Back to the Books Issue

™

C O A S TA L

Approaching stress

as the school DAZE near

by Dr. Greenaway

Behind the Ropes

Web.com Tour Championship

The BULL stops

HERE

PACER National Bullying Prevention Center

to the

BACK Books Serving all Coastal Communities Ponte Vedra Life

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COASTAL PUBLISHERS Melissa Intemann Amy Vizanko Managing Editor Kayla Sim CREATIVE DIRECTOR Inger Williamson Graphic Designers Ryan Mullings Amy Olivieri Intern Lauren Hurlburt CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cara Burky Keith Rydh, CEO of FoodiesUSA Dr. Mosolf Dr. Greenaway Inger Williamson Kayla Sim Melissa Intemann Special Contributors Web.com Tour Championship Contributing Photography Deanne Dunlop Photography Editorial/Fashion Photography Tiger Gomez Can’t find us? Subscriptions are available for $24/year or $40/two years.

Please call 904.222.8938 for more information. @PVLcoastal

@PVLcoastal

www.facebook.com/pvlcoastal Copyright 2014 Ponte Vedra Life Coastal, a product of KTTS Media Group LLC, is published bimonthly.

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Neither the publisher nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. Ponte Vedra Life Coastal makes no representation or warrant of any kind for the accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct.

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Publishers’ Letter Well, we did it! We made it a FULL year.

Happy 1st Birthday to the KTTS (Kisses to the Sky) Media Group & Ponte Vedra Life Coastal Magazine (PVLC). We’ve had our ups and downs, but as Amy always reminds me, “with growth, comes growing pains.”

Well said. There were times, I thought we had more issues than our own magazine but, we allowed nothing to get in our way, we pushed forward with our chins held high and stayed focused. We are blessed for the team we have at Ponte Vedra Life Coastal Magazine. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times; THEY are truly the ‘spine’ of our publication. So, Amy and I would like to take this time to thank them all for not only their hard work, but their consistent dedication, their passion for PVLC and for their hearts… for they all, whole heartedly, believe in this magazine and in the KTTS Media Group. And for that alone, we are eternally grateful and are still here one year later! We may be a small team, but we are mighty. And I was always told that the greatest gifts sometimes come in the smallest of packages. KTTS! Let’s get into this issue! We had so many ideas going into this issue, it was hard to lasso every idea together and put pen to paper, so we paired back and focused on what you, our readers, would be most interested in. Perhaps, some things that we may be able to bring to your home or to educate you and your family on this fall. We were able to sit down with some of the key executives behind Web.com and the Web.com Tour Championship and that tournament is next month as it returns to the newly renovated Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass. We are happy to have covered it all!

And of course, it goes without saying the kiddos are headed back to school and the mornings of sipping coffee at the bus stop while waiting on bus #12 are upon us all.

So, we decided to hit the hallways and put together some stories that focus on children, scholastic apps to help the family get more organized, healthy tips from local doctors and something that we all know about, but don’t talk much about… bullying in schools. Please take the time to read “The Bull STOPS here,” as every student, teacher and parent can benefit from this story as it touches upon every aspect of bullying and how we can prevent this from happening in our local schools. I can tell you one thing; the END of Bullying BEGINS with PVLC. We invite you ALL to our issue release party, which will benefit PACER, a National Anti-Bullying Prevention Center based out of Minnesota. We ask that you wear orange (to show solidarity) and to also support us, by supporting them on Unity Day, October 22nd, a national holiday to stand up, make it end and unite against bullying. We are on a mission to make a difference and that difference will start here in our own schools and with our own children. Let’s not be the change, let’s MAKE the change!

So, kick back and enjoy our “Back to the Books” Issue and THANK YOU for making this past year one in which empowers us to plunge into year two, three, four and so many more!

KTTS,

Mel & Amy Melissa Intemann & Amy Vizanko Co-Owners & Publishers Ponte Vedra Life

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BACK Books

to the

Contents HEALTHY DOSE

14 Rx: Don’t Sweat the Stress.

Dr. Greenaway provides tips to calm the back to school bustle 20 wellness: A Healthy Start.

The ABC’s and 123’s by Dr. Mosolf

HOUSE OF HEARTS

30 KNOW: Putting a Stop to Bullying.

Non-profit, PACER working on educating our masses 38 GIVE: David Brown’s ‘Private Lesson’ on establishing Web.com 44 MUSIC: Scotty McCreery salutes our troops at the Military Appreciation Day concert at Web.com Tour Championship

PLAY

48 MAP: Web.com Tour Championship 50 TOUR: Bill Calfee, President of Web.com Tour. The golf obsession continues…

SAVOR, SEE AND SOUND

88 CARA-BOUT-IT: Singing with Sincerity.

Get to know artesian folk singer Meredith Rae 92 SIP: Cozy Sippers.

Wrap yourself in these yummy autumn beverages 94 EATS: Blogger Bites.

Cyber revelations, five fabulous Food bloggers

CAMERAWORK

24 OXFORD BLUES: Behind the lens with Tiger Gomez 56 FACE TIME: “Fall” faces by Carrie Wilson

COASTAL A-LIST

86 Release Party – Salty Issue 80 Jacksonville architecture – Beautiful coastal homes

TEXTILE DOSSIER

70 SHOP: Downtown Alley.

An introduction to Jacksonville’s newest stores 76 M-PIRE: What’s in your backpack?

Local student’s reveal their musthave item for school 78 Technology: Go Go Gadget.

A+ Apps for students and parents

Cover Photography: Tiger Gomez Model: Sarah, New Version Model Management Dress: Diane von Furstenberg

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RX

Don’t

Sweat the

Stress

by Dr. Greenaway

Three tips that both children and adults can use for coping with the stress of going back to school

H

aving kids back in school can be a mixed bag for parents. In some ways we are looking forward to having that structure and routine that school affords. Our kids will be in a safe, educational

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setting, while we are at work or accomplishing errands. On the other side of the coin, there’s the homework we’re going to have to supervise, helping our kids deal with a bully, parentteacher conferences, packing lunches, making sure kids are in

bed on time, the morning rush, and sports practices. You know the drill. Difficulty managing everything could be a sign of an attention problem or simply the result of living in today’s world.

In either case, this overload can lead to stressful times for parents. While we can’t avoid stress altogether, here are three suggestions that are likely to get you through the school year.

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1) Get Organized

Routine and structure are key.

Every family needs a large monthly calendar hanging in a location, where everyone can see it. This is where you and your family can write down events coming up, school closings, appointments, due dates for school projects, and recreational lessons. Use a different

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color for each type of appointment.

For example, piano lessons are in blue, school project due dates are in green, etc. Set a time each evening for the family to gather around the calendar and review the upcoming days so that there are no surprises.

2) Stress-Reduction Exercises

What happens to our bodies when we are stressed? Our breathing quickens, and our muscles tense up.

