M AY 2 0 2 1
WINTER GARDEN’S L AKE COVE POINTE COMMUNIT Y MAGA ZINE
THE
THE
CAMPISE FAMILY On to their next adventure
ARCHITECTURAL D E C O R AT I V E F O A M
FA M I LY- O P E R AT E D
COMPANY
F OUNDED
550 Susan B. Britt, Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-905-3626 efoamllc.com @efoamllc
IN
2007
CONTENTS 12
Camp Out
The Campise family is moving out of Florida and on to something new.
8 5 To the Pointe
22 20 The Homefront How Mother’s Day began with flowers; two neighborhood teens are ready to help you around the house this summer; and more.
8 Pointes of Interest Numbers, news, and need-to-knows about the neighborhood. Try the newest snack shop in Winter Garden, find out what your neighbors are 22 The Dish watching, and meet Kalani, our Lake Sugar Rush Marshmallows is Cove Pooch! celebrating its fifth anniversary by sharing its sweet, fluffy goodness. with Lake Cove Pointe.
20 25 Off the Vine Tarin Scarbrough, Sommelier at The Attic Door, selects three amazing-yet-affordable varietals for her inaugural column. 26 Pointe of View Making a mark and making memories at our neighborhood’s first-ever sidewalk chalk challenge.
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
3
SPECIALIZING IN FAMILY LAW INCLUDING
DIVORCE PATERNITY CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATION
AND OTHER FA M I LY- R E L AT E D M AT T E R S
Allison E.M. Budnik, Attorney 161 S. BOYD ST., SUITE 100 WINTER GARDEN, FL 34787 PHONE 407-499-2082 W G F A M I LY L A W F I R M . C O M
MENTION THIS AD FOR A CONSULTATION DISCOUNT
UNT DISCO E V I S EXCLU
! F F O 15% CHNATHSISEAD R U P ANENYYOU MENTEIOPURCHASES
WH
STOR 2021 Y ON IN VALID ONLY IN MA
W ! NO ABLHEINE ILSUNS KS O AV2A 2 1- 2 E BO 20 TAT S
407-335-4192 writersblockbookstore.com
@writersblockbookstorewp
@WritersBlockWP
@writersblockbookstore
TO THE
POINTE
After 20+ years in the event planning business, parties are totally my jam. I automatically gravitate to prepping for celebrations coming down the road. Without an outlet for the past few months, not only have I resorted to using my party supplies for daily home operations (example: distributing our daily allotment of vitamins in my plastic shot glasses), but my brain has been on overdrive. My collection of Post-It notes, highlighters, and color-coordinated folders is ready to go. My spiral notebooks are spread all over the house should I be inspired to write a new list. As I dissolved my Emergen-C packet the other morning with my translucent pink flamingo stir stick, I realized that it is time to get the party started by planning for specific dates. To quote a little N*SYNC: It’s gonna be May! May 4 will be the day I bring out my specialty Nordic Ware to make some Droid and Wookie cakelets. May 5 will bring margaritas, tacos, my multi-colored table runner, and some hip-bumping music to feel the spirit of Cinco de Mayo. May 9 will allow me to sleep in and have breakfast in bed! I’ll call my mother and text the women in my tribe to rejoice in their motherhood. Then I will ignore the household chores and enjoy a lazy day with my family. And May 31 will be a day of hot dogs and some sort of salad with mayonnaise as we grill, swim, and remember our fallen heroes on Memorial Day. I have so much else ready in my arsenal and I cannot wait to spend time again with my family, friends, and neighbors as we begin to embrace our big and little annual commemorations. We are ready to party. And to our isolation days, we can only say, “Bye, Bye, Bye!”
