Seminole Magazine - March 2017

CENTRAL FLORIDA’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

March 2017

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CONTENTS • MARCH 2017

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30

24

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

10 Designer’s Choice 2017

Local experts share their top

tips for refreshing your home’s interior

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

HOME & GARDEN

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29 In the Backyard with Maisie

Bulbs to brighten your landscape

12 Get Wired Up

The latest in cool electronic

gadgets for the home

A Window to the Stars Explore the universe at Seminole State’s planetarium

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 Artist Spotlight

Photographer Jon Manchester’s

social landscapes 16 Telling the Whole Story

Storytelling Festival in

Mount Dora

FOOD & DRINK 18 A Cooking Class for Charity

These lessons raise money for

Meals on Wheels 20 Chef’s Recipe

Corned beef and cabbage

from Liam Fitzpatrick’s

HEALTH & FITNESS

22 Stress Less

Mind–body solutions for stress

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24 Golf for Beginners

Tips for getting into the swing

of the game

COLUMNS

21 Nancy Hecht

Is it better to buy or rent

a home?

30 Wild Seminole

Canoeing the Rock Springs

Run—this column’s debut

EXTRAS 8

City of Sanford Paw Park Village reopens

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Orange County Regional History Center An exhibit explores how we use plastics

26 Preschool Guide

Classroom options for your child 32 Cultural Calendar

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EDITOR'S NOTE

Where the Heart Is

MARCH 2017

SeminoleMagazine.com 407.362.7719

EDITOR Lisa Levine lisa@seminolemagazine.com

I

t seems that a large part of our emotional security is tied up in the place we live. Our home is our sanctuary—a place of refuge from the stresses and distractions of the outside world. It’s a place of security; we shut the door and the world inside becomes the one place that is wholly ours. Whether we live alone or with loved ones, our home should be a space where we can express our true selves.

MANAGING EDITOR & DIGITAL EDITOR Julie Capps julie@seminolemagazine.com COPY EDITOR Nicole Brown

Such expression should ideally include our tastes and preferences. But have you looked around your home lately and realized that its decor could use some refreshing? We’ve got you covered: our new Designed for Living writer, Elise Breth, brings us some of the year’s freshest ideas from area home designers (p. 10). And if your tech is decidedly dated, we’ll tempt you with suggestions for some useful and stylish electronic upgrades (p. 12).

COLUMNISTS Maisie Allen, Jay Exum, Nancy Hecht CONTRIBUTORS Elise Breth Esteban Meneses Laureen M. Crowley Ashley Talmadge Nancy DeVault

Also on the home front, our gardening columnist, Maisie Allen, has recommendations for some easy-care bulbs to brighten your landscaping (p. 29).

ART DIRECTOR Renée Blair renee@seminolemagazine.com

This issue, we introduce a new column written by Jay Exum, a Seminole County–based professional ecologist. Exum will share his great enthusiasm for our area’s rich natural resources in an ongoing series we believe will inform and inspire you. The inaugural Wild Seminole piece takes us on a fascinating morning paddle along Rock Springs Run (p. 30).

PHOTOGRAPHER Cat Claus PUBLISHER Anouk Neal anouk@seminolemagazine.com

Also in this issue is the last of our three-part series on dealing with stress—this one focusing on mind–body solutions (p. 22). And as golf is a major focus for this area in March (the Arnold Palmer Invitational will be held March 13–19 at Palmer’s Bay Hill Championship Course), we have tips for anyone considering taking up the game for fun and recreation (“Getting in the Game,” p. 24). We note with sadness Palmer’s passing last fall; the legendary golfer’s charitable and civic impact on our community was profound and indelible.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jeff Barkin 407.342.0021 jeff@seminolemagazine.com Barbara McNulty 407.459.0862 barbara@seminolemagazine.com

As spring is working its magic around us, a golf course seems like an especially pleasant place to spend time. But whatever the time of year, one thing is clear: there’s no place like home.

FOTOLIA

Lisa Levine, Editor

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN SEMINOLE COUNTY! SeminoleMagazine.com LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Facebook.com/SeminoleMagazine

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Catherine Randell 407.416.8727 catherine@seminolemagazine.com Reader Services For subscriptions, change of address, or back issues: subscribe@seminolemagazine.com.

Comments? Questions?

We welcome readers’ comments. Send to hello@seminolemagazine.com, or mail to Seminole Magazine 10990 Fort Caroline Rd., #350957 Jacksonville, FL 32235.

The publisher is not responsible for omissions or errors. Contents in whole or in part may not be reproduced in any format or medium without the publisher’s written consent. Seminole Magazine is published nine times a year

by Black Dog Media, a Florida Corporation; 10990 Fort Caroline Rd., #350957, Jacksonville, FL 32235; 407.362.7719. Website: SeminoleMagazine.com.

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March 2017 • SeminoleMagazine.com

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2/27/17 9:53 AM

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

From Central Florida to the Stars

Seminole State College’s planetarium provides a window to the mysteries of the cosmos.

By Esteban Meneses

A

glance at the vastness of the night sky can put things in perspective: we live on a mere speck of the universe.

Most of us know that the Earth is part of a galaxy 100,000 light-years across, and that the makeup of everything in our small planet is a byproduct of the end of the life cycle of ancient stars. But such insights can be difficult to put into context, and that’s where a visit to a planetarium can help. The allure of the planetarium experience is the illusion of transcendence that whisks audiences beyond our terrestrial limits to the farthest celestial boondocks and intergalactic space.

“We encourage children to critically think about things—it’s OK to question everything because in reality that’s what science is all about,” says Demeter. “Some of the teachers [who bring their students on field trips] almost get embarrassed if students ask questions that might be silly, but I say ‘no, no, those aren’t silly, that’s an inquisitive question, and that’s what scientists do: they ask questions that nobody else would ask.’”

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Planetarium director Derek Demeter gives a presentation

A small staff of two, Demeter and coordinator Michael McConville write and produce original shows and content, instilling the importance of scientific thought. They also accommodate school field trips and outreach services. “All the shows are live, so when we’re presenting a show, we’re narrating,” says Demeter. “Everything we do is interactive.”

see in the real sky,” says Demeter. Visitors can also use the planetarium’s telescopes after the show to observe the night sky.

Unlike local observatories for telescopic viewing, such as Orlando Science Center’s Crosby Observatory and the University of Central Florida’s Robinson Observatory, the stargazing experience is complemented by the full planetarium show in the theater.

The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium is the only domed-theater planetarium in Central Florida for live educational shows about astronomy and the cosmos. With a 30-foot dome and a snug seating space for 55 visitors, it makes for an intimate experience.

The various shows include the flagship “Central Florida Nights,” which “simulates the actual sky as seen from Central Florida, so what [audiences] see is what they would

The view of the constellations is simulated by the star projector: two halogen bulbs on either side of the axis light up the northern and southern hemispheres of the night sky, projecting the stars onto the dome. The facility’s newest technology is a separate highdefinition, full-dome video projector. It has a fisheye lens attached to it, Demeter explains, which “warps the image onto the dome,” also allowing for 3D imagery.

COURTESY OF SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE

Ensconced in the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus of Seminole State College, the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium makes that cosmic connection possible. The planetarium has welcomed Central Floridians since the mid-1990s. Among the curious children who attended the planetarium’s early astronomy shows was Derek Demeter, and the experience made an impression that inspired Demeter’s career path. He has been the planetarium’s director since 2007.

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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

But technology notwithstanding, the real awe comes from the team’s storytelling, which helps to illuminate the immensity of the cosmos. “These are big numbers that we’re putting in context,” says McConville. “People can connect to it. The art of the story makes it fulfilling.”

March Highlights at the Planetarium • The Space Times (Thursday, March 2): A roundup of space news from the preceding month, in which the planetarium explores various locations that a spacecraft has visited, for instance, or an astronomical object that has been discovered. This is an ongoing free event held on the first Thursday of the month.

• Central Florida Nights (Friday, March 17 and Friday, March 31): The planet-

A captivating image of the cosmos

arium’s main show is updated every 2 weeks to match the real-time move ment of the constellations The show starts with light pollution, mimicking the streetlight-blurred view from our backyards. As the show progresses and the sky gets darker, the enthralling full view of the countless stars and other celestial bodies is revealed.

• A Star to Steer By (Saturday, March 18): This interactive, half-improvised show looks at how we use the stars for navigation. It is like an “escape game,” Demeter says. “We’re lost at sea, so we

presents THE

have to learn about the night sky and figure out where we are.”

• Women in Astronomy (Friday, March 24): This show credits forgotten women astronomers and their impressive role in the development of the field. “We want to give credit where credit is due,” says Demeter, with the goal of underscoring the inclusion of women in STEM (science, technolog y, engineering and mathematics) careers.