Research has shown that since stress or anxiety produces these bodily reactions, if we reverse them, the stress or anxiety reduces. An exercise, called Progressive Muscle Relaxation has been used as a Vedra Life

doctor-recommended stress reducer since the 1920s. Sit in a comfortable chair with feet flat on the floor or lie down. Focus on one muscle group at a time, first feet, then calves, then thighs, etc. Work your way up, tensing each muscle group for 10 seconds, and then relaxing the muscles for 10 seconds. Focus on the difference in sensation between the tense muscles and the relaxed muscles, then move to the next muscle group. Keep the attention on the muscles, and when you notice your mind wandering, which it will, gently bring your focus back to the muscles and continue. By the time you get to your forehead, you will notice a deep sense of relaxation.

Be careful not to tense sore muscles or any areas that cause pain. Another technique is called diaphragmatic breathing. Get in the same position as you did for the muscle relaxation exercise. Inhale slowly, through the nostrils as you rest your hand gently on your stomach. Push your stomach outward, feeling it rise as if filling with air on each inhale. Hold the breath in for a few seconds. Then, with each exhale, purse your lips to let out only a small amount of air very slowly, as

you feel your stomach lower as if it is deflating. Keep your attention on the breath, and when you notice your mind wandering, bring it back to the breathing. After five or ten minutes, you will feel more relaxed. Doing these exercises on a regular basis helps “build your immunity” to stress, so keep it up.

3) Get Enough Sleep

Not enough can be said about the value of sleep. Important processes are occurring while we sleep. Our bodies and brain need sleep to grow and rejuvenate, and studies have shown that lack of sleep leads to irritability and increased stress. Having a consistent bed time and sticking to it is key. If you have trouble falling asleep, it may be due to stress, and following the other ideas we’ve just discussed are likely to help. •

Dr. Greenaway treats children and adults with ADHD, depression, and anxiety at Marsh Landing Behavioral Group.

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Wellness

A

Healthy Start Back-to-school preparations seem to begin

as soon as the last day bell rings. In the midst of summer vacation, make sure to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician or family doctor to make sure your child is ready for the school months to come no matter the age.

by Dr. Greg Mosolf

First Day Jitters

Regardless of your child’s age it is a good idea to start early in preparing them for school. If they are starting a new school be sure to attend any orientation or preparatory sessions offered to help acclimate them to the new environment. This will decrease their chances of having first day jitters at a new school. Kids returning to the same school still will have some anxiety. Planning a routine can help avoid that 20 |

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rushed feeling. The child or young adult should know when they are expected to do their homework.

Homework should be done in a well lit, quiet place. Try to have a regular dinner time. Decide upon a specific location for the backpack. Remove the TV from their bedroom (or at least have strict limits on use.)

Sports Readiness

If your child or teen intends to try out for a school sport then they

will need to complete the sports packet. The packet includes a complete physical exam. Recently, the Florida High School Athletic Association added a consent and release for concussions and heat related illness. Also, all high school athletes should have a baseline concussion test done at their school. This computer based test evaluates memory and response time. In the event of a concussion the test is repeated to determine if there has been a change in brain function. If your young athlete sustains a concussion, they will need to follow up with their pediatrician or family doctor. The doctor will then determine when it is safe for them to return to play.

The“Talk”

While the birds and bees conversation should happen more

than once, don’t let another student talk to your child first. Summer is a good time to make your child aware of things before they can come running back to you to tell you what they think they know. With social media playing a role in every aspect of our lives even homework, parents should realize this becomes a “talk” as well. Talking with your teens about what they see on Facebook, and Twitter and how often they are on these sites is optimal for their age. For young adults, a discussion of multitasking is required. Checking social media while studying isn’t acceptable.

A reality research has shown that multitasking is detrimental to learning and completing a task properly. This could lead to bigger issues down the road if further education is wanted. >>>

• Kindergarten readiness test (Done at home or in preschool) • Make sure child is getting 10 hours of sleep Grades 1 to 5

• No shots needed • Get a check up to assess growth/height, and for obesity • Discuss with doctor any behavioral concerns such as anxiety or ADHD • Get children back into going to bed early routine a week before school • Make sure child is getting 10 hours of sleep • Limit electronics and screen time starting a few days before school starts • Visit the dentist every 6 months Middle School

• Need 7th grade shots including Tetanus/Pertussis and Meningitis shot • Consider starting HPV shots (a recommended vaccine) • Make sure teen is receiving 9 hours of sleep • Girls may start their menstrual cycle, discuss this at home or with a doctor • May need a sports physical • Talk about drugs, alcohol, sex, social media etc.

• Talk about body changes they are going through (puberty) High School Voluntary Preschool (VPK)

• Mandatory vaccines • Check out preschools (cost, availability, hours of operation etc.)

• Prepare child for drop off at preschool for the first time • Forms required by the preschool that are provided by your doctor Kindergarten

• Additional vaccines • Additional forms required by school 22 |

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• Start the HPV series of shots (if not done in middle school) • Make sure teen is receiving 8 to 9 hours of sleep • Driving permit at age 15 • Another Meningitis shot at age 16 or 17 • Drugs, sex, and social media talk again Mosolf Pediatrics provides the General Pediatric Care including same day sick appointments and well baby child care. Visit them at Mosolfpediatrics.com.

If additional information is needed, visit National Association of School Psychologists, nasponline.org Ponte Vedra Life

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FACETIME WITH

CARRIE WILSON It may be hard to believe that fall is right around the corner as we are dealing with 100 degree days. The fact is, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how you can update your makeup look with a few quick makeup trends straight off the runways.

This fall is all about glowing, healthy, beautiful skin. Step up your skincare game and look out

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for new foundations and concealers that are light in texture and brighten the complexion. These formulas tend to look more like skin and less like makeup.

Let loose with liner. Try lining all the way around your eye for a light smoky effect. Look for new formulas of eye liners and new pencils that make lining easier than ever.

When it comes to eye shadow, try a metallic to

brighten up those eyes.

Lashes will look longer than ever with great new mascaras hitting the market. Try layering formulas or using a lash primer.

The bigger the better.

Whatever your makeup style is, don’t be afraid to try something new. It’s just makeup! If you don’t feel beautiful in a certain color, take it off and try another one. Here’s to Fall 2014!

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I am inspired by

anything beautiful.

Sometimes it’s a pair of eyes or flowing gorgeous hair, other times it’s the sky or a sunset. I’ve been inspired by supple skin or the texture of a soft shirt. I am inspired by beauty…

Model: Iryna Photography: Tiger Gomez Wardrobe and jewelry: Modelcitizen

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know

of necessary information. So, with that being said, knowing now that we don’t have a local organization, I took it to the next level…NATIONAL. I figure, if we are gonna go big in the bullying department, let’s go real BIG. I came across PACER, “THE” National Bullying Prevention Center, it’s based out of Minnesota and their slogan reads this, “The end of bullying begins with you.” Enough said.

The “Bull” stops here.

reading this right now, your family has also been impacted by this. Bullying in schools, bullying via cyber space, bullying via text, the list is long and the ‘bullies’ will go to great lengths to ensure that their victim, of the day, has been stripped of human dignity.

