher. What is neat about the model is it also works for normally developing preschoolers and their parents. It has been replicated all over the world. I wish I had it when my kids were little!

COLLECTION: As long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to tribal art and artifacts. It began with Native American art collected when I was a consultant to the Navajo Nation and grew when I discovered and fell in love with “primitive” African art. I worked for the U.S. Department of Defense in England as a school administrator and I used my holidays to travel to African and Oceanic countries to collect in situ.

My home is chock-a-block full of wonderful stuff.

FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION: As you might expect, East African countries hold a special place in my heart.

Given the peace I felt when I was there, perhaps it was my home in a previous life. Watching rainbows form over Victoria Falls was something I’ll never forget, along with the safaris and magnificent animals roaming free. Bali and India are also high up on my “maybe-I’d-go-back-ifI-wasn’t-so-old” list.

MEETING A FAMOUS PERSON: I’d never won anything before, but in 2008, I was one of 10 people in the country selected to attend the Democratic convention in Denver as a VIP. I met Barack Obama backstage before he accepted his party’s nomination. I was an active supporter of the then-senator and I’m a total political junkie, so you can imagine how exciting this was. Even after saying all that, the experience exceeded all my expectations.

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MARSHA SHEARER

Leesburg Events! www.LeesburgEvents.com I

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this ‘n’ that STORY: FRED HILTON

(NOT) COMING SOON TO A VILLAGES NEAR YOU: DISNEYAGES PARK! Confession: I don’t play golf. I live in The Villages, which is golf-crazy, but I never took up the game. I did try playing a par-3 course once, but I wasn’t immediately a brilliant player so I said to heck with it. Maybe I would have liked it better if I had called it an “executive course.”

Probably not. I’m rather like Mark Twain, who said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” An even better appraisal of golf came from Furio Giunta, my favorite character on HBO’s “The Sopranos.” Furio described golf as a “stupid a-bleeping game.”

You might think the odds of finding a Villager who doesn’t golf is pretty slim. I heard a guy on TV once say that about 60,000 people played golf in The Villages last year. If he said it on TV, it has to be true. There’s a rule that anything you say on TV has to be true. The Internet has the same rule.

There are more than 100,000 of us in The Villages, so that means 50,000 or so of us don’t play golf. At last count, there were 43 golf courses in The Villages. Why do golfers have all that land and we non-golfers don’t have any large chunks of land to play around on? I won’t demand half of the area

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allotted to golf, but taking over three courses for non-golfers to use certainly doesn’t seem unreasonable.

Just think of the great things we could do on land being wasted by people hitting and chasing a defenseless little white ball. We could create some wonderful new fun areas.

First, we would build Disneyages Park, a great place for Villagers as well as their grandkids. It would have rides, entertainment and all those happy things they have at Walt Disney World. Disneyages Park would combine the most prominent features of both Disney World and The Villages.

Like The Villages, there would be free entertainment daily and it would be open to all. But like Disney World, a soda would cost you $11.50 and a hot dog $19.75. Also, we could use some of those cute trams to bring people from their parking lots to the park, and, keeping in line with the Disney experience, the parking lots would be in Leesburg and Ocala. Transportation to and from the parking lots would be greatly simplified when we finish the monorail system.

The second converted golf course will be renamed Home, Home on the Range. When we first started coming to The

Villages, a bunch of buffalo hung out in a field next to Route 466. (A “bunch” of buffalo is approximately two-thirds the size of a herd.) It was super fun to go down there and gawk at the buffalo. Then one day, the buffalo suddenly disappeared.

It was like the Baltimore Colts vanishing overnight and ending up in Indianapolis. The buffalo, I assume, are now in the witness protection program somewhere. Our golf course land will enable us to bring the buffalo home so we can all gawk at them again. It would also allow the school mascot of The Villages High School teams to make sense. We might even bring in some deer and antelope to play. In addition to looking really cool, the buffalo would serve as a way to get rid of house guests who have been hanging around too long.

We’ll just suggest they go climb on the back of a buffalo and take pictures. It will work every time.

Our third converted golf course will be named Camp No. 1/Camp No. 2. Thousands of Villages — golfers and nongolfers — have at least one dog. Most of us are great about picking up after our dogs. (Note to those inconsiderate clods who aren’t: We know who you are and where you live.)

Wouldn’t it be fun if occasionally we didn’t have to worry about picking up after Fido? Camp No. 1/Camp No. 2 will make that possible. Just let the puppy romp and allow nature to call. You won’t have to do a thing. But we won’t leave a mess. We’ll hire people seeking employment and get them to go through the park with their handy pooper-scooper thingies. In addition to making a pleasant atmosphere for dogs and their owners, we would be helping lower the unemployment rate. It would truly be a shovel-ready project.

ABOUT THE WRITER Fred Hilton spent 36 years as the chief public relations officer/spokesman for James Madison University in Virginia and 10 years as a reporter and editor for The Roanoke Times in Virginia. He is now happily retired in The Villages with his interior designer wife, Leta, their Cadillac Escalade golf cart, and their dog, Paris. (Yes, that makes her Paris Hilton).

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PASSION FOR PICKLEBALL

Golf isn't the only thing bringing new residents to The Villages. People are discovering this is the place to be for pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS

The distinctive ponnk … ponnk … ponnk sound emanating from pixie-sized courts around the recreation centers in The Villages can’t be missed. Neither can the thousands of residents who have taken up pickleball. They seem to be everywhere and their numbers are growing. That’s not surprising, considering pickleball itself has become the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., according to the USA Pickleball Association. An estimated 150,000 people play nationally, and about 8,000 of them live in The Villages.

In fact, The Villages has been dubbed “the pickleball capital of the world,” even though the game was invented near Seattle, in 1965. The designation is due to the 120 pickleball courts scattered throughout the active adult community and the wealth of leagues that compete nationally.

“This place is a mecca for pickleball,” says Richard “Mo” Movsessian, who teaches pickleball clinics around the country. “It’s the perfect sport for seniors because there is a lot less running than in tennis or other racquet sports.”

Pickleball is played on a 20x40-foot court, about the size of a badminton court. Lightweight paddles are used to hit a ball that is a slightly smaller than a wiffle ball. The object of the game is similar to tennis in terms of hitting the ball over the net and hoping opponents cannot return it. However, there are differences.

Players must let the ball bounce one time on their side before returning it and a lower net is used.

Anyone who plays pickleball in The Villages recognizes the names of two former tennis coaches who are now legendary in the world of pickleball: Mo Movsessian and Deborah Harrison.

Both moved to The Villages specifically because of the pickleball facilities.

“Coach Mo and Deb are the superstars of pickleball,” says Gene Vogel, a Villager who admits pickleball can be addicting. “Mo is a great teacher and player, as is Deb, who has had enormous success in the sport.”

WHY IS THE NAME SO FUNNY?