Nicole Soulsby, Editor
HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? Send your ideas and images to lcp@emagency.com
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
5
WINTER GARDEN & HORIZON WEST TWO GREAT COMMUNITIES. TWO NEW EDITIONS. L A U N C H I N G
2 0 2 1
Wanna know more? hello@emagency.com
NUMBERS YOU NEED E M E R G E N C Y C O N TA C T S
HOA BOARD MEMBERS
Gabriel Irizarry President gabriel.irzarry@gmail.com Cheryl Lessard Secretary cherless1@aol.com Erik Halluska Treasurer ehalluska@withum.com David Leon Director lakecove@peapage.com
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMIT TEE
911 Fire, Ambulance, Police 211 Suicide Prevention 800-222-1222 Poison Control 407-254-9140 Animal Control
FINING COMMITTEE
407-532-6797 407-836-4357 407-877-5775 407-656-3636
Marsha Bentley Jordan Gatenby Keith Rosenbauer Erica Diaz
WELCOMING COMMIT TEE
Jana Beckwith
EVENTS COMMITTEE
Desiree Halluska Nicole Roach Tiffany Jensen
IMPROVEMENTS TEAM
Vickie Parrish Wes Parrish Sue Aduss
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@emagency.com 407-573-6061
N O N - E M E R G E N C Y C O N TA C T S
Florida Highway Patrol Orange County Sheriff Winter Garden Fire Dept. Winter Garden Police Dept.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT/SERVICES
407-656-4111 cwdgn.com 407-656-1117 oaklandfl.com 407-656-3344 407-836-2070 407-656-1304 407-835-7323
City of Winter Garden Winter Garden Official Website Town of Oakland Oakland Official Website Post Office Voter Registration The West Orange Chamber Winter Garden Public Library
844-219-5293 877-862-9343 407-629-1010 407-656-2734 407-656-4111 321-436-4559
Spectrum CenturyLink Duke Energy Lake Apopka Natural Gas Winter Garden Water & Sewer After-Hours Water & Sewer
UTILITIES
H O S P I TA L S / U R G E N T C A R E
MAY 2021 / VOLUME 1 NUMBER 8 A P U B L I C AT I O N O F
Jamie Ezra Mark Publisher Nicole Soulsby Editor __________ Rheya Tanner Art Director Lynette Azarow Photographer Fred Lopez Photographer Josh Clark Designer Wendy Mak Designer Caleb Jensen Web Garrett Reardon Digital 407-573-6061 hello@emagency.com emagency.com @EMagencyinc
PROUD MEMBER OF
The Pointe Volume 1 Number 8 Copyright© 2021 by Em Agency. All rights reserved. Published monthly. Em Agency is not affiliated with or contracted by Lake Cove Pointe (LCP). This publication, including the articles, opinions, and advertisements contained herein, is not authorized or endorsed by LCP. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Em Agency. Advertising or products does not imply endorsement. Em Agency can not be held liable for the business practices of these companies.
407-654-4965 407-614-0500 407-296-1000 407-656-2055 407-841-5111 352-394-4071
Centra Care AdventHealth Winter Garden Health Central Hospital Health Central Express Care Orlando Regional Medical Orlando Health South Lake Hospital
A N I M A L H O S P I TA L S
407-656-4132 407-901-4923 407-347-8514 407-656-1800 407-654-1800 407-449-1369
Winter Garden Animal Hospital Wintermere Pointe Animal Hospital Oakes Animal Hospital WOVH Vineland WOVH Stoneybrook Orlando Animal Hospital
QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS
Will Gonzalez Vista Management wgonzalez@vistacamfl.com 407-682-3443 vistacamfl.com
To create an account on the Vista portal, you will need your account number, found on your annual bill.
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
7
POI N TE S
OF
INTEREST Oh My
NOSH! Plant Street Market’s new poppin’ place to snack
8
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
THAT FIGURES
165 Diapers
The number of wet ones changed per month, on average, by new moms. Matthew Sheeter and Kelsey Anthony are relatively new faces in Winter Garden. Both fell in love with the area—especially the Crooked Can— but realized that, while there were many dining options at Plant Street Market, there weren’t many snacking options. Combining both their love of the brewery and their expansive knowledge in the hospitality and food/beverage industry, NOSH was born. “‘Nosh’ means to snack between meals,” says cofounder Kelsey. “We decided to kick it off with popcorn because what pairs better with beer?” Each batch of specialty popcorn is freshly made every day at their Plant Street Market station. “The flavors we come up with are based on experimentation,” says Kelsey. “Our goal is to provide unique popcorn you can’t find anywhere else.” Along with its staples of cheddar, caramel, butter, and dill, NOSH showcases new flavors every week, so it’s always worth stopping by to see what’s good. Alongside their Plant Street Market location, you can now find their booth at the weekly Farmers Market, where you can sample their gourmet flavors and maybe something brandnew. “We’re finalizing our caramel apples soon,” says Kelsey. “We also love to customize and provide products for events.”
1.1
SOURCE: personalcreations.com
MILLION
The number of U.S. soldiers who have died in all wars since the American Revolution—all worthy of remembrance this Memorial Day. SOURCE: pbs.org
40
%
The number of college students in a survey who listed their moms as the most important and influential person they’d ever known.
RESIDENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY _________
Dan Bessetti
Strength and Conditioning Coach 407-976-8738 totalathletetraining.com
Erik Halluska CPA Partner 407-849-1569 withum.com
Ally Budnik
Attorney 407-499-2082 wgfamilylawfirm.com
Erica Diaz
Real Estate Agent 407-951-9742 ericadiazteam.com
Michael Collins Flame Boss 800-978-9078 flameboss.com
Pete & Karen Young-Vega
Vacation Rentals / Crystal River and New Smyrna Beach manateepropertymgmt.com
Halluska & Roach Families Winter Garden Bounce wgbouncehouse@gmail.com wgbounce.com
Sierra Clemmons
Young Living Essential Oils 352-636-0960 myyl.com/sierraclemmons
SOURCE: soundvision.com
1862 The year the Mexican army claimed victory against France at the Battle of Puebla. The day? Cinco de Mayo. SOURCE: almanac.com
LET EVERYONE KNOW YOUR BUSINESS This is a FREE listing open only to residents of Lake Cove Pointe. Space is limited. Include your: • Name • Profession/business • Phone number • Web address Send to: lcp@emagency.com
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
9
POINTES OF INTEREST VOX
Question: What are you most excited about this spring?
CHERYL BOHN
SAL SEDA
SIERRA CLEMMONS JIM STRONG
DANIELLE COX-MOSS
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
I’m looking forward to seeing how much my grandsons have grown, and getting reaquainted with them.
I like the nice cool weather, and being able to walk outside without worrying about getting rained on.
The Lady by the Pond with the Hat Antique Car Enthusiast
Crunchy Mom
The Original Pop-Pop
All of the outdoor activities, whether it’s walking outside or hanging out by the pool—which will be built soon!
I’m most excited about the opening of baseball season!
_________________
Serial Reader Specialist
The time changed back, so we have longer daylight hours and time to do stuff after work.
RECOMMENDATIONS
WATCH
Being a longtime fan of Julia Quinn and knowing the ins and outs of the A-B-C siblings, I was thrilled to see Bridgerton (2020-Present, TV-MA, Netflix) come to life! I quickly binged the first season, which introduces us to the Bridgerton clan in Regency England and evolves around the love story between Daphne—fourth-born Bridgerton but first daughter—and Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings. Based on the book series The Duke and I, Shondaland does a fantastic job of not only bringing the story to life but overlaying the storylines of future books. While it may not offer a lot of “nutritional value,” the sets, costumes, and characters are engaging eye candy. After a bumpy day, pour yourself a glass of wine and treat yourself to an episode. Nicole Soulsby Nicole is a neighbor, friend, and party pixie. She has a terrible chain-reading habit, a baking addiction, and a barely controlled need to organize.
10
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
READ
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman turned out to be a wonderful surprise. Eleanor is a quirky character who doesn’t seem to have many close connections and often misunderstands social interactions. The first-person narrative gives the reader Eleanor’s perspective on her simple, quiet, and predictable life. Then something unexpected brings Eleanor into contact with two people who end up having an important effect on her life. Although the novel addresses some difficult topics, there are many funny and heartwarming moments as Eleanor comes to have a better understanding of other people and of herself. I ultimately found it to be a moving story about human connection, the effect acts of kindness can have on others, and the importance of looking out for each other. Shelly Mark When Shelly’s not reading books, you can find her being led around the neighborhood by Blue, her large black-and-white dog.
LAKE COVE
POOCH
SPONSORED BY PUPPY DREAMS
Hello!
My name is Kalani Twilight, and I’m a Petite Mini Labradoodle! Hello! My hobbies include collecting human fabrics like socks and napkins and saying hello to everyone forever. Hello! I’m turning one very soon, and I am learning many new things. I know how to sit and how to chase many things like tennis balls and hula hoops and how to open cabinets and collect toilet paper—my favorite human fabric to collect. I have many toys, but my favorite toy is the bin my humans put all my other toys in. If you see me with my humans, Karen, Pete, Sedona, and Skyla, please say hello to me! And maybe offer me some tasty chicken to receive an extra special hello. Goodbye! And Hello!