No matter the age.

by Mel Intemann

W

hether it be us watching it on the news, seeing viral You Tube videos, listening from one of our friends or perhaps, and unfortunately, from our very own children. Bullying. It’s everywhere and I am here to say, that the BULL stops here. I have a child who has seen it on the playground, has at a time here or there been the victim of it at school, and I am sure I speak for MANY of you

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So, my research began and I hit every search engine out there to find a local organization that supports an antibullying campaign. Guess what? There isn’t one in Northeast Florida. WHAT? If you are reading this and thinking to yourself, “yes there is Mel,” well, email me and tell me about it. But, clearly if there is ONE in our area, they are not online. Mistake number one.

The internet is the first place teachers, students and parents go for any kind

PACER came about in early 2000 when parents of children with learning disabilities were being bullied at school and unfortunately, the calls were increasing. I was told that the stories were heart breaking and I have a few to share with you. But the one question that parents kept calling asking PACER about were, “What are our rights?” “What do we do?”

“What steps should I take?” From this moment on, PACER took action and in 2003 launched the curriculum “Is your child a target of bullying?” This was basically an intervention based strategy for parents of children with disabilities and it was distributed nationally.

In 2005, PACER realized that children with disabilities weren’t the only ones being bullied, so they pushed for a grant and received it. At this time, they deemed it important enough to expand their bullying prevention resources and redesign them for ALL children. And alas, in 2006, PACER, the National Bullying Prevention Center was born and the launch of pacerkidsagainstbullying.org hit the net! The website, is an interactive (brilliant might I add) website for elementary age students and up. Now they offer digital based resources for parents, teens, youth and schools. This all comes free. We can download it at home or the teacher can enter through the portal page from their website and access bullying resources, which include: education toolkits, awareness toolkits, contest ideas and more. Why am I not hearing about this curriculum in our schools? Maybe I missed something? Let’s face it, we all know someone that has had a child that has been bullied or perhaps has a child that has been bullied…it’s just not the being ‘bullied’ part that worries me, it’s the fact that it can be a distraction at school, it takes

a physical and emotional toll on the body and the safety and well being of the student. PACER is all about inspiring communities to recognize that bullying is a behavior that has affected too many children for far too long. PACER focuses on educating youth and is also BIG into involvement.

Parents like you and I can take action, on both a personal and community level. Which this is where I say, ”Count me in!”

Julie’s Story

While doing all of my research on PACER, I was fortunate enough to correspond with a few of the team members at the center and one of them being the Director, Julie Hertzog.

Julie actually helped create the PACER Center in 2006 and here’s why. Julie has a son, David, who at the age of 3 years

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old had already undergone several open heart surgeries, a tracheotomy and he required a breathing ventilator. You see, David was born with Down Syndrome. At that moment, Julie knew her son “wasn’t like his peers.” As her son was preparing to enter into kindergarten, Julie was anxious that he would be what she called the “poster child for children expected to be the targets of bullying,” as David was now non-verbal, had delayed cognitive skills and had a feeding tube. She wasn’t going to sit back and wait for her anxiety to become reality, she sprung into action and took it upon herself to not only educate David’s peers, but she also talked with the faculty at the school to educate them on Down Syndrome.

She for a brief second reflected back to when she was a child how children with learning disabilities were treated and she didn’t want David to have that same experience. Her saying this made me think back to my generation and yes, I understood where she was coming from and my heart sunk.

She was right and she did the right thing for her son and for all children following in his footsteps. She basically became David’s advocate at this time, because he couldn’t tell her what happened during the day, so she had to depend heavily on his peers to act as his voice. And from this moment, in kindergarten, fast forward to later, she helped create the Center and now has created advocacy programs for students across the county in the same

BULLY FREE ZONE

way peers first helped her son, David.

Julie didn’t stop there, she created the free curriculum and tools discussed earlier. These resources circulate throughout the center and nationwide.

She also created nationally recognized events such as NATIONAL BULLYING MONTH, UNITY DAY and more! They all take place during National Bullying Month, which is October. A month of solidarity, wearing the color orange, and day, Unity Day, October 22nd, to unite and stand and say the “BULL” stops here. Julie has gone above and beyond and because of this she has been quoted by media throughout the U.S. including CNN, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, Time for Kids and the Huffington Post. So, this whole peer advocacy program that she started is available online so that ALL schools can create programs in their cities, including our very own

Jacksonville.

With all of this being said, Julie looks through the lens of her son. She looks at herself first as a Mom and she thinks that David has taught her to see human dignity for all, regardless of who they are and she’s right. All kids have the right to go to school to feel safe, valued and respected. “David has been such an important piece of always keeping me grounded,” said Hertzog. Julie after reading this, I think you have had the same impact on all of us writing this and reading this, so thank you.

Sarah’s story

A young woman by the name of Sarah Busch, and I would email back and forth. One day she sent me an email with an attachment titled “PVL Interview.” I opened the attachment and low and behold there in front of

me was Sarah’s story of being bullied in 3rd grade. WOW. I read her story and was brought to tears, both of grief and then of joy. Her story of being lined up in the snow against a brick wall and being shoved in the chest until her head hit the wall, was thought to be normal. This went on for several months and she didn’t tell anyone. You want to know why? No, not because she was scared. A friend of hers was doing this to her and she just thought that’s what friends did to one another.

She thought because she had such low self esteem that she to put up with this kind of horrible treatment in order to have friends. Due to this treatment, as she got older, the bullying grew less subtle, and reality set in. She endured exclusion, condescension and ridicule from her “closest friends,” BUT still felt grateful they still allowed her in their circle. Her story goes on and on, but I think you all get the gist. You are probably wondering, why didn’t she tell her parents,

DO’s for Teachers: Listen to the student, check in afterwards with the student to see if bullying stopped, give student advice

(Davis & Nixon, 2010)

DON’Ts for Teachers: Don’t tell the student to solve the problem themselves, don’t tell the student that the bullying wouldn’t have happened if the student acted differently, don’t tell the student to ignore what is going on, don’t tell the student to stop tattling.

(Davis & Nixon, 2010)

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a teacher, anyone. Sarah did end up telling her parents, after changing middle schools and realizing that pain wasn’t the price for friendship, and she only realized this because she was beginning to feel REAL friendship. It was at this point, she told her parents about her experience in elementary school. Now being a graduate of Saint Olaf College since 2013 and working at PACER, she still struggles with not telling her parents, ”perhaps I should have told them, who knows what they could have done, but what I do know is that I never gave them the chance.”

Rest assured PVLC readers, Sarah is well on her way and now has the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of students facing the same kind of challenges that she did.

She can now be there for them, in a way that no one was there for her. In a way, working for PACER has been her therapy, as she has channeled the hurt and fear she once felt into helping children and it has been an amazing

DON’Ts for Parents: Telling your child who is being bullied, to tell the person to ‘stop’, or tell them ‘how they feel”, walk away, pretend it’s not bothering them. (This advice is often recommended to youth and it has the most negative impacts) (Davis & Nixon, 2010)

DO’s for Peers: If you see bulling taking place and you feel as though you can make a difference, step in. Spend time with peers and talk to them, gain advice from them, help him/ her get away from the bulling.

experience for her. Kudos to you, Sarah.

