Currents nov2013

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1 COMPLIMENTARY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013

The

Holiday Issue

O

Outstanding Leader of Inpatient Therapy

ur therapy program is designed to rehabilitate individuals back to their highest level of independence and functioning.

Our therapists and nurses work closely with the physician and resident in order to create a plan of treatment that will combine comprehensive care with the patient’s personal goals.

• Individualized Physical, Occupational & Speech therapy • Joint Replacement (Knee, Hip, etc...)

• Stroke • Cardiac Disease • Fractures (Hip, Shoulder, Pelvic, etc...)

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• Bathing • Ambulating • Dressing, • Eating • Transferring

ards w o T p e t S a Take ce. n e d n e p e d n I Your Call Today to Pre-Register or to take a tour of our facility.

2 | Currents | November/December 2013

Currents | November/December 2013 | 3

PUBLISHER Todd Wilson

8 Soccer

Sambey gets his kicks

EDITOR Robert Bridges

5 Get Fit

Lake City tackles fitness

12 Holiday

8

Spirit Local charities need help

SALES Eileen Bennett Jeff Pressley Katee Becker

16 The Blood Guy Tony Hudson’s calling

18 Snow Day

5

12

Lake City festival grows

20 Holiday

on the Square Live Oak’s big event

ON THE COVER

16

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Ty Kuykendall, son of Blake Kuykendall and Natalia Vicenzi of Lake City, is ready for Christmas fun.

–Photo by Brent Kuykendall Photography

28 Gift

Wrapping 7creative ways to

makes your presents unique

WRITERS Tony Britt Amanda Williamson Stephen Richmond DESIGN Dave Kimler

Recipes Quick & Easy

24 Christmas

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Theresa Westberry

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1 COMPLIMENTARY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013

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32 Holiday

The

Holiday Issue

Stress

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CURRENTS magazine is a publication of the Lake City Reporter.

180 E Duval St., Lake City, FL 32055.

To inquire about advertising, call (386) 752-1293 or e-mail Currents@lakecityreporter.com. © Copyright 2013.

4 | Currents | November/December 2013

Get Fit Lake City Fit for the holidays and beyond

C

Teresa Morgan Get Fit Lake City Co-chair

Denille Decker Get Fit Lake City Co-chair

ompetition fuels many fires, but in Columbia County and Lake City competition is being used to promote better health for residents.

Get Fit Lake City is a health campaign introduced to the community by the Altrusa Club of Lake City with a goal of having residents, especially children, make healthier decisions when it comes to their weight.

The 16-week program has a biggest loser competition, fittest business contest and a fittest school competition.

“Having the campaign creates awareness,” said Dennille Decker, who co-chairs Get Fit Lake City along with Teresa Morgan. “People in Columbia County need to know that we’re the 58th most unhealthy county in the state of Florida. They need to know because they need to know that we have to change.

Having this initiative just brings it to the front of everyone’s mind. If it helps one person exercise more to make healthier food choices than it’s been worth it.”

“The women in the club came together and said we need to change the lifestyle and habits of our citizens,” said Mantha Young, Altrusa Club of Lake City president.

“We want to give them the tools to work with in order to make this a reality. We wanted it to be more than just a 5K, we wanted it to be a lifestyle change.”

The Biggest Loser has 263 participants competing to see who can lose the most weight on a percentage basis. The competition is over a 16-week period and began in midOctober. It will end in February.

Contestants weighed-in at one of four local partner gyms, Anytime Fitness, American Family Fitness, Curves, or Moowatee Cross Fit. Weekly motivational e-mails are sent out to keep contestants inspired and motivated. Contestants are also

sent recipes for healthy meal options. The winner of the competition will be announced at the event finale on March 8. The top male and female winner will each be awarded a prize package and a cash prize.

At least 35 local businesses are taking part in the Fittest Business competition, which is also a 16 week competition. The contest is based on employee activity as area businesses compete and get awarded points for the overall percentage of participation (at least 30 minutes of physical activity is required per week), percentage of employees taking part in the Biggest Loser Competition and daily individual physical fitness activity. Bonus points are awarded for group/team physical fitness events. The winner will be announced at the Get Fit Finale and get a trophy at the Chamber Of Commerce’s Business of the Year event in March.

The campaign is to help local youngsters learn how to make healthy choices to avoid being overweight and later obese.

Fourth and fifth grade students in all county elementary schools are participating in the mileage club where they can earn points for walking or running either before school or during recess. Once they reach a mile, they receive a “sneaker” charm. The class with the most points will win the competition.

Organizers are hoping to replace teacher reward systems from candy to pencils, increased recess time, stickers and other items desired by students.

“When we started this project we wanted to become the state of Florida’s fittest city,” Decker said. “We didn’t know how to do that, but now the Department of Health has come up with a competition. We have a leg up because we have already stared. It is a doable goal.”

Currents | November/December 2013 | 5

AD VER T IS EMEN T

Virtual Dementia Tour

®

A WindoW into the World of Alzheimer’S

M

emory loss due to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is devastating not only to patients, but to caregivers as well. The difficulty lies not only in seeing a loved one decline, but also in witnessing their frustration and anger. Dementia patients can often become combative or even violent, lashing out at family or friends when everyday tasks become impossible to carry out.