Featuring 38 dog kennels of multiple sizes 1 indoor playroom 3 outdoor play yards 6+ play times a day! P E T B O A R D I N G & D AY C A R E
Family owned by your neighbors in Lake Cove Pointe 703 Vineland Rd., Winter Garden (Near Downtown) 407-654-8885 Come find us on Facebook and Instagram @Puppy_Dreams_Pet_Boarding
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
11
12
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
Campi Out The Campise Family is getting ready to start a new chapter in a new part of the country. But in order to say hello to Boulder, they have to say goodbye to Winter Garden. Story: Rheya Tanner Photography: Fred Lopez
I
f you told me in college that I’d be moving to Boulder, Colorado, to work for Apple at age 45, I’d have been ecstatic,” says David Campise, whose family has lived on Lake Cove Pointe Circle for nearly a decade. “I’d have been like, ‘hell yeah, that’s my dream.’ It’s the whole reason I got my degree.” But the family has learned that dreams don’t come true in a vacuum. That oftentimes, moving forward means leaving something beloved behind. “It takes years to build up familiarity with a neighborhood,” says David’s wife, Laura. “It’s almost weird now
to be emotional about leaving, because we weren’t expecting to be here in the first place.” David and Laura are native Midwesterners who were first led to Florida under similar circumstances that are now leading them out of it—a new career opportunity for David. “Whenever we talked about going home, we’d always meant ‘home’ as in going back up north,” says David. “But now we’ve lived here for nine years. We raised our kids here. This is home. We’re Floridians now.” Not only Floridians, but devoted Winter Gardeners as well. “I remember the day he called me
about this house,” says Laura, recalling the days when David had relocated to Florida ahead of them and scouted for homes on the weekends. “David has to live in brand-new homes; that’s just his thing. But I love old homes with character. So I was standing in the kitchen in our Ohio home when he calls me and says, ‘I figured it out. I found the best compromise.’” That compromise was a new construction in Lake Cove Pointe that was walking distance from a beautiful, historic downtown. “It really was the downtown that did it,” says David. “I was driving
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
13
down the street and realized that, ‘oh my god, I’m home.’ This is just like where we grew up, except it was better because you could dine al fresco every day of the year.” So as they pack three childhoods of belongings and close the curtain on their Florida days, the Campises are using this transitionary time as an opportunity to reflect on where they’ve been to help them embrace where they’re going.
The First Adventure
Like all great adventures, David and Laura’s story begins with a chance encounter. “I was living and working in Chicago where I grew up, and Laura was going to college in Toledo, Ohio,” says David. “We didn’t live near each other. But I was in my best friend’s wedding, which was at the Valentine Theatre in Toledo.” Laura wasn’t at the wedding, but she was at the bar the wedding party went out to afterward. The two hit it off, even as the friends David came with were doing the opposite. “The brother of the bride got into it with these two guys I befriended earlier, who happened to be Golden Gloves boxers,” says David. “They start fighting right behind us—we got pushed and ended up in the middle of it—so I tried to jump in and break it up.” By the end of the night, the police had gotten involved and taken the entire wedding party (except David, of course) into custody. “And so there I was, alone, in a bar in Toledo with Laura.” The couple dated for two years before getting married. “I wasn’t supposed to go out with my friends that night, and didn’t really want to,” says Laura. “And he was in that bar by complete chance. Now I can’t get rid of him.”
14
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
The Campises eventually moved from Chicago to Laura’s hometown of Dayton, Ohio, because it was close to her parents and central to David’s travel destinations. “I worked in public safety for Motorola, and I was also a fireman,” he says. “There were a lot of troubled contracts in the area—Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit—so they sent me because their contacts were city police and firefighters, and I knew their language.” The couple soon became a family, giving birth to their first son while in Chicago, and their other two children in Dayton. But their Midwestern way of life was about to be upended. “Campbell was just nine months old when one of David’s old high school friends comes into his life out of nowhere and says, ‘Hey, are you interested in working for EA?’” says Laura. “It just took off from there.” EA, short for Electronic Arts, is an American video game development company with a large studio in Orlando. “EA Sports called me and said ‘Come make video games with us in Florida,’” says David. “And of course I wanted to make video games. So I turned my tech job into a video game job.”