Your story, I am sure, is being read by many students out there, and without you even knowing it, you have already made a difference in their lives…and you live in Minnesota.

teens and young people are impacted each and every day. It’s easy to be a bully on the internet today, as people can send out messages anonymously which gives them a feeling of “power.”

Bullying does not only impact the victim, but it also impacts their loved ones and everyone in his or her life, as well. Jane, much like Sarah, didn’t get her parents involved, however Jane’s parent KNEW what was going on, but Jane didn’t allow them to intervene, out of fear of making it worse. She ended our talk with this, a quote from the movie, Mean Girls, “when someone gets bit by a snake, you need to suck the venom out.” Pretty powerful statement. This is exactly, what Julie, Sarah and Jane are doing now, they are sucking out the venom of those bitten by snakes, removing the poison, sharing their stories in an effort to make a difference. The courage alone to speak up and to me is just yet another way of sucking out any remaining venom that may still settle in their bodies.

BULLY FREE ZONE

Jane’s Story

Lastly, and I am going to close with this story, as it hit home, literally. I was approached by a, local, young woman, now in college, about her high school experience and what she endured with bullying. I think it might be a good time for us all to not only read this, but to listen to her. I am not going to go into her ‘story’ of being bullied as it’s just too visual and tragic, but what I will do is allow her to educate us. Let us call her “Jane.” Jane informed that kids today are growing up in the digital age, when bullying is not only mental and physical, but is now CYBER. iChat, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine and so much more. This is how her bullying story began, cyber. She got through it, but to this day, five years later, her personality changed. Her once out going, boisterous laugh and jokes became a hush. She is now (and she is, trust me), shy, reserved, because those memories still affect her to this day. Jane claims that “it was the worst year of her life.” On the flip-side, she states that she is so glad that she was bullied, because it made me a build a group of TRUE friends that are still her best friends to this day, and she can be her true self when she is around them.

HUGE for her. Jane went on to tell me that people say bullies do what they do because of jealousy (she’s right, that is what we say), or to cope with problems going on in their lives (again, she nailed it on the head), but none of that is an excuse to treat people with such “disdain.” She continued on to say that bullying is an epidemic and too many

Make a Change

I feel very passionate about this topic, clearly. And, for those of you who REALLY know me, when I get passionate about something, well, I want to take a stand, take charge, be the difference and drive awareness to all that are around me. With this being said, I am asking you, our dedicated readers, to take a stance. Go to your school; ask them if they have the curriculum. If they don’t, provide it to them, offer to come in and volunteer to educate the class on bullying, perhaps you become the pillar on this topic at your child’s school.

A wise man told me, “Ideas are only good, if executed.” And well, this is a good idea and so now, we need to EXECUTE IT. We can and we will. For our own children, other children and for generations to come. >>> Ponte Vedra Life

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Stats on

Bulling • 1 in 3 students are bullied during the school year • 64% of bullied children won’t report it • Over 50% of bullying situations cease when a peer intervenes • SCHOOL-BASED BULLYING PREVENTION CURRICULUM decreases bullying by up 25%

The #1 peer stat to date:

Students who experience bullying are more likely to find peer actions more helpful than educator or self actions. Lesson here is if you see it, stop it. Remember, the BULL STOPS here. Be a true friend and help suck the venom out.

CALL TO ACTION Northeast FLORIDA:

Visit pacer.org and participate. Sign a petition with your child, perhaps your child would like to share their own story, or contribute a message to “I care because.” And let’s not forget about National Bullying Prevention Month in October and Unity Day on October 22nd. Orange is the color. I’m happy to annouce the Ponte Vedra Life Coastal team have named PACER as the charitable effort at our next issue release party at Ovinte. Please come support us, by supporting PACER and don’t forget to wear orange so we can all stand in solidarity, together. The end of bullying begins you and with me, but the call to action starts right here, with PVLC. Let’s do this. •

Grace, 8 Ponte Vedra Life

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GIVE

L

uckily for Jacksonville, David Brown and his family of several brothers and sisters finally

settled in the River City after moving all over the United States. Being born into a military family, “You got use to being uprooted every three to four years,” Brown said. From fifth grade until high school graduation Brown became a native of the Jacksonville

The man on a mission to help small businesses

by Kayla Sim

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beach area. Maybe it was the initial sense of stability or the Atlantic Ocean, but this is where Brown insists his “great love of Jacksonville” originated from.

>>>

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F

ast-forward a couple of years, where Brown’s Harvard was announced on the Fletcher High School’s P.A. System. “I applied as a lark.” Brown added, “I heard about it when everyone else heard about it, so I pretty much had to go.” He ventured off to the prestigious educational institution with thoughts of being a school teacher like his father and younger brother whom both work at Fletcher High. Surrounded by the best of the best, and the richest of the rich, Brown soon realized many valuable lessons at Harvard that are intertwined in his business ethics today. “No matter how hard things are, and by the way it was very hard, you can overcome through persistence.”

Brown was full of worthy advice

Florida with wide eyes. Compared to when he was younger when the navy was the only thing our city had going, he now observed a rich community with an inner mixing of people not just from Jacksonville.

The city had really grown up and this change would later impact him as an employer and a business.

“I was very fortunate. I was at the right place at the right time.

Florida was booming,” Brown remarked. Barnett Bank located in downtown Jacksonville was the beginning foundation of his career.

“I had the finest opportunity a young person could have because I worked at a great organization with a great culture.” His acquired skill set at Barnett led him to another bank, Florida National Bank.

“I measure success by my actions, my intent, and my efforts but not necessarily

by the result.”

(which we will no doubt about take), “I measure success by my actions, my intent, and my efforts but not necessarily by the result. I learned very early on that it’s not only what you put into it, there are other factors. Just control the things that you can control that is the only thing that you really can measure yourself by.”

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Surprisingly, Brown retired from the bank business and private equity firms suggesting that he was “burn out” only to discover that retired life wasn’t for him nor his wife.

“Your cramping my style, you don’t seem like a happy camper. Go do something constructive with your life.” He joked about what his wife had said to him. After playing golf, working out everyday, and being involved with many non-profits,

he in fact, unretired. Brown then started Atlantic Teleservices as an incubator. In this company, four different kinds of operations took place. “Whatever worked the best we would likely adopt that. We ultimately liked helping the small businesses with the internet the best. All of the other businesses we either sold or gave away at some point,” Brown said. Two years into the business, the entrepreneur sold it to a private equity firm in California, became director and retired again. A year into his second retirement the internet bubble collapsed that caused most technology corporations to fail and the new owners wanted to shut down the company (now called Website Pros). “They called me up to come shut the place the down and I didn’t have the heart to shut it down. I hired back a lot of the people.” The focus became on just helping small businesses and

changed the name again to what is now Web.com.“I learned a double lesson here, I was too young to retire and there were other things I wanted to accomplish.”