For more details and a full calendar of the planetarium’s many events, see SeminoleState. edu/planet.

Esteban Meneses is an Orlando-based freelance writer, covering music and the arts since 2010. A graduate student of humanities at Rollins College in Winter Park, Esteban became a member of the Music Critics Association of North America in 2015.

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March 2017 • SeminoleMagazine.com

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2/22/17 2:37 PM

PAW PARK VILLAGE

SPONSORED CONTENT

A Dog’s Place for Play Sanford’s Paw Park Village reopens with new amenities for pups and their people.

T

he new green spaces and walking paths beckon as dogs and owners return to Paw Park. The park, which takes up a square block in Historic Sanford, reopened in mid-February after a makeover that includes masonry gateways on the north and south entrances, separate off-leash sections for small dogs and large dogs, and a large paw print–shaped grassy area with play and agility equipment.

Improvements were also made around the park’s perimeter, including the addition of on-street and handicap parking and a trail path on Laurel Avenue that’s envisioned to someday connect with the Goldsboro Trail

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Seminole Magazine • March 2017

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to the southwest and the RiverWalk to the north.

hydrant misters, an informational kiosk, benches and public art.

Paw Park was first opened in 2001 following a citizen effort that raised funds and presented plans for an off-leash park, which city officials approved. Some key original features of the park were retained in the new design, including walkways, lighting and a stone fountain. The parks’ original trees, many of which were planted early in the city’s development, were carefully conserved to retain the beautiful tree canopy. New amenities include self-filling and -draining dog water bowls controlled by sensors, fire

Paw Park has been a popular attraction in downtown Sanford, and City of Sanford community planner Christine Dalton has been pleased to see the park so well attended since reopening day. The park serves an important purpose for local dogs and their owners: “It allows the freedom for dogs to run and explore and socialize with other dogs,” says Dalton. “Just like people, animals benefit from interaction with humans and other animals.”

March 2017 • SeminoleMagazine.com

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DESIGNED FOR LIVING

Designers’ Choice 2017 Hit “refresh” on your home’s look with these tips from local designers.

By Elise Breth

W

e asked Central Florida interior design gurus to share their practical tips to help keep your home looking, feeling and even smelling its best in 2017. After all, interior design is more than keeping up with trends—it’s a sensory experience for you and your guests.

Erika Benfield, owner and interior designer Florida Living Quarters Interior Design, Lake Mary

Rolling with the Trends—An emerging trend is to incorporate technology into home design. For example, Benfield says traditional bulky shutters are being replaced with texturized and airy window treatments or roller shades that feature wireless motorization systems controlled from a smartphone, tablet or wireless controller.

“Consumers are gravitating to items that can be operated with the touch of a button or voice commands,” notes Benfield.

Ever Heard of “Glint”?—It’s the new buzzword used to describe the fusion of

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silver and champagne gold finishes adorning accessories such as light fixtures and lamps.

The color glint has a soft, delicate appearance that balances the use of silver and gold accents in the home.

The Perfect Niche—Striking wallpaper with texture and brilliant colors can instantly transform a lifeless recessed niche into a visual piece of art. “It’s a small enough area that you can get a lot of pop for not a big investment,” says Benfield.

Aromatic Necessities—“Every home has its own distinct scent. If you think your home doesn’t have an odor, ask your friends,” says Benfield. Her secret to keeping a home fragrant and pleasing to all who enter is to place essential oil diffusers around an entryway and kitchen. A few of her favorites are citrus and lavender scents by doTerra. “A home’s aroma should be as appealing to the nose as [the home’s décor] is to the eye,” she says.

Lauren Alspaugh, senior designer/senior project manager Marc-Michaels Interior Design, Inc., Winter Park Heart of the Home—More homeowners are devoting less square footage to formalized living in order to design a larger kitchen that is open, durable and functional, Alspaugh says.

She refers to the kitchen as “the heart of the home,” a space that needs to accommodate day-to-day living for professionals and families. “Kitchens are more than a place to share a meal,” she says. They are being used as “a space for entertaining guests, a homework station for children and an additional workspace for professionals.”

SIMO DRESSI

Still Looking “Gray”t—Say sayonara to gold and beige and embrace the beautiful light and airy palettes of gray tones that give a home a serene and spa-like feel. “Gray is still the new beige, and that trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon,” says Benfield. The majority of her clients are using light shades of gray throughout the home and accenting with pops of color. “My favorite neutral color is Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams, but there are so many wonderful grays to choose from,” she says.

Seminole Magazine • March 2017

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DESIGNED FOR LIVING

An Island View—A breathtaking island view sounds heavenly, and you too can find heaven in your updated kitchen with a one-level island. Alspaugh likes these because views are more open, the workspace is larger and they’re very conducive to entertaining. “This is a must-have kitchen feature for families and professionals.”

Peace, Love and Plants—Breathe life into your home with nature’s best accessory—a plant.

Incorporating indoor plants throughout the home can soften a room and immediately make a home feel clean, inviting and peaceful. Coe prefers a gorgeous orchid

Engineered for Durability—As an alternative to marble and granite, homeowners are choosing less expensive engineered materials such as quartz that are easy to care for without sacrificing the high-quality look. These highly durable products come in a variety of colors that compliment any cabinet color, which is just one reason they are so attractive to homeowners.

Contemporary Cabinetry—Stained cabinetry is out and the transitional look is in.

Homeowners are incorporating a more contemporary look, with a nod to coastal influences. Some cabinet companies offer nice gray or mushroom-gray finishes. If gray cabinetry doesn’t sound appealing for the kitchen, Alspaugh suggests considering it for another room in the house, such as in a bathroom.

SIMO DRESSI (RIGHT); KRISTEN HECHLER (CENTER); FRETWORK FINIALS, TAYLOR BURKE HOME (INSET)

SIMO DRESSI

Kim Coe, owner, interior designer Kim Coe Designs, Casselberry Gold and Glamorous—Mercury glass adds lightness to any home. Whether it is a candleholder, vase or lamp, this accessory is a glamorous must-have that compliments any décor style.

Coe also comments that “gold teacarts are in!”

The old-fashioned teacart has been reinvented into a more modern piece that can be used as a contemporary option to traditional consoles and accent tables. These pieces can be used as a functional bar cart or elegant display for nearly every living space in the house.

Furniture Favorites—“My favorite investment pieces to build from are tufted sofas and chairs with nail heads made of linen or a blend,” says Coe. She suggests selecting neutral colors such as cream, gray, beige or navy, then fancying it up with colorful pillows.

of a room and add that pop on any neutral-colored sofa or chair,” she says.

Sensational Lighting— Generally, it is best to have at least one table lamp in every room of your home. For Williams, if it came down to choosing only one accessory to update in a room, her pick would be a table lamp: “You can’t go wrong with a great base, a simple light-colored shade and fun finial.”

in a mercury base but also recommends succulents as a terrific minimal-care option for adding life to a home.

Emily Williams, co-owner, The Grove Interior designer, Z Properties Inc., Winter Park Pillow Perfection and Fabulous Fabrics— Nothing says cozy like a big, colorful pouf of pillows. Novelty, texture and color are what make this designer giddy when coordinating fabrics for a pillow project. Her advice for creating the pillow-perfect look is to have three different fabrics and tie them together with a fringe or marry them with a color family.

“There are so many fun prints with animals, birds, fruit, little Asian palaces or dragons,” says Williams. “Pair a vibrant print you love with two other contrasting fabrics like a trellis or a stripe or perhaps a textured solid or a jacquard.”

Some of her favorite fabrics have varying shades of bold, bright pinks, greens, corals or blues—the “it” colors of 2017. “Fabric selection will instantly transform the mood

She says lighting fixtures make a world of a difference to any room. Her favorites include lamps by Barbara Cosgrove, Couture Lamps and Taylor Burke Home.

If the cost of replacing a lamp is prohibitive, then give your lamp a makeover with a new neutral-colored shade, or outfit it with a fantastic finial. Williams’ favorites are the colorful and chic fretwork finials from Taylor Burke Home, which come in a variety of eyecatching colors.

Save the Drama for Your…Powder Bath?— Says Williams, “Wallpaper can be expensive, which is why a powder bath is the perfect place to bring in something crazy and have fun with it.” Williams prefers a clean white wall in the main living spaces of a home but says a powder bath is the perfect place to decorate with the unexpected.

“My best piece of advice is dress your home like you’d dress yourself. If it’s not something that flatters you, you won’t want to be in it every day,” she says.

Elise Breth is a freelance writer with a background in marketing and public relations. She lives in Orlando with her husband and two young children.

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2/21/17 8:08 PM

ELECTRONIC HOME GADGETS

A home’s annual spring cleaning usually means out with the old. But why not take it a step further and go in with the new? Become the gadget guru on the block by adding in some electronic upgrades. From a massage chair to a theater system, these suggestions will ensure your home is stocked with the latest and greatest.

