Currents Sept/Oct 2014

magazine

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 6 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 2014

Women in Business

Saluting Strength In Our Community

Take a Step Towards Your Independence.

Our 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...)

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Call Today to Pre-Register or2 | to a2014tour of our facility.

Currents |take September/October

Every baby is unique

At The Birth Center at Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center, we help to make every childbirth experience unique.

Babies and their families are the focus of everything we do. The Birth Center features the region’s most sophisticated birthing suites, all in a welcoming, comfortable environment.

Our obstetricians, labor and delivery specialists and nurses do everything possible to help make your stay with us safe and special.

We offer: · Newly renovated, $3.4 million facility

· Flat-screen TV, wireless Internet, comfortable sofa

· Full spectrum of maternity and delivery care

· Free childbirth classes

· Latest monitoring techniques and procedures

· Lactation services

· 14 private, luxury suites with private baths You can also benefit from our women’s health services and education program.

To find a physician, visit ShandsBaby.com.

To schedule a free tour of The Birth Center, call us at 386-292-7800.

Currents | September/October 2014 | 3

PUBLISHER Todd Wilson EDITOR Robert Bridges ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Theresa Westberry SALES Eileen Bennett Donna Bowen

8

contents 8 It’s a Woman’s World 16 A Better Read for the Working Woman 26 Signature Chefs Auction

WRITERS Emily Buchanan Sarah Loftus DESIGN Emily Lawson

ON THE COVER Women in business in Columbia County are saluted in this issue. October is Women in Business Month.

– Composite by Dave Kimler

32 Lose the Luggage 34 Trunk or Treat Fun 36 Colors of Fall 41 Big Names on Concert Bill 45 Girl Scouts Promote Life Skills for Young Entrepreneurs 47 Saluting Women in Business 4 | Currents | September/October 2014

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 2014.

Currents | September/October 2014 | 5

Whether you visit us for a tour, short rehabilitative stay, or choose our facility as your home, our goal as healthcare providers remains clear in all areas. We are dedicated to improving the strength, mobility and independence of our residents. Our facility provides a warm, personal setting tailored to the needs of our residents to promote quality and comfort of life. Stop by and meet our Admissions Director for a facility tour.

We Welcome Bette Carlson, Administrator and Stacy Johns, Director of Nursing

6 | Currents | September/October 2014

Chest pain. It may mean nothing.

But it may take everything.

Heart Attack Warning Signs Include: Shortness of Breath Nausea Dizziness Chest Pain Arm Pain Cold Sweat

Getting help immediately gives you a better chance to survive a heart attack. So know the warning signs listed above. And if you ever experience any of them, call 911 and get to the nearest emergency room.

| September/October 2014 | 7 368 NE Franklin St., Lake City •Currents ShandsLakeShore.com

S S E N I S U B N IN

WOME

S E P Y T O E R E T S NG

I K A E R B

S

everal Lake City women who work in male-dominated fields never dreamed they would have the jobs they do. For others, holding the jobs they do means achieving a life goal. But regardless of what got them into the job, of the women Currents Magazine talked with

who have jobs traditionally held by men say the same thing — they can’t imagine not doing what they do.

Being a woman in a male-dominated industry definitely presents challenges, but it can also give you a leg up. Women bring a different perspective to the job.

ARGATHA GILMORE CHIEF OF POLICE Being Lake City’s first African American female police chief hasn’t been an easy position, but Lake City Police Department’s Chief of Police, Argatha Gilmore, said she is proud to take on the challenge and to be an example of what all women can accomplish.

“Growing up, I was one of the ones that read all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy mysteries,” Gilmore said. “I think I’ve probably read every last one of those books. I just like courtroom drama and I like law enforcement.”

Chief Gilmore was born in Indian River County, and said she moved to Tallahassee for school. After getting her degree in criminal justice, Gilmore began working at the Tallahassee Police Department where she said she found her career path.

She said she worked her way up through the ranks at TPD and retired after 25 years of service. “I went through being a sergeant and a lieutenant, and I retired as a captain,” she said.

After a few years of working with TPD, 8 | Currents | September/October 2014

— Emily Buchanan

JUDY HAIR HAIR’S MOWER PARTS & REPAIR

Judy Hair never thought she would be the owner of a mower parts and repair shop, but now, she can’t imagine not doing that.

“I probably won’t ever retire because I just enjoy working,” the owner of Hair’s Mower Parts & Repair said.

But becoming a successful female business owner in a male-dominated industry hasn’t been easy, she said.

After finishing high school, she worked as a wait-

ress at Red Barn Restaurant on U.S. Highway 41. She married James Hair, and once they had children, she quit working at Red Barn.

Her husband made a living owning a Western Auto Store here in Lake City, which he opened in 1935.

And life continued for the couple.

She stayed at home with the kids. He ran the shop.

Until 1973 that is. s

she said she was asked what she wanted to become. “I remember very vividly saying I wanted to be a police chief,” Gilmore said. “And from that day that I wrote that down, to this day, I knew that this was the goal, this was my dream and this is what I wanted to do.”

By the end of the month, Gilmore said she will have worked with the LCPD for five years. She said although women leaders may have been prone to face more issues a few decades ago, she said she believes women are still not as highly represented as men.

Gilmore said she has certainly faced her challenges just like anyone who takes on a new position, but the city has been very welcoming. As the first woman and first African American police chief, she said the city has seen a big change.

“I am proud to be an African American who can be a role model for other African American females and for all females who can see that woman can achieve great success,” she said. “You do not let the glass ceiling be a stopping point. If you see a glass ceiling, you get a hammer and you just knock it away and keep going.”

She said it’s not about a person’s color or their gender, but instead, it’s about a person’s skill sets and their ability and attitude to achieve what they want to become.

“You cannot allow people’s stereotypes to keep you in a box,” she said.

Gilmore said it has been very rewarding to work with the men and women of the police department and the residents of Lake City.

“Sometimes you feel so unappreciated,” she said. “No one can see the long hours, the hard work and the difficult decisions that keep you up at night. No one sees those lonely times. But when you have someone who can simply say thank you and appreciate you, it makes it all worthwhile.”

See ‘Hair’ on Page 11 Currents | September/October 2014 | 9

SHIRLEY MIKELL: MIKELL’S POWER EQUIPMENT When Shirley Mikell and her husband, Randolph Mikell, opened Mikell’s Power Equipment in 1978, people questioned her knowledge of power tools, but her husband’s encouragement got her through those times.

“My husband always said the best parts people were women,” she said. “He really encouraged me with those words.”

He said women spend more time with customers and won’t let a customer leave unsatisfied.

People don’t question her abilities as much anymore, but she has had customers ask her why she’s working in a power tools store.

“My husband was by me one day, and he said, ‘Well, she owns the business.’ She (the

customer) said, ‘Well you need to be in a boutique or something like that,’” Mikell said.

But for the most part, people don’t question her anymore. Now, when her returning customers recommend Mikell’s, they tell people to have Shirley Mikell help them.

“A lot of people send people in here and say, ‘Let Ms. Mikell help you because she will go the limit to please you.’ And I do,” she said.

Mikell said she does everything at the store except actually work on the equipment, but she knows all about it.

Her husband retired from the business three years ago, and she thinks about retirement sometimes but said she would miss her customers too much.

“I enjoy coming in and socializing,” Shirley Mikell said.

When she does eventually retire, her son will take over the business, so Mikell’s stays a family business.

“And we’ve just reallly been blessed with our business,” Shirley Mikell said. “It’s been super, super good.”

— Sarah Loftus

BRANDY ROBERTS ERKINGER CONSTRUCTION GROUP

10 | Currents | September/October 2014

When Brandy Roberts sat down to take the exam to get her contractor’s license for the first time in 2009, the men sitting at the same table as her started laughing.

“They were like, ‘We’ve been in this construction trade for over 40 years. There’s no way you’re gonna pass this test,” she said. “They told me there was a 20 percent pass rate on your first time out to pass this test.”

But Roberts, 27, who’s now the vice president of Erkinger Construction Group, didn’t let that faze her.

She sat down, took the test and passed.

It’s been five years since that happened, and while people don’t laugh at her anymore, many do question her.

“People sometimes look at you like, ‘Oh, you do have a contractor’s license?’ ‘Yes, I am licensed to work.’ That’s probably the biggest thing. Sometimes, they look at you like you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Roberts said. “It is easy to be overlooked when you’re a female.”