In 1965, then-U.S. Rep. Joel Pritchard and his golfing buddy Bill Bell were looking for a Saturday afternoon game their families could play together. Pritchard's home near Seattle had an old badminton court but no equipment. The men improvised and found pingpong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. The following weekend, they introduced the game to Barney McCallum and the three men decided to create some rules.

Accounts vary as to why it was called "pickleball." Pritchard’s wife Joan once said she called it pickleball because the combination of different sports (badminton, tennis, pingpong) reminded her of the pickle boat in crew, where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats. A more popular story from Barney McCallum blamed the Pritchard's dog, Pickles, for chasing the balls and running off with them.

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MO KNOWS PICKLEBALL Mo taught high school physical education for 29 years near Boston where he coached the tennis, ice hockey and field hockey teams. He also is a former 4.5 USTA-ranked tennis player who became a certified teaching pro when he retired in 1993. He was living in Daytona Beach Shores when he received an invitation to visit The Villages to play pickleball. He was hooked from then on.

“As you get older, that tennis court seems to grow a foot longer every year,” he says with a chuckle. “When you make the transition from tennis to pickleball, you can beat younger people, which gets harder to do in tennis.”

Indeed Movsessian and pickleball doubles partner Phil Bagley were the 2010 Men’s Doubles Silver Medalists in the 35+ category at the USAPA National

Championships in Buckeye, Arizona.

It was his first major tournament and he was playing against men nearly half his age.

He’s since been featured on the CBS “Early Morning Show” and in a Wall Street Journal story. He had so many requests for a pamphlet he wrote years ago that his son-in-law helped him put together a website and DVD, which has sold internationally. That led to an invitation to teach a three-week clinic in Madrid, next spring.

Closer to home, he teaches weekly clinics at two recreation centers with friend Jim Wright and gives private lessons when he’s not on the court enjoying the sport himself.

“I taught ice hockey at every level and hockey is in my blood,” he says. “But I hope to play pickleball until I die.”

GOLD MEDALIST OF THE DECADE Deborah Harrison taught physical education in Cape Code, Massachusetts, for 25 years. She also was a field hockey and tennis coach before retiring and buying a summer place in Fort Myers, where she discovered pickleball.

“Our summer place had only one pickleball court,” says Harrison, who has played the sport since 2002. “You could say we moved to The Villages for the pickleball.”

Indeed, Harrison’s passion for pickleball led to her being named Most Decorated Pickleball Gold Medalist of the Decade in the 2010 Florida Senior Games. She gave up tennis “years ago,” and found that pickleball was a natural extension.

She emphasizes, however, that anyone, even those who have never played rocket sports, can learn to play.

“It’s an easy game to learn,” Harrison explains. “Non-

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athletes can pick it up and get adequate fairly quickly. People gravitate to the game, especially women.”

For players who want to improve, she encourages them to participate in one of the many free clinics and take lessons. “To get better at the game, play at least two hours a week and focus on the things you need to improve,” she says. “Also, find your niche — a place where you are comfortable and the level of play suits you whether it is beginning play or advanced play.”

In addition to giving private lessons, Harrison teaches beginning and intermediate/advanced classes through The Villages Lifelong Learning College and administers the ratings clinics for players who want to qualify for leagues and tournaments. She also plays every day.

“I caution people it’s addictive,” she says.

STAYING SAFE AND INJURY-FREE Local orthopedists report they see quite a few injuries from pickleball, but coaches Deb Harrison and Mo Movsessian say the numbers are minimal when you consider how many people play the sport.

In fact, Movessian says, most injuries occur during the first week someone plays, primarily because people try to do too much. "Start off in moderation," he advises.

Other safety tips from Movsessian and Harrison include the following: • Wear court shoes designed for racquet sports. You need the foot support to be able to move from side-to-side.

• Learn to "slow down" your game.

• Never backpedal. Always turn to chase the ball if it goes behind you.

• If your partner yells, "I've got it," let him have it. Collisions can be serious.

• Keep hydrated by drinking lots of water.

• Schedule morning games if the heat bothers you.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

www.usapa.org www.pickleballcommunity.com (For The Villages) www.pickleballcoach.com (Mo's DVD)

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book club STORY: KATHY PORTER

THE AVIATOR’S WIFE

A STORY OF TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY Much to the surprise and delight of the Bookworm Club, Anne Morrow Lindbergh welcomed members to the meeting. Dressed as Anne was facilitator Dorothy Von Brook, who bore a striking resemblance, including hat and gloves, to Anne as pictured on the book’s cover.

That likeness was heightened by the large pictures of Anne on display.

Although Anne writes the book in first person, the group began the discussion about Charles Lindbergh. They discussed his upbringing, his emotionally devoid mother, his obsession with flying and engineering, and his aversion to the press.

The group noted, in typical Charles fashion, that he chose his wife because he thought Anne was from “good stock” and the word “love” was never mentioned.

Married less than two years after meeting, the couple was continually pursued by the press and the public. Anne became an accomplished pilot in her own right and flew extensively with her husband.

The members noted the only time the couple felt safe was when they were in the air together.

The members discussed Anne’s total devotion to her husband, his control of their finances, and his lack of tenderness with his children. They were particularly concerned with how Anne dealt with the kidnapping and death of their first son, Charles Jr. Thereafter, the family lived in seclusion. Anne had no friends and led a very lonely life raising their five children.

She was often alone while Charles was away.

The group was particularly disturbed

THE NEXT MEETING

The Bookworm Book Club will meet July 15 to discuss Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. Club chair Kathy Porter can be contacted by phone at 352.259.8196 or email at kathymporter@comcast.net.

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I liked this peek into the family of one of America’s heroes. While this was historical fiction, it was well researched and presented as a first-person account in Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s voice. ” — Kay DeRousse Country Club Hills

by Charles’ admiration of Adolf Hitler. Members were also dismayed that Anne appeared to have similar sympathies, as evidenced in her book The Wave of the Future. Was this further proof of Charles’ domination over her?

Members discussed at length another of Anne’s books, Gift from the Sea, published in 1955. Judged to be filled with gentle, meaningful messages, the group felt the book gave an insight into the remarkable life of Anne.

Though this book is fiction, members felt it provided an insight into the lives of the Lindberghs and, in particular, how Anne lived in Charles’ shadow, struggled to find a life of her own, and dealt with his extramarital affairs and illegitimate children.

The group was nearly unanimous in its recommendation of this historically accurate novel.

About the Author Melanie Benjamin is the pen name of Melanie Hauser. Born in 1962, she was an avid reader as a child. She attended Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, where she met her husband, Dennis Hauser. She wrote for local magazines and newspapers before recognizing her love of fiction. She decided to merge her passion for history and biography with her love of fiction. The Aviator’s Wife is her third book. She has written Alice I Have Been, based on the woman who inspired Alice in Wonderland, and The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb about the wife of dwarf circus celebrity Tom Thumb. She says: “I am looking for women who I suspect are not entirely truthful with the historical record or even to themselves — not intentionally, maybe.” Benjamin lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons.