Big Blue Party Wireless Speaker with Chromecast An indoor/outdoor wireless speaker that helps make music portable with a wireless connection to Bluetooth devices up to 33 feet away.

Featuring an easy-grip handle, this water-resistant device comes with a rechargeable battery that can run up to 4.5 hours. $249.99; Brookstone

Universal Remote Control MX-990 Tired of having to reach for multiple remotes to turn on the TV? Replace every remote in the house with this wireless controller.

Multiple commands can be programmed onto one button, including shade and light control, making it simple to set the room just right for home theater viewing. $549 (additional programming cost estimate: $250); Crowne Audio

Recover 3D Zero Gravity Massage Chair This full-body, 3D massager has 15 auto programs and simulates 6 massage techniques, including shiatsu and Thai. The chair’s zero-gravity recline is the ultimate in relaxation, with the added bonus of heat for tired back, legs and feet. $4,499; Brookstone

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Seminole Magazine • March 2017

Tranquil Moments Bedside Sleep Sound Machine With a sound program developed by doctors to help you sleep, relax and renew, this bedside speaker also lets you stream wireless music via Bluetooth. $129.99; Brookstone

COURTESY OF CROWNE AUDIO (BOTTOM LEFT); COURTESY OF BROOKSTONE (ALL OTHERS ON THIS PAGE)

Get WIRED UP

ELECTRONIC HOME GADGETS

Ring: Video Doorbell

Cordless Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager Relax anywhere in the home by selecting one of eight deep-kneading shiatsu massage modes programmed in this portable massager. Provides comfort at the neck and upper back and between the shoulder blades. $169.99; Brookstone

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF CROWNE AUDIO; COURTESY OF BROOKSTONE; COURTESY OF CROWNE AUDIO; COURTESY OF LUTRON

COURTESY OF CROWNE AUDIO (BOTTOM LEFT); COURTESY OF BROOKSTONE (ALL OTHERS ON THIS PAGE)

Answer the door from anywhere by simply using your smartphone.

Using an HD camera with night vision, you can have a clear view of the door, and this easy-to-install technology sends out motion-triggered alerts via the free Ring app. $199; Crowne Audio

Lutron Motorized Shades Lutron’s innovative Sivoia QS Wireless shading system allows precision control of shades throughout the house with the touch of a button.

Window treatments can include roller shades, traditional drapery tracks and even horizontal sheer blinds.

Custom orders and pricing; Crowne Audio

Sonos Four-Piece Home Audio System

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This wireless surround-sound system will have your home theater sounding like a professional movie theater.

Components of the system include the Sonos PLAYBAR, the Sonos SUB, and two Sonos PLAY:1 surround speakers. $699 (PLAYBAR), $699 (SUB), $199 × 2 (PLAY:1 speakers); Crowne Audio

CROWNE AUDIO 934 International Pkwy, Lake Mary CrowneAudio.com 407.333.4621

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT • ARTIST PROFILE

Jon Manchester Recent photography reveals compelling patterns and peculiarities in everyday landscapes.

By Esteban Meneses

T

here is a beguiling simplicity to the black-and-white pictures of Jon Manchester, a mostly self-taught social landscape photographer and faculty member at Crealdé School of Art. An instructor since 1999, Manchester has a natural inclination to venture outside the routine settings of commercial photography; rather than settling for conventional medium or long shots, he captures the underlying shapes and textures of his subjects.

Influenced by a school of black-and-white photographers that includes Henri CartierBresson, Ansel Adams and Ralph Gibson,

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Manchester has documented places such as rural Florida and south Mississippi from his distinctive perspective. His shots are largely unprepared; he considers himself a reactiontriggered photographer rather than a detailed strategist. “I do much better if I just react to what’s going on,” he says. “I get the ideas as I see the subject; there’s a level of spontaneity that’s important.”

One senses a bleak air of desolation— even sadness—in Manchester’s candid monochromes. His diverse subject matter has included a triangular road sign with blurredout words surrounded by an overgrown

thicket, a close-up of a staircase bookended by pillars, a bleak playground with no children in sight, and a baseball field photographed from a jarring angle that focuses more on the grainy texture of the sand than on the players, caught unawares.

COURTESY OF JON MANCHESTER

Left: “Ranks, North Florida, 2013” Bottom: Jon Manchester (tintype)

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COURTESY OF JON MANCHESTER

ARTIST PROFILE • ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

But there is also a genuine, documentarystyle revelation inherent in Manchester’s photography, which relies on fixed focal length lenses and physical proximity. Inspired

by Cartier-Bresson’s street photography, he applies the French pioneer’s idea of “the decisive moment”—that particular moment, Manchester says, “when you can capture an image the way it is. [Cartier-Bresson] captures these really small slices of time that give you a strong emotional response.”

configurations and geometrical shapes in human-built objects. While his past focus was object-oriented, today, instead of photographing perhaps a whole building, he is likely to pull into a specific part of it and shoot it from much closer to reveal usually unnoticed textures or peculiarities.

Born in Nebraska, Manchester first toyed with photography when his parents gave him a classic Kodak Instamatic camera as a young boy. His father, a hobbyist photographer, was in the military, so the family traveled extensively during Manchester’s early years. It was not until Manchester took a photography course in his high school years in Colorado, though, that he became transfixed by the art form. “What got me hooked was the dark room, being able to see the image come from a blank sheet of paper,” he remembers. “You put it in a chemical bath and then all of a sudden your photograph is there on the paper within a matter of minutes, which was fascinating to me.”

he shoots mostly with a Nikon D800; the digital camera captures images in color, which he later converts to black and white with software, adjusting the tones to the desired shades of gray.

Occasionally, he alters the shadings into a cooler tint of blue, or a warmer yellow or brown.

The young photographer’s vision developed over time; he started by taking shots of friends from school and then progressed into nature. He finally found his niche in social landscapes, fixating on natural linear

Although he has mastered the film format and still teaches it at Crealdé, around 10 years ago he transitioned to digital photography. Today

The piece titled “Ranks, North Florida, 2013” particularly stands out in the collection for its curious play on perspective. On a trip to the Florida Panhandle, Manchester stopped at a closed-down lawn ornament store, finding himself attracted to the garden decor. The shot features a group of statues of friars— only about 2 feet tall—perched on a hill and standing in rows. Shot from the ground up, the frame renders the statues almost life-size; the shallow depth of field gives no clear frame of reference, except for the diamond wire mesh right in front of them. The surrounding weeds are meant to look like flames.

Although Manchester is motivated by his own desire and aesthetic whims, he is also inspired by the reaction his photography often causes in others. “I just want to make photographs that create a really strong emotional response,” he says. His work at Crealdé keeps his vision fresh: as he balances his time between a photo shoot at St. Johns River—a newly found fascination—and his courses in image processing and digital photography, he is constantly inspired by

Top: “Music Hall, Winter Park, FL, 2016” Left: “Surveillance, Lockhart, FL, 2013”

the work of his students. “Seeing things that they’re doing gives me ideas to apply to my work and other things to explore.”

A selection of Manchester’s recent work in digital format is on view in “Director’s Choice VI,” an exhibition of works by senior faculty at Crealdé School of Art, 600 St. Andrews Blvd, Winter Park, through April 15. 407.671.1886; Crealde.org Esteban Meneses is an Orlando-based freelance writer, covering music and the arts. A graduate student of humanities at Rollins College in Winter Park, Esteban became a member of the Music Critics Association of North America in 2015.

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT • FLORIDA STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

Telling the Whole Story The Florida Storytelling Festival brings national talent to nearby Mount Dora.

By Julie Capps

A key milestone in the growth of the annual Florida Storytelling Festival occurred in 2011, when representatives of the city of Mount Dora, the Lakeside Inn, the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit Visit Mount Dora Inc. reached out to the Florida Storytelling Association and presented the opportunity to move the annual event to Mount Dora. 2012 marked the first year the festival took place at the new location. According to festival director Kaye Byrnes, the partnership in Mount Dora “has just been a fantastic success.”

The festival’s committee sends out invitations to members of the national storytelling community every spring with the goal of bringing in fresh and innovative voices.

“We very much avoid bringing people back repeatedly,” says Byrnes. “Our goal is to always bring tellers people have not necessarily heard, so that when [people] come, they are going to just continually experience different voices, different styles, different repertoires.”

Adding that storytelling runs such an

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“enormous gamut,” Byrnes says, “we want our audiences to come back every year and experience a broader and broader range.”

Emphasizing the variety of storytelling skills found at the festival, Byrnes adds, “Storytelling, like music and dance and theater, is a performing art. And so there is a spectrum. People who want to tell stories for fun, as a hobby, that is one level. And it will go always up the spectrum to those of us who work as professionals and who focus on the art as a true craft and vocation. And we market ourselves and we are continually building our repertories and expanding our audiences.”