The professionals at Mederi Caretenders understand the difficult transition that patients and caregivers go through as dementia takes its toll. This is in part because they have been trained using the Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT), an interactive system that mimics the sensations often experienced by Alzheimer’s patients. For the past two years, Caretenders has also brought VDT to caregivers, residents and the general public to foster a better understanding of the condition.

“VDT really brings awareness of what dementia and Alzheimer’s patients go through,” said Susan Swirbul, a patient care liason at Caretenders. “It’s an awareness program that our company felt needed to come to this community.”

Subjects undergoing VDT are first 6 | Currents | November/December 2013

asked a series of questions before putting on gloves with popcorn in the fingertips, which simulates the nerve damage of neuropathy, and goggles that mimic macular degeneration.

They also wear earphones that supply garbled noises often heard

by Alzheimer’s patients, making it difficult for them to focus. Subjects are then put into a darkened room and given five minutes to perform five tasks without assistance.

The results are dramatic.

Participants often become frustrated or embarrassed, and some give up completely before the simulation is complete. Once out of the environment, the subject sits down with a nurse to discuss the test and answer more questions.

“It’s a big eye opener for a lot of people. They say, ‘Now I realize when I’m yelling at them or when I get really frustrated,’ and ‘I didn’t realize that’s what is coming at them,’ said Swirbul.

‘It really is an attitude adjustment, and it creates a much higher level of empathy for those patients.”

VDT is one of the many tools Caretenders uses to educate people about the devastating effects of dementia, with the goal of providing complete care for patients, caregivers and the public.

“I wondered if my family could manage all the care I needed after leaving the hospital.”

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Currents | November/December 2013 | 7

Firsthand view

Dr. Edward Sambey Team doctor: q Columbia High Soccer q Canadian National 17-under Women’s World Cup Soccer Team “I can honestly say I never entered into anything in my life with such a lack of expectations,” Sambey said.

“I did not know how intense my role would be. My alarm clock was all over the board. I was sleeping like a wolf.”

8 | Currents | November/December 2013

By TIM KIRBY

C

olumbia High soccer’s team doctor has impressive creden-

tials.

Edward Sambey not only was a world class player, he served two months last year as the team doctor for the Canadian National 17-under Women’s World Cup Team.

The World Cup competition was hosted by Azerbaijan and the Canadian team stayed at the Hilton in the capital city of Baku.

As an athlete that played First Division in Canada and in France and Costa Rica, and a board certified physician by the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine, Sambey still had his eyes opened by the experience.

“I can honestly say I never entered into anything in

my life with such a lack of expectations,” Sambey said.

“I did not know how intense my role would be. My alarm clock was all over the board.

I was sleeping like a wolf.”

Sambey said he was on call 24/7 and responsible for every complaint of the 23 members of the Canadian team, each of whom was headed to a Division I school in the United States. He was the one who ordered medicines for the players under the strict guidelines of FIFA. “I didn’t know it would be so all-encompassing,” Sambey said. “I had to be at every meal. I was never so impressed by the intense and unbelievable attention to detail. Prior to each game, I had to sign off on anything they had taken.”

Sambey said the main problems other than sprains, strains and bruises associated with soccer was dys-

Soccer on the world stage

entery and allergies. He faced an extensive FIFA list banned medicines that included no stimulants, no steroids and no narcotics. A medication as common as Sudafed was not allowed because of its stimulant properties.

Sambey also was called in on another FIFA rule.

“With 10 minutes left in the second half, they would take me and two players and isolate them and they had to produce urine samples,” Sambey said. “I would hate like heck to have someone take something and be ineligible.”

A rabid soccer fan, Sambey faced another problem. Team doctors are prohibited from showing any emotions on the sidelines.

The all-consuming soccer regimen allowed Sambey little time for travel and sightseeing.

“Baku is on the Caspian Sea and is an ancient, ancient city, but there is the

most unbelievable modern architecture,” Sambey said. “I was one of the only people allowed to leave the hotel for ordering medicine.

Everywhere the team went was with two armed guards. Every team was highly policed. When some of the girls’ families came to visit, they were allowed to sit with them for 20 minutes.”

Sambey said there was a World Cup Village, but players had to walk with supervisors and security guards.

Sambey applied and was selected for the World Cup posi-

tion. He has recently been offered to be team doctor for Canadian men’s and women’s teams training in Florida.

Sambey has not entirely given up on his playing career. He formed the Pumped-Up Kicks three-man soccer team that has won two national championships.

Sambey and wife Kristy have a daughter, Emma, 15, who is a freshman on the Columbia girls team, and that takes up spare time along with sons Eddie, 12, and Jack, 6. The Sambeys moved to Lake City in 1996 and he is a specialty physician with The Orthopaedic Institute.

“I have been involved in high school spor ts since 1996,” Sambey said. “T revor (CHS boys coach T yler) and I have a good relationship and we have talked about me volunteering for years.

I absolutely love the spor t.”

Currents | November/December 2013 | 9

Our family is your family PotashCorp makes the safety of our people – like Dan Dahlgren, Environmental Engineer at PotashCorp White Springs, and his son, Kyle – our top priority.