But instead of being offended by people’s questions and doubts, Roberts, who builds houses and com-

s

knew that I had the motherly the building site over the weekmercial properties, takes them as or female interest involved it, end, so on Monday, she called compliments. and all of a sudden that was the and talked to one of Roberts’ “It’s not normal to be not only answer she wanted. And when associates about it. He told her a female but my age and to be I got back to the office and told how they could fix it, but she in this field,” Roberts said. “So I him, ‘We’re gonna do this.’ He wasn’t hearing it.

She wanted to usually take it almost as a compligoes, ‘Well, that’s exactly what I talk to Roberts. ment. I was able to accomplish told her.’ But I guess just hearing “So I’m on a job site somesomething most don’t.” it from me made a difference.” where completely different, had That does mean she has to But not every spend more time female customer is earning customers’ like that, and that’s trust than her male It’s not normal to be not only a OK, Roberts said. counterparts do, female but my age and to be in this Her partner in the but it also makes business is her dad, her unique and field ... I was able to accomplish Matthew Erkinger, brings customers and some people something most don’t. in, she said. prefer him, she One woman said. recently told her “We had this old lady one not even spoken to him. She she and her husband signed with time, and she was so cute. And calls me, and I give her the Erkinger because of Roberts. we were completely gutting her same answer, and she goes, ‘OK, The woman said she felt like home that had burned down that’s great. That’s what I want she had a woman on her side and she would just overlook me to do. Let’s do it that way.’ But with Roberts as her contractor, like I was the receptionist. And it was just hearing it from me,” Roberts said. she just wanted to talk to my Roberts said. “She felt like she Another time one of her wasn’t being taken advantage female customers was upset of like a man would. Or she about something that she saw on See ‘Roberts’ on Page 14

s

Hair

from Page 9

James passed away that year, so the business suddenly fell to Judy Hair.

He hadn’t left much money behind, so it was a struggle, said Tracie Hair, the couple’s daughter who’s also an employee of Hair’s.

Judy Hair said the biggest challenge was getting a loan to keep the business going.

She applied for a loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration and was turned down. The then director of the Gainesville Chamber of

Commerce helped her fill out the loan application one more time.

But still no luck.

“Every time, we’d fill them out, they’d find something wrong with it. They will not loan women money hardly at all,” Judy Hair said. “Banks and SBA and stuff, they don’t look on a woman favorably about borrowing money, even though she’s got good credit. And that’s the main problem, always the main problem, I think for women in business. If you can’t get capital, you can’t have a business because you have to start from somewhere, and most people don’t have enough money (without a

loan) to start a business.”

That was the start of hard times for Hair, her family and her business.

“And so we just struggled. We just really struggled. Sometimes, we had to pay just half of our light bill and stuff like that because you know, in this kind of business, your electrical bill is rather high,” Judy Hair said.

“I had no idea what to do.

We made a lot of mistakes and almost went broke a couple of times.”

Not only was she struggling financially, she was trying to navigate what, even today, is thought of as a man’s business. In 1991, she made a Currents | September/October 2014 | 11

decision to turn the store into the mower parts and repair store it is today because chain stores were coming to Lake City and taking business away from Western Auto. While it was a different shop, the lack of respect Judy Hair got from men for working in male-dominated industry stayed with her, she said.

“When we first started doing it, what they would do, ‘We want to talk to your technician’ because they sort of didn’t believe you knew what you were doing,” Judy Hair said. “They still do somewhat, but not as bad as they were to start with. I just go get him, and let them to talk to him and prove myself right.”

Tracie Hair said, “We tell them what we think and then we go get him, and they tell them exactly what we said.”

Men just don’t believe women understand how to repair mowers, Judy Hair said.

“Even to this day, most men think you don’t know anything

12 | Currents | September/October 2014

Even to this day, most men think you don’t know anything about motors and stuff ... I don’t have to worry now like I used to because we have a good clientele. Without them, I couldn’t have done it.

about motors and stuff like that,” she said.

But things have improved slightly for women, Judy Hair said.

“I think we get a little bit more respect, a little bit more than we did back years ago,” she said. Back then, you just didn’t really see women in business that were the actual bosses. You see a little bit more of it now.

“You just have to struggle through it. Eventually you’ll make it,” Judy Hair. said. “I don’t have to worry now like I used to because we have a good clientele. Without them, I couldn’t have done it.”

— Sarah Loftus

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Roberts from Page 11

dad. So again, I could tell her the same thing, and it would mean nothing unless it came out of his mouth,” Roberts said.

That kind of thing happens all the time because what makes one person feel at ease may make another uncomfortable, she said.

“It’s almost comical, especially with customers where you can be open enough to share that with them,” Roberts said. “I can tell you stories like that all day long.”

But the comedy and challenges of the job just make her like what she does even more.

Roberts started working at Erkinger for her dad when she was in high school, cleaning job sites, and from there, she realized she wanted to be a contractor.

“There was something about working with people that kind of sparked my interest,” she said. “And little by little, I started taking on a little bit more responsibility, and then I realized that I really enjoyed the construction industry itself and actually working hand-in-hand with people to build homes and commercial buildings.”

Now, she can’t imagine not being a contractor.

“I love my job. Every day it’s something different. I could not work in an office or somewhere where I felt like I was doing the same thing from 8-5,” Roberts said. “When I come into the office in the mornings, I may know what’s on my schedule, but I never know what the day’s going to bring, and I love that.”

— Sarah Loftus

14 | Currents | September/October 2014

Currents | September/October 2014 | 15

A better read

for the working woman

L

ooking for an inspirational business read focused on building strong women? Here are three titles that just might change your life and jump start your pro-

fessional life.

Claire Shipman, Katty Kay, Sheryl Sandberg and Meg Whitman have taken their professional experiences and motivational expertise and laid out a path to success for

women in the workplace or those still pursuing their education who are searching for their path to the top.

Here are the liner notes from their publishers and Amazon.com.

Lean In

by Sheryl Sandberg Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women’s voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.

Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and s

16 | Currents | September/October 2014

Continued on Page 20

Growing to better serve YOU! hERe when you need us.

Our expansion will double the size of our emergency room and bring our cardiac catheterization lab into the main hospital, providing for more centralized care for our patients. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about our expansion project – www.facebook.com/LakeCityMedical.

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Helping You Make the Transition CARETENDERS LAKE CITY HAS A VARIETY OFof SERVICES cAretenderS ofOF gAineSville hAS A vAriety ServiceS THAT AID SENIORS IN MAKING A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. thAt Aid SeniorS in mAking A lifeStyle chAnge

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he life changes that come with age can be at once mystifying and frightening. Whether it’s something as minor as new glasses or as major as a move to assisted living, Seniors are often concerned that lifestyle adjustments can lead to lack of independence. Thankfully, Mederi Caretenders of Gainesville has a variety of programs aimed at answering questions and easing the transitions that Seniors face.

“As with anyone, when a senior is faced with one or more major life changes - such as a move to an assisted living community where they’re changing their lifestyle to accommodate some limitation, or they lose a loved one - this can be very scary and overwhelming and can possibly lead to decline in physical and/or mental health,” said Susan Swirbul, a patient care liason at Caretenders.

Caretenders has a variety of services specifically designed for clients undergoing a stressful period of change.

These Seniors might be experiencing new limitations on mobility, cognitive deficits, effects of medication or other challenges that necessitate a change in lifestyle. When combined with declining overall health and other factors, clients can easily become depressed and feel as if they are losing control of their lives.

One such service, the Transitional Care Program, assists in a Senior’s transition to an assisted living facility.

A physician’s order is placed for a comprehensive geriatric needs assessment, which is conducted by a nurse who

is thoroughly trained to identify the imminent needs of the patient.

Once the client is settled in, the program professionals help manage medical needs and communicate with families, assisted living staff and other people involved with the client’s care. The program includes a team of psychiatric and medical nurses, therapists and social workers, all of whom have extensive experience and training in working with Seniors in transition.

For patients dealing with loss of mobility or cognitive abilities, Caretenders provides occupational therapists to help them re-learn and perform everyday tasks. They can also ensure that Seniors are using medical equipment correctly – for example, they can demonstrate proper positioning in a wheelchair.

All of these changes can take their toll on a Senior’s morale. Psychiatric nurses provide emotional support and teach clients how to deal with their feelings of frustration and helplessness. They also partner with other Caretenders professionals to provide education and moral support to caregivers, as they play a crucial role in a Senior’s outlook on life.