And accomplish them he did. Web. com helps small businesses by creating anything from websites and handing over technology tools to offering marketing experts to use these tools in the best way possible to establish a successful company. Brown doesn’t label himself as the creative type, so when he came up with the idea of helping small firms it was, of course, a pragmatic business thought. “I sat back and thought what is the hardest market to serve? There would be very little competition and the help would be very well appreciated. I thought that was a good recipe for a business.” Brown quickly learned from his own business, Web.com, Ponte Vedra Life

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and from previous experiences with his wife and daughter’s gift shop that being a small company was very difficult.

Brown explains they had no revenue, and only a building.

“It is really hard. It requires a great deal of imagination and resourcefulness. Small businesses have great courage to strike out on their own.”

“It is really hard. It requires a great deal of

Small businesses have great courage to strike out on their own.”

Web.com might read familiar because of the large digital banners that stare into your face distracting you from any event held at Everbank.

With Web.com serving over 3.2 million customers today, it seems to be working. “At some point you have to find ways to let people know that you exist otherwise you run out of opportunities to help,” he said. “It also let’s our employees know that they are a part of a thriving, successful, and supportive organization.” The Web.com Tour, a developmental tour for the PGA, was born in a similar manner giving the company a way to introduce themselves and get their mission known. Brown thought, the fastest way to get Web.com’s name into the market around the world, in a positive way, was golf. “Even if you don’t play it you can appreciate that it gives more money to charities than any other sports combined.”

Borrowing the sport’s reputation, the Web.com Tour runs small business forums and focuses on local causes. “We support hundreds and hundreds of charities across 42 |

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imagination and resourcefulness.

the United States. Sometimes the biggest difficulty is determining where to allocate our efforts, they are all worthwhile,” Brown explained. You can look for the Web. com Tour supporting programs that help young mothers whose husbands are off to war, education, the Red Cross, and many more.“ This idea fulfills many missions it gets our name out but it also gets us into grassroots effort to meet small businesses and help them in local markets and those are both things we believe in.

When he is not constantly improving Web.com or the Web.com Tour he is surrounded by family here in Ponte Vedra Beach, how he spends most of his off days. “Contrary to popular belief, I don’t play any golf,” he said.

Look out for the Web.com Tour Championship the third week of September, “You’ll see more activities than you normally see at a golf tournament because it is a big community and we want to have something for everyone.” •

Music

It’s

by Mel Intemann

T

he Web.com Tour Championship is “Feelin’ It,” when it comes to the choice for this year’s up and coming Military Appreciation Day concert. If you know the song, ”Feelin’ It,” then you already know the artist who will be performing on the back lawn of the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse on Friday, September 19th. You guessed it, it’s Season 10 winner of American Idol, Scotty McCreery.

I remember that American Idol season very well, and McCreery’s ‘swooning’ voice. Now, that teenager is turning 20 and has taken off. Just in those two shorts years, since being on the reality TV show, McCreery has become one of country’s hottest and brightest new stars, with album sales topping at $1.6 million. Put aside the many awards he The Military Appreciation Day concert is presented by Legacy Trust Family Wealth

All Friday tickets to the Web. com Tour Championship act as admission for the concert, making it a $19 deal.

Don’t have tickets for Friday?

Visit webtourchampionship.com to purchase.

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won as being a ‘new artist,’ he has also performed for President Obama, sung the national anthem at the World Series and performed in the Macy’s Day Parade, all while putting on shows from coast to coast.

Just five months after winning American Idol, McCreery released his then debut album, “Clear as Day,” which ended up being the best selling album by not only a country artist, but the YOUNGEST man in HISTORY to have his first album debut atop the allgenre Billboard Top 200 albums Chart.

That the once preternaturally deep voice is now strong and has deepened.

He has grown into a seasoned singer, song writer and performer. And, I personally, cannot think of a better venue and cause for him to perform for and in front of, than our very own Military men and women on Military Appreciation Day. McCreery’s latest album, “See You Tonight,” has also topped the charts, so much so, that he is currently on his first ever tour, headlining it, I might add, which has him going cross country through the end of the summer, with making stops in more than 50 U.S. markets. Now, if you know me, you know I need to know the OTHER side of everyone and that is their

love for philanthropy and for charitable efforts. And well, he doesn’t miss the mark there either (A so far in my book), Scotty is the National Goodwill Ambassador for the 12.14 Foundation. This organization was formed with the goal of not only building, but operating a Performing Arts Centre in Newtown, Connecticut to memorialize and honor the lives lost in the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14, 2012. Pretty much sums this kid up for me.

Let us not forget that he is still a sophomore at North Carolina State.

You heard me, he’s in college! Born in North Carolina and attending college there probably has something to do with why his favorite song on his new album is, “Carolina Moon.” He said that this particular tune “hits home with me, growing up in North Carolina, and about being on the road touring and missing home.” Alison Krauss, one of the best singers agreed to record the song with him. He stated that having her on board with this song, “ took it over the top, she is wonderful and has such an iconic and beautiful voice.”

We look forward to having you in our very own backyard here in Northeast Florida and for your support of men and women in the military. We salute you! •

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map

Photography by Lucas Tozzi Photographed Oscar Chalupsky

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TOUR

B ILL CALFEE

by Mel Intemann

Bill Calfee, Web.com Tour President, speaks about the upcoming Tour and what changes you can expect to see.

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PVL: What’s it like to be the President of the Web.com Tour?

Bill Calfee: It’s exciting, fun and challenging. I work with a talented and dedicated team, and I get to see the greatest young players in the game prove that they are ready to compete and win on the PGA TOUR. On any given week,

we also have on average fourteen PGA TOUR winners who are working their way back. We play in wonderful communities across the country and in Latin America, and through the tournaments charitable nexus, we are positively impacting people’s lives.

PVL: I understand the Tour

underwent, not only a new look, but more meaning as it enters into a new year. A lot of those changes are based around the qualification process, explain to our readers what changes took place and why you’ve been quoted as saying ‘the process was as difficult as anything you’ve done in your entire professional career?’

Calfee: Change can often be tough to implement, but as the Web.com Tour continued

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to grow, we discovered that season long performance was a much better indicator of PGA TOUR success than a few weeks of qualifying school. We spent a lot of time analyzing how we might best improve the PGA TOUR’s qualifying system, talking with players, sponsors and our tournaments, and as a result, we determined that the Web. com Tour should be structured as “the Path to the PGA TOUR”.

Now 25 PGA TOUR cards are given to the top Web.com Tour money winners during the regular

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season, and 25 cards are given to the top money winners based on play in The Finals of the Web. com Tour, which includes the top 75 Web.com Tour players and the 126 to 200 players on the PGA TOUR. We still have the Qualifying Tournament to award cards for Web.com Tour eligibility for the following season. We’ve also launched international, developmental Tours with PGA TOUR China, PGA TOUR Latin America, and PGA TOUR Canada that now feed their top five players to the Web.com Tour.

PVL: Any criticisms from the players on these changes?

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Calfee: Of course, some players felt that the system wasn’t broken so why change it, but most recognized how competitive the Web.com Tour has become and felt this new system was in fact a better way to determine how one gets a PGA TOUR card. And they clearly understand this delivers more value to sponsors and has certainly elevated the stature of the Web.com Tour.