Throughout the weekend (this year, it’s held March 30–April 2), there are multiple opportunities to drop in and check out what’s happening. Daily workshops teach everything from the use of puppetry to collage work with the presentation of a story.

The Featured Tellers Concert, held both Friday and Saturday night, spotlights the invited professional storytellers. Open-mic sessions are held at 10 p.m. both Friday and Saturday night, at which anyone at any level of experience can get up on stage and present a story. And Sunday afternoon features an afternoon cruise around Lake Dora—with storytelling on board.

Byrnes says the festival’s goal is “to bring storytelling to the public and to let those curious people come and experience the art.” That accessibility includes front-porch storytelling sessions held on the veranda of

the Lakeside Inn from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, which are free to the general public. “Anyone can drift right up to the veranda and grab a rocking chair and listen to storytellers,” says Byrnes.

The festival also aims to foster and grow the next generation of storytelling voices with its Youthful Voices of Florida program. Begun in the late ’90s, the program allows committee members to go out and promote participation in the festival. Videotapes from young storytellers seeking to participate at the annual festival are then accepted for consideration.

The youth who make the final cut have their own concert on Saturday evening. Byrnes calls the performance “an absolute delight,” saying, “it never fails to just amaze people that these young people can get up to the microphone and can get up in front of all these people and tell these wonderful stories.” An extension of the Youthful Voices program includes designated family activities at the festival on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring workshops, storytelling crafts and open mic.

“Anybody can tell stories. As human beings, we are hardwired for story narrative. It is quite often how we communicate, how we express ourselves,” comments Byrnes. “No matter your age, to sit and listen to a story of any kind is a very engaging and relatable experience.”

Florida Storytelling Festival March 30–April 2, Mount Dora Some events are ticketed; more information at FLStory.com/Festival

MALCOLM YAWN PHOTOGRAPHY

S

it back and let me tell you a story about a well-established storytelling festival found just down the road in Mount Dora. Back in 1984, a group of storytellers held an informal gathering at the Lake Yale Conference Center, just west of Eustis, with the goal of simply sharing a love for the art of storytelling. Little did that group know that their intimate gathering would eventually evolve into a nationally known 4-day event featuring established storytellers from across the nation.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER

From Rare to Everywhere

An exhibition reveals the complex role of plastics in our lives.

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COURTESY OF ORANGE COUNTY HISTORY CENTER

he Orange County Regional History Center’s latest limited-run exhibition, Plastics Unwrapped, explores one of the 20th century’s most-debated inventions: the synthetic polymers we call plastics.

“This year at the museum, we’re focusing on the theme of innovation, and this relevant exhibition looks at a relatively new material that’s dramatically changed the way we live, in a remarkably short time,” says Michael Perkins, the History Center’s manager.

Before the 1950s, people rarely used plastics.

How did plastics go from being rare to being everywhere—from food containers to raincoats to surgical tubing? Plastics Unwrapped explores what life was like before

plastics, the science behind them, what happens when we throw them away, and what’s in store for what was once hailed as the “material of the future.” humble cast iron that lies beneath our feet on city streets.

The exhibition originated at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle. The History Center has added new features, including a 200-square-foot plastic “tiny house” that offers big inspiration about improving energy efficiency in homes of any size. As a complement to the exhibit, works by artist Bobbi Mastrangelo show how she uses plastics in creating her trademark “Grate Works”—sculptural reliefs inspired by real manhole covers and sewer grates, some decades old. Mastrangelo’s art brings attention to the history and beauty of the

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Plastics Unwrapped opened February 4 and will be on display through April 23 at the History Center. Plastics Under Cover: Bobbi Mastrangelo’s “Grate Works of Art” continues in the museum’s Alcove Gallery through April 23.

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on display through april 23 The Plastics Unwrapped exhibit explores what life was like before plastics, the science behind them, what happens when we throw them away, and what’s in store for the “material of the future.” Plus see a 200-square-foot plastic “tiny house” that offers big inspiration about improving energy efficiency in homes of any size.

Plastics Unwrapped was organized by the Burke Museum at the University of Washington.

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March 2017 • SeminoleMagazine.com

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2/23/17 5:13 PM

FOOD&DRINK • COOKING CLASS

Helping Others Is on the Menu

A charitable chef serves up fresh cooking classes to help raise money for Meals on Wheels.

By Nancy DeVault

Ideal for date nights or group outings, handson lessons (limited to 10 people; $100 per person) are held in Top Hat’s professionally equipped kitchen and include the preparation (and consumption) of a gourmet multicourse meal, plus wine and printed recipe cards.

Classes are typically held on one morning (Saturday brunch: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.) and one evening (Friday or Saturday dinner: 6–9 p.m.) per month. Participants learn to make staples, such as fresh salad dressings, from scratch; cook up classic appetizers, such as crab cakes; and prepare entrées two ways.

“We make a healthy version and a fattening or restaurant-style [version] of each dish,” Lambertclare explains; the goal is teaching everyday versus special occasion cooking.

Menus are chock-full of Lambertclare’s forte: French–Asian fusion. “I am from New Orleans and my mom is French. I know French cooking very well, but I love Asian cuisine.

So I like to jazz up Asian dishes using French

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style.” How do these flavors blend? “I’ll cook, for example, a curry seafood crêpe with shrimp, scallops and mahi [fish] served with a curry-based béchamel sauce,” says Lambertclare.

Longwood resident Krysty Carr took the class with her motherin-law and says the experience and food were both spectacular.

“Anyone interested in cooking would benefit from spending time with a true chef like Chef Delaño.

He makes you want to be a better cook,” she says. Carr mentions her newfound confidence with knife work and use of spices as positive outcomes of learning from Lambertclare. “He is patient, excited and passionate about what he does, and that makes you excited about cooking too—even asparagus,” she says. Recalling the preparation of coconut shrimp with red curry and sides alongside Lambertclare, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy, Carr adds, “What an opportunity to learn how to make a quality meal like that for friends and family!”

Chef Delaño Lambertclare in the Top Hat Catering Kitchen, a facility that hosts classes benefitting Meals on Wheels

The upcoming lineup of classes dishes out standard three-course sessions, specialty themes (such as Spanish and Italian), and a tentatively scheduled kid’s course, each catering to varied skill levels. “A more advanced session might, for example, focus

on fish—scaling, fileting and so on—or how to make a beurre blanc [sauce],” Lambertclare says. Seminole County foodies can also book private in-home or group classes. Visit TopHatCatering.org for more information.

SCOTT WATT PHOTOGRAPHY

C

hef Delaño Lambertclare prepares 3,000–4,000 meals every day for Seminole County residents through Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit that delivers nutritious meals to homebound seniors and child/adult care programs. The executive chef and kitchen manager recently cooked up the idea of hosting public culinary classes for home chefs hungry for flavorful, skillbased experiences. “It’s a fun way to get people involved in cooking and also support Meals on Wheels,” says Lambertclare, who facilitates the classes through Top Hat Catering, the for-profit division he launched to benefit the organization’s mission.

Seminole Magazine • March 2017

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COOKING CLASS • FOOD&DRINK

Chef Delaño's Coconut Shrimp with Red Curry SHRIMP INGREDIENTS

1 bag U 16–20 shrimp, butterfly cut (i.e. large shrimp, up to 16 to 20 per pound) 6 egg whites ¼ cup cornstarch Salt, pepper and cayenne (to taste) 1 bag dry, unsweetened coconut flakes Canola oil (substitute peanut oil if preferred)

RED CURRY INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp red curry paste ¼ tbsp canola or coconut oil 2 cans coconut milk 2 limes, juiced

STEPS

1.

Prepare shrimp: In mixing bowl, whisk egg whites to a soft peak. Add cornstarch, salt, pepper and cayenne. Then pour coconut flakes onto a plate or cutting board. Dip a shrimp into the egg white mixture, then coat with coconut and place on a clean plate or sheet pan.

Repeat with the remainder of the shrimp.

2.

Prepare curry: In a medium pan, add 2 tbsp of oil; add curry paste and sauté for about a minute. Add coconut milk; whisk together and bring to a boil.

Reduce to a simmer for 15–20 minutes.

Finish with lime juice.

3.

Pan fry or deep fry shrimp (your choice): Heat oil to 350°F. If the oil is too hot, the coconut will burn; if the oil is too cold, the coconut will crumble off.

SCOTT WATT PHOTOGRAPHY

4. Plate: Ladle the curry onto a plate or into a bowl and serve hot with the shrimp. If desired, pair with jasmine rice.

Nancy DeVault is an Orlando-area freelance writer, editor and PR pro. She enjoys fitness the outdoors, news, travel and baby giggles.