“Having an expert team of Caretenders clinicians that specialize in working with senior adults needing transitional support can help seniors sustain good health by incorporating proven techniques, like thorough mental/physical assessments, support counseling and engagement in meaningful activity,” said Swirbul.

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Currents | September/October 2014 | 19

pursue their goals with gusto.

In Lean In, Sandberg digs deeper into these issues, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to cut through the layers of ambiguity and bias surrounding the lives and choices of working women. She recounts her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family. She provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of “having it all.” She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women in the workplace and at home.

Sheryl Sandberg is Chief Operating Officer of Facebook.

The Confidence Code

by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay The authors of the bestselling Womenomics provide an informative and practical guide to understanding the importance of confidence — and learning how to achieve it — for women of all ages and at all stages of their career.

Working women today are better educated and more well qualified than ever before. Yet men still predominate in the corporate world. In The Confidence Code, Claire Shipman and Katty Kay argue that the key reason is confidence.

Combining cutting-edge research in genetics, gender, behavior, and cognition — with examples from their own lives and those of other successful women in politics, media, and business — Kay and Shipman go beyond admonishing women to “lean in.” Instead, they offer the inspiration and practical advice women need to close the gap and achieve the careers they want and deserve.

20 | Currents | September/October 2014

Helping nature provide.

Helping nature provide.

Our backyard is your backyard.

Currents | September/October 2014 | 21

P

H n p

The Power of Many: Values for Success in Business and in Life

by Meg Whitman

Is it possible to run a multibillion-dollar corporation on the power of trust? Must you set aside your authentic self as you climb the corporate ladder? Is there another role for technology beyond saving costs and creating efficiencies? In The Power of Many, Meg Whitman, former president and CEO of eBay, speaks to these questions and more, identifying 10 core values that steered her — and can steer any leader — to success without ethical compromise.

During her decade at the helm of eBay, Meg Whitman transformed it from a tiny start-up into a nearly $8 billion global powerhouse, revolutionizing the way goods are bought and sold online. Fortune magazine twice named her the Most Powerful Woman in Business.

Now, with the vitality, candor, and often self-effacing humor that is her trademark, Meg lays out the 10 core values that she credits not only with her strategic success but with many of the joys and satisfactions of her private life. Values such as trust, authenticity, courage, and validation are not naive, Meg shows us, and they are definitely not a luxury. Rather, they are essential tools for success that go hand in hand with traditional business practices — like holding oneself accountable or growing a company efficiently. She believes they are the foundation of strong management in the twenty-first century.

— Amazon.com

22 | Currents | September/October 2014

The staff of Lake City Medical Group is pleased to welcome

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n o i h s a F a Join for a c

S

he’s no stranger to the glitz and glamour of high-end events.

As the leading expert on event planning in the NorthCentral Florida area, Amy Francis, owner of Imperial Productions, has planned and coordinated many of Lake City’s most exquisite celebrations in recent history. Despite her success as both a business owner and a community leader, Francis knew that her skills were better suited to our community’s thriving philanthropic sector.

Francis has recently partnered with the Columbia County Tough Enough To Wear Pink Crisis Relief Fund to plan and implement what is sure to be the most elegant and beneficial charity event in our city’s incredible history.

On October 25, our city will host an event focused not only on the well-being of our local women, but also on the future of breast cancer research on a global scale.

24 | Currents | September/October 2014

w o h s n . e s u ca

INAUGURAL IMPERIAL PRODUCTIONS

CHARITY BALL

for Breast Cancer Awareness

Join us for an evening of fun, food, and fashion for a donation of just $100 per attendee!

After meeting and discussing the upcoming eveEach donation includes two complimentary drink tickets. ning’s events, we’re sure that Francis, in partnership with many local companies and organizations, has planned an evening which will be second-to-none.

Interested in having your business featured in As a disease that has affected nearly everyone we our fashion show? know and hold dear, breast cancer is a cause that Sponsor a bra in our upcoming fashion show to support breast we simply can’t ignore. By sponsoring a bra in the cancer awareness and research for a donation of just $1000! evening’s runway fashion show, many of our comBra sponsorship includes: 8 dinner tickets / 16 drink tickets, munity’s largest and most influential companies company sponsored bra entered into fashion show, photo with have joined hands with Francis to benefit research your bra/model, and your name in program toward a cure for this deadly disease. Each company will feature a custom-designed bra in the Charity Ball fashion show while they join the rest of the community in an evening of fun, food, and philanthropy.

OCTOBER 25, 2014 Guests will be excited to experience the evening by contributing just a minimal donation to the cause. Inclusive COLUMBIA COUNTY of cocktails, dinner, and an event of the highest caliber, this experience is sure to be an incredible night, about FAIRGROUNDS which everyone will be talking for many years to come.

We’re extremely excited to join the community COCKTAILS 6 • DINNER 7 during this wonderful evening of philanthropic givF A S H I O N S H O W 8 PM ing at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on October 25th and encourage every member of our city to consider taking part in this groundbreaking event.

I N PR O U D PART N E RSHIP W IT H: PM

PM

Currents | September/October 2014 | 25

352-316-2815 • INFO@THEIMPERIALPRODUCTIONS.COM

Support the

march for babies Signature Chefs Auction is November 18 While local chefs present their signature dishes, residents can sample delicious food, participate in a live and silent auction and listen to live music while raising money to support the March of Dimes dur26 | Currents | September/October 2014

ing the “Signature Chefs Auction” event.

Vern and Maureen Lloyd, the 2014 March of Dimes event cochairs, said they look forward to this year’s event at RountreeMoore Toyota-Scion on

November 18 at 5:30 p.m., as they hope to see around 350 guests attend and raise over $40,000 at the event.

“I was on the board for the March of Dimes and came up with this idea of this event,” Maureen

Lloyd said. “And now we’re having it 10 years later.”

Vern Lloyd said he retired from Potash Corp, and was recruited by his wife, Maureen, to help with the event. He said the March of Dimes’

mission is to help moms have fullterm pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies.

About the event Vern Lloyd said he is expecting 22 local chefs and caterers from around town to come and support the event.

ABOVE: Kaylie Spradley rests in an incubator at Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville a week after being born premature. She spent 22 days in the incubator because she had problems maintaining her body temperature. BELOW: Kaylie at 8 1/2 months in Jan. 2012.

Among the different restaurants and caterers, he said San Sebastian Winery from St. Augustine, PRP Wine International and AnheuserBusch will have wine and beer tasting.

He said as guests enjoy delicious food and drinks, live music will be playing from a group called True Vintage, who he said is a group made of well-known local musicians.

“Through sponsorships and auctions, we’ve already raised $35,000 this year,” Vern Lloyd said. “But our target is to get over $40,000.”

He said at the live auction, residents have a chance to win prizes such as Gold Tickets to the Suwannee River Jam, vacation at a St. Augustine beach house, have your own personal chef from the Rose Mary Catering Co. and win diamond necklaces from Ward’s Jewelry and from Joye’s Gem & Things.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to do their Christmas shopping,” Maureen Lloyd said. “And it’s really nicely dressed up.

It’s a gorg e o u s event, everything’s beautiful a n d it’s a real

Currents | September/October 2014 | 27

A group of supporters cross the starting line by Olustee Park in downtown Lake City at the 2014 March of Dimes March for Babies event. More than 300 people participated in the event. fancy affair.”

Vern Lloyd said he agreed with his wife and said the event is a fun time for every one to attend. “It’s an enjoyable evening that also gives us a chance to support the good cause,” he said.

Support the cause Prior to his wife coming up with the event,

28 | Currents | September/October 2014

Vern Lloyd said they had grandchild who went through serious birth defects, which he said prompted them to become involved with the event.

“This event has grown into a standard March of Dimes format that is not only how they do it, but also how it is done in other places,” Vern Lloyd said. “March of Dimes works at a national-level doing research on

how to prevent birth defects, pre-mature births, and also on programs that deal with those issues as well.”

Through research and support nationwide, he said March of Dimes has been able to help local residents such as Mike Greene, the manager of SherwinWilliams Paints, with treatment for his son, Truett Greene, who was born prematurely.

Greene said during the last trimester of Kaylen Berhm’s pregnancy, his son came unexpectedly early. He said his son spent 52 days in the NICU at UF Health Shands Hospital where he was

treated.

“Through their research and resources, March of Dimes was able to help our son grow into a healthy young boy,” Greene said. Greene said his little boy will turn 2-years-old in October.