Someplace Like Home
It wasn’t long before they found and fell in love with Winter Garden. “It’s the Midwest with palm trees,” says David. “In the Midwest, every town has a main drag. We couldn’t find that in Florida until we found Winter Garden.” But their early Florida days weren’t all sunshine. “One big adjustment was all the insects and creatures that are around,” says Laura. “The first day we were here, Cade was standing in a red ant mound, and we didn’t really
FA ST FAC T S
LCP residents since: 2012 Married for: 15 years Children: Cade, age 14; Connor, age 12; and Campbell, age 10 Pets: Cleo the Beagle Occupation: David: software development with Apple; Laura: administrative staff at Oakland Avenue Charter School Favorite spot in Winter Garden: Large Oak tree off the bike path in Oakland Park Favorite Activities: Swimming, golfing, biking Secret talents: David plays guitar; Campbell dances competitively No. 1 rule in our house: Always try your best Favorite local restaurant: 4Rivers and Ocoee Taco Company One word to describe our family: Tight-knit Favorite vacation spot: Anna Maria Island We’re looking forward to: New adventures in a new city A cause that matters to us: Environmental protection Something no one realizes about us: We love sharing our backyard with the local wildlife
know what it was. We don’t have anything up north like that.” More challenging than the abundance of creatures, though, was the lack of support. “Those were tough years at the beginning,” says Laura. “He was at EA and would often be working until 3 in the morning, and we had three little kids. So I was often doing it all by myself.”
“We had just moved 1,500 miles from our closest relatives and friends,” says David. “We’re both firstborns, so we’re pretty independent. But we were entirely by ourselves.” But as a result, though, the Campises became a very tight-knit family. “We didn’t have date nights; we had family nights,” says David. “And it paid huge dividends.”
“When our youngest was finally in kindergarten, I got a job as a preschool teacher at First United Methodist Church for two years. Then I had a good friend at Oakland Avenue Charter School who helped me get a job in the front office. I’ve been there for three years, and I absolutely adore it,” says Laura, shedding a tear. “They’re like family.”
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
15
Nine years in, the family has made friends, met neighbors, and transformed into full-fledged Floridians. David and Laura remember one particular day early in their move, dining on the patio at Winter Garden Pizza. “We were watching kids get ice cream at Scoops across the street, watching people ride down the bike paths,” says David. “And we were like, ‘yeah, this is what we want.’” “They were all the things we were planning on our kids doing when they were this age,” says Laura. “And now we’re leaving.”
Taking the Leap
“Video game production takes a lot out of you,” says David. “After nine years, I was burnt out. But it naturally transitioned to my migration to Magic Leap.” Magic Leap is a tech startup—a $6 billion startup—that develops and manufactures virtual reality and augmented reality computing devices such as headsets and glasses. “It had a ton of support from celebrities and billionaires from all over the world,” says David. “Unfortunately, COVID offered an untenable market for selling a $4,000 headset.” To survive, the company decided to cut off its body to save its head. “I’d just gotten promoted, but then I and a thousand other people got laid off the day before it took effect,” says David. “They dropped their whole consumer division and decided to focus instead on the medical applications of the software.” Fortuitously, David had just recently been in contact with Apple. “They’d actually reached out to me a month before. But if you’re on LinkedIn, you get a lot of recruiters, so I had brushed
16
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
Always where we’re meant to be “When I wasn’t sure if we were going to close on the house, I said, ‘You know what? We’re always where we’re supposed to be,’” says Laura. “That’s how I met David. And when we moved to Ohio, that’s where we needed to be when we had Connor.” Connor was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate—a condition that affects around 1 in every 700 babies around the world. When in development, different sections of a baby’s face form separately and then fuse together; a cleft lip or palate is what happens when those sections don’t properly connect. Most babies with this condition have either a cleft palate or a cleft lip, and usually only on one side (unilateral). Connor’s case is especially rare, occurring in just 9 percent of children born with a cleft. “We only found out a few weeks before he was born,” says Laura. Fortunately, Laura’s parents have a very good family friend, Dr. James Apesos, who happens to be a world-renowned plastic surgeon. “They immediately called him, and he really took us under his wing and made that scary situation easier to go through,” says Laura. “He was there the day Connor was born. He performed Connor’s first surgery. “He was maybe three months old,” says David. “It was major reconstructive surgery. Then when he was 8, the next surgery took bone from his hip and grafted it to his jaw. He had to have liquid food for a month.” Because his skull won’t finish growing until his early 20s, Connor’s procedures are ongoing. “He will get a minor lip and nose revision, and some permanent teeth,” says David. “And you would never know the difference.” Thanks to Dr. Apesos’s excellent foundational procedure, any evidence of Connor’s condition is now virtually nonexistent. “Even on Joaquin Phoenix, you can see some surgical scarring from his cleft lip; you can’t see that on Connor.” says David. “When we first left Chicago for Dayton, there was a sense of ‘did we do the right thing?’ But, of course we did,” says Laura. “We were in the right place at the right time with the right people surrounding us to help us get through that.” “And now Connor is so considerate and compassionate,” says David. “He went to Camp Boggy Creek, not because he needed it, but because he wanted to support other kids with disabilities. He’s gone through his own struggles—people notice sometimes and they might point or stare—but he’s learned how to bear that cross.”