HARDCOVER BESTSELLERS AS OF JUNE 12

1. WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD by: Diana Gabaldon

2. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by: John Green

3. MR. MERCEDES by: Stephen King

4. THE SILKWORM by: Robert Galbraith, J. K. Rowling

5. THE MATCHMAKER WHAT CLUB MEMBERS THOUGHT Any book that I read a second time and enjoy as much as the first read I consider a great book.

Melanie Benjamin’s writing style creates a truly engrossing presentation of Anne Morrow Lindbergh and her life with such a controlling “giant” of a man.

I enjoyed “The Aviator’s Wife” so much I am currently reading Anne Morrow Lingbergh’s biography by Susan Hertog. I had no idea Anne Morrow Lindbergh was so involved in flying after her marriage. It’s too bad she didn’t play a more important role in the many books and news reports that were written Lorraine Tinkler about her husband. I also had difficulty trying to get Sunbury more information about Lindbergh’s out-of-wedlock I enjoyed the book very much. I learned so much about children. If there were seven of them, it is surprising Charles Lindbergh that I had not known. The portrayal they weren’t given any attention in his biographies. of his wife as a person who was reluctant, even fearful, Donna Bohnenberger to reveal her own opinions and fulfill her own potential Palo Alto resonated with me.

A new genre of historical fiction has risen about Kathy Hansen wives/lovers of famous men. “The Aviator’s Wife” Santiago follows in the literary footsteps of “Loving Frank” and I thought the author did a credible job with the life and “The Paris Wife.” I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the Lindberghs. While I knew of his political times of the Lindbergh family. Unfortunately, I do not care for this type of book. It is neither a biography nor leaning and admiration for the Third Reich, I was completely unaware of his other families. an autobiography. I find it hard to believe the author knew the conversations between Charles and Anne. Of Jo Fenstermaker course, the author used her imagination, but I prefer a Winifred true biography.

Jean Setaro Woodbury

by: Elin Hilderbrand

6. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS* by: John Green

7. CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE by: Cassandra Clare

8. THE SMOKE AT DAWN by: Jeff Shaara

9. THE HURRICANE SISTERS

by: Dorothea Benton Frank

10. THE GOLDFINCH by: Donna Tartt

*B&N Exclusive Edition I

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eats IN THE KITCHEN SALUTÉ FORK ON THE ROAD DINING GUIDE

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EATS // in the kitchen Out of the frying pan and onto the page.

‘BERRY’ DELICIOUS

Celebrate your independence with these festive Fourth of July treats.

STORY: SHEMIR WILES PHOTOS: MATTHEW GAULIN

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There’s something about summer that makes people crave a handful of nice, juicy berries. And ‘tis the season for them. Hit any local grocery store and the assortment of fresh blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries is bountiful.

Cheryl Bloom grew up enjoying fresh berries in Michigan.

“We would pick our own strawberries and blueberries,” she says. “Then we would freeze them individually to use all year long to make blueberry pie, strawberry pie or blueberry pancakes.

We also used them to make freezer jam.”

Eating berries fresh with no frills is a given, but sometimes it’s fun to get creative. One of Cheryl’s favorite recipes is for fruit pizza, which she first learned from her friend Jodi.

“My husband doesn’t like fruit, but he’ll eat it if I make a fruit pizza or give him fruit dip,” she says. “It’s perfect for oldfashioned get-togethers where someone volunteers to bring the dessert. My friend made it with kiwi, grapes, mandarin oranges, apples and pineapple.”

In honor of the Fourth, Cheryl gave her fruit pizza a patriotic makeover with blueberries and strawberries. And if you want a gluten-free option, you can replace the standard sugar cookie crust with oatmeal. You can also use canned or fresh fruits to make this dish. Or you can mix the two.

“I love the versatility of this recipe,” says Cheryl. “It’s also quite easy to make.”

If your Independence Day plans have you hitting the road, Cheryl suggests trying layered Jell-O cups as a fun, portable treat.

The idea came to her following a visit from her health inspector to her resturant.

“He said a lot of towns with festivals were starting to offer food in cups so revelers can walk around with them,” she says. “So during Bikefest, I served tossed salads in clear plastic cups with dressing on the side. It was a hit.”

The idea got Cheryl thinking of other ways to utilize the cups.

“This can be a neat way for parents and grandparents to keep snacks in

the refrigerator,” she says. “You can make them ahead of time and then the kids can just help themselves.

You can pack them full of fruits, vegetables or just about anything your child likes.”

Therefore, whether you’re planning a family picnic, a trip to the beach or a tailgating event, Cheryl says use the cups to keep things interesting — and contained.

“Store them in an ice chest and keep different sizes on hand to feed adults and children,” she says. “And what’s great about them is you can write your name on them so you can find your leftovers later.”

‘Berry’ healthy During an 18-year Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School study, doctors gathered data from 93,600 women, ages 25 to 42. They found that women who ate the fewest blueberries and strawberries were at increased risk of a heart attack. Those who ate the most were 34 percent less likely to have a heart attack than the women who ate the least of these fruits.

They also found that those with heart benefits had three or more servings of a half-cup of blueberries or strawberries each week.

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EATS // in the kitchen Out of the frying pan and onto the page.

FRUIT PIZZA Recipe courtesy of Cheryl Bloom

INGREDIENTS:

2.

SUGAR COOKIE CRUST

1 cup butter 1 1/2 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

3.

4.

5.

CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

3 (8-ounce) packages of cream cheese 3/4 cup sugar TOPPING

Strawberries Blueberries DIRECTIONS: 1. Cream butter, sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract and egg using an electric mixer.

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Add baking powder, salt and flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Dough will become very stiff. Blend the last 3/4 cup flour by hand.

Place dough in 12-by-18 cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until slightly golden brown.

Mix cream cheese and sugar in bowl. Spread mixture on crust once it’s cool.

Arrange fruit of choice in any combination on top of cream cheese spread. For the American flag, use whole blueberries and sliced strawberries. Use a No. 16 tip and pastry bag to squeeze extra cream cheese spread between the stars. Make typical shells for the borders.

NOTE: A glaze keeps the fruit fresher longer and adds a little more flavor and moisture to the pizza. If you like a glaze on your fruit pizza, use juice from canned pineapple and mandarin oranges. Add enough water to make two cups. Add 1/2 cup of sugar and three tablespoons of cornstarch. Bring to boil, then cool slightly. Pour over fruit.

LAYERED JELL-O CUPS Recipe courtesy of Cheryl Bloom

Clear cups are a great way to transport any cold grab-and-go treat. Make these red, white and blue desserts for a fun take-to-the-beach Fourth of July treat. They can be for the kids or the kid that lives inside of us.