Vern Lloyd has asked Greene to speak during the event as a special guest to share his story.

— Emily Buchanan A free getaway to a St. John’s River House at Astor is up for grabs at the Signature Chefs Auction on Tuesday, November 18. Astor is famous for spectacular fishing so this is one item for bid you won’t want to miss. The Signature Chefs Auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Rountree Moore Toyota showroom, US 90 West. There will be silent and live auctions, a premier drawing, live entertainment, wine tastings, and a cash bar. The highlight will be a selection of specialty foods presented by over 20 area restaurants and caterers.

For more information contact Kathy McCallister at 386-697-9810 or kmccallister@ marchofdimes.com; or Maureen Lloyd at 397-0598. Tickets are on sale now.

Currents | September/October 2014 | 29

Brew up frightening fun on Halloween Haunted with the thought of a ho-hum Halloween? Never fear — trick-or-treaters will want more than just candy once they see your party table. Throw a fabulous Halloween party fit for little goblins or grown-up monsters with some devilishly good sweets.

Midnight Potions Spice up the night with candy corn drinks served in containers guests can devour, making cleanup easy and delicious. Or, toast the night with the Witch’s Brew Mocktail.

COURTESY FAMILY FEATURES

Witch’s Brew Mocktail Servings: 6 • 3 cups ginger ale, chilled • 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice, chilled • 1/3 cup sweetened lime juice, chilled • Green gel food color or green icing color Black Colored Sugar • Gummy Eyeball Skewers Directions: In large pitcher, combine ginger ale, pineapple juice, sweetened lime juice and, if using, gel food color. To prepare glasses, dip rims of martini glasses in water, then in black sugar. Fill with drink mixture; add eyeball skewers.

Candy Corn Drinks Servings: 8

• 1 cup Bright White Candy Melts Candy, melted according to package directions • 1 cup Orange Candy Melts Candy, melted according to package directions • 1 package Yellow Candy Melts Candy, melted according to package directions • Orange, peach or mango juice Directions: Fill disposable decorating bag with melted bright white candy. Divide evenly among cavities of 8-cavity silicone shot glass mold, taking care to not get any candy on sides of mold. Repeat process with orange and yellow candy. Refrigerate until candy is set, about 30 minutes. Carefully remove candy glasses from mold and set aside. Fill with orange drink.

30 | Currents | September/October 2014

Currents | September/October 2014 | 31

LOSE THE LUGGAGE Find a functional bag for everyday If you find yourself away from your house so much that you feel like you’re living out of your purse or bag, you need to find the perfect bag to fit your everyday needs.

Do you have a gym bag, work bag, make-up bag, going out bag, and maybe even a diaper bag? It can be exhausting! If these are bags you’ve picked up here and there along the way, they may not be functioning in all the ways you need. This is why we’ve complied a list of functional, fashionable totes to suit your every need.

Catch-All Gym Bag If you go straight to the gym in the morning and then to the office for a full day of work you might find yourself weighed down by purse, briefcase, and gym tote. What you want instead is a colorful, classy bag with lots of space. With lots of styles to choose from, you can find the perfect — spacious and stylish — gym bag at thisnext.com.

Weekend Bag For sassy style and more space than you could ever imagine, you can’t pass up Le Sportsac. It’s the perfect getaway bag. With so many colors, sizes and designs to choose from, there are endless possibilities to fit each and every occasion and mood! Head to LeSportsac.com to find your favorite.

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386-755-9215 32 | Currents | September/October 2014

Briefcase Bag Do you carry your laptop to and from work each day? With piles of paperwork, too? What you need is something with a fitted pocket to keep your computer snug, but also extra pockets for phone, car keys, wallet and whatever else you find yourself with when you leave the house. Macys.com is a perfect site to find what you need without breaking the budget.

artin Kids

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Evening Clutch An evening clutch can be everything from fun and funky to conservative and classy. But you want to keep function in mind, too. If it only fits a few debit cards but not your phone, what’s the point? For this last bag on the list we’ve found that nothing beats a clutch from Target.com. With dozens of styles and colors to choose from, you can get one to match every outfit.

Dr. Charlotte Hill, DMD

At Martin Kids, we make the path to oral health fun.

Now is the time to help your child begin a healthy life.

386-752-8200 | Hwy 47 S. • Lake City, FL FORMER

PRACTICE

OF

GREGORY

BORGANELLI

Currents | September/October 2014 | 33

Trunk o

City combining ‘Trunk’ with ‘National Night Out’ for one fun night of family-friendly entertainment.

It’s that time of the year … there is a different feeling in the air and a buzz of excitement around town as we gear up for all of the upcoming events in Lake City! Trunk or Treat 2014 is quickly approaching and this year there are some exciting changes.

The Lake City Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, the Lake City Police Department and the Lake City Fire Department are joining forces and combining this year’s “Trunk or Treat” with “National Night Out/Safety Bash.”

Neither of these events would be possible without the support of

TOP: Amanda Daye and Cole Wharton pass out candy while guarding sleeping skeletons at the 2013 ‘Trunk or Treat.’

CENTER: Charles Brush Sr., carries his son, Charles Brush Jr., whose dressed as a sailor, on his shoulders last year.

RIGHT: Trunk-or-Treaters come down from a sugar high as the event wound to a close.

34 | Currents | September/October 2014

or Treat our community and local businesses.

Trunk or Treat is sponsored by PotashCorp - White Springs and National Night Out/Safety Bash is sponsored by Target.

This year the event will take place on Friday, Oct. 24, a week before Halloween, at Darby Pavilion/Wilson Park at Lake DeSoto in downtown Lake City. The line will begin on Hamilton Street, continue down Hernando Street and will officially open at 6 p.m. There will be trunks of candy, bounce houses, food vendors, live entertainment and more!

At the end of the evening, the movie “Despicable Me” will be shown on the lawn at the pavilion.

We are looking forward to an evening full of family fun. The best part is that all of the activities are free of charge. No tricks, just treats for the children of our area.

LEFT: Trunk-or-Treaters anxiously wait to collect candy at the 2013 ‘Trunk or Treat’ event. BELOW: Chloe Morris (right), 3, watches a battle between Ghostbuster Jason Avery and Alyson Waldron, 17, as the Grim Reaper. ‘This is my favorite holiday,’ said Avery, who dons a custom-made costume. ‘After vanquishing the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, I’ve been craving some s’mores.’

Currents | September/October 2014 | 35

We recognize taking the time to get to know a patient is a huge aspect of what makes the healing process a positive one. The other aspect is treating a wide range of medical needs with the most advanced surgical treatments available. That means everything from cancer detection and treatment to hernias and gastrointestinal problems.

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 Colonoscopy and Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy

n Breast Cancer Management

n Polyps

n Benign Breast Disorders

n Gallbladder Removal

n Hernia Surgery Laparoscopic

n Abdominal Pain Management

n Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia, & Anti-Reflux Surgery

n Hemorrhoids

n Colon Cancer

n Diverticulitis

When being admitted to a hospital, you can request us for your surgical provider.

Call for Appointment (386) 755-6682

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386-243-8587

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Colors of North Florida Get into the gardening business and find beauty all around us.

O

Along our road sides the native goldne of the best things enrod will soon be in its full glory. Their about liv- tall yellow blooms are one of my favorites ing in for welcoming the fall season. Goldenrod Florida is we can garden all is often unfairly blamed for allergies or year long. And fall in North hay fever. The pollen causing these problems is mainly from the ragweed Florida is an especially plant that blooms the same time nice time to be outside. as goldenrod but is much less The heat and heavy conspicuous. Ragweed is windhumidity we have been pollinated and can travel for up experiencing has me to 400 miles from the plant. yearning for cooler Peak season is mid-September. weather so I can spend more time in the garden. Martha Ann Goldenrod pollen is too heavy Before planning on going RONSONET and sticky to be blown far and is mainly pollinated by insects.

“North” to see the changing, colorful leaves, we should appreci- However, handling goldenrod may cause ate the colors and blooming plants allergic reactions.

Other bright flowers for fall are the right here in North Florida. The red maples, sycamores, sweetgums, and colorful mums on sale everywhere now. shumard oaks have a lot to offer as The perennial heirloom garden varietthe weather cools in the way of yel- ies are always reliable but usually can’t be found at the nurseries. They are low, red and orange leaves.

only available as pass-along plants. Pink daisy-mums that I received from friend Blanch Kirby many years ago still grow in my front flower bed. After you enjoy your potted mums they can be planted in the landscape and will bloom in the spring and fall, remember they need a short day cycle and no outside lights that will interfere with their blooming.