PVL: After glancing over this year’s schedule for the tour, I noticed that alongside the 25 events and the same four final events that the Web.com Tour is

also in seven countries with focus in Nova Scotia, but primarily in Latin American countries. What benefits do you see by having a presence in these countries?

more, what benefits will these changes add to the course during play? Or will these changes create new challenges for the players during the tournament?

Calfee: We are playing in Panama, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, and Canada, and there are clearly many benefits to playing in these markets.

First and foremost, it provides early season playing opportunities for our members. It also allows us to build our brand outside of the U.S. and helps us grow interest in the game and the PGA TOUR. Web.com is also benefitting from exposure to new markets.

Calfee: The Web.com Tour Championship will be the first event played on the new TPC Valley course. While no major design changes have been made, it will be very challenging competitively for all these great players and should be in terrific condition. Our players have really enjoyed the course in the past, and I know they are looking forward to this year’s event.

PVL: With Web.com Championship, the final event of the PGA TOUR’s Web.com Tour, right around the corner... Explain to us who plays in this event and how cards will be awarded after it? As I don’t think many of us know, that there are also 75 players from the PGA TOUR that play in this event!

Calfee: The Web.com Tour Championship will provide a very exciting finish to our season on a newly renovated TPC Valley course.

Approximately 150 players from both the PGA TOUR and the Web.com Tour will compete for a $1 million purse and 50 PGA TOUR cards.

PVL: I understand that Dye’s Valley Course is under going a rebuild prior to this year’s Tour Championship. With coring out some greens, new drainage and

PVL: Is there anything new planned for this years event for the patrons?

Any on-course enhancements i.e. food trucks, new fan experiences etc.?

Calfee: We are planning on adding a number of activities and fan enhancements such as Tuesday night Taste of Golf, Friday night concert, local restaurants and food stations, shuttle service around the course, First Tee skills challenge.

We also plan to reverse the nines to allow us to provide much better parking and expanded hospitality on 18.

PVL: If you had to describe what makes going to one of these events special what would you say?

Calfee: These events are fun, family oriented, and provide a great opportunity to see incredible golf up close and personal. • Ponte Vedra Life

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Oxford

Blues Photography by Tiger Gomez

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Gwen Berlin: Torn by Ronny Kobo, Lena top $183 Rosenblum’s: Diane Von Furstenberg, Eleanor dress $498 Personal collection: Vintage neck-tie & pearl bracelets

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AshleGryre: Zee Supply, white t-shirt $24 Gwen Berlin: DL1961, Riley boyfriend jeans $168 Emly Benham: Pedro Garcia, Yoshi flats $410 Jaffi’s: Linea Pelle, Grayson clutch $196 Personal collection: Earrings, belt & jean jacket (Tiger’s)

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Rosenblum’s: Canali, sport-coat $1,425 Rosenblum’s: Robert Talbott, long sleeve button down $198 Rosenblum’s: Gran Sasso, pullover $185 Jaque’s Clothing:Wellen, Edwin pants $96 Rosenblum’s: Pocket square $50 Personal collection: Hat Vedra Life Ponte

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HIM Personal collection: Entire outfit & Accessories HER Gwen Berlin: Stateside, short sleeve hoodie $114 Gwen Berlin: Bella Dahl, sleeveless button up $119 Gwen Berlin: Paige, ultra skinny shell denim $288

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Rosenblum’s: Theory, Lousine blazer $415 Gwen Berlin: Love Shack Fancy, ruffle mini dress $464 Gwen Berlin: Brave Leather Ltd., Becca belt $79 Gwen Berlin: Bracelet $788 Gwen Berlin: Earrings $99 Emly Benham: Michael Kors, Jodi flats $295 Personal collection: Burberry bow-tie as headband

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Gwen Berlin: Equipment, button up $248 AshleGryre: Vintage Chanel earrings $238 Personal collection: Vintage pearl necklaces

HER Jaffi’s: Sanctuary, free shell $89 Gwen Berlin: Hudson, Viceroy knee shorts $154 Jaffi’s: Glass bracelets $15 each Personal collection: Hat, cardigan, earrings, bag HIM Rosenblum’s: Robert Talbott, button down $298 Jaque’s Clothing: Wellen, Cabana crew pullover $64 Rosenblum’s: Peter Millar, linen cotton shorts $98 Rosenblum’s: Oxford Clothes, polka dot tie $65 Personal collection: Watch

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Photography:

Tiger Gomez Creative Director:

Inger Williamson Wardrobe Stylist:

Alix Robinson Makeup Artist:

Carrie Wilson Hair Artists:

Laura Carmichael & Jess Wilkins, RIO Salon

Models:

Freja, Sarah & Adam, New Version Model Management

Wardrobe: Gwen Berlin Emly Benham Rosenblum’s Jaffi’s Jaque’s Clothing AshleGryre

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Jaffi’s: Soft, Trevor jacket $188 Gwen Berlin: Sam & Lavi, Luann romper $134 Gwen Berlin: Joe’s, button up pencil skirt $147 Rosenblum’s: Green ostrich belt $230 Jaffi’s: Glass bracelets $15 each Personal Collection: Tom Ford glasses (Mel’s) & vintage pearl

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SHOP

Warm Welcome

Shopaholics, rejoice! There’s a new addition in town. Anchor store, Nordstrom

will make a grand entrance on October 10th. The colossal amount of space consists of 122,000 square feet equipped with an Ebar and Bazille restaurant. Both exclusive to Nordstrom, at the Ebar you will find yourself enjoying handcrafted coffee while having the option of sitting indoors or outdoors. “We have Starbucks now, but it is going to be nice to have something down that wing offering coffee.” Lindsey Von Hoven, Director of Marketing & Business Development at St. Johns Town Center says. Bazille offers a bistro menu with a full bar. “We are really excited because people are saying they want luxurious department stores and they’re having to travel to Orlando. Now we are going to be able to keep those people in Jacksonville that want to shop at stores like Nordstrom.” Our Nordstrom will be unlike any other, including the one in Orlando. The Seattle based company will only open two other Nordstrom stores this year, one in Texas and one in Canada. “This enhancement will appeal to our entire customer base, which includes not only Northeast Florida residents but tourists as

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well,” Von Hoven says. Oh, and with all this construction comes parking. “These will feed right into Nordstrom.” Nearly 600 spaces will be added behind Cantina and Capital Grille and between Ovinte and Ethan Allen. They are making this “the easiest shopping center to navigate, and obviously, as we continue to grow we will continue to add parking.”

Nordstrom’s Neighbors “When you turn that corner now you are going to be walking into a new world.”

This “new world” Von Hoven is referring to is known as Nordstrom Alley. Here, Nordstrom will also welcome eight new neighbors: Boston Proper, Natural Life, Modelcitizen, Swim’n Sport, Yankee Candle, Free People, a Disney Store and a twostory Arhaus Furniture. Much different than any other part of St. Johns Town Center, “This is the only wing you cannot drive down. So there will be no parking in front of the spaces,” she says. We can also expect to see water features, additional outside

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seating, and even charging stations.

This pedestrian friendly expansion has a, “modern, clean look that will go along with Nordstrom.” Von Hoven says. All of Arhaus’s 16,282 squarefoot space will offer couches, beds and anything else you could possibly imagine for luxurious living.