At PotashCorp, we have over 700 employees in White Springs and we have a mission to ensure each of them returns home safely at the end of every work day.

This summer, our people reached 2 million hours without a lost-time accident – a reflection of their commitment to protecting themselves and their co-workers.

We are proud of their safety achievements because our people are part of our family too.

To learn more, visit potashcorp.com.

PotashCorp operates with a commitment to safety, the environment, our communities and sustainable economic growth.

10 | Currents | November/December 2013

Currents | November/December 2013 | 11

Holiday spirit

Helping those in need

By TONY BRITT

F

amily looks out for one another and in Columbia County residents treat each other as family in good times and bad.

As the Christmas holiday season approaches, a number of families and community members who have donated to charitable organizations in the past are now in need of those services.

Columbia County families have their challenges.

The poverty rate in Columbia County sits at 16.2 percent compared to a statewide rate of 14.7 percent.

Who fares worst?

Families with children. Feeding a family, clothing the children, keeping up to date with school supplies, and securing child care are all routine household expenses faced by our community families. The most recent Kid Count statistics report 31.8 percent of Columbia County children under 18 are living in pov-

12 | Currents | November/December 2013

erty. The numbers have been inching up annually since 2007.

“These are the daily facts our community social service agencies work with. However, they see it from the perspective of the parent trying to make ends meet and finding themselves coming up short,” said Rita Dopp, executive director of United Way of Suwannee Valley.

“Often assistance is a function of what help is available, so the household can apply its resources for those needs for which there is no help.” Financial assistance is extremely limited. Instead, households can be encouraged to utilize community resources for assistance with clothing or food. As the holidays approach every family wants to have a sense of celebration at Thanksgiving and Christmas. “Our community is fortunate to have a number of community agencies which throughout the year offer assistance and make an effort to go

the extra mile during the holiday season.”

Several local charitable organizations host holiday food, clothing or toy drives to help local needy families.

Catholic Charities of Lake City

The Lake City Regional Office of Catholic Charities serves those in need through its food pantry, rent and utility assistance, homeless services and holiday assistance programs in Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, Lafayette and Union counties. Of the populations served, 97 percent are not Catholic and 96 cents of every dollar donated to the agency goes directly into the programs provided for the community.

Catholic Charities has served the area for 14 years.

“Remember when you were a child on Christmas morning and

how excited you were for what you would find under the Christmas tree and how wonderful it was to sit down and enjoy a holiday meal with turkey and all your favorite trimmings? If it were not for your donations these families would not have sparkle for the holidays,” said Suzanne Edwards, chief operating officer of the Lake City office of Catholic Charities.

Edwards said food or monetary donations can be given toward food to the Florida Gateway Food Bank, which serves Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee and Union counties.

Catholic Charities has an annual Thanksgiving Feast Basket where more than 500 Thanksgiving baskets are given to family in need.

Donations may be given to Catholic Charities, a 501 C3 tax deductible program, at 258 NW Burk Ave. The agency has been taking donations since Sept. 25.

Kicking For Hunger, another Catholic Charities annual event, will take place Dec. 1 Dec. 24, where the agency receives peanut butter and jelly donations to help stretch the family’s food supply.

Catholic Charities also as Angel Tree Gift Ministry where wrapped age-appropriate gifts can be donated. The agency will take donations up to Dec. 18.

For more information call (386)754-9180 or contributions can be done on line at: www.catholiccharitieslakecity.org

Lake City Reporter Food Drive

The sixth annual Lake City Reporter Food Drive will take place Dec. 2 through Dec. 13. Food collected during the benefit drive is given to the Florida Gateway Food Bank.

Only non-perishable food items and canned goods are collected during the benefit. No glass containers are allowed.

To make donations take the nonperishable food items to the Lake Reporter office, 180 E. Duval St., Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Toys For Tots

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and its Toys For Tots program has a collection site in Columbia County.

The collection site has been at Complete Automotive, 121 NW Bascom Norris Drive, where people can donate toys 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday - Friday. This is the first year his store has served as a dropoff location for Toys For Tots donations. The toys donated in Columbia County will be given to Columbia County children. The Toys For Tots toy drive began at the end of October and the cutoff date is Dec. 1. To donate a gift for the Toys For Tots program, a person needs to bring unopened, new, unwrapped toys to the store.

The Christmas Dream Machine

The Christmas Dream Machine was founded by Meally Jenkins and is on its 25th Christmas.

“Last year we served close to 900 children,” she said. “Our last day will be Dec. 22,” she said.

The Christmas Dream Machine will be located in the Lake City Mall, across from Chastain Jewelers.

The Christmas Dream Machine certify the working, economically

challenged parents to put their children’s name on the organization’s trees for public sponsorship. The Children receive their gifts on Christmas morning. The Christmas Dream Machine serves from 367 - 1,100 children annually.

The Christmas Dream Machine is operated on a volunteer basis. No salaries are paid.

The Christmas Dream Machine will be open noon until 7 p.m., Monday - Saturday and on Sunday from 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. during November and open regular mall hours in December.