When your mums come back in the spring, lightly prune them all the way through mid August. When they grow more than six inches, just snip off the top two inches of growth. Then after they bloom, prune off the dead flower spikes. Marigolds are wonderful for summer as well as fall and will outlast the blooming time period of mums, for a better price and give the same colorful display.

One of the prettiest and most unusual plants is the blue ginger. Blue ginger has 12 inch royal-blue spiky blooms,

Currents | September/October 2014 | 37

“From helping our neighbor, to the most complex industrial projects” – John W. O’Neal

Trust the company that puts quality first.

www.onealcompanies.com

386-752-7578

212 SE Hickory Dr., Lake City FL 32025-4839 38 | Currents | September/October 2014

and is not a true ginger but a relative of the spiderwort family. They grow about five to six feet tall with dark green glossy leaves and give several weeks of color as the summer annuals are fading. These plants will grow in partial shade but need some sun to bloom well. They will be killed back when we have our first freeze but will come back in the spring and they propagate easily from cuttings.

This time of year the hurricane lilies will begin to push up their leafless stems of exotic six to eight inch clusters of tubular yellow or red blooms in North Florida. All summer they have been dormant, or without foliage, then after they bloom, lush strap-like leaves will appear and provide an evergreen relief all winter in contrast to the many dead looking plants surrounding them.

They need some sun to bloom well.

They multiply and can be shared by digging the bulbs. Sometimes if your lycoris don’t bloom they might need dividing as they have become crowded. They are best divided every few years in early summer when they are dormant. Disturbing them might also cause them not to bloom the following year. I’ve tried the pink and the white lycoris too, but they seldom bloom for me, as they aren’t well adapted to our heat and humidity. Don’t cut off the fading foliage in the early summer as the leaves provide nourishment to the bulb for next year’s blooms. These guidelines are also true for spring blooming amaryllis.

Mexican sage blooms in the fall in response to the shorter days, with their velvety purple blooms swaying with the wind. Each season mine reach five or six feet tall spreading slowly as they get older.

Beautyberry is a showy fall native with clusters of purple (or white) berries along the stems just in time for CHS decorating (purple and gold). The berries are a favorite food of the mockingbird and the deer love the foliage. They also love my daylilies. This shrub can reach eight feet in a season.

Firespike is a beauty that blooms in early fall with bright red flowers atop rich green foliage and grows to five feet with a spreading growth habit. It gets killed back in the winter but rebounds in the spring. It will grow well in partial

shade and is a good attraction for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Brugmansia or angel trumpet usually puts on another flush of blooms in the fall. They grow into large 10 foot shrubs with large tropical leaves in one season after being killed back when it freezes. The long drooping, elegant and fragrant 12 inch blooms are really a beautiful sight in full bloom. They bloom more often with generous feeding but do not like high phosphorus in a fertilizer, and will bloom better with a little sun exposure. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, causing convulsions with possible coma preceding death.

That said, we should always respect and treat any plant as potentially harmful if we eat any part of it. Always wash your hands when you have been in the garden and wear gloves to prevent introducing fungus or bacteria into your body.

Two of the few fall blooming trees we can enjoy soon are the Cassia and the golden raintree. The Cassia has large spikes of yellow flowers and will bloom throughout the fall. It’s stunning in the landscape. The golden raintree, blooms are yellow and then soon the seed pods turn a vibrant salmon pink. It too is a beauty, but is considered to be a trashy, weedy tree. I still love seeing them at their finest.

Cool season flowers to plant in fall (October) include pansy, petunia, dianthus, nemesia, lobelia, geranium, snapdragon, calendula and viola. Herbs and vegetables include parsley, thyme, kale, Swiss chard, bush and pole beans, beets, greens, carrots and lettuces.

Go by the Columbia County Extension office located in the back of the Supervisor of Elections building and pick up the UF/IFAS handout on “Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide,” it is free and a wealth of information of how, when and what to plant.

Enjoy our wonderful climate and get outside and garden. n Martha Ann Ronsonet is an avid gardener who lives in Lake City.

Currents | September/October 2014 | 39

Progressive Orthodontics understands that for most teens, having a great smile to take your game to the next level.

Call us today at

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40 | Currents | September/October 2014

progressivebraces.com

FGC Entertainment

Country music’s most

legendary performers will make their way to Lake City this season as part of Florida Gateway College’s 2014-15 entertainment series, beginning this October.

We look forward to this year of performances and invite our students, faculty, staff, and communities to join us at the FGC Entertainment series.”

Season tickets for the series will go on sale to past subscribers on Monday, and season tickets to the general public will go on sale Sept. 15.

Individual tickets will go on sale a week later on Sept.

BJ Thomas 22.

Unlike previous seasons, FGC The six-show series will Entertainment’s larger shows feature John Michael Montwill not take place until the gomery, BJ Thomas, Collin spring. The Howard ConferRay, Pam Tillis, the Bellamy ence Center, which typiBrothers, magician Adam cally hosts the bigger perforTrent, pop-opera group mances and seats up to 1,800 Vivace, and a tribute to the patrons, is in the process of Beach Boys. having its bleacher seating “The start of the academic replaced. That project should year signals the beginning of be completed later this fall, a new FGC Entertainment allowing for the larger shows series,” said Dr. Charles Hall, to return in the Spring.

FGC President. “Each year “This upcoming season seems to be better than the will mark another great year year before and this year’s of entertainment at Florida programs are no exception.

Gateway College,” said Troy

John Michael Montgomery

Pam Tillis

Currents | September/October 2014 | 41

Collin Raye The other major show in the conference center this year will feature John Michael Montgomery. Owner of 18 top ten singles and five No. 1s, including “I Can Love You Like That” and “Be My Baby Tonight,” Montgomery will perform at FGC on January 17.

“If you listened to country music in the 1990s, then you definitely know John Michael Montgomery,” Roberts said.

“We had to really focus on what has sold well and what the community has responded to when we made the decision to go to a smaller series,” Chapman said. “The country/western genre has been our biggest success the past several years, from Easton Corbin to Tracy Lawrence to Roots & Boots. The magician is a crowd

42 | Currents | September/October 2014

Roberts, public information coordinator.

“Though we only have six shows this year due to some ongoing renovations at the college, we believe this is going to be one of our strongest lineups yet.”

One of the major shows this season, Raindrops, Roses & Rhymes, features three country music legends sharing the stage together in an unforgettable acoustic performance: BJ Thomas, Pam Tillis, and Collin Raye. The show will take place on March 6, 2015, in the Howard Conference Center.

“The buzz from last year’s Roots and Boots concert was unanimously positive feedback, so our target No. 1 this year was to find a similar show,” said Rob Chapman, coordinator of marketing, web, and graphics production. “We feel like with Raindrops, Roses & Rhymes, we’ve hit this one out of the park.” pleaser every year, and our tribute acts have been phenomenal. I’m excited to see the community’s response to the classical ‘popera’ Vivace this year, as we’ve been targeting them for nearly four years.”

Season ticket prices are $75 for FGC staff, faculty, and students, and $125 for the general public. Season tickets also include VIP seating for the conference center shows.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (386) 754-4340 or by visiting www.fgcentertainment. com. If a subscriber from the 2013-2014 season wants the same seats as the previous year, they need to make contact before September 15.

Vivace

Bellamy Brothers

Other shows include: Thursday, October 16 Adam Trent at the Levy Performing Arts Center Named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Youths by US News & World Report magazine, Trent is one of the hot up-and-coming magicians on the college circuit. Combining his illusions with a dash of music and comedy, he’s been described “as Justin Timberlake meets David Copperfield” by GP4T magazine.

Friday, November 7 Bellamy Brothers at the Levy Performing Arts Center A country music duo consisting of David Milton Bellamy and Homer Howard Bellamy, the Bellamy Brothers have been a constant on the country music scene since the 1970s. They have charted 20 No. 1 singles, including their crossover hit, “Let Your Love Flow.”

Thursday, February 5 Vivace at the Levy Performing Arts Center A quartet that combines the talents of classical and pop singers, Vivace puts a fresh take on the classical and modern music of today. Utilizing both piano and violin, Vivace puts a new spin on the classical crossover/popera genre.