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2/24/17 11:44 AM

FOOD&DRINK • CHEF'S RECIPE

Love of Ireland FOR THE

K

ick your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations up a notch this year with a recipe for traditional holiday fare shared by Liam Fitzpatrick’s in Lake Mary. With this hearty meal, typically complimented with a prepared side of carrots and roasted potatoes, you know that Irish eyes will be smiling around your dinner table. Pair with a foamy pint of Guinness. Sláinte!

Recipe courtesy of Liam Fitzpatrick's head chef Patrick Quakenbush

Corned Beef and Cabbage with Horsey Dijon Sauce Serves 6–7

INGREDIENTS FOR THE CORNED BEEF 4–5 lb beef brisket, trimmed of fat 1 qt of Guinness beer (about three 15-oz cans) FOR THE CABBAGE 1 head of cabbage Remaining brine from cooked corned beef FOR THE HORSEY DIJON 8 oz sour cream 3 tbsp prepared horseradish 3 tbsp extra strong Dijon mustard 3 tbsp Creole mustard ½ tsp minced garlic 1 tsp 7 pepper seasoning

PREPARATION

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FOR THE CABBAGE 1. Wash the cabbage and remove dirty or spotted leaves.

2. Cut the head of cabbage in half through the core.

3. Cut into equal-size pieces, including a piece of the core in each to ensure they don’t break apart.

4. Place the cut cabbage in a broiler pan.

5. Fill with leftover corned beef brine until half of the cabbage is covered.

6. Cover with foil and place in the oven for approximately 45 minutes at 350°F. 7. Remove from oven.

8. Do not let the cabbage sit in the brine or the cabbage will continue to cook and potentially overcook. Remove the cabbage from the brine using tongs and place cabbage and brine in refrigerator in separate containers to cool.

FOR THE HORSEY DIJON 1. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Keep chilled until time to serve.

TO SERVE

To heat cabbage and corned beef, place leftover brine in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Place beef and cabbage in brine for 3 minutes (until beef is heated to 165°F).

Remove from brine and drain. After cutting into portions, plate meal with hot brine on bottom of bowl, topped with beef and cabbage, with Horsey Dijon on the side.

CAT CLAUS

FOR THE CORNED BEEF 1. Place the brisket in a roasting pan on a grate, fat side facing up.

2. Add 1 qt of Guinness beer to the pan.

3. Add water until the liquid covers about half of the brisket. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.

4. Place in an oven at 350°F for approximate- ly 4 hours.

5. After 4 hours, check tenderness by poking the brisket with a knife. If fully cooked, the knife will slide through the meat with little resistance.

6. Carefully remove the brisket from the pan, using two metal spatulas to support it, and place on a sheet tray. Cool in the refrigerator.

7. Reserve the pan liquids (brine) for the cabbage.

Seminole Magazine • March 2017

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Nancy Hecht, CFP • FINANCIAL PLANNING

Should You Buy or Rent a Home?

COURTESY OF NANCY HECHT

S

ome clients of mine have found themselves at a crossroads. They are getting ready to retire and plan to downsize to a smaller, more manageable home. The decision they are facing is whether to rent or buy their next home. This is a question that many people ponder, not just upon reaching retirement but also when they become “empty nesters.”

There are many factors to consider, both financial and emotional.

is a lot longer than the conventional assumption of 5 years or more. The breakeven point changes depending on where you want to live, the cost of the home you would consider buying, and your household income, among other factors. So if you are pondering a similar decision, make use of the SmartAsset website or consult a financial planner for guidance.

First, let’s look at some of the main financial considerations: • How much can you afford to spend on a down payment? In today’s mortgage climate, a down payment of close to 20% of the purchase price is coming back into vogue.

• Can you afford the monthly mortgage payment plus homeowner’s insurance and property taxes?

• Will you be able to establish and maintain a fund for upkeep?

• Can you deduct your mortgage insurance?

The ability to build equity is often a major factor in the decision to buy rather than rent, but equity takes time to build. If circumstances change and you need to move sooner than planned, you may not end up living in the home long enough to build equity. Many of my clients value home equity as something to pass on to their children, but will your kids want to keep or sell your home?

I used the website SmartAsset.com to calculate buying vs. renting a $300,000 home in Longwood with 20% down. The breakeven point where it made more economic sense to buy instead of rent was at 14 years, which

Here are some other considerations that may make renting more attractive than buying for some people: • Renting may be easier on your pocketbook because you will have a fixed monthly expense and no upkeep costs associated with owning.

• Unless you can itemize your taxes, you cannot deduct mortgage interest.

IRS publication 936 gives guidelines for deducting mortgage expenses.

• If you rent, you can take some or all of the money that you will not be spending on mortgage interest, home maintenance, and even home owners insurance (since renters insurance is generally less costly per month that homeowners insurance) and put that sum into investments.

In the end, I think the decision to buy or rent is often more lifestyle driven, and even emotional, than economic. Being happy is an underrated virtue when it comes to finances and should play a part in what is often the last, but biggest, financial decision many of my clients will make.

Nancy Hecht is a Certified Financial Planner™ and an Investment Advisory Representative with Certified Advisory Corp, a fee-only Investment Advisor in Altamonte Springs.

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March 2017 • SeminoleMagazine.com

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2/24/17 9:13 AM

HEALTH&FITNESS • RELIEVING STRESS

STRESS LESS

Mind Over Stressful Matters

Mind–body practices you can use to ease stress— the third in our three-part series on handling stress

By Ashley Talmadge

S

tressed out? You’re not the only one.

According to recent statistics, more than a third of adults reported an increase in stress over the past year, and more than three quarters acknowledged at least one stress-related symptom. Pressure on the job, financial difficulty, caregiving responsibilities, even political events— separately or in combination, these stressors can lead to tension in our daily routines.

True, not all stress is bad. A little stress keeps us alert and helps us get a job done, attend to an emergency or compete gamely. But frequent or long-term signs of stress should not be ignored. Whether we feel trapped by limited choices or smothered by infinite possibilities, calming the mind is the key. This can be achieved with a variety of techniques, both alternative and traditional.

It’s often said that laughter is the best medicine.

Turns out, it’s a statement with scientific backing.

Laughter benefits the body and mind by improving respiration, promoting relaxation, dulling pain, alleviating stress and anxiety, and increasing feelings of well-being. Pat Conklin (aka PositiveLY Pat) is a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher and has been guiding laughter groups in the Orlando area since 2009. “During a laughter yoga class, we journey from deliberate, intentional laughter to natural, spontaneous laughter,” she says. “People are surprised that we don’t need to rely on humor to laugh.”

Laughter yoga was developed by the Indian physician Madan Kataria in 1995, and is based

22

on the principle that purposeful laughter confers the same benefits as the reflexive variety—the body doesn’t know the difference. A laughter yoga class integrates four distinct elements: clapping, yoga breathing, childlike playfulness and laughter exercises.

Conklin describes laughter yoga as a dynamic meditation and says the connection with others is particularly important. “During a laughter yoga class, we can put whatever’s causing stress on a metaphorical shelf,” she says. “It’s contagious.

We reconnect with being playful, and we naturally laugh more.”

Learn more at LaughterYogaOrlando.com.

Meditation

People have used meditation as a path to wisdom and enlightenment for millennia.

Recent research indicates the practice confers benefits to both body and spirit, including decreased stress and anxiety, a strengthened immune system, and improved memory and focus. Ayurvedic health educator Sherry Morgado acknowledges that newcomers to the practice are often intimidated, but assures, “You can learn the techniques the very first time you sit down. The benefits increase over time with a regular daily practice, but most people notice some degree of calmness and clearer focus from the first time they sit.”

Sri Ekan, owner of Lake Center Yoga in Longwood, teaches meditation and has

FOTOLIA

Rx for Stress: Laughter

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RELIEVING STRESS • HEALTH&FITNESS

practiced the technique for 38 years. He says that meditation is about observing rather than “shutting down” the mind, about witnessing rather than responding. “The mind is like the weather,” says Ekan. “It changes every day. As we get better at simply observing our thoughts, we are less likely to become entangled in them.” Rather than reflecting on the past or worrying about the future, meditation encourages us to be fully aware and present in the moment, he explains.

“We’re able to find our childlike ‘pure heart,’ the more peaceful, less judgmental core of our being.”

Creative handwork is an old standby for reducing stress. Whether it’s the cadenced hand motions or the focused engagement with a project, such tasks keep us in the present moment and allow the mind to relax into a familiar rhythm—a mini meditation. Try these activities and you may go from stressed to serene: • Journaling • Coloring • Painting • Molding clay • Weaving • Knitting or crocheting

Though meditation is often considered a solitary practice, there are benefits to joining a group. Guided breathing and mantras can be helpful in attaining focus. In addition, Ekan says a group’s combined attention and intention makes it easier to tap the mind’s natural energy field. As Morgado says, “There is a great supportive energy in the group.”

the soothing scents of aromatherapy create a calming atmosphere,” says Meyer. She says CST usually results in a sense of tranquility.