Christian Service Center of Columbia County

The Christian Service Center has served low-income Columbia County residents for 31 years.

“We are currently under way with our annual Fund Drive to raise donations of all kinds, food, clothing and financial help,” said Kay Daly, Christian Service Center of Columbia County executive director.

The Christian Service Center is solely funded and operated by local churches and community donations and holds a food, clothing and toy drive annually from Oct. 1 - Dec. 31.

This year the Riders With Caring Hearts are hosting their annual motorcycle ride to Christian Service Center on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Registration is at Rountree Moore Toyota from 10 a.m. noon, and the ride ends at the American Legion Post 57 where lunch is provided. Cost to ride is $10.00 per bike, along with one new, unwrapped toy, and one nonperishable food item. The lunch and party at the American Legion will include raffle opportunities with all proceeds benefiting the Christian Service Center.

• For more information contact danny@columbiacountycycles.com or billhugginssr@hotmail.com.

Currents | November/December 2013 | 13

ADVERTISEMENT

Pro Motion Physical Therapy & Aesthetics!

Lake City’s Best of the Best Physical Therapy office opens its doors for a look inside to see what sets it’s therapy apart from the rest.

Life is full of unexpected challenges. There’s no way to prepare yourself for unplanned hardships like a car accident, sports injury, stroke, or Parkinson’s diagnosis. The compassionate team at Pro Motion Physical Therapy of Lake City is focused on achieving daily victories over those types of challenges.

Many individuals ask the question, ‘Is physical therapy right for me?’ “If you were to put 100 people in a room and ask me how many would benefit from physical therapy, I would say all 100 of them,” said Melinda Sganga, Physical Therapist and Co-owner of Pro Motion.

Owners, Melinda Sganga, Physical Therapist, & Brian Sganga, CFO

14 | Currents | November/December 2013

People may understand they need therapy if they had a knee replacement or a shoulder injury. However, people can benefit from physical therapy if they have osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, balance problems, etc. We treat all these things as well.”

Sganga follows, ”I believe if someone is taking medication for pain then they should be seeking physical therapy as a treatment option to reduce or even eliminate the need for the medication.”

Sganga and her dedicated team of therapists recognize that every patient is unique. The only thing ‘typical’ about each treatment is the sincere, one-onone care designed to help patients reach their goals.

“When we sit down with a new patient, we ask ‘What are your goals?’

Sometimes they have very specific goals they hope to accomplish. For example, a patient in her late 60’s was referred for low back and hip pain. After evaluating her, I knew how to correct the hip and back pain, but when I asked what this patient hoped to achieve with therapy her response was ‘I want to be able to get down on the floor and play trucks with my grandson and be able to get back up again. I am not strong enough to do that .’“

“By the time this patient was ready for discharge she came into the clinic and said ‘Watch this!’ And she proceeded to sit down on the floor and get back up again without difficulty and she did it twice to show me it ‘wasn’t a fluke.’ Not only did she leave our office stronger and pain-free, but she was able to accomplish something that mattered to her,” said Sganga.

The staff are so devoted to the care and service they provide that Melinda’s husband, Brian Sganga, left a successful career in law to become the CFO of Pro Motion, going back to college and earning an Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree from Florida Gateway College so he could better “speak the language” of his staff.

His education complements Melinda’s Masters of Science in Physical therapy degree from the University of Miami well, not to mention the rest of Pro Motion’s highly trained and certified staff.

“One thing we always remind our staff of,” according to Sganga, is “It is a privilege to do what we do. It is a great responsibility when others trust you with their health. We will never take that for granted. That is why we are always honored to treat our patients.”

The connection the Pro Motion staff has with its patients is clear from the moment patients walk in the door.

Before treatments even begin, you will hear patients chatting with the receptionist, one another, and the staff about their friends, families, and daily lives. Indeed, their success in physical therapy may have as much to do with the warm atmosphere Sganga and crew create in their office as the personalized service they provide to each of their patients.

“A positive outlook makes all the difference in the world during recovery,” states Sganga. “One gentleman with arthritic knees came to be evaluated and on his first day he told me, “I’ve already been through physical therapy twice at another location and it didn’t do a bit of good. I don’t know what you think you’re going to do for me.” Sganga states she then sat and discussed this with the gentleman and found that he did indeed have negative experiences in the past, but explained

how this would be a different experience, a better one. “Two weeks later, I walked past as he was exercising in the gym and I was teasing him a little, but I turned back and told him I was going to stop picking on him. He replied, ‘If you do, I will stop coming!’ ” His attitude and outlook was completely changed. He never missed an appointment.

One of the biggest attributes of Pro Motion is the honest, human connections they make with their patients every day.

Instead of having individuals work by themselves with weights and machines, the staff work one-on-one giving constant assistance, feedback, and encouragement.

According to Brian, this type of interaction automatically allows you to develop close relationships with your patients.

Pro Motion has been honored to receive Lake City’s ‘Best of the Best’ for the past three years and also was recognized this year by the Chamber of Commerce as ‘Small Business of the Year’.

More recently, they have launched a wellness component to their practice and had a ribbon cutting for Pro Motion Aesthetics in October of this year.