Friday, April 17, 2015 The Shindigs Surf Party Tribute at the Levy Performing Arts Center Just in time for summer, the Shindigs will transport you back to the ‘60s and ‘70s with a tribute to “America’s Band,” the Beach Boys! It’s the perfect time to sing along to all of the songs you know and love, like “Surfin’ USA,” “I Get Around,” and “Help Me, Rhonda.”

Adam Trent Currents | September/October 2014 | 43

530 South West Florida Dr. • LAKE CITY, FL

RV Sales Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm

888.440.5754 | CampingWorld OfLakeCity.com

44 | Currents | September/October 2014

On America’s favorite business:

The business

photos courtesy of girlscouts.org

of cookies The Brownies of Girl Scout Troop 1227 of Lake City got the chance to visit the place that started it all for them — Savannah, Ga. When the girls went in May, they got to see the home of their founder, Juliette Gordon Low, and learn about her love for helping girls grow to be strong and independent.

In addition to visiting Low’s home, they took a boat tour to see dolphins and visited local parks in the Savannnah area. The girls also visited the Tybee Island Marine Science Center where they learned about jellyfish.

But when they’re not on fun trips like that, the Brownies of Troop 1227 are spending their time helping others and learning more about what it means to be a leader.

Troop 1227 has helped the

As they say in Girl Scouts...

let’s meet the

cookies Purchasing a box of Thin Mints—our round, mint-flavored cookies with a delicious chocolaty coating—helps a girl learn money management. She handles money, keeps records, even tracks orders— activities that are essential to running a successful business.

A tasty treat isn’t all that’s involved with a box of our caramel and toasted coconut-covered cookies. Through interaction with each customer and other Girl Scouts, a girl learns the importance of keeping her word, doing the right thing, and being fair. A girl learns the business ethics that will serve her throughout life.

Currents | September/October 2014 | 45

A layer of peanut butter with a rich chocolaty coating?

Mouth-watering treats.

But did you know that every box a girl sells helps her learn decision making? She makes a plan, solves problems on her own, and thinks creatively—skills she needs to be successful, now and in the future.

When a girl hands you a box of these cookies— each one in the shape of our iconic trefoil—she’s building important people skills. She’s meeting new customers, making eye contact, talking about the cookies, and saying thanks. And that builds her confidence for now and for the future.

These sandwich cookies give you crisp and crunchy oatmeal on the outside and creamy peanut butter inside. But they’re more than just tasty—they’re a lesson in goal setting for the girl who sells them to you. She learns how to organize the cookie sale, set goals, and work hard. All skills she’ll need in the future.

46 | Currents | September/October 2014

community by participating in food drives sponsored by Winn Dixie and Publix and has helped the Lad Soup Kitchen and the Catholic Charities Backpack program.

Part of being a Girl Scout is helping the community — whether it’s your local community or one in another country.

Girl Scouts do service projects that teach them life skills and build confidence.

They go on camping trips, participate in lock-ins, visit nursing homes and do so many other things.

But what they’re most known for is their cookies.

Girl Scouts of all ages sell the delectable cookies, which teaches them money management, goal setting, decision making, business ethics and people skills.

According to the Girl Scouts website, about 65 percent of registered Girl Scouts participate in the voluntary cookie program annually.

But even those who aren’t a part of it still learn a lot about leadership and themselves.

Amy Francis

Vendaresa Proveaux A’ La Mode Salon

Event Designer & Coordinator/ Owner

278 SW McFarlane Ave., Lake City • (386) 269-2152 Over 20 years experience & education

181 SE Hernando Ave., Lake City • (352) 316-2815

Senior Stylist

Imperial Productions 5 years

Awards/Special Achievements:

Awards/Special Achievements:

• Redken & Matrix advanced education • Specialized product training in many professional lines • Precision cutting techniques & chemical texture awards • Hair extension application

• Best of the Best Event Planner 2013 • Best of the Best Event Planner 2014 • Featured in national publications • Self taught event designer

Public Service Involvement: Public Service Involvement:

• Sponsor a number of charities through gift certificates and donations.

• Volunteer for nonprofit organizations during holidays.

• Member of Altrusa International of Lake City • Founder of the Imperial Productions Charity Ball • Supporter of Tough Enough to Wear Pink • Supporter of March of Dimes Member of Lake City Chamber of Commerce

Bette J. Carlson

Michelle Morris, ARNP

Administrator

Avalon Healthcare

Administrator

1270 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 752-7900

Baya Urgent Care

Over 25 years experience

1465 US Hwy. 90 West, Lake City • 755-2268

1 year Awards/Special Achievements: • Leadership Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators • Bachelors & Masters Degrees from Syracuse University • Registered Dietitian • Licensed Nursing • Home Administrator

Public Service Involvement:

• Rotary Club- on Board of Directors • FHCA- District VIII- Board Member

Awards/Special Achievements: • Best of the Best 2014

Public Service Involvement: • Community Wellness Fairs • Charity Walks

Currents | September/October 2014 | 47

Deanna Morrison

Pam Beauchamp

Baya Urgent Care

Remax Professionals, Inc.

Broker Associate

ARNP

(386) 303-2505

1465 US Hwy. 90 West, Lake City • 755-2268

In real estate business since 2001

1 year

Awards/Special Achievements: • Best of the Best 2014

Public Service Involvement: • Community Wellness Fairs • Charity Walks

Awards/Special Achievements:

• Licensed Real Estate Broker • Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) • Certified Short-Sale Professional (CSP) • Best of the Best Real Estate Agent 2009, 2013 • Executive Club 2006 • 100% Club 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 Husband: Rick Beauchamp; Children: Trey & Heather; Grandchildren: Drew, Riley & Gracie

Public Service Involvement:

• March of Dimes Board of Directors • Board of Realtors 2012 & 2014 President Elect • Member at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church • Children’s Miracle Network

Elaine K. Tolar

Diana Parker

Coldwell Banker Bishop Realty, Inc.

Campus USA Credit Union

Broker/Owner

Service Center Manager 1658 W. US Hwy. 90., Lake City (386) 754-2215

839 SW SR 247, Lake City • (386) 365-1548

32 years in this career

Established 60 years Awards/Special Achievements: • Certified Real Esatte Specialist • Graduate Real Estate Institute • Real Estate Broker for 20 Years

Public Service Involvement:

• Blood Donor Since 1985 • School Volunteer • 20 years of meeting the needs of people who need to sell home and/or find a new home.

Esta Eberhardt Photographer/Owner

Captured Memories by Esta 152 SE Hernando Ave., Lake City • (386) 623-0111

3.5 years

Awards/Special Achievements: • University of Lending, Management Essentials of Supervision School, Certified Financial Professional • CUNA Branch Management Institute.

• Husband -Jimmy, Daughter-Jenifer (Jeff), Granddaughters-Hilary, Alison & Emma

Public Service Involvement: • Christian Heritage Church • United Way

Carla Nyssen Owner/Manager

Curves

1137 W US Hwy 90, Lake City • (386) 754-5422

2004/ Owned 71/2 years

Awards/Special Achievements:

Awards/Special Achievements:

• Co-owner HKE Transport • Self taught photographer • Mom to Kaitlin and Kyle • Married to Hank 17 years • Member of Professional Photographers of America • Steering committee chair Branford Camera Club

• Certificate for Curves Fitness Training • Certified in Nutrition & Weight Loss • Awarded Shining Star Status by Curves for 4 years • Married 29 years with 3 children

Public Service Involvement:

• Board member of Altrusa International of Lake City • Magic Hour Foundation Photographer for cancer patients • Member of Lake City Chamber of Commerce 48 | Currents | September/October 2014

Public Service Involvement:

• Altrusa • Women in Business • Relay for Life • Chamber Member • Support local charities • Support local community events

Debra Lynn Parrish Owner/Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer

Dees-Parrish Family Funeral Home (386) 752-1234

Etablished in 2004 Awards/Special Achievements: The most important achievement/award in my life has been the birth of my daughter, and her health, which a lot of us take for granted.