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
17
See You Real Soon
it off,” he says. “When I got laid off, though, I followed up on it, and within two days I was talking to Apple’s hiring manager.” Though Apple is headquartered in San Francisco, the better opportunity was Boulder. “Apple is a hardware company; they can’t ship proprietary hardware around and risk it being intercepted,” he says. “So they decided to open a few specialty divisions all over the world, and my division happened to choose Boulder.” David counts himself lucky to have an opportunity at the Mecca of tech. “Apple is the battleship I can get on and be proud of. Plus, I’ll never be the ‘new guy,’ because we’re all new guys,” he says. “It makes perfect sense to go, but the problem is that we have to leave.”
Bolder in Boulder
All in all, the Campises see Boulder as a net positive. “It’ll be great to be more about the environment and be more outdoorsy,” says Laura, who has admittedly always been more of a “rugged indoors” type of person. “One realization
18
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
I’ve had is that, in Florida, the only people who can regularly enjoy the beach are the people who live on the beach. But anyone in Boulder can enjoy the mountains.” They are excited for their brandnew home to have a basement— something they missed from their days up north—and maybe even a hot tub for winter soaks. In fact, out of all the positives Boulder has to offer, there is just one negative: the cold. “When you go to Chicago in the winter, it’s gray and depressing,” says David. “The kids have never seen snow, and they’re super excited about it. And I’m like, ‘Guys, it’ll be cool for about five minutes.’” “I’m not going to work for the first year, and instead make sure everyone’s settled—mostly him,” Laura says, gesturing to her husband. “Registering everyone for schools, finding doctors, finding a specialist for Connor—the University of Denver has one of top best dental schools in the country, which is exactly what he will need for his next procedure. We’re always where we’re supposed to be.”
The two will look back on their time in Florida as the “little kid” years. “They’ll be able to look back and say, ‘We saw rocket launches from our backyard. We went to Sea World for a field trip. Who gets to do that?’” “Being immersed in what other people are paying thousands of dollars to do makes it feel almost common,” says David.”But thank god we got the chance to do it.” “This time last year, we would have never thought about leaving,” says Laura. “I was imagining the kids graduating from West Orange and going to the University of Florida. “One scary moment was coming to the ‘emergency contacts’ section of the kids’ school forms and realizing that we wouldn’t have any,” says Laura. “We’ll have to build all that up again. “We’ve had some of the best neighbors you can possibly ask for,” says David. “We can only hope our neighbors in Boulder will be as great.” “The good news is that we’ve done this once before, so we are more confident now that we will get settled, we will find friends, and we have whatever we need to be somewhere new,” says Laura. The Campises will be Lake Cove Pointers through July 4—until then, it’s endless pool parties and margaritas on the patio. “The goal is to fall in love with Boulder, and eventually buy another place down here, so that we can see our friends,” says David. “So that we can come home.” “It’s too hard to think about saying goodbye,” says Laura. “I prefer to think of the Disney sign: ‘See You Real Soon!’”
www.inperspective.co
Orlando, FL contact@inperspective.co | Tel: 863.443.4623
THE
HOME FRONT
Iconic “I Love Yous” Flowers are a Mother’s Day staple—and for good reason, since these iconic flowers are part of what started it all. There is no more iconic a Mother’s Day flower than the carnation. No, really; pink carnations have long represented a mother’s love, and white ones are for unconditional love. In fact, according to Farmers’ Almanac, white carnations, in particular, played a part in the first-ever Mother’s Day celebration over a century ago.
20
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
In 1907, a West Virginia native named Anna Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to every mother in her congregation to commemorate the anniversary of her own mother’s passing. White carnations were her late mother’s favorite flower, and Jarvis wanted to not only honor her mother, but to encourage everyone to celebrate their own mothers. Less
than 10 years later, Mother’s Day was declared a national holiday. Whether you’re buying the mothers in your life roses, peonies, or classic carnations, remember that the best way to make them last is to trim all the leaves below the waterline and cut 1 inch off the stems per week. May all your flowers be fresh and all your mothers be blessed this year.