Melinda states

Megan Cortese, Licensed Esthetician, poses in Pro Motion Aesthetics relaxing skincare room.

“We now offer massage therapy, aesthetics including facials and peels and are looking to become a full-service wellness center where people look and feel great!

Brian, of New Smyrna Beach, and Melinda, a Columbia County native, were married shortly before starting Pro Motion Physical Therapy in 2007.

They live in Lake City, where they are raising their two daughters, Kennedy and Cassidy.

For more information on how Pro Motion Physical Therapy can put your body back in motion, call 386-755-3164 or visit their website, www.promotionlakecity.com.

Pro Motion Aesthetics Ribbon Cutting. October 2013.

November/December 2013 | Currents | 15 | Currents | November/December 2013 | 15

C O M M U N I T Y

P R O F I L E

Tony Hudson Donor Recruiter LifeSouth Community Blood Service

The Blood Guy

W

ith gummy worms and tic tacs, Tony Hudson helps educate local students about the chemical makeup of blood and why it’s so important to help save lives by donating blood.

As a donor recruiter with LifeSouth Community Blood Service, Hudson uses the Five Points of Life program to teach each class what can be used to save people: blood, bone marrow, organs, tissues and cord blood.

“Blood is the most important part to me,” Hudson said. “With cancer on the rise, 20 percent of our blood goes to cancer. We just need to get the next generation to be blood donors.”

The candy visual of gummy worms and tic tacs allow the children to visualize the different components of their life-force — with gummy worms being the platelets and tic tacs acting as the white blood cells. At the schools he visits annually, the children get excited when they see him, saying, “Look, it’s the blood guy.”

With a laugh, Hudson repeated, “Tony the Blood Guy.” But his job also involves planning daily events and locations for the blood mobile that covers Lake City, Lake Butler, Raiford, Worthington Springs and Fort White.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers supply hospitals across Alabama, Florida and Georgia with the blood required to meet the needs in each community. According to the non-profit, nearly five million Americans need a blood transfusion each year. LifeSouth reports that it requires 266,000 blood donations a year, which it raises at 30 donor centers, 44 blood mobiles and over 2,000 blood drives a month across the tri-state area.

“You can have the best doctors in the world, the best hospitals, but if you need blood and you don’t have it,” Hudson said, “you got nothing.”

16 | Currents | November/December 2013

Hudson used to work with computers at Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company, designing military-style “video games.” He gained his experience while in the United States Navy, designing simulators to prepare soldiers before they left on a mission.

“It always sounds exciting when I tell people about it, but really it was the most tedious job ever,” Hudson said.

Deciding he wanted to work with people, Hudson moved into the restaurant business and then eventually found his way to LifeSouth. Four years ago, he saw the donor recruiter position advertised in the newspaper, and knew instantly that he wanted it. He made the unusual transition from his former job in the restaurant industry to working as a donor recruiter.

“Every day when I go to work, I think what more can I do, what can I do better to keep the community safe,” he said.

He remembers a time he was standing outside the bloodmobile, trying to encourage people to take a moment to donate blood and save a life. It was pouring rain, and a woman asked him why he didn’t step inside.

“If it was your kid that needed blood, you’d want me standing in the rain,” Hudson thought at the time. He works daily with that philosophy — as if each day one of his own sons needed blood. It pushes him to always be on the lookout for better ways to market a blood drive.

“It’s more of a passion for me,” he said.

Even though Hudson works long hours, and long weeks, he said he feels like it’s all worth it because he’s spent a day helping to save lives.

Currents | November/December 2013 | 17

Lake City – December 14th

I

t is going to Snow in Lake City!

You heard right! Break out your winter coats and brace yourself for arctic conditions! Well, maybe not the arctic conditions but more than 30 tons of snow will be dropped in downtown Lake City!

On December 14, The Lake City – Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will once again host one of the community’s favorite events, Snow Day! The day will begin at 8 a.m. with the Dashing to the Snow 5k race sponsored by Pro Motion Physical Therapy. The 5k event is for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. The race will begin and conclude near Olustee Park. This is a great way to participate in the community fitness initiative, “Get Fit Lake City!” If you are part of the Fittest Business competition, you

18 | Currents | November/December 2013

don’t want to miss this opportunity.

Team activity points will be doubled to 10 points and five individual activity points will be given to all participants. To register or to find more information visit, www.lakecitychamber.com.

Stick around after the race and help us celebrate the opening festivities of Snow Day, which will begin at 9 a.m. While at Snow Day, you can expect to see over 30 tons of snow and two snow slides! If you are a true Floridian and the snow doesn’t interest you, we will also have live entertainment, food vendors and other children’s activities including bounce houses, a 26 foot dual lane slide and a special appearance by Santa all the way from the North Pole!

The title sponsor of Snow Day is Busy Bee B&B and they will have

lots of surprises and give-away’s throughout the day! This is a unique event you don’t want to miss and best of all -- playing in the snow and the children’s activities are absolutely free! Just make sure you arrive before the closing of the fun at 3:30 p.m.