INGREDIENTS: 1 (3-ounce) Berry Blue Jell-O package 1 (3-ounce) Strawberry or Cherry Jell-O package 1 four-pack Knox unflavored gelatin 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite flavoring (I suggest lemon, strawberry, or orange) 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar Red, white and blue sprinkles 4 (16-ounce) clear cups (If you prefer to have smaller portions, use 9-ounce clear cups) DIRECTIONS: 1. Fill microwaveable measuring cup/bowl with one cup water.

2. Microwave for 90 seconds, or until almost boiling.

3. Mix dry Berry Blue Jell-O into hot water. Stir until Jell-O is completely dissolved.

4. Add enough ice cubes to reach the two-cup mark and keep stirring.

5. When ice is melted, pour 1/2 cup blue Jell-O into each cup.

6. Refrigerate until set. Wash and clean measuring bowl and utensils for next step.

7. Mix two packets of Knox gelatin with one cup cold water. Let sit for one minute.

8. Heat one cup of water in microwave for 90 seconds, or until almost boiling. Remove water from microwave and add one teaspoon flavoring and 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar. Add hot mixture to cold mixture and stir well.

9. When the clear gelatin has reached a thicker consistency, stir in red, white and blue sprinkles. Spoon 1/2 cup clear gelatin over blue Jell-O. Refrigerate until set.

10. Follow the same directions with the red Jell-O. Pour over clear gelatin.

Refrigerate until set.

NOTE: If taking on a picnic or to the beach, cover tightly with plastic wrap and keep cold. If desired, add whipped topping just before serving.

EATS // saluté A worldly look at wine

SMOKIN’ HOT WINES FOR SUMMER Barbecues and outdoor cookouts have their own special challenges when it comes to pairing wines with the meal, especially if the outdoor heat index seems to match the inside of your grill.

STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS

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R

ed wine lovers unite! Just because it’s hot outside doesn’t mean you must give up red wines and replace them with crispy whites or summer sparklers. In fact, now is the time to try some new wines with that juicy, sizzling steak hot off the grill.

“Red wine sales fall a little in summer but not as much as you would think,” says Jerome Brouhard, sommelier and manager for Maggie’s Attic in Mount Dora. “There is still a huge demand, and people do love their cabernets.”

Brouhard also recommends Argentinian malbec to complement grilled beef.

“Argentina is known for its beef,” he says, “so it’s not a surprise that malbec pairs well with beef dishes any time of year. Malbecs also have a lot of the same characteristics as cab and merlot.

For rich barbecue dishes, Brouhard is a fan of shiraz (Australian) or syrah (American). This varietal has both savory and sweet spices that come through and often echo the spices found in barbecue sauces.

Red zinfandel — with its deep fruit and bold spice flavors — is another excellent choice to pair with anything barbecued, blackened, flame-broiled, smoked or sizzled.

The spicy complexity of zinfandels brings out the flavors of the grill. Affectionately considered “America’s grape,” zinfandels began their journey as California jug wines shortly after Prohibition ended in 1933.

They were used mostly in generic red blends but today have almost achieved cult status among oenophiles. It’s not unusual to find wine clubs completely devoted to tasting zins only, and many top producing zinfandel regions, such as Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley, are making cellar-worthy zinfandels.

The secret to pairing wines with summer fare is to match the texture and intensity of the food with an equally complex or simple wine. For example, chardonnay is the right choice for a basic shrimp scampi. Throw in a little red pepper and garlic to the same dish, however, and zinfandel might be a

LOCAL WINE MERCHANTS RECOMMEND THEIR FAVORITE WINES FOR SUMMER Joyce Huey, Owner Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe, Leesburg

Jerome Brouhard, Sommelier and Manager Maggie’s Attic, Mount Dora

“When it’s hot outside, I like something light and crispy,” says Joyce.

“Shiraz ranks as one of the best wines for barbecue season,” says Jerome.

Her favorites: Joel Gott Pinot Gris 2012, from Oregon.

His favorite: Tournon ‘Mathilda’ Shiraz 2011, Australia

Ca Montebello Pinot Grigio 2012, from Italy.

better match; the spicy notes in the wine complement the pepper in the scampi.

Of course, there are summer menus when only a light and refreshing wine will do.

Personally, I think a chilled, crisp sauvignon blanc is the perfect poolside wine with or without food. If you do need a snack, try it with a tangy and light goat cheese for a classic combination.

Other flavorful summer pairings include cerviche and sauvignon blanc, lemon chicken with Pouilly-Fume, and fried green tomatoes with French Sancerre. In fact, Brouhard recommends Sancerre with grilled fish, shrimp or chicken. Named for their growing regions in France’s Loire Valley, both Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume are really sauvignon blancs, although the grape is not usually listed on the label. Sancerre tends to be more delicate and have a mineral taste while Pouilly-Fume is smoky and earthy.

ABOUT THE WRITER Living in Italy was the catalyst for Mary Ann DeSantis to understand more about wine, and she now enjoys sharing what she’s learned. Since 2010, Saluté has covered topics for oenophiles of all levels — from novice wine drinkers to experienced connoisseurs. The column received a 2013 Florida Magazine Association Bronze Award for Best Department and a 2012 Florida Press Club Excellence in Journalism Award for Commentary.

WINE MARINADE

Wine makes an excellent base for marinades for grilled meats. Use chardonnay for fish, poultry or chicken. A merlot works best for beef and lamb. Try the following marinade for your next cookout.

Recipe adapted from Health.com

Makes: 3.5 cups Ingredients: 2 cups wine (chardonnay for fish, poultry and pork; merlot for beef and lamb) 1 cup water ¼ cup (packed) light brown sugar ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt or sea salt 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or dried rosemary leaves 1 tablespoon dehydrated garlic Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a non-reactive bowl (glass or stainless steel) and whisk until the salt and sugar are dissolved. The marinade will keep, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Marinating time: 30 minutes to one hour for small pieces. No more than five to six hours for whole roasts.

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EATS // fork on the road Tasty insights and observations

MELLOW MUSHROOM

The new Mellow Mushroom in Mount Dora: ‘Not your average pizza place’ STORY: SHEMIR WILES PHOTOS: MATTHEW GAULIN

Yes, it’s another pizza joint.

And yes, it’s a franchise.

But before you write it off, Mellow Mushroom in Mount Dora isn’t your typical, run-of-the-mill pizzeria chain restaurant. This one takes this American staple and elevates it to gourmet status with interesting flavor combinations, acute attention to quality and lots of creativity.

If you’ve been to a Mellow Mushroom, you know what to expect. But this was my first experience at this eclectic eatery.

Founded by two Georgia Tech students determined to share their love for pizza and beer with like-minded free thinkers, the first Mellow Mushroom opened in 1974 in downtown Atlanta. Since then, Mellow Mushroom has grown to include more than 160 stores in 19 states. Mount Dora joined the family in early April.

The local brains behind Mellow Mushroom are banker Ken LaRoe, his brother Mike LaRoe and radiologist Dr. David Weyn. For a long time, Mellow Mushroom was a dream deferred.