The McMann for the Job Lake Cove Pointe is lucky to have an entrepreneurial young people right in its gates. The McMann twins, Noah and Naomi, are business-minded and diligent youth. They will be turning 13 in May and are ready to get to work! With his trusty power-washer, Noah will wash your driveway, sidewalk, and street apron like new. He can even wash your garbage cans. Pricing depends on the size of your driveway; he can give you a consultation with a quote. Naomi, meanwhile, is available to babysit. She is CPR certified and is able to prepare snacks and meals or straighten up messes. Best of all, she can change diapers! Her curfew is negotiable. Pricing per hour is based on the number of children she’s watching. Should you be interested in hiring either of these budding professionals, please reach out to Mary McMann on Facebook or knock on their door on Tierra Verde Lane. They accept cash, check, or Venmo for payment.
DOWN AND DIRTY
What to know about that finicky fertilizer. Most of us can get by with two types of fertilizer for our yards: one for the lawn, and one for everything else. For lawn fertilizers, we recommend a weed and feed product, applied once in the spring and once in late summer or early fall. However, the weed control portion may damage your grass this late in the season, so you might want to only feed your lawn if you haven’t already, and only through the end of May. Florida’s summer heat and ample rains promote plenty of growth on their own. For the other fertilizer, choose a balanced product with slow release and a mix of micronutrients like magnesium, iron, manganese, and boron. The numbers on this package label should be in a 4-1-4, 8-2-8, or 12-3-12 ratio. These products have been formulated for palms and do a great job on for other trees, shrubs, and fruit trees. One more thing: Please choose a fertilizer with 0% phosphorus unless a soil test shows a need for it. Not only do plants not need much of this nutrient, but Lake Apopka is now recovering from intense phosphoros pollution, and any runoff from our driveways could really hinder its progress. Wes & Vickie Parrish These LCP residents know their landscaping. Each has spent years studying the science of horticulture, and previously owned their own nursery. Wes frequently travels around Florida to give seminars about his passion and knowledge.
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
21
THE
DISH
The S’more the Merrier Celebrate five years of Sugar Rush’s gourmet mallowy goodness with half-price s’mores all month long. There’s not a more iconic summer snack than s’mores. And nobody believes in that more than Julie and Jean Summers, the wife-and-wife duo behind Sugar Rush Marshmallows in Winter Garden. “Our goal was to open a s’mores business,” says Julie. “But to do that, we had to start with marshmallows.” The two have been carting their S’mores-Mobile across central
22
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
Florida,selling their hand-made, gourmet marshmallows. “We toast everything live. It’s a good show,” says Julie. “We love watching people walk around with s’mores— their hands are all sticky, their face is all messy, but they don’t care. It’s like being a kid again. We love being part of that energy.” So, what goes into a gourmet marshmallow anyway? A lot more
than you think. “A store-bought marshmallow is fluffed up with a jet puffer to give it shape and structure, whereas gourmet marshmallows are made in a mixer and cut,” explains Julie. “There are around 10 gourmet marshmallow companies in the country. But they all have completely different marshmallow-making methods. We did 200 different protypes
of marshmallows—like, a basic vanilla marshmallow—before we settled on the final product.” “The most important thing is we make everything from scratch as much as possible,” says Jean. “We make all our own flavors—our own sugar syrup, our own cinnamon, our own extracts, our own graham crackers. Our marshmallows are never made with corn syrup.” The Sugar Rush girls also love innovating with marshmallow’s gooier cousin: fluff.”We can do so much with a spreadable marshmallow,” says Julie. “We can make fruit desserts, puddings, pies, fluffer nutter sandwiches.” “Some people have no upper limit on how sweet they like things, so for them, we can slather the fluff on a brownie and drizzle it with caramel,” adds Jean. “But for those who don’t like things overly sweet, we can pair it with, say, passionfruit, and we can really tone it down.” But at the end of the day, s’mores are their most beloved treat, whether they’re in a graham cracker or on a stick. “We lived in Korea together—that’s where we met—and in Korea, street food is a big deal,” says Julie. “That’s probably where the inspiration came from, was being immersed in that culture.” The two have had a passion for marshmallow-making for many
years—Julie was just 13 years old when she fell in love with sugar science—but didn’t turn it into a business until five years ago. “We started at the Feedback Fair at East End Market in Orlando,” says Jean. “They invited us to the event so we could test out our branding and our presentation with the public. That was May 1, 2016.” Sugar Rush is now celebrating its fifth anniversary by offering $5 s’mores plus some extra events throughout the month of May. “We’re doing birthday Rice Krispies, birthday pudding, birthday mini-cakes,” says Julie. “We’ll be doing different specials
every weekend this month in lieu of being able to have a big celebration right now.” “We do have a website,but it has a really limited menu because it has to be shippable throughout the U.S.,” says Jean. Instead, for the latest on what they’re offering and when, it’s best to check their Facebook and Instagram (@sugarrushmarshmallows). Julie and Jean are excited to see what the next five years of Sugar Rush will bring. “We want to sell a dessert that people want to come back for,” says Jean. “We love the s’mores because they’re a great way for people to connect.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Depending on the size of the batch—currently 50 to 500 marshmallows—the process of mixing and curing a single batch of marshmallows can take anywhere between 24 hours and a full week. They can take even longer in the summer, since Florida’s humidity can hinder the curing process. “Time and space are the biggest factors in marshmallow-making,” says Julie. “It’s a laborious product, and it’s just the two of us.”