The festivities will continue at 6 p.m. when the Lake City Rotary Club will present the 2013 Christmas parade with the theme, “Miracle on Marion.” It is a day that is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit and provide life long memories of playing in the Florida snow. For more information on any of these events, please contact the Lake City–Columbia County Chamber of Commerce at 386-752-3690 or visit us at www. lakecitychamber.com .

Currents | November/December 2013 | 19

Holiday Recipes Recipes provided by Shane Ward of The Rose Mary Catering Company

A

s the holiday season approaches, families gather around the dinner table to celebrate. Turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and more dot the kitchen, as their enticing smells draws everyone to the heart of the home.

But sometimes, the holiday stretch can be cluttered with days spent buying food or Christmas presents and nights spent wrapping. So little time is left for cooking the meal — even though most have a high expectations for the morning feast.

“We all have our own stories when it comes to the food that brings us together,” said Shane Ward, owner of The Rose Mary Catering Company.

With time running short and mother’s famous cranberry sauce to make, sometimes it is easier to turn to classic recipes for the rest of the meal.

Here are several suggestions:

d Turkey Never Dry Roastet fits your need

Choose the size bird tha

1/4 cup butter for a bolder flavor 1 cup apple juice or apple cider 3 table spoons lemon juice 1 stick of butter tter mixing in the Melt the 1/4 cup of bu juice. Inject the turapple juice and lemon ke sure to spread key with the mixture ma see the turkey ll wi u the injections out. Yo . plump as you go der the skin Next slide your hand un lly separate efu car d between the meat an without tearing the skin from the meat of butter in to small the skin. Cut the stick r between the skin pats and slide the butte get in the creases to re and meat. Make su even around to the between the wings and over any exposed back. Pull the skin back meat.

your favorite Season the turkey with to use Rosemary, blend — here we like n salt, and pepper. thyme as well as seaso y it is a good idea ke tur When roasting the der the turkey in to place a Mirepoix* un pan to add flang the bottom of the roasti ich creates a full wh s, ing pp dri the vor to turkey in the oven the flavored gravy. Roast until done. tion of chopped *Mirepoix is a combina ed to add flaus s ion on car rots, celer y and ces and soups. sau s, ck sto to vor and aroma

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Currents | November/December 2013 | 21

Sweet Potato Crunch

No holiday is complete without the presence of sweet potatoes. Here’s a recipe that will get even the picky eaters going back for seconds!

Apple Almond Stuffing

One of our favorite additions to the perfect holiday spread is our famous apple almond stuffing

Ingredients: 2 peeled and cut apples 1 diced onion fine 1/2 cup of diced celery fine 1/2 cup of chopped almonds 1 cup of chopped bacon or sausage 1 cup bacon grease 1/2 cup butter 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1 cup Chicken stock 1 loaf of bread The drier the bread, the better. Leave it sitting out (not in a bag) for at least 1 day, but 2-3 days is best. In a mixing bowl mix eggs, milk, chicken stock.

Pour over the bread, BUT do not pour it all at once. The bread needs to be wet but not mushy. You may have some left over mixture depending on how dry your bread is. In a pot cook your bacon or sausage (both is yummy too!) then add grease, butter, onions and celery. Cook until the onions and celery get translucent, but not brown.

Add the chopped apples. Cook the apples for three minutes before stirring in the almonds.

Season with sage, garlic, pepper, celery seed, Worcestershire sauce and season salt to taste.

Mix with the bread. Don’t worry if it seems a bit mushy. It will dry in the oven. Place in a baking pan and cook on 375 for about 2 hours.

22 | Currents | November/December 2013

3 lbs of sweet potato 1 cup of sugar 1/2 cup of melted butter 1 tablespoon of vanilla 1/3 cup of milk Brown sugar crunch topping Combine all Ingredients, except the brown sugar crunch topping, and mix well. Pour in to a 2qt baking dish and top with the crunch.

Bake at 350 for about 25 min or until the top starts to bubble.

Crunch topping 1/2 cup of brown sugar 1/4 cup of flour 3 tablespoons of melted butter 1/2 cup of chopped nuts Mix well.

Zuccato Cake.

When you are raised in a home full of chefs and bakers, traditional is not always on the menu. Zuccato cake is one of my fondest memories of a holiday treat in my home. Though you may not find it on the top of everyone’s holiday menu, once they take a bite they will request it again and again.

Traditionally it is made from cake scrapes in the kitchen left from leveling sheet cakes or a fallen cake that the baker could not use. This is why many times it is served as marble or mixes of different color cakes.

If you do not have a cache of scrap cake in your kitchen, a 10to 12-ounce store-bought pound cake will do.

Continued on 26

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LIVE OAK • FLORIDA

December 6-7 – Live Oak

T

he 29th Annual Christmas On The Square, “A Patriotic Christmas” will be December 6-7 in Live Oak. The signature event of the year for the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce is expanding this year. The exciting weekend will begin Friday night at 6:30 with the Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk. There will be pre-registration at 6:15 at the

24 | Currents | November/December 2013

Train Depot. Additionally, there will be early registration at Dairy Queen, Poole Realty, Chamber of Commerce and Suwannee Parks and Recreation.

At 7 p.m. at the Depot there will be a free concert starring the popular “Justin Case Band.”