The multi-level store has locations in Palm Beach Gardens and Naples but this will be the first in Northeast Florida.

Women’s swimsuit needs are finally going to be taken care of with the opening of Swim’n Sport. 1,677 square-feet will be devoted exclusively to bathing suits and cover-ups. Immerse yourself into any closet of a Coachellaattendee and you have stepped into the store, Free People. Bohemian babes will be very thrilled about this one. You can find Free People located next to Brooks Brothers arriving the following spring. There is something for everyone in Nordstrom Alley –

including the kids. This Disney Store will be the new concept store. Locally owned and operated, modelcitizen is a small boutique with labels like Rag & Bone and J Brand.

Modelcitizen will be the closest to Nordstrom. Boston Proper, a Chico’s brand, is going to be set in between Natural Life and Yankee Candle. Yankee Candle’s spot in the Nordstrom wing will be an addition to two locations in Jacksonville. Jacksonville’s very own, Natural Life, scored a lease in Nordstrom Alley as well. You will be able to find inspirational goodies in this shop. “It’s a mix of price points. These are the stores people have been asking us for. They are saying we want more furniture, we want Disney, we want higher end so we are going to try our best to give that to them,” she say.

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It’s A Celebration On Wednesday October 8th all small, neighboring stores to Nordstrom will open, with the exception of Free People. Wednesday night, Nordstrom will host a Gala inside the department store where guests will get a sneak peek. “We are very excited about this,” Von Hoven says. The ticket proceeds will bentefit three local charities: Wolfson Children’s Hospital, The Cathedral Arts Project, and The Junior League.

Live entertainment, food, and of course, valet will complete this event. “This will be a preview into the store with a lot of cool fashions,” she says. “Beauty Bash” occurs on Friday morning where all of Nordstrom’s beauty vendors will be out and about. Von Hoven says this will be, “a day just focused on beauty and the opening of Nordstrom, which opens that day.” St. Johns Town Center will hold it’s grand opening party on Saturday, October 11th from 2-9 PM. “All things

family and fun from 2-6,” adds Von Hoven. Later that night, 6-9 PM, River City Drive will close and a high-energy fashion show will take place featuring all the recent shops with Nordstrom having a separate show. “It’s going to be fabulous,” Von Hoven says. “We have never done anything like this before.” This event is free and open to the public and also includes a piano bar, “We encourage everyone to come check out the new wing and walk through the plaza.”

Looking to the Future St. John’s Town Center has come a long way. Remembering back to 2005 when the first phase and community center (Target, Ross, etc.) was opened.

Then in 2007, the second phase was created including Urban Outfitters and Coach. Today, locals and travelers to the River City are some of the 16 million visitors a year that Town Center receives. Simon is going to have their hands full with St. Johns in the next few months. Von Hoven says that they are just trying to get this third phase (Nordstrom Alley) finished.

Once complete, they will be heading straight into the season of giving where the ninth year of the lighting of the tree occurs on November 15th and brings out more than 20,000 families. “We know holiday shopping is going to be unbelievable again this year, especially now with Nordstrom,” Von Hoven says. “We will continue to grow St. Johns, what that means yet, we don’t know,” she laughs. “But, we are always looking to the future.” I’m sure the shopaholics of Jacksonville couldn’t be more excited. •

M-PIRE

What’s in your I hit the school hallways this year (wow, I felt old) to ask, “what’s in your backpack?” These “can’t leave home without items” make their way to school with you everyday. Why? And where was this stuff when I was going to school?

BACKPACK? Orbit Peppermint Gum

convenient stores, 3-pack for $1.25 “Gum, because it helps me focus during class and keeps me from getting hungry before lunch.” (And yes, I asked chewing gum at school is allowed.)

Victoria, Ponte Vedra High School • 10th Grade Case Logic School Binder Organizer Custom-iz Amazon.com, $22.99 ”My favorite thing in my backpack during the school year is my pink binder because it helps keep me organized!” Personalize this with your photos, name, web art, magazine clipping, and your class schedule. What fun!

Olivia, Landrum Middle School

Nexus tablet from Google,

6th grade

powered by Android Staples, $229-$349 “I love to read so I can download a book instantly.

It also allows me to do papers for several different subjects.”

Duncan, The Bolles School • 10th Grade

eos Smooth Lip Balm Sphere

Lilly Pulitzer Large Agenda Dillards, $28 “My planner, I just got one and it has a lot of room under each week to write down homework assignments and little reminders for myself.”

Lauren, Clemson University • Sophomore

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Walgreens, $3.99 “I always have eos Lip Balm in my bag. I don’t leave home without it!”

Addy, Episcopal School of Jacksonville • 11th Grade

TECHNOLOGY

Go Go!

Digital Tutor: If you are like me, you find yourself scratching your head at times on how to solve a math problem or how to answer that question regarding which country is in which continent. Well, I found the perfect app to answer all those questions and to make mom and dad feel intelligent in the basics again. We all need a refresher course!

Gadget

by Mel Intemann

T

hese must-have apps will help your family tackle the back to school rush. Everything from scheduling after school activities, planning meals, to even keeping an eye on the little one’s grades, these applications will get you where you need to be – on time.

Download these on most mobile devices for a fantastic school year.

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trips to the library and bookstore.

The OverDrive Media Console app let’s you “borrow” e-books from a selection of public and school libraries. N man and I love this – you should too!

OverDrive Media Console, Free

Virtual Assistant: Sounds good doesn’t it? It’s pretty darn good, let me tell ya!

The Cozi Family Organizer app will keep you and your clan on the same page – literally. With reminders for homework, doctor’s appointments, class projects, you name it and you now have an assistant for it. Melnote: The TODAY show awarded this application the “Best Family App” and the “must have app for a better life” in the Appy Awards. This tool comes free of charge and you get a better life, who knew it was that easy!

School A to Z , Free

Cozi Family Organizer, Free

Easy Reader:

On Course:

This app will allow you to cut down on story time expenses at the school book fairs. Although, they support the schools and so do we, we don’t need ten books from every fair! It also will save you

This has been called the “student’s best friend” app, which makes ME think it’s the best thing since sliced bread for us parents. iHomework is the app that will allow for our children to stay on track

with their school work, grades, todo’s, teachers’ information and so much more. This app is the ONLY school organizer that can be with you everywhere you go. It’s such an in-depth app, that includes inviting schoolmates to your group assignments, but what’s REALLY great is that you can record your grades for every assignment. This application will let you know what your GPA is and if the student is on track to get into the college of their dreams. Also, no surprises when the report comes out, eh? iHomework, $1.99

What’s Cookin’: Between keeping track of everything I have mentioned above, this app takes the cake. At the end of the day, the last thing some of us want to do or even have trouble thinking about is “what‘s for dinner?” Well, I am here to help us ALL with that. MealBoard not only helps plan your meals, it stores your favorite recipes, keeps track of what’s in your pantry, scans all the stores in your zip code to compare prices AND keeps a tally on what it will cost to prepare that meal! I am on BOARD with MealBoard…join me!