“And everyone loves to have their head touched,” she adds. “It just feels really good.”

Craniosacral Therapy

Mental Health Services

Many alternative practices can prove useful in reducing stress. Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a noninvasive, hands-on form of body work in which the head, neck, spine and sacrum are gently manipulated. Practitioners trained to administer CST say the method works by relieving any restrictions of the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, thereby improving function of the central nervous system.

Sheryl Meyer, owner of Naturalis in Winter Park, has been a holistic practitioner for 28 years. She says the origin of a client’s stress will determine the course of treatment, and CST is often an effective option. “At the beginning of a session, a client is often operating from the sympathetic nervous system, where stress hormones increase anxiety and prevent healing,” says Meyer. “The goal of CST is to move the client into the parasympathetic nervous system, a rested and relaxed state in which healing can occur.”

FOTOLIA

Busy Hands, Quiet Mind

During a CST session, the client is fully clothed and lies face up on a massage table.

Meyer says the environment should invite relaxation. “Soft music, dim lighting and

Therapy with a licensed mental health provider can be beneficial in many cases— and may be essential when stress is severe or persistent. Jennifer Ferrell-Hanington, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist who has provided individual psychotherapy in Central Florida for 24 years. “Once an individual feels overwhelmed and helpless, when symptoms are affecting work, daily activities and relationships,” says Ferrell-Hanington, “it may be time to seek professional help.” She

emphasizes that everyone deals with stress differently, and treatment will vary based on individual needs. However, end goals usually “consist of developing realistic interpretations and expectations of the situation, setting limits in order to regain a sense of control over outside demands, utilizing a social support system, and establishing proper lifestyle and behavior changes.”

The process of finding a provider can be intimidating, but it’s important to find a good fit. Referrals can be made by a trusted physician, family friend or even anonymously through an agency such as the Mental Health Association of Central Florida.

Many providers complement traditional talk therapy with art, music, writing and/ or hypnotherapy as part of the therapeutic process. “It can be helpful to speak directly to the psychologist or counselor prior to setting an appointment,” says Ferrell-Hanington. She suggests that potential clients “ask about the provider’s education, experience, expertise and treatment approach.”

When high anxiety, panic attacks or clinical depression is present, a medical doctor plays an important role in prescribing and monitoring pharmaceuticals. Ferrell-Hanington says, “Short-term use of psychiatric medications may be beneficial when symptoms are severe and while developing strategies to manage stress on one’s own.”

Resources WEBSITES • American Psychological Association (APA.org) • Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA.org) • Mental Health Association of Central Florida (MHACF.org) BOOKS • The Heart of Meditation: Pathways to a Deeper Experience, by Swami Durgananda (2002)

• Stress Free Life: Your Simple Meditation Guide for Stress Control and Mindfulness, by Maya Dewani (2016) • The Stress Solution: Using Empathy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Develop Resilience, by Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, PhD (2016) • Turning the Mind into an Ally, by Sakyong Mipham (2003)

• Laugh Your Way to Happiness: The Science of Laughter for Total Well-Being, by Lesley Lyle (2014)

March 2017 • SeminoleMagazine.com

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HEALTH&FITNESS • GOLF

Getting in the Game Local golf instructors give advice for getting started on the links.

By Nancy DeVault

C

hances are, you know a lot of recreational golfers. If you live in Seminole County, it’s likely that many—if not most—of your friends, your coworkers and colleagues, and even your family members take to the greens for a round on occasion, and some are probably regular or even fanatical players. And if you’ve never played before, you may be wondering what you’re missing—perhaps greater opportunities for socializing, the potential to make new business connections, or just the chance to spend a few hours in manicured, serene surroundings on a beautiful day.

Good news: with more than 170 courses and 20-plus academies, Central Florida’s pristine greens, superior weather and diverse price points make it the ideal place to take up the sport.

“Greater Orlando is the mecca of golf on the East Coast,” declares Holton Freeman, senior

instructor at Foley Performance Academy at EaglesDream, located at Timacuan Golf and Country Club in Lake Mary. The region is home to PGA tournaments, qualifying events, collegiate championships, the LPGA headquarters (in nearby Daytona Beach) and player residences.

Course Etiquette Follow rules: Common rules address out-ofbounds, lost balls, unplayable lies (ball landing spots), cart paths and water hazards—learn more about these rules at USGA.org. Course-specifi guidelines are outlined on scorecards.

Dress code: A collared shirt and Dockers-style shorts/slacks—or golf skirts/skorts for women— are standard.

Proper play order: Let the winner of the previous hole tee off first After, mark your ball with a plastic marker or penny to allow the farthest golfer to play first Halt distractions during swings: Limit noise, motion or cell phone use.

Avoid injuries: Yell “fore” immediately if you hit a shot that may strike others.

Avoid slow play: Walk at a reasonable pace, begin planning your next shot as you approach, and never look for a lost ball for more than 5 minutes.

Keep in control: Never display frustration through dangerous outbursts such as throwing clubs.

Maintain the course: Replace divots, rake the bunker, and use the cart responsibly.

Display good sportsmanship: After a round, shake hands with other players and turn in your scorecard.

24

So if you have ever given thought to taking a swing at this popular pastime, here’s some advice from local pros.

Take the Lay of the Land

While the pros make it look easy, golf can be daunting for beginners, with its specialized set of rules, techniques and lingo—yes, birdie and bogey are official terms. To acclimate, Cheryl Anderson, director of instruction at Mike Bender Academy in Lake Mary and a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, says it’s a good idea for newcomers to “get comfortable in the golf environment” by walking or driving a course or attending a tournament, such as the upcoming Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor (March 9–12), the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club in Orlando (March 16–19) and The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach (May 9–14).

Get in Gear

Proper equipment is key for both enjoyment

Seminole Magazine • March 2017

Health&Fitness_March17.indd 24

2/24/17 11:50 AM

GOLF • HEALTH&FITNESS and success. “Just like runners need the right size shoes, golfers should use professionally fitted clubs [available at golf retailers],” says Freeman. Anderson agrees: “Women can’t just use their husbands’ clubs, as they are too heavy, long, and will lead to a frustrating experience.”

Beginners may rent clubs, purchase a partial set or buy a full set. To minimize initial financial investment, especially if continuation of the sport is uncertain, Anderson suggests starting with a partial set of four clubs: sand wedge, 7-iron, 5-wood and putter. Freeman prefers a “forgiving” full set (maximum of 14 clubs), including easier-to-hit hybrids, “a cross of irons and woods, which help beginners hit the ball high and far.” A bag and plenty of tees and balls are also necessary; golf shoes, a hat, a golfer’s glove and sunscreen are optional but recommended.

Find Lessons That Are on Par

Get Golf Ready, a nationwide program facilitated by PGA and LPGA professionals, is designed to get beginners on par with all things golf in just a few lessons (five sessions start at $99). Freeman advises new golfers to “find an instructor that works with your gender, age and body type to teach you as an individual, versus a cookie-cutter approach.” Both experts approach instruction with a balanced practice regime of “block” and “random” on the driving range. Block is a term that applies to the goal of improving technical skill and body movement by repetitive use of the same club, same target and same swing. Random applies to the integration of various clubs and marks to emulate a course experience.

Anderson typically begins lessons with putting stroke practice to concentrate on basic motions.

“Putting is fun and rewarding,” she explains.

Attention to grip and swing follows, with “small-swing” and, later, “full-swing” exercises.

Beginners are ready to progress from the range to the course, says Anderson, once they can get the ball airborne 50% of the time. “The range— which is a practice field—is not what golf is about. It’s flat with no hazards, whereas the course is long with trees, uneven lines, water and various beautiful, unexpected elements … all of which impact one’s game,” she says.

Seminole County Courses Alaqua Country Club: Well-known golf pro Gary Player designed this course to border Wekiwa Springs State Park.

3060 Players Point, Longwood; 407.444.0129; AlaquaCC.com; invitation-only membership $850/month.

Casselberry Golf Club: This tree-lined par-69 describes itself as “golf for everyone.”

300 S Triplet Lake Dr, Casselberry;407.699.9310; CasselberryGolf.com; rates start at $11.

Deer Run Country Club: Redesigned by architect Lloyd Clifton, this shotmaker’s course makes for creative play.

300 Daneswood Way, Casselberry; 407.699.9592; DeerRunCC.com; rates start at $20.

Heathrow Country Club: This challenging par-71 has hosted qualifiers and includes an island green.

1200 Bridgewater Dr, Heathrow; 407.333.1450; HeathrowCC.com; dual-course membership $500/month (with Legacy Club).

Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes: This wellbunkered course designed by architect Tom Fazio features scenic holes.