During a music break at 8 p.m., there will be a fireworks show in the parking lot between Stoudamire’s Restaurant and Huffman-Gilmore. There will be concessions available at the events.

The Saturday events will kick

off at the usual 8 a.m. with craft and vendor booths, dancers, a great line up of local musical talent and over 20 food vendors.

The Car and Truck Show will be on Highway 90 at 10 a.m. between Downtown Café and North Florida Chiropractic.

If you want to enter the show, the entry fee is a child’s toy that will be donated to Sparky’s Kids.

Following the day of familyfriendly activities and bumping into friends you haven’t seen in a while, the lighted parade will start at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Karen Hurst at the Chamber of Commerce office at (386) 3623071.

Currents | November/December 2013 | 25

Zuccato Cake 1/4 cup liqueur, your favorite flavor is fine for the holidays I tend to use a cherry or raspberry this time of year. The fun thing about this cake is the limitless options you have. The liquor can be any flavor and so can the filling.

Chocolate mousse is a great one, so is a banana cream. Just a simple Chantilly cream will work as well.

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For this recipe we will use a chocolate Chantilly cream:

•

• • • •

1 6-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips, chopped 2 cups heavy or whipping cream 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 cup slivered almonds, chopped Directions:

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Cut the pound cake into 1/2inch slices, then diagonally cut each slice in half. Line a 3-quart mixing bowl with plastic wrap.

Arrange the cake pieces with the pointed ends at the bottom and crust sides next to cut edges until the bowl is lined. Sprinkle with the liquor. Set aside the remaining cake pieces.

Melt half the chocolate. Stir until smooth.

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream, sugar, and almond extract until stiff peaks form.

Fold in the chopped almonds and the remaining chocolate chips. Spread this cream mixture around the cake-lined bowl, leaving a well in the center.

Mix the melted chocolate into the remaining whipped cream, then use that to fill the center of the dessert. Top with the remaining cake pieces. They should rise slightly over the top of the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and add a little weight to the top — I typically use two dinner plates stacked on top of the bowl. Refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days ahead.

When ready to serve, turn the cake out onto a platter and slice in wedges. You can garish with fruit to match your flavors or sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.

26 | Currents | November/December 2013

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Currents | November/December 2013 | 27

By STEVEN RICHMOND

W

ith Christmas only a few weeks away, Lake City residents are scrambling to find the right gifts for their friends and families. But as we all know, shopping is only half the battle.

Next comes the careful art of gift wrapping.

Most people stick to this basic routine: Find some wrapping paper, maybe a bow or two, and spend an entire afternoon wrapping up the gifts. But why not take some liberties with your packaging? If it’s the thought that counts, then show your loved ones you really care by putting as much thought into wrapping the gift as you did selecting them.

Here are seven ideas for adding a holly jolly twist when wrapping your Christmas presents:

Don’t Taper the Tape

Regular, clear packaging tape is a reliable standby when it comes to wrapping gifts. But when you stick to the adhesive cliché, you’re neglecting countless decorating opportunities.

A surefire way to add a simple yet effective splash of design is to find different colors and designs of tape. Many craft and department stores will have various design, texture and color options aside from regular transparent pack28 | Currents | November/December 2013

aging tape. The final result is like the gift-wrapping equivalent of ties for men or frames for pictures—they’re not necessary, but they don’t look nearly as good without them.

’Twas the Game Night Before Christmas...

Using discarded board game pieces and packaging is a great way to add a playful spin to your presents. They’re great for invoking feelings of nostalgia or appealing to your giftee’s inner child.

This idea works best on gifts that are already packaged in a box shape. Simply find old board game materials, such as the board itself, and cut sections you can adhere to sides of the box. Finding materials for this shouldn’t be difficult since incomplete game sets sell for pennies on the dollar at thrift stores and garage sales.

Wrap with Ancient Yuletide Carols

A fun way to incorporate the holiday spirit in an unusual fashion is to use sheet music as the wrapping paper for your gifts, particularly if it’s the pages to wintertime favorites like “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” or any one of the literally hundreds of Christmas songs out there. Plus, sheet music to many common carols are public domain and available free online.

Don We Now Our Used Apparel

If you want to get double bonus points for being creative and green this year, try using old clothing to wrap your gifts. Bargain hunt at local thrift and department stores for used items. Button-down shirts are great for this because they’re easy to “undress” and the sleeves can be used in place of a bow.

When you’re done with Christmas, you can donate the shirt to a local charity, making this option especially eco-friendly. You can even kill two birds with one stone by giving both the shirt and the present as two gifts in one.

Painter Wonderland

This tip is for the artistically inclined. If you’ve got skill with a brush, why not paint or draw your own gift wrap design? Simply wrap your gift in blank canvas paper and release your inner Rembrandt.

This one is also good for children. Grab a couple of holidaycolored finger paints and have them dabble their prints all over the present. It’ll create unique, one-of-a-kind

packaging that came straight from the heart.

The “Fake Out”

This misleading gift wrapping idea is great for people on Santa’s naughty list who enjoy playing pranks. First, find a large box (bonus points if it has an unusual shape). Then place a small gift inside of it. Last, add weight to it as needed so the person receiving the gift is totally bewildered as to what it may be.