“Back in 2006, we were looking at opening a Mellow Mushroom, but then the economy tanked,” said Mike. “We shelved the idea until 2011. Since we own this property on U.S. 441, we were determined to do something with it. Then came the financial loops that kept us thinking this would never happen. Eventually we were able to secure money for the project last year and now that it’s here we’re just hoping the community will be receptive to what we have to offer.”

What Mellow Mushroom has to offer is funky fresh dishes that reflect the chain’s quirkiness and eccentric style. Plus, Mike and his partners have an unwavering dedication to food quality and handmade delights. Much of their produce is purchased daily from local growers.

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“We get our veggies fresh every day and we prep our ingredients every day,” Mike said. “The only thing we get from corporate is our dough, but what sets it apart from others is its secret ingredient: molasses.”

Another interesting element is Mellow Mushroom’s sensitivity to the health-conscious.

For example, the restaurant employs no fry cooks.

“Everything is baked,” said Mike, “including our chicken wings.”

The restaurant also offers vegan, vegetarian and glutenfree food items, as well as an entire Skinny Shroom menu for those counting calories.

“We really make it a point to take care of our customers with certain dietary needs,” Mike said. “Like, with our gluten-free dishes, we make sure the food is prepared at a separate station to

ensure it isn’t contaminated.”

In addition to great eats, Mellow Mushroom houses a full service sit-down bar with a large selection of wine, liquor and beer, both local and regional. Its large patio area takes the laid-back, freestyle atmosphere outdoors. And for those who play disc golf, there’s a course right on the grounds.

After soaking up the mellow vibes, I was ready to dine. I first tried two of the popular “munchies:” bruschetta, and an order of garlic butter and Parmesan pretzel bites. The bruschetta was bright and flavorful; you could taste the freshness in the diced tomatoes and basil. And the balsamic vinegar and feta cheese gave it just a hint of zest. The pretzel bites were equally phenomenal: warm and chewy and paired

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perfectly with the marinara and beer cheese dips that accompanied them.

For my entree, I naturally needed to try the pizza. The Holy Shiitake Pie caught my eye. Served with an olive oil and garlic base, this pizza is topped with shiitake, button and portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, and mozzarella and MontAmore cheeses. Finished with a garlic aioli drizzle, a touch of black truffle oil, chives and shaved Parmesan, this pizza was outright delicious. The flavors were extremely rich but melded harmoniously. And the dough was cooked to perfection with the right balance of soft and crunchy.

I also was able to savor the Italian hoagie, and what made that sing was the fusion of caramelized onions, a light spring mix of greens and the house-made herb vinaigrette.

It was classic but still distinctive enough to make you appreciate how daring Mellow Mushroom can be with its ingredient choices.

For dessert, Mike allowed me to sample the half-baked brownie supreme. Reminiscent of a molten chocolate lava cake, this warm, gooey sendoff was perfect, and satisfied my incessant sweet tooth. You can never go wrong with chocolate and ice cream, and Mellow Mushroom proved why on occasion it might be better to eat dessert first. I wanted more but I was

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chimed in with his appreciation for Mellow Mushroom’s uniqueness.

“They’re not cookie-cutter at all,” he said. “They have a wide variety of pizza and a great, family friendly atmosphere.

They’re not your average pizza place.”

A couple of seats over, Carl Vossberg was enjoying his first visit — and a steak hoagie. I explained that it was my first time, too, before he goaded me into taking a picture together. We both agreed it was too good not to return.

“The service and food are both stellar,” he said with a smile. “I’ll be back.”

too full to continue stuffing my face.

Splitting a pie at a nearby table, Paul Vining raved about Mellow Mushroom. It was his third visit and each time, he said, he makes sure to try a different pie. That day, he was chowing down on the Philosopher’s Pie. “I love the fact I’m getting a personalmade pizza every time,” Paul said. “The dough is good, the toppings are good, and they have a great beer selection.

They are just different enough to stand out, and what they serve you can’t get anywhere else around here.”

His friend Scott Willoughby

ADDRESS: 18221 U.S. Highway 441 Mount Dora, FL 32757 PHONE: 352.735.8257 HOURS OF OPERATION: Sunday–Thursday, 11a.m.–10p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11a.m.–11p.m.

POPULAR DISHES: Bruschetta: $6.99 Italian Hoagie: $6.99 (half), $9.99 (whole) House Special pizza: $12.99 (small), $19.99 (medium), $24.99 (large) Holy Shiitake Pie: $12.49 (small), $19.49 (medium), $24.49 (large) Half-Baked Brownie Supreme: $4.49

PAYCHECKS

FOR PATRIOTS

HIRING EVENT Wednesday, July 16, 2014 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Exclusive event to help Veterans and their spouses find their next job.

Florida National Guard 400 West Meadow Street Leesburg, FL 34748

LOCATION:

&

American Legion 300 North 3rd Street Leesburg, FL 34748

More Than 50 businesses are anticipated to be in attendance at the event.

Free breakfast offered by The American Legion

For additional information and to pre-register, visit

CareerSourceCentralFlorida.com/Patriots Brought to you in partnership by:

Businesses wishing to join us and hire our nations finest can join by registering at CareerSourceCentralFlorida.com/Patriots CSCF is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711

EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

COUSIN VINNIE’S FAMILY SPORTS RESTAURANT OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK: 11A.M.–9P.M. // FOOD, SPIRITS, MUSIC, SPORTS 10700 U.S. HWY. 441, LEESBURG // 352.253.2442 // WWW.CVINNIES.COM

Cousin Vinnie’s is located on U.S. Highway 441 across from Lake Square Mall and Home Depot. Owner “Cousin” Vinnie Vittoria and his family have created a unique atmosphere by combining a sports bar with a family restaurant. Famous for outstanding food and even better service, Vinnie’s was recently named Medium Business of the Year for 2013. They also have been voted Best Wings in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Additional menu items include killer half-pound burgers, melt-in-your-mouth chicken strips, personal pan pizzas, amazing ribeye cheesesteaks, healthy wheat wraps, homemade salads, 16 awesome appetizers, and their signature deep fried ice cream and Snickers bars. Every Monday is “Texas Hold’em” from 6–10p.m. Tuesday night is “Family Night” from 4–8p.m. where kids 12 and under eat free. Wednesday night is “Trivia Night” with the fun starting at 6:30p.m. and prizes being given to the top three teams. Thursday night is “Karaoke Night” where everyone is a star! There is no better place on the weekends to enjoy the game. Cousin Vinnie’s also offers many cool electronic games for the children, free Wi-Fi, great music, and an enthusiastic staff ready to exceed your expectations. “I absolutely look forward to serving you and your family very soon!” says Cousin Vinnie.