1700 Alaqua Lakes Blvd, Longwood; 407.444.9995; HeathrowCC.com; dual-course membership $500/month (with Heathrow Country Club).

Freeman agrees. “Your brain is learning when it’s struggling,” he adds, so allow yourself to learn without striving for perfection.

Get in the Swing of Golf

Golf has a number of accommodations to help greenhorn sportsmen “keep it in the short grass.” First, each golfer is given a handicap—a numerical score based on an arithmetic formula that approximates how many strokes above or below par a golfer might play, based on recent rounds. A golfer’s net score is then determined by subtracting the handicap from the gross score (strokes actually taken). The golfer with the lowest score wins. “This levels the playing field so golfers can enjoy a round together regardless of skill,” explains Anderson. Second, courses have three to six tee box markers, each with a different color to denote yardage length.

For example, black (farthest from the flag) is typically reserved for professionals, white is

Magnolia Plantation Golf Club: In addition to its 18-hole championship course, this facility includes the Mike Bender Golf Academy, with its indoor putting studio and hitting bay, uneven lie station and learning academy.

600 Shadowmoss Cir, Lake Mary; 407.771.4343; MikeBender.com; course rates start at $20.

Mayfair Country Club: The home to Arnold Palmer’s first PGA victory offers lessons and a practice bunker.

3536 Country Club Rd, Sanford; 407.322.2531; MayfairGolf.com; rates start at $14.

Timacuan Golf and Country Club: A championship course and academy recognized as one of the most enjoyable local tests of golf.

550 Timacuan Blvd, Lake Mary; 407.321.0010; GolfTimacuan.com; rates start at $35.

Tuscawilla Country Club: Local Joe Lee designed this Winter Springs–based course that spans 6,851 yards through a scenic backdrop of live oak trees.

1500 Winter Springs Blvd, Winter Springs; 407.366.1851; TuscawillaCC.com; membership options vary.

Twin Rivers Golf Club: Nestled between the Big and Little Econ rivers, this par-72 was also designed by Joe Lee and meant for all abilities.

2100 Ekana Dr, Oviedo; 407.366.1211; TwinRiversGolfClub.com; rates start at $20.

the most common among male players, red is typical for females and green for seniors. And third, you can start off playing nine holes— offered at most courses—and work up to a standard 18-hole round.

When deciding where to play, compare rates and book tee times at GolfNow.com, a Golf Channel site, or VisitOrlandoGolf.com, operated by the region’s official tourism association.

As with any sport, warm up before play.

Experts recommend working through your clubs: begin with short irons, then mid- and long irons and, finally, woods; plus, hit a few soft wedge shots and putts.

Anderson sums up why golf is a “hole-in-one” sport experience: “Golf is a timeless game that you can play regardless of age, handicap or skill level.”

March 2017 • SeminoleMagazine.com

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2/24/17 11:50 AM

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Welcome to Brilliant Minds Montessori, a place of exciting possibilities and heartfelt support. We offer a truly incomparable school experience for your child. With gentle and cheerful guidance, Dr. Meredith McCurdy and her staff help students explore engaging learning materials in a safe, bright and welcoming environment. At our school, children are enriched by a proven Montessori curriculum that exposes them to vital sensory, motor, language and cognitive tasks designed to maximize their intellectual possibilities.

In addition to personalized lesson programs, children also benefit from a low student–teacher ratio as well as a culturally rich student body.

About the School Director and Head Teacher An accomplished psychologist and Montessorian, Dr. McCurdy has dedicated her life to educating children. Dr. McCurdy is also the creator of Montessori-based learning curricula and is the author of the phonics reader, The Rob and Max Story Collection for Early Readers. Her Montessori math and reading/writing programs have been applied in schools and continue to be trusted by homeschoolers around the world. We invite you to visit Brilliant Minds Montessori and see firsthand our dedication to children and their growth—not simply as students, but as individuals. Together, we believe we can help your child reach his or her full potential.

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Seminole Magazine • March 2017

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StarChild Academy provides the highest quality children’s programs for those parents who want the very best in education, personal development and safety for their children. For infants through school-age children, StarChild Academy’s caring and dedicated educators provide first-class developmental programs at our convenient world-class locations with extended hours—and all at affordable tuition rates.

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IN THE BACKYARD WITH MAISIE • HOME&GARDEN

Rain Lilies: The Charm After the Storm

By Maisie Allen

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ood news! There is still time to plant bulbs in your landscaping. Good choices for Florida’s climate include agapanthus, crinum, canna, amaryllis and many varieties of lilies, including the rain lily.

FOTOLIA (TOP): COURTESY OF MAISIE ALLEN (BOTTOM)

The rain lily is one of the easiest bulbs to grow in Florida. Most varieties totally disappear during drought, only to spring up a few days after a good rain. Choose a collection of different species for displays throughout the year. You can anticipate the blooms or you can forget they are there and be surprised.

Either way, the new blooms that appear at various times add cheer to your landscape.

Rain lily species are members of the Amaryllis family, which includes amaryllis, daffodils, snowdrops and hurricane lilies. The scientific name for rain lily, Zephyranthes, is derived from Zephyrus, the Greek god of the west wind that typically brought the rainfall. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension provides a chart for identification and care of all varieties of rain lily at EDIS.IFAS.UFL. edu/pdffiles/EP/EP41200.pdf.

Most species will flourish under full sun to partial shade. When planted in an appropriate site, the bulbs need little care and will not need fertilizer, irrigation or replanting. Of course, rich, moist, well-drained soil with a neutral pH wouldn’t hurt! Overwatering could hurt, however. Snails, slugs, small rodents and deer are the only pests to feed on rain lily leaves; all parts of the rain lily have a low toxicity.

The rain lily seems to flower best when clumps are left undisturbed. Bare bulbs are available from online retailers, or you can purchase them as nursery plants. Nursery plants can be planted in the garden anytime and often flower and multiply faster than plants established from dormant bulbs. Planting them in the middle of low groundcovers such as liriope or mondo grass provides occasional respite from the singularity of the grasses. Be sure to read the nursery tag for care, color choices and bloom season. Zephyranthes grandiflora is the classic Florida species.

From spring through fall, the rain lily can produce flushes of star-shaped, crocus-like flowers that are white, pink or yellow. New hybrids are available in shades of peach, orange and red, even multicolored in striped or picotee (dark-edged) petals. Keep in mind that hybridized plants are more fragile than those acclimated to Central Florida.

Overall, their easy care, broad adaptability and attractive, starry flowers make rain lilies ideal for Florida gardens.

Above: Zephyranthes grandiflora, the classic Florida rain lily

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2/21/17 8:10 PM

WILD SEMINOLE • SCENIC CANOEING

River Run

Enjoying a morning’s paddle along Rock Springs Run to Wekiwa Springs State Park

By Jay Exum

Recently, a friend and I paddled Rock Springs Run early enough to experience a glorious morning mostly full of solitude on one of the most natural portions of the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River System. We found diverse wildlife, clear water and native vegetation during a relatively short trip that was naturally inspiring.

I’m sure that a few hours later, the raucous enjoyment of the slew of canoers that traverse this run most weekends might have changed our experience, but for a while we felt as though we were the only people on a pristine river.

Even though the Wekiva basin is sometimes referred to as the most protected river system in the state, it sits at the edge of the metro Orlando urban complex. From this complex comes subtle but impactful pollutants: sediments from storm water runoff, fertilizers leaching through permeable soils and nitrates from an abundance of septic tanks. These sources pose a constant, nagging threat to water quality and habitat in the basin.

Fortunately, through several focused efforts over the past 50 years, the state has insightfully acquired about 80,000 acres of natural habitats and areas important to recharging the Floridan aquifer from which Rock Springs emerges. These land purchases and numerous other protective measures sustain the water quality and natural habitats along Rock Springs Run. In addition, the Wekiva River, together with Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run and Black Water Creek, was designated by Congress as a National Wild and Scenic River in October 2000. Wild and Scenic Rivers must possess one or more “outstandingly remarkable” values.

The designated waters within the Wekiva River System were found to possess five: scenic,

Paddling Rock Springs Run—A truly Wild and Scenic experience There are a few ways to enjoy the wonderful scenery and natural habitats around Rock Springs.

Although frequently crowded by midmorning, Orange County’s Kelly Park, in Apopka, is where you can see Rock Springs’ crystal-clear groundwater emanating from the deep Floridan aquifer. You can’t begin a canoe trip there, but you can wade and tube in a small section of the Run. The most convenient place to begin a canoe or kayak trip down the Run is at Kings Landing, where you can either rent a kayak or canoe or use your own vessel, paddle to Wekiwa Springs State Park or Wekiva Island, and be shuttled back. This

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trip may stimulate you to plan trips along other segments of the Wild and Scenic Wekiva River, including the Wekiva Springs Run from Wekiwa Springs State Park, the Wekiva River, Blackwater Creek or the most urban tributary of the system, the Little Wekiva River.

recreation, wildlife and habitat, historic and cultural resources, and water quality and quantity.