FROM LEFT: Frozen S’mores on a stick, Caramel S’mores; The Bartender
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
23
This is business on the
CONSULTING • BOOKKEEPING TAX PREPARATION • QUICKBOOKS
gofigureaccounting.net 407-855-6648
24
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
OFF THE VINE
In With the New
TA R I N ’ S M AY S E L E C T I O N S
St. Supéry Rosé
Tres Picos Garnacha
Rombauer Chardonnay
NAPA VALLEY / $8
SPAIN / $12
CARNEROS / $35
Three great wines to spoil your palette and your wallet. With spring and summer approaching, now is a fantastic time to broaden your palette with new varietals this season. You do not have to spend a lot of money to try something special! Rosé: St. Supéry makes superior red wine, so it’s no surprise they use that as a base for their rosé. With strawberry and pomegranate on the tongue and the floral note of hibiscus on the nose, this wine has a strong mouthfeel with its crisp tartness of cranberry and raspberry finishing the sip. It pairs excellently with the acidity of bruschetta and will not overpower the meatiness of tuna poké. Garnacha: This wine was originally described to me as “a candied Fruit Roll-Up.” Garnacha was originally developed in Northern Spain, but became universal because of its bold, fruity flavor and high alcohol content (which adds body and structure). Tres Picos is well-structured with strong tones of leather, cherry, and plum and finishes with a smoky, lingering anise and cinnamon tannin that immediately give its style away. Chardonnay: It’s no surprise that Forbes named this last gem one of the “9 Best Wines to Gift in 2020.” Rombauer has set the standard for California Chardonnay with its ability to showcase a lingering vanilla oak presence and rich, buttery decadence. It has more body and structure than other white varietals and elevates itself with a hazelnut note and creaminess that complements almost any pairing. For an optimal California Chardonnay experience, take your wine out of the cold for 15-20 minutes and let it warm up to 48 degrees, then watch it bloom right in front of your eyes. Whatever you do this month, make sure you take the time to sit and appreciate the glass you’re drinking. You don’t have to know a lot about wine to define how it tastes, just make sure you are enjoying what’s in front of you. Tarin Scarbrough, Sommelier at The Attic Door, one of Downtown Winter Garden’s swankiest little wine bar bistros. Check out their bites, sips, and live local musicians at theatticdoorlive.com
THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF LAKE COVE POINTE
25
POINTE OF VIEW
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for.” — Georgia O’Keefe
26
THE POINTE MAY 2021 EDITION
The Jensen girls make their mark at LCP’s inaugural sidewalk chalk challenge. Taken April 17, 2021
W I L L S • T R U S T S • E L D E R L AW
Attorneys At LAw
FLoridA BAr BoArd CertiFied eLder LAw speCiALists
MAry F. trotter, BCs
edwArd w. souLsBy, BCs
FLoridA BAr BoArd CertiFied eLder LAw Attorney
FLoridA BAr BoArd CertiFied eLder LAw Attorney
Wills • Living Trusts • Special Needs Trusts • Probate Avoidance Planning Medicaid Planning • Elder Law • Trust Administration • Probate Advanced Planning • Asset Protection • Estate Tax Law
352-205-7245
People Focused. Results Driven. Trotter & Soulsby, P.A. 11834 CR 101, Suite 100 The Villages, FL 32162 In The Lange Eye Institute Building www.trotterlaw.com
F R E E E S T A T E P L A N N I N G C O N S U LT A T I O N
4 3 3 L O N E H E R O N WAY
4 1 0 W H I P P E R W I L L WAY
717 LAKE COVE POINTE CIR
701 LAKE COVE POINT CIR
ERICADIAZTEAM.COM INFO@ERICADIAZTEAM.COM 407-951-9742