EVANS PRAIRIE COUNTRY CLUB 1825 EVANS PRAIRIE TRAIL, THE VILLAGES 352.750.2225 // WWW.EVANSPRAIRIERESTAURANT.COM

Evans Prairie Country Club is a casual fine dining restaurant inspired by a Western flair while serving delicious cuisine in an intimate dining atmosphere. As the newest country club in The Villages, and as an extension of Brownwood Town Square, you will find our rustic décor pleasing to the eyes and our exceptional food a delight to your palate. Wrought iron chandeliers grace our dining areas accented by wood-like floors, giving you a feel of being in the Old West. Comfortable and inviting, our outside bar will delight your senses while the patio and outside tables provide a scenic up-close view of beautiful Evans Prairie. Our western-style menu is chock-full of cuisine you would expect to find, including citrus-infused salads, hearty steak dishes, and fresh mouthwatering seafood, while staying reasonably priced. Evans Prairie’s specialty drinks and our eclectic dessert menu are sure to have you satisfied, and we greatly value your guest experience from each and every visit.

HOURS OF OPERATION: SUNDAY – THURSDAY: 11A.M.–9P.M. FRIDAY – SATURDAY: 11A.M.–10P.M. HAPPY HOUR: EVERY DAY 11A.M.–5P.M.

THE GOBLIN MARKET RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 331-B DONNELLY STREET (REAR ALLEY), MOUNT DORA 352.735.0059 // WWW.GOBLINMARKETRESTAURANT.COM

Nestled on a back alley in downtown Mount Dora, the Goblin Market Restaurant has been charming locals and tourists alike since 1996. The restaurant, housed in a renovated warehouse, features three intimate, book-lined dining rooms and a full-service lounge furnished in soothing, muted tones with tasteful modern art. The private, tree-shaded courtyard and garden patio are open year-round for al fresco dining. Low lighting and “new age” music add the finishing touches to the restaurant’s casual elegance. Owners Vince and Janis Guzinski embrace a simple philosophy of offering the highest-quality products, served in a unique and romantic atmosphere by a personable and attentive staff.

The Goblin Market’s wine list and menu represent a refreshing mix of ideas from its culinary team. The diversified origins and background of each member ensure exciting menu offerings and nightly selections.

HOURS OF OPERATION: LUNCH TUESDAY–SATURDAY 11A.M.–3:00P.M. DINNER TUESDAY–THURSDAY 5–9P.M. FRIDAY–SATURDAY 5–10P.M. SUNDAY 11A.M.–3:30P.M.

JOIN US FOR OUR NEW “LIGHTER FARE” DINNER MENU, GOURMET SOUPS, SALADS, AND SANDWICHES. TUESDAY– THURSDAY FROM 3–9P.M. (REGULAR DINNER MENU ALSO AVAILABLE).

banking for

A home we can grow into!

YOUR LIFE

A little place to call our own!

When it comes to buying a home, knowledge is power.

That’s why our loan officers make sure you know your options. We listen to your questions, and work quickly to get the answers—and approval—you need. Call Janet or Jeanne today. We’re ready to help.

Janet Noack NMLS#514772 352-589-4663 Jeanne Lazo NMLS#514769 352-771-2404

Found the perfect house?

Let us find a mortgage that’s the perfect fit.

Retirement goals aren’t always easy to meet. So is it crazy to think your financial advisor should be? Not to Edward Jones.

Our over 11,000 financial advisors are in neighborhoods like yours, not downtown skyscrapers. So a face-to-face talk about your retirement is always close at hand. Join the nearly 7 million investors who know. Face time and think time make sense. www.edwardjones.com.

Actually believes retirement goals that seem out of reach require a financial advisor who’s not.

Jeananne C Niemann, AAMS® EUSTIS Eric Blamick 352.357.2204

MKT-7739-A-HP MKT-7739-A-HP

LEESBURG Jeananne Niemann 352.787.7782

MOUNT DORA Rebecca Sargent 352.357.2282

Financial Advisor CLERMONT .

Chris Boylan

114 East Dixie 352.394.8538 Avenue Leesburg, FL 34748 352-787-7782

Products and services offered through Edward D. Jones & Co, L.P. © 2013, Member SIPC

Products and services offered through Edward D. Jones & Co, L.P. © 2013, Member SIPC

11 Convenient Lake County Locations • UnitedSouthernBank.com

EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

JB BOONDOCKS

704 S. LAKESHORE BLVD., HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS 352.324.3600 • WWW.JBBOONDOCKS.COM JB Boondocks is tucked away in a picturesque setting on Little Lake Harris in Howey-in-the-Hills. JB Boondocks is accessible by land, sea, and air via car, motorcycle, boat, or seaplane. With a full bar and a huge outdoor deck overlooking the lake, JB Boondocks makes for the ultimate setting to relax and unwind. The menu offers fresh seafood, steaks, chops, classic Italian dishes, tasty sandwiches, salads, sinfully sweet desserts, and much more. Each Friday night is our famous fish fry, Wednesday night features prime rib and Thursday night is Ladies’ Night. Cocktails from the bar are festive and we have a great selection of beer and wine, as well. Situated on five acres on the lake, JB Boondocks is the perfect place for your car, motorcycle, boat, or seaplane club to gather. We have plenty of dock space and parking to accommodate all your needs.

JB BOONDOCKS IS OPEN FOR LUNCH AND DINNER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY 11A.M.–4P.M., TUESDAY–THURSDAY 11A.M.–9P.M. FRIDAY 11A.M.–10P.M., SATURDAY 11A.M.–10P.M., SUNDAY NOON–8P.M.

SUBWAY

WWW.SUBWAY.COM Custom-made, fresh sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads made right before your eyes. The “healthy” alternative to fast food.

LADY LAKE // 208 W. Guava St. // 352.750.4929 EUSTIS // 469 Plaza Dr. // 352.357.7827 MOUNT DORA // 18870 U.S. Hwy. 441 // 352.735.4376 LEESBURG // 2013 Citrus Blvd. // 352.787.6442 10135 U.S. Hwy. 441, Suite 4 // 352.326.3234 27405 U.S. Hwy. 27, Suite 4 // 352.314.8847 THE VILLAGES // 1580 Bella Cruz Drive // 352.750.9600 8796 S.E. 165th Mulberry Lane // 352.750.9991 1070 Lake Sumter Landing Drive // 352.205.8535 349 Colony Blvd. // 352.391.1657 WILDWOOD // 480 W. Gulf to Alantic Hwy. // 352.748.8800 HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY–SATURDAY SUNDAY

10A.M.–10P.M. 10A.M.–9P.M.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR RESTAURANT IN OUR DINING SECTION? CALL US AT 352.787.4112

When it comes to making summer sizzle, “Lake and Sumter Style” is giving Mother Nature a run for her money.

We’re turning up the heat a few degrees with our second annual Hot List, a compilation of everything that’s hot in Lake and Sumter counties. We would like to thank the hundreds of readers who visited our website to cast their nominations. Now that the nominees are in

place, we need you to vote for the hottest of the hot in the categories, which range from hottest people to hottest places and everything in-between.

Winners will be revealed in our August issue. And we promise you… this will be one of our hottest reads ever.