My notes from the float recorded subtle changes in canopy species in the habitats along the Run. We passed along mature mixed floodplain swamp with bald cypress, green ash and black gum; majestic live oaks in hammocks perched 3 feet above the river; and towering loblolly pines with scattered water oak and cabbage palm. A mixture of invasive exotic plants has generally wreaked havoc on aquatic habitats in Florida, but Rock Springs Run is mostly dominated by native vegetation, including spatterdock, giant bulrush, pickerelweed, water hemlock, duck potato and eelgrass.

We heard the wildly distinctive sounds of barred owls, pileated woodpeckers, limpkins, pig frogs and bronze frogs. We paddled right past a dozen species of wading- and waterdependent birds, and we heard or saw two dozen more passerines, or perching birds, in the canopy. And, of course, we saw quite a few alligators—some sunning comfortably on the spots they had scoured out of the bank and several more swimming to some more discreet enclave to spend the day.

It is indisputable that portions of the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River have been affected by extensive timber harvesting, water quality degradation and diminished spring flow.

But the canoe trip from Rock Springs Run to Wekiwa Springs State Park is still an unbeatable voyage into a wild, scenic and biologically distinct river run that offers idyllic vistas and a serene experience through protected natural lands in Central Florida. I highly recommend the trip!

Jay H. Exum, Ph.D., is a wildlife biologist and board member of the Friends of the Wekiva River and the Florida Wildlife Federation.

COURTESY OF JAY EXUM

I

t is particularly alluring for an ecologist to float Rock Springs Run, a flow-way that is an integral part of the Wekiva river system. But you don’t need to be an expert in water quality or wildlife habitat to be enthralled by the beauty you’ll encounter on a canoe trip along this invaluable Central Florida waterway. The experience is wonderful in and of itself—with its clear waters, constant flow and picturesque scenery—but there is even more substance than style in the 5-hour jaunt to Wekiwa Springs State Park or the privately owned Wekiva Island. This stretch is powered by the clear, spring-fed flow from Rock Springs, and it courses through mature forested canopies on stateowned land managed for native biological diversity.

The Friends of the Wekiva River, a nonprofit environmental organization established 35 years ago, offers environmental programs and educational field trips within the Wekiva Basin. To get involved, fin the latest information at FriendsOfWekiva.org.

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2/25/17 11:31 AM

ARTS & CULTURE

DANCE 24 ORLANDO BALLET:

MASTERWORKS

LEU GARDENS: DINOSAUR INVASION

Lifelike replicas of prehistoric creatures are positioned throughout the 50-acre gardens through April 30. These meticulously crafted dinosaur replicas range in size from 14 inches to a massive 33 feet.

1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando. Included in garden admission. LeuGardens.org

25 UPTOWN ART EXPO

More than 150 artists will display jewelry, glass, fine crafts mosaics, paintings, photography, pottery and sculpture for sale, and a jury will award prizes. Also includes a chalk painting competition; foods, beer and wine for sale; children’s activities; street performers; and live music. Famed guitarist Rick Derringer headlines on Saturday night. Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs. Also March 26; free admission.

Works from the masters of music and dance include “Serenade,” with choreography by George Balanchine and music by Tchaikovsky; “Fancy Free,” with choreography by Jerome Robbins and music by Leonard Bernstein; and the “Sinatra Suite,” with choreography by Twyla Tharp and music by Frank Sinatra. Additional performances on March 25 and 26.

Dr. Phillips Center, 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando. OrlandoBallet.org

EVENTS

9 THE GREAT GATSBY DANCE PARTY Prior to the evening’s performance at Orlando Shakespeare Theater, choreographer Richard Lamberty will teach participants Roaring ’20s dance steps, which they’ll practice on the set of “The Great Gatsby.” $20 admission includes a drink at the theater’s Harriett’s Bar but does not include play admission. (Further performances of the play continue through March 26.) 810 E Rollins St, Orlando. OrlandoShakes.org

11 TASTE OF OVIEDO

A day packed with food and drink from local vendors, a Citrus and Celery Cookoff, entertainment and kids’ activities, produced by the Oviedo–Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Oviedo Mall. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; free admission. TasteOfOviedo.org

ASTRONAUT!

From training to takeoff to reentry, get a feel for the physical and mental challenges of space exploration in 26 interactive exhibits. Through May 14. Orlando Science Center, 777 E Princeton St, Orlando.

OSC.org/astronaut

COMEDY

9 ELAYNE BOOSLER

The longtime stand-up and veteran of talk shows and specials will bring her thoughtful and feisty humor to the Dr. Phillips Center.

445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando. $35. DrPhillipsCenter.org

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11 PINTS N’ PAWS CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL West End Trading Company and Celery City Craft host this 6th annual festival to benefit Dolly s Foundation, Pet Rescue

by Judy and the companion animals they serve. Dogs are welcome to join their owners as they enjoy craft beers, local foods, live entertainment and a variety of vendor booths. Palmetto Ave and W 2nd St, Sanford. 2–6 p.m.; $30 and up. PintsAndPaws.com

FILM

9 TRIBUTE FILM SERIES

Enzian pays tribute to the late Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher and John Hurt with this series of iconic films March 9, 12 p.m.: Reynolds in “Singin’ in the

« FOR MORE EVENTS, VISIT SEMINOLEMAGAZINE.COM

Rain”; March 19, 12 p.m.: Fisher’s semiautobiographical screenplay “Postcards from the Edge”; April 4, 6:30 p.m.: Hurt in “1984.” 1300 S Orlando Ave, Maitland. Enzian.org

FUNDRAISERS

4 FRIENDS OF THE MENNELLO MUSEUM GALA Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer is the 2017 honoree of this annual gala to support the mission of the Mennello Museum of American Art. Donated works by local artists will be on view and available for purchase. Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World. $375. 407.246.4278, ext.

4860.

MUSIC

5 TONY BENNETT

The 19-time Grammy Award winner and “world’s most boyish octogenarian” (who celebrated his 90th birthday in August) performs his hits. His daughter, Antonia Bennett, opens with jazz/pop standards.

Dr. Phillips Center, 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando. $49.50 and up.

DrPhillipsCenter.org

6 TAFELMUSIK BAROQUE

ORCHESTRA

The renowned orchestra brings an all-Bach program to this year’s annual Winter Park Bach Festival. Other Bach Festival programs this month include a March 4 performance of Dvorák’s “Stabat Mater” and a March 5 performance of Festival Favorites.

Rollins College campus, 1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park. BachFestivalFlorida.org

24 ORLANDO OPERA: “DON GIOVANNI” Mozart’s treacherous seducer is a fraternity dude on a modern college campus in this contemporary production. Additional performances March 25 and 26. Dr. Phillips Center, 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando.

DrPhillipsCenter.org

THEATER

10 “MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT!” Spotlight Theatre of Central Florida presents the musical spoof of Arthurian legend by Python alum Eric Idle.

Additional shows on March 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19. Spotlight Theatre, 4022 S Orlando Dr, Sanford. SpotlightCFL.org

29 ORLANDO SHAKES: “ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA”

TV and film actor Michael Dorn, best known as the “Star Trek” series Klingon, Worf, stars as Antony and Caralyn Kozlowski as Cleopatra in Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy of rulers and lovers. 812 E Rollins St, Orlando. Through April 30.

OrlandoShakes.org

v

18 ORLANDO PHIL: RIMMA PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY The Phil’s concertmaster, Rimma Bergeron-Langlois, is violin soloist; Gemma New conducts. Also on the program is Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5” and a world premiere by young Russian composer, violinist, violist and arranger Lev Zhurbin (Ljova). Bob Carr Theater, 401 W Livingston St, Orlando.

OrlandoPhil.org

UPCOMING EVENT: MAY 27 CENTRAL FLORIDA’S BBQ BLOWOUT Mark your calendar to celebrate Memorial Day with live music and barbecue from 10 professional chefs at this 5th annual Oviedo– Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce event. Also, the KidQue Competition pairs kids with pro pit masters to vie for prizes. Oviedo Mall. 2–10 p.m.; free admission; food and drink purchases with tickets. BBQBlowout.org

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: COURTESY OF LEU GARDENS; COURTESY OF DR. PHILLIPS CENTER; COURTESY OF ORLANDO SHAKESPEARE THEATER; COURTESY OF DR. PHILLIPS CENTER; COURTESY OF ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER

MARCH

CULTURAL CALENDAR • MARCH

Seminole Magazine • March 2017

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