Public Service Involvement:

Childhood Cancer Awareness • March of Dimes • Autism Speaks- for my nephew Carter • CARC • Rotary • Community Concerts

Lacrecia Williams

Senior VP, Regional Commercial Lender

Fist Federal Bank of Florida 4705 US Hwy. 90W • (386) 755-0600

20 years

Susanna Dicks Real Estae Agent

United Country-Dicks Realty 1286 W US 90, Lake City • (386) 752-8585

23 years working in family real estate business Awards/Special Achievements: • Married to Brad for 23 years •Three children: Sarah, twin boys, John & Aaron • Licensed Real Estate Agent • Private Pilot • Member of Parkview Baptist Church

Public Service Involvement: • Eastside Elementary P.T.O • Missions to Honduras • Operation Back Pack

Georgia Jones

EVP, Chief Crredit Officer

First Federal Bank of Florida 4705 US Hwy. 90W • (386) 755-0600 16 years with First Federal Savings Bank of Florida, 26 years in banking

Awards/Special Achievements:

Awards/Special Achievements:

• Graduate of University of Florida • RMA School of Commercial Lending • Completed 6 half marathons • 2 boys and a new finance

Public Service Involvement:

Public Service Involvement: • Member of Altrusa International of Lake City (serving on Operations Committee) • Treasurer of Westside Elementary PTO

Karen Green

Owner, Skin Care Specialist & Stylist

Gegee’s Studio

440 E. Duval St., Lake City • (386) 758-2088 10+ years

• BS Degree in Business/Finance from Florida State University (1988) • Married for 26 years to Carlton Jones; Mother of 3 wonderful children (Elizabeth, Nick and Richard) • Columbia County Chamber of Commerce: President (2008), Board of Directors (2004 – 2008), Treasurer (2006) • Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board: Board Member (2001 – 2010); Secretary/Treasurer (2008/2009) • The Ichetucknee Partnership: Chairman and Executive Council Member (2008 – 2010) • Altrusa International of Lake City: Member (1995 – present), Board & Vice President (1997-1999), Treasurer (2011) • United Way of Suwannee Valley: Board of Directors (1998-2001), Allocations Committee (19952001); Planning Committee (2013 – present) • Columbia County Take Stock in Children: Founding Member (1994), Council (2004 – present) • FSU Seminole Booster (1988 – present) • Daughters of the American Revolution (2006 - present)

Peggy Kent

Owner/Redken Artist

Hair Graphics Salon 948 SW Baya Dr., Lake City • (386) 755-2325

29 years Salon Owner 35+ Years Lic. Cosmetologist

Awards/Special Achievements:

Awards/Special Achievements:

• Best of the Best Day Spa several years in a row • SCORE Entrepreneur of the year- Runner-up

• Best of the Best Hair Salon 2008 through 2012 • Ceertified Redken Colorist • Redken Educator

Public Service Involvement:

• Altrusa member • Volunteer Pregnancy Care Center • Mommy to wonderful daughter

Public Service Involvement:

• Compassion International Missions • Breast Cancer Awareness Currents | September/October 2014 | 49

Staci Hartsuff

Debra K. Griffin

A’ La Mode Salon

Hearing Solution, Inc.

Licensed Cosmetologist

278 SW McFarlane Ave., Lake City • (386) 269-2152

3 years

Awards/Special Achievements: • Cosmetology Certificate: Florida Gateway College • Keratin Complex, Pravana Vivids Urban Ombre’, Kenra Smoothout Certificates • Advanced Matrix Color Theory Education • Kenra, Redken, Matrix, Pravana, Sexy Hair product use Education.

Public Service Involvement:

• Annual Crime-Stoppers Bowling Tournament Sponsor.

A member of USBWBA • 2013 Columbia Forestry Pageant Sponsor • Donates to Locks of Love • Sponsors holiday can food drives for the community.

Owner & Doctor of Audiology 183 NW Veterans St., Lake City • (386) 269-1778

16 years

Awards/Special Achievements: • Audiology Group “Provider of Distinction 2013 & 2014”

Public Service Involvement:

• Covenart Pet Trust, President • Altrusa Member • Habitat for Humanity volunteer • A.C.T.I.O.N. Active Citizens To Improve Our Neighborhood

Holly Frazier

Eileen Bennett

Holly Frazier Photography

Lake City Reporter

Owner

181 SE Hernando Ave., Lake City • (386) 623-3024

2011/3 years

Awards/Special Achievements: • 2013 & 2014 Best of the Best Photographer • Cover Finalist for North Central Florida Bride Magazine • Member of Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

Account Executive 180 E. Duval St., Lake City (386) 754-0432

39 years advertising sales

Awards/Special Achievements: • Having a wonderful partner, Alan, and two beautiful sons and their wives- Scott and wife Heather, Andy and wife Veronica and four incredible grandchildren- Drew, Case, Nina and Ella.

Public Service Involvement: • Chamber Member

Donna Bowen

Theresa Westberry

Lake City Reporter

Lake City Reporter

Account Executive

180 E. Duval St., Lake City (386) 754-0416 28 years sales/marketing experience Awards/Special Achievements:

Advertising Director

180 E. Duval St., Lake City • 754-0417

2 years

Awards/Special Achievements:

• Married, 3 children, 3 stepchildren, 2 grandchildren • Former owner/operator of 3 small businesses in Lake City • Managed 2 small businesses in Lake City • Attend Christ Community Church

• Two daughters- Abigail and maci

Public Service Involvement:

Public Service Involvement:

• Ambassador for Pregnancy Care Center • Community Action Team Member for Another Way

50 | Currents | September/October 2014

• School volunteer • Member of Lake City Professional Alliance • SBA Mentor • Summers Elementary PTO

Charlotte Hill

Celia Martin

Martin Kids

Martin Orthodontics

Doctor (Orthodontist)

Dentist

701 SW State Road 47, Lake City (386) 755-1001

Hwy. 47 S., Lake City • (386) 752-8200

26 years in business Awards/Special Achievements: • Academy of General Dentistry Members • Periodontal Therapy Award from UFCD • Worked in Barrow, Alaska, the northern most US city

Public Service Involvement:

• Mission trips to Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Ecuador • Volunteer at Florida Mission of Mercy • Volunteer at local public dental clinic

Awards/Special Achievements: • National Advisory Committee for 3-M Unitek • Academy of Women Dentist and Operative Dentistry Award • Past Faculty of the University of Florida Dental School • Member of Great Aspirations 1999 an 11-person team that trekked to the North Pole • Climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro 1999 & went to Antarctica with National Geographic 2007

Public Service Involvement:

• Altrusa Member • Supporter of Youth Activities and Sports

Julie Owen, O.D.

Kathleen Marshall

Optometrist

Pharmacy Mgr./Co-Owner/ Pharm D

North Florida Eye Care

North Florida Pharmacy

763 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 752-1722

14 years

7729 SW Hwy. 27, Fort White • (386) 497-2580

12 years pharmacist Awards/Special Achievements: • Graduated with Honors from University of Florida, Bachelor of Science, Nursing in 1993.

• Graduated with Honors from Nova Southeastern University College of optometry 2000.

• Received the Luxottica Award at NSU, Excellence in Pediatric Optometry

Awards/Special Achievements: • Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Florida

Public Service Involvement:

• Former Northeast Florida Optometric Society Board Member, 5 yrs.

• Former Member Parent-Teacher Involvement Committee Columbia City Elementary

Sharon Rosenfeld

Emily Wilson

North Florida Pharmacy

North Florida Pharmacy

Registered Pharmacist

347 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 758-6770

36 years practicing pharmacist

Pharmacist/Pharm D

347 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 758-6770

11 years pharmacist 8 years at North Florida Pharmacy

Awards/Special Achievements: • Three children, 1 grandchild • Member of Orchard Community Church • Member of Florida Pharmacy Association

Public Service Involvement:

Public Service Involvement:

• Assistant Clinical Professor with University of Florida College of Pharmacy • Immunization Certified

• Preschool volunteer at church

Currents | September/October 2014 | 51

Christie L. Petro, RPH

Jennifer Bennett

North Florida Pharmacy

347 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 758-6770

Registered Pharmacist/Mgr.

9718 US 90 West., Lake City • (386) 755-9300

36 years pharmacist 9 years at North Florida Pharmacy Awards/Special Achievements: • Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, Smith, Kline and French Clinical Pharmacy Award, 1978

Pharmacist/Pharm D

North Florida Pharmacy 6 years pharmacist 31/2 years at North Florida Pharmacy

Awards/Special Achievements: • Compounding Specialist • Immunization Certified

• University of Florida School of Pharmacy, Audry McCann Award for Outstanding Customer Service, 1995

Dr. Terri M. Andrews Dentist/Owner

Oak Hill Dental Group 272 SW Bentley Pl., Lake City • (386) 752-3043

23 years in practice Awards/Special Achievements:

Dr. Lorrie Cason Wheeler Dentist/Owner

Oak Hill Dental Group 272 SW Bentley Pl., Lake City • (386) 752-3043

22 years in practice Awards/Special Achievements:

• Wife & Mom (my other 2 favorite jobs) • Married to Michael 29 years.