Hot

Couple

PEOPLE+PLACES City Tavares Mount Dora Leesburg

Hair Style Whitney Fifer Cheryl Kozak Anthony Chiocchi

Personal Style Leah Conner Karen Levy Kristi Juliano

Smile

Eyes Brittany Guadagnoli Debbie Hardaway Ryan Veraghen

Personality Andrew Mullen Jessica Flinn Stephen Wolgamott

Mom Jennifer Dempsey Michelle Wilson Rosanne Brandeburg

Dad Rick Wilson Tom Grizzard Joshua Maine

Janet Gamache David Oliver Willis Anthony Chiocchi

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Interior Designer

Janet Gamache & Brian Young Marc & Cheryl Kozak David & Olivia Willis

Local Organization Mount Dora Young Professionals LSSC Youth Outreach

Hot

PROS

Hair Stylist Tanisha @ Hair Affair in Mount Dora Shirlene @ Anita’s in Tavares LaOra Dean @ Cosmera Hair Studio in Lady Lake

Massage Therapist Tracy Zito Heather Dozier Shannon Reeder

Leah Conner Kristi Juliano

Bartender Matt @ Pisces Rising Terrance @ O’Keefe’s Irish Pub Norm @ Norm’s Palette

Food Server Stephanie @ Lake Dora Sushi Jessica Flynn @ Gourmet Today DeBoris @ Chili’s, Mount Dora

Chef Jessica Flinn @ Gourmet Today Takeshi @ Lake Dora Sushi Brenton @ The Goblin Market

Personal Trainer Laine D’Souza @ Lady Lake Crossfit Tyrell @ Infinity Fitness Lincoln Wallace @ Wallace Fitness

Realtor Audrey Maine @ Coldwell Banker/Camelot Realty Connie Mahan @ Connie Mahan Real Estate Group Barry Blake @ Real Living/Good Neighbor Realty

Volunteer Brian Young Freddie Williams Gidget Gibson

Builder Kevco Builders PSL Construction Emmett Sapp Builders

Healthcare Provider Dr. Jeffrey Glover, DC Lori Esarey, MS, ARNP-C, FAARFM, ABAAHP Dr. Kimberly A. Besuden, DC

Dentist Wade Winker, DDS Perry Ekstrand, DDS Michael Morgan, DDS

Teacher Kelly Raley Anajanette McGregor Wendy Feikert

Coach Sheldon Walker Tim Simpson Kevin Von Maxey

High School Mascot Tavares Bulldog Leesburg Yellow Jacket The Villages Buffalo

Artist Amy Sellers JT Smalley Marc Kozak Kareen Rashelle

Policeman Todd Harris Randy Hon Kyle Moore

Fireman/EMT Tony Cuellar Stacy Bilz Jamey Ricketson

Politician Rosanne Brandeburg Wilton Simpson Bill Mathias

Hot

PLACES

Guys’ Night Out World of Beer Ruby Street Grille Gator’s Dockside

Girls’ Night Out Pisces Rising Mermaid Juice Ruby Street Grille

Date Night The Goblin Market Mount Dora Coffeehouse & Bistro GarVino’s

Family Night Mellow Mushroom, Mount Dora Frogger’s, Mount Dora Food Truck ‘n Flick Night, Leesburg

A Round of Golf El Campéon at Mission Inn Resort Howey-in-the-Hills Harbor Hills Country Club, Lady Lake

Local Entertainer/Entertainment Tommy Treadway Tiki Bar Crawler

Bowling Break Point Alley, Tavares Triangle Lanes, Mount Dora Fiesta Bowl, Lady Lake

Karaoke Legends Café Ruby Street Grille Gator’s Dockside

Movie Theater Barnstorm Theater, Wildwood Old Mill Playhouse, The Villages Epic Theater, Clermont

Performing Arts Theater Bay Street Players at the Historic State Theatre, Eustis Ice House Theatre, Mount Dora Melon Patch Theater, Leesburg

Gala / Fundraiser Lake-Sumter State College Foundation Gala Boys and Girls Club of Lake & Sumter Counties’ Black & White Gala Mount Dora Center for the Arts’ Art of The Deal

Festival / Event Leesburg Bike Fest Mount Dora Arts Festival Mount Dora Fall Craft Fair

Wine Bar Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe, Leesburg Maggie’s Attic, Mount Dora GarVino’s, The Villages

Cigar Bar GarVino’s Cigars, Fine Wine & Gifts, The Villages Bolero’s Cigars & Wine Bar, Tavares

Boat Ramp Hickory Point Recreational Facility, Tavares Mount Dora Lighthouse Simpson Cove, Mount Dora

Lake for Fishing Lake Harris Lake Dora Lake Griffin

Place to Water Ski Lake Harris Lake Dora Lake Eustis

Boating Lake Harris Dora Canal Lake Dora

Hot PLACES TO SHOP Furniture Babette’s Furniture & Home Shoppe, Leesburg Almost Perfect Furniture, The Villages Matamo Designs, Mount Dora

Clothes Em’z on Fifth, Mount Dora Doggibags Boutique, Leesburg Trueman’s Fine Men’s Clothing, Leesburg

Automobiles Vann Gannaway Chevrolet, Eustis Blount Honda, Leesburg Danny Len, Mount Dora

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Jewelry Gold In Art Jewelers, Leesburg and Mount Dora Arden’s Fine Jewelry, The Villages

Pet Items Piglet’s Pantry, Mount Dora The Green K9, Mount Dora Hobscot Pet Supply, Mount Dora

Kitchen/Gourmet KaDee Kay Gourmet Kitchen Products, Mount Dora The Gourmet Spot, Mount Dora

Health Food Store TheGreen Apple Health Foods, Lady Lake Living Green Health Foods, Tavares

Hair Salon Salon Jaylee, The Villages City Looks Salon, Clermont Synergy Salonspa, Mount Dora

Hot PLACES TO EAT+DRINK Sushi Thai Jasmine & Sushi House, Tavares Sakura, The Villages Lake Dora Sushi, Tavares

Burgers Jeremiah’s, Mount Dora Blue Plate Deli, The Villages Square 1 Burgers, The Villages

Steak Jeremiah’s, Mount Dora The Goblin Market, Mount Dora O’Keefe’s Irish Pub, Tavares

BBQ Oakwood Smokehouse, Leesburg Sugar Boo’s Bar-B-Que, Mount Dora Sully’s Smokehouse, Leesburg

Pizza Stavro’s Pizza House, Leesburg Mellow Mushroom, Mount Dora

Wings Cousin Vinnie’s Family Sports Restaurant, Leesburg Ramshackle’s Café, Leesburg O’Shuck’s, Wildwood

Seafood Pisces Rising Palm Tree Grille Cedar River Seafood

Voting is fun and easy, so check off your favorites on these pages and then visit our website to cast your votes!