To add another layer of challenge, add several layers of intricate packaging that’ll prolong the unwrapping process. If you don’t mind getting coal next year, put something very cheap or something the person already owns at the end of your gift-wrapped labyrinth.

Hide in Plain Sight

Say you get someone a gift that will just sit around in one place in the house, like a coffee-maker or new printer. Simply put a bow around it and wait until the recipient comes across it in their daily routine.

The possibilities for wrapping your gifts are endless. With a little thought and ingenuity, you can add a fresh spin on a time-honored tradition and truly enhance your holiday cheer.

Currents | November/December 2013 | 29

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Here are just a few if the most common medical conditions and surgical treatments Dr. Soler offers his patients: n Cancer Detection and Treatment n Breast Cancer Management n Benign Breast Disorders n Hernia Surgery n Hiatal Hernia, Anti-flux Surgery (Esophyx-TiF) n Colon Cancer

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Call for Appointment (386) 755-6682 3140 NW Medical Center Lane, Suite 120 • Lake City | Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm • Friday 8am-12pm Currents | November/December 2013 | 31

HOW TO HANDLE

Stress

Dreaming of a Blue Christmas or do you fear what I fear?

By STEVEN RICHMOND

H

ectic travel plans, marathon cooking days and frantic gift shopping are as routine during the holiday season as sunrise and sunset. Then, just when you’re about to reach your breaking point, your obscenely rude in-laws and distant half-second-cousins-twiceremoved start gallivanting around your house and complaining about the consistency of your mashed potatoes.

32 | Currents | November/December 2013

So what are you supposed to do?

What about the holiday season—a time of intimate family gatherings— drains us physically and emotionally?

“Certainly there’s this expectation that we’re supposed to have this perfect family experience,” Lake City psychologist Jonathan Cohen, PhD, said. “The reality is, families are often stressful and there’s a variety of things that can make that experience difficult.”

Other drivers of stress during the holidays include the things we do for families as well, such as preparing big meals and purchasing enough presents to break Santa Claus’ back.

“People feel a need to buy presents and make big meals,” Cohen said. “With tough economic times, it’s an added level of stress.”

Stress, in medical terms, is how humans adjust to challenges and changes in their environment, both mentally and physically. We feel stress when the brain releases hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine that attempt to correct imbalances to the mind and body’s homeostasis, or the native equilibrium the body attempts to maintain on a regular basis.

Stress hormones can have a number of negative affects on your body, mood and behavior, including headaches, fatigue, anxiety, over- or undereating, substance abuse and social withdrawal, according to Mayo Clinic researchers.

“Stress has some definite detriments from symptoms that happen physiologically,” Cohen said.

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types and colours of food contain different vitamins and minerals.

of the holiday season into bite-sized chunks will help you sort out your

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disposal during the holiday season can alleviate the disappointment that might come with idealized, unrealistic goals.

Life is not perfect. Most people would agree, but many forget.

Understand that life during the holiday season is not about extravagant displays of wealth or who has the best Thanksgiving day spread, but family and the inseparable bond we That’s The feel to those we love most in our Caretenders Tradition lives.

“One of my biggest pieces of A dedicated team of compassionate, advice—seek out social support,” highly skilled healthcare Cohen said. “Have people to talk to. professionals who treat their I trypatients to remind people to just try to like family is our hallmark. enjoy themselves. The holidays are meant for that.”

• SkIlled NurSINg For •tips on handling PHySICAl THerAPy stress and • OCCuPATIONAl THerAPy other psychological challenges, • CerTIFIed HOMe HeAlTH AId visit the American • CArdIAC CAre Psychological • dIAbeTIC CAre Association at www.apa.org.

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Celebrate Within

“I wondered if my Your Means family could manage all Understanding your situation the carefinancial I needed afterand thethe resources at your leaving hospital.”

coping skills for such behaviors.

They can also discuss medications that might help the client be less agitated and more comfortable with life. “Many people are reluctant to take medication, but I have seen some wonderful results, especially with elderly people,” Weisberg explained.

“It changes their quality of life.”

Common symptoms of depression include irritability, sleeplessness, appetite changes, social withdrawal and feelings of hopelessness. If you or someone you love shows these signs, find help immediately. Treatment of depression can help you live an independent and fulfilling life.

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Caretenders. This very real condition is often associated with loss, an experience all too familiar for seniors.

Feelings of loss come with the death of a spouse, friend or pet. They also occur with the fading of everyday abilities, such as driving or bathing.

Clinical conditions such as stroke, cardiac disease, and neurological diseases like ALS and Parkinsons can also trigger depression.

The Caretenders program for depression begins with an assessment by a behavioral health nurse, who can then educate the client about the disease. Occupational therapy is sometimes recommended, especially with loss of abilities.

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priorities and make tackling your problems seem much more feasible.

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Tackle small goals each day instead of trying to do everything at the last minute.

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“People have more trouble with sleeping, feeling run down, tired, fatigued, overwhelmed, having a general sense of malaise and just a general sort of ‘illness.’”

So what are your options for working through the hassle of the holidays?

Currents | November/December 2013 | 33

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36 | Currents | November/December 2013