• Graduated from University of Florida College of Dentistry

• Altrusa Member • Married to Brad 24 years • Children: Holly, Haley, BJ, Hanna

Public Service Involvement:

Public Service Involvement:

• Past president of Altrusa of Lake City • Volunteer dentist-Baptist Association dental bus.

• Santa Fe College Dental Guest Lecturer

Judy M. Lowrey Practice Manager

Origins Family Medical & Weight Loss Clinic, Inc. 194 SW Wall Terrace, Lake City • (386) 719-9227

1 year

• Florida Baptist, Beulah Association • Dental Van Volunteer 11+ years • Parent involvement in Columbia County Schools

Jody M. Goble Assistant Vice President/ Consumer Lender

Peoples State Bank

350 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 754-0002

27 years

Awards/Special Achievements:

Awards/Special Achievements:

• Management of Primary Care Clinic • Media/Marketing • Accounting • Specializing in medically enhanced weight loss & nutrition

Married to Richard Goble for 17 years.

Daughter Mallory Goble- Honor Roll Student at LCMS & Cheerleader 3 American Institute of Banking Certificates (Personal Banking, General Banking, Consumer Lending)

Public Service Involvement:

• Public Awareness Seminar in conjunction with weight loss • Support local schools and business • Chamber Member

52 | Currents | September/October 2014

Public Service Involvement: March of Dimes- 20 years United Way- 20 years

Elizabeth “Kathy” Newman ARNP

Primary Care Medicine

404 NW Hall of Fame Dr., Lake City • (386) 754-3627

13 years

Awards/Special Achievements: • Attended and Graduated Florida State University Graduate School, Honors • Member Phi Theta Kappa Honorian Association.

Public Service Involvement:

• Sunday School Teacher and Active Member at Beulah Baptist Church

Kimberly Nicholson Co-Owner

Servpro of Columbia & Suwannee Counties 144 SW Waterford Ct., Ste 104, Lake City, FL 32024

Established since 2006

Mary Goddeyne ARNP, FNP-BC

Primary Care Medicine

404 NW Hall of Fame Dr., Lake City • (386) 754-3627

Family ARNP since 1997 • 17 years as ARNP • RN since 1986 • 28 years as RN • Licensed Health Care Risk Manager Since 2007 Awards/Special Achievements: • Masters in Nursing from University of Florida • Board certified Family Nurse Practitioner • Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses • Honored for service to spinal cord injured veterans by Paralyzed Veterans of America

Public Service Involvement:

• Courtesy Professor University of Florida College of Nursing; Preceptor for ARNP students since 2000; Columbia High School Soccer Booster Member

Rhonda K. Sherrod, RN, MSN Chief Executive Officer

Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center The hospital was established in 1911

Awards/Special Achievements:

Awards/Special Achievements:

Public Service Involvement:

Rhonda K. Sherrod was born at Shands Lake Shore hospital and has lived in Lake City her entire life. Being a native of this beautiful city, she has personal interest in the health and well being of the people in Columbia County.

• Columbia County Best of the Best 2010 & 2014 • Runner-up for 2011 Small Business of the Year Award • Nominated for Citizen of the Year 2012 • Relay for Life/American Cancer Society Board Member • Relay for Life Event Chair since 2011 • ACS North Central Area Lead Volunteer • ACS North Central Volunteer Lead Committee (VLC) • Altrusa Member since 2010 • Altrusa Service Committee Chair 2014 • Member of Chamber in Columbia and Suwannee Counties

Public Service Involvement: Rhonda has been CEO in the Shands Market for 20 years. She was the CEO at Shands Live Oak from 1994 to 2007. Rhonda became CEO at Shands Lake Shore from 2007 to the present.

Audrey Sikes

Tanya Sikes

City of Lake City

Sikes Enviroseal Insulation, Inc.

City Clerk

205 N. Marion Ave, Lake City • (386) 719-5756

Since 2000 with the City Promoted to Clerk in 2005 Awards/Special Achievements:

• Lake City Police Department Civilian Employee of the Year Award- 2000 & 2001 • Lake City Police Department Chiefs Award- 2003 • Certified Municipal Clerk Certification-July 2008 • Master Municipal Clerk Certification- October 2011 • City of Lake City Achievement Award-2012 • Florida Association of City Clerks- City Clerk of the Year- 2012 • Florida Association of City Clerks- President Award- 2013-2014 • Currently serving as President for the Florida Association of City Clerks, June 2014-June 2015

Public Service Involvement: • PTO • Youth baseball • VA- Veterans Christmas donation drive

Co-Owner

710 W. Arlington, Ste 103, Lake City, FL 32055

17 years Awards/Special Achievements: • Co-Owner & Account Manager • Member of ICAA and NAHB • Mother of 2: Taylor and Tanner

Public Service Involvement:

• American Cancer Society • Suwannee River Breast Cancer Awareness, Inc. • Columbia High School Sports

Currents | September/October 2014 | 53

Carrie Cason

Patti Taylor

Swift Creek Realty

Coldwell Banker Bishop Realty, Inc.

Broker Associate, GRI

1140 SW Basom Norris Dr., Lake City (386) 623-2806

13 years Awards/Special Achievements:

• Husband Matt and 3 children.

• University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration • Top Producer with Over $50 Million in Completed Sales Volume.

• Assisted in site acquisitions for National and local tenants.

• Work experience in all fields of Real Estate including residential, commercial, industrial and acreage.

Public Service Involvement:

• Member of National & Florida Association of Realtors, Chamber of Commerce Member • Very involved in our church and the community.

Cythe Shiver

Realtor

839 SW SR 247, Lake City • (386) 623-6896

10 years Awards/Special Achievements:

• Served on Multiple Listing Service Board • Served on Realtors Political Action Committee

Public Service Involvement:

• Supporter of Youth Activities & Sports • Donates to local charities

Owner

Becky Holloway

471 SW SR 247, Lake City • (386) 752-9885

Pet Spot

The Kid’s Patch 5 years

Pet Spot/Owner

872 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 754-5553

8 years

Awards/Special Achievements: Awards/Special Achievements:

• Inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame Lake City • Owner of Aqua Doc Pools 20+ years • Member Bethlehem Baptist Church • Proud Grandmother of 3 children • Proud Mother of 1 daughter • 19 year supporter of Youth Bowlers

M. Virginia Tiner Financial Representative & Tax Accountant

Virginia Tiner & Associates Corner of Baya & SE Llewellyn Ave., Lake City (386) 758-9808

32 years Accounting & Taxes 27 years Modern Woodmen of America

Awards/Special Achievements: • Financial Representative of the Year 2008-2012 Quality Awards, Agent of the Year • FIC-LUTCF Destination Fraternalist of the Year Activities Coordinator • Secretary Treasurer First Full Gospel Church • Member NAIC-

Public Service Involvement:

• March of Dimes Sponsor- CARC Sponsor- NFIB Member- Business Women of America Member- Sponsor of Pregnancy Care Center 54 | Currents | September/October 2014

• Scores Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee • Best of the Best 7 Years • Mother of 2 Sons • 4 Grandchildren • Member of American Pet Association

Public Service Involvement:

• Partner with Hospice of Nature Coast • Sponsor for CHS Sports • Relay for Life involvement 5 Star Approved by American Pet Association

Missy Zecher

Realtor Associate CDPE

Remax Professionals, Inc. 4255 SW Cambridge Glen, Lake City (386) 623-0237

20 years Housing Industry 8 years as a Realtor Awards/Special Achievements:

• 2009 Remax Rookie of the Year • 2009 Remax Executive Club • 2010-2014 Remax 100% Club • 2012-2014 Remax Platinum Club • 2013 Inducted into Remax Hall of Fame • 2013 Realtor of the Year • 2013 Remax High Honor of Chairmans’ Club • Best of the Best Realtor Lake City Reporter, 2011, 2012 & 2014 • Certified Distress Property Expert

Public Service Involvement:

• 2010-2014 CHS Tiger Football Corporate Sponsor• LCMS Anti-Bullying Corporate Sponsor • Children’s’ Miracle Network • President Elect MLS Board of Directors

Currents | September/October 2014 | 55

56 | Currents | September/October 2014