Dessert Cupcake Time Café, Leesburg Cotillion Southern Café, Wildwood Mount Dora Coffeehouse & Bistro, Mount Dora

Cocktails The Goblin Market Pisces Rising Ruby Street Grille

Coffee Mount Dora Coffeehouse & Bistro, Mount Dora Cody’s on 4th, Mount Dora One Flight Up, Mount Dora

1. Go to LakeAndSumterStyle.com 2. Click on the “HOTLIST 2014 Vote Now” badge on the right 3. Select your favorites Or just scan the QR code below and go straight to the ballot. It’s that simple, but remember, you can only vote once.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the August edition of Lake and Sumter Style magazine to see what’s hot, hot, hot!

Sweet Tea Oakwood Smokehouse, Leesburg Sonny’s BBQ

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The promise of an unstuffy nose.

Nemours Children’s Primary Care, Clermont is now open. We look forward to being here for your child, from early life to early adulthood. And we look forward to building a lasting relationship with your family. As part of one of the nation’s leading pediatric health care systems, we make your child’s health and happiness our primary focus.

meet

Dr. Stanley-Brown Odett R. Stanley-Brown, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician who has provided comprehensive medical care for infants, children and adolescents for more than 25 years.

For appointments call (352) 708-4828 1371 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont, FL 34711 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nemours.org/Clermont

Clermont Your child. Our promise.

Two new locations to serve you.

LEESBURG 803 E. Dixie Ave., Leesburg, FL 34748

THE VILLAGES 1149 Main St., The Villages, FL 32159

Dr. Sanjeev Bhatta

Call today to schedule your appointment.

352.530.2256

Two new locations to serve you.

LEESBURG 803 E. Dixie Ave., Leesburg, FL 34748

THE VILLAGES 1149 Main St., The Villages, FL 32159

Call today to schedule your appointment.

352.530.2256

Dr. Ronnie Sabbah

Over 300 colors

in stock!

COUNTERTOPS • VANITIES • FIREPLACES • FLOORING • CUSTOM FABRICATION

“DON’T WAIT TO MAKE THE

decision of a lifetime!”

“I’m 76-years-old and no one knows what can happen tomorrow. But since moving to Freedom Pointe at The Villages, I am prepared for my future. After my husband passed away, I was afraid to be alone at night. But now I feel safe and secure. I also did not want the burden of maintaining a house and a yard; cooking for one, and house cleaning. My new lifestyle has freed me from all those monotonous chores so I can finally ‘stop and smell the roses.’ For me that means a very busy life with a lot of volunteer work that I enjoy. And I love that I have Life Care and do not have to worry about my accommodations should my needs change. That means peace of mind for my children, too.”

– Barbara Hanson, Freedom Pointe resident

Join us for coffee, conversation and culinary delights!

Tuesday, July 15 | 9:30 a.m.

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Final thought // Gary Corsair

STICKY SUBJECTS

A

t the risk of sounding like a stuck-in-thepast bore, I wish someone would bring back bumper stickers.

I’m talking real bumper stickers with messages that make you laugh, think or grind your teeth.

Thirty-five years ago, when I was learning to keep mom’s Buick Estate wagon between the white lines on Indiana roads, every car had a bumper sticker.

And pickups, well, they were rolling billboards.

Lots of F-150s had the whole bumper covered.

There was hardly room for a license plate after you stated your seed corn preference (DeKalb and Pioneer ran neck-and-neck around Greentown and Windfall), your pickup modifications (Hurst shifters for rich boys; Thrush mufflers for us po’ boys), and an added funny such as “I’m The Only Hell My Momma Raised.”

These days I can drive from Arcadia to Zellwood without seeing a bumper sticker — or at least a clever one. Lots of stick families, deer heads and Salt Life decals, but seldom a message that makes me smile or heat up a couple of brain cells.

Today’s car owners don’t have much to say.

Or maybe they’re afraid of offending someone.

Just once I’d love to pull up to a stoplight and

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be greeted by a thoughtprovoking message such as “Don’t Follow Me, I’m Lost Too.” Or “If You Don’t Like My Driving, Get Off the Sidewalk.”

Shucks, I’d settle for an STP sticker.

Instead, I’m bombarded with all sorts of variations of the “My Child Is An Honor Student,” “My Child is Citizen of the Month,” “My Child Beat Up Your Honor Student,” “My Jack Russell is Smarter Than Your Honor Student.”

All right, enough already.

Actually, I don’t mind if you brag on your child. Student of the Month is a big deal. I know, I never was one.

But using a sticker to tell the world you have children? That’s different.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m happy you’re celebrating family — unless you’re trumpeting how fertile you are. If that’s the case, I ask you to think about couples unable to have children.

Procreation is a Godgiven gift but it’s not a badge of honor. Just about anyone can make babies.

Exhibit A: Nadya Suleman, aka Octomom. Exhibit B: Michael and Dina Lohan.

Your honor, I move we strike stick families from all passenger vehicles.

As for deer heads and Salt Lifers, knock yourself out hunting Bambi’s daddy and unwinding with a fish-

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ing pole on a bobbing boat, but I’m not impressed.

Your deer head and Salt Life stickers don’t restore my faith in mankind.

They just make me feel … well, bad. Thanks for reminding me I have to work while you go play.

Old-time bumper stickers rarely made me feel blue. Many made me laugh. Some were downright inspirational.

Today’s window decals are nothing more than labels ... and unimaginative ones at that.

Calvin urinating on the logo of an NFL team was kinda funny — the first 10 times. Twenty-five years later, not so much.

Back in the day, we said it loud and proud with bumper stickers.

“Don’t Laugh, it’s Paid For”… “Welcome to Florida, Now Go Home”… “I Brake For No Reason”… “Honk If Something Falls Off”…

“Make Love, Not War”…

“One Day At A Time”…

“Keep On Truckin.’”

Now those were bumper stickers!

True, some messages were offensive. “Horn Broken … Watch for Finger,” “Honk if You’re Horny,” and “Keep Honking, I’m Reloading” probably needed to be retired.

Come to think of it, there were a lot of objectionable bumper stick-

ers back in the day.

Then again, so many were funny. “Get Too Close and I’ll Flip A Booger on Your Windshield” … “DY-N-O-MITE!”…

“Win With Nixon.”

C’mon, you gotta giggle.

Driving was more fun when we were able to laugh at ourselves — and each other.

Now we slap messages like “COEXIST” on our cars. What’s fun about that?

When did we become so serious? So hypersensitive?

Or maybe you’re afraid of messing up the finish on the wrap-around piece of plastic where chrome bumpers used to be. If so, use clear tape to affix the message that proclaims, “This is who I am, and I’m darn proud of it!”

Should peel off easily when you trade in the car.

There’s no excuse not to sport a mobile message. Did you know there are websites that allow you to design your own bumper sticker? So express yourself, old-school style. Get creative. Tell us who you are. I promise I won’t be offended.

Knock yourself out.

Just remember, “Keep On Truckin’” has been taken.

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