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Coastal A-List

Crosswater: CornerStone Homes designs and builds custom homes www.mycornerstonehomes.com Glenn Layton Homes in Paradise Key South Jacksonville Beach www.glennlaytonhomes.com www.paradisekeysouthbeach.com

PERSONAL SPACE

Coastal retreats for the curious eye

Cottage Home Company: www.cottagehomecompany.com

Elizabeth Hudgins www.beacheshomes.com

Custom design, www.pontevedrabeachliving.com

Builder: Benchmark homes, Rich Morrison Architect: Mark Macco, AIA, NCARB

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COASTAL A-LIST

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R e l e a s eISSUE Party SALTY

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CARA-BOUT-IT

Cara: Describe the moment that made you want to be a performer.

Cara: What hasbeenyourgreatest accomplishment musically?

Meredith Rae: No doubt about it, I came out of the womb wanting to perform. I grew up singing along with my mom playing guitar, usually Joni Mitchell or Neil Young’s ‘Love is a Rose’. I’ve also been doing a killer Cher impression since age five, my mom thought, for sure, I would end up on SNL.

Meredith Rae: I wrote a children’s album, ‘Dance in the Rain’, that I completed last October. I recorded it in Riverside when my daughter was 4 months old, and I love the positive messages of the songs. I love singing for kids but I’m really ready to get back to my original music, I’ll be back in the studio very soon, so keep an ear out.

Cara: Who or what has been your greatest inspiration as a musician?

Meredith Rae Woodard grew up singing Joni Mitchell songs with her mother in their dining room in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Now residing in Jacksonville Beach with her husband Troy and baby girl Edie Rae, Meredith is most definitely one of the local artists to watch. She is a self-taught acoustic guitar and ukulele player who’s “Beachy Folk” sound will make your toe tap and your soul dance. Her beautifully soothing voice is infectious and her lyrics are filled with sincerity, positivity and overall good vibes. I recently sat down with the beautiful brunette to talk life and

Meredith Rae: Obviously my mom, but I never would’ve picked a guitar up if it weren’t for infertility. My husband Troy and I, for six years, had a very hard time conceiving, and I just needed an outlet. Music literally saved me when my spirit was broken. The funny thing about all of it is that six months after letting go of the hope of having a baby we got the surprise of our lives! We had conceived without any medical intervention.

music, and here’s what she had to say.

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Cara: What is your favorite place to play here in Jacksonville?

Meredith Rae: I love places that encourage songwriting and storytelling. The sound at Riverside Arts Market is always impeccable, and the audiences at Mudville Music Room are the best! I also perform at Yoga Mix during classes and I feel like that is the most sacred space to sing.

Cara: What’s been on your playlist lately?

Meredith Rae: I’m in love with The

Avett Brothers, Brett Dennen, G. Love and Special Sauce, and Tristan Prettyman. And, I will forever be a Beastie Boys fan.

One of Jacksonville’s true musical gems, Meredith Rae Woodard is a must see. Make sure to check out her website for news and upcoming shows at MeredethMusic.com. You can also find her on Facebook. She is currently booking house shows to raise money for her new album, so have a party and let her serenade you and your guests while supporting this beautiful local artist’s dream. •

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Sip

A

Cozyps i S

BY INGER WILLIAMSON

s the sweltering days of summer lead to crisp cool breezes and longer evenings, the change of season is longed for and welcomed. If you are anything like me, an oversized sweatshirt, a good book and a autumn concoction are necessities for a Saturday fall evening. In the search for the perfect drink, I came up with one conclusion: it doesn’t exist. Every day is a new day and deserves its own infusion. Be your own mixologist this season and try some of these excellent fall recipes shared from our favorite web foodies.

A Beverly Hills Hotel Original Fig Sidecar Martini – The Beverly Hills Hotel Polo Lounge’s most popular guest is packed with zest and punch. Black Mission figs infused with Remy Martin 1738 cognac and homemade spiced brown sugar simple syrup create a fuller favor that makes even the darkest day bright. No need to travel to the West Coast for this one, try this at home. Compliments of www.Delish.com.

Visit for the recipe.

Bring On The Pear (VPV) Vanilla, Pear, Vodka Cocktail – The one fruit left on the sidelines; the delicious suckling PEAR. How can anyone ignore this grainy, juice fruit? This beverage is sure to pack a punch to our fall fruit concoctions. Black specks of vanilla beans scraped straight from the pod gives an aromatic smooth taste and leaves your senses happy. Although served on ice, one sip leaves you wanting more and more of your new chosen fruit. Enjoy the recipe at two-tarts.com.

Hotty Totty On Steriods Hot Apple Ginger Toddy – Cozy up with this hot apple cider cocktail (we call it a “cocktail” since it falls under the spirits category) sure to bring the zing to your zang. Experts only please. Play with the sweetness of honey and apples, and the tartness of ginger root and lemon. We can thank Kitchen.com for this little toddy. Visit for the recipe.

Chocolate Makes the World A Better Place

Hot Chocolate on a Stick – Melt your drink! Yes, you heard it correctly. Nothing says change of season like hot chocolate.

Swirl goodness into your cup and watch it transform into frothy hot chocolate. Once you have one of these chocolate cubes, it will be dreadfully sinful to drink store bought. See this mouth-watering dessert drink at Giverslog.com.

EATS

By Keith Rydh, FoodiesUSA

In this day and age of instant gratification and 24/7 social media access, the online world can be confusing and at times overwhelming. When it comes to food, dining and cooking, the “Food Bloggers” have changed the landscape to offer everything from opinions and insight, to trends and travel. Of course they also offer cooking tips, recipes and share stories of their culinary, and sometimes, life adventures. So, who to follow?

Well we thought we’d pull from our own FoodiesUSA pool of contacts, friends and colleagues to see who are the foodie bloggers to follow up and down the east coast.

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The Food Bitch Blog, Jacksonville, FL

Kath Eats, Charlottesville, VA

Let’s start in Jacksonville, the hometown of FoodiesUSA. We’ve had the pleasure of dining at a local restaurant with local food blogger Devon Stiles aka “The Food Bitch.”

Don’t let the name fool you though, she’s a sweetheart! Stiles got into blogging to write about her progress as a runner but realized quickly that stories about running were a little boring. More often than not, she was writing about food and transitioned her blog in that direction. Stiles now writes about restaurants and her original recipes. Some of her favorites include Maple Pecan Porter Short Ribs, Pulled Pork and her Bacon Egg & Cheese “Man” cakes. She feels her down-to-earth way of writing makes her relatable and approachable by her many fans. Stiles also contributes to the local newspapers and magazines too. Find her restaurant reviews and recipes at thefoodbitchblog.com.

Our next blogger is truly inspirational. After losing 30 pounds, registered dietician Kath Younger wanted to share her tips and recipes with friends and family who are always asking her, “How did you do it?” Her blog, “Kath Eats Real Food,” was then born. Younger also owns a whole grain bread bakery with her husband and is a proud mom of a nearly two year old boy. Younger’s blog has literally taken her places. In 2009 she had the honor of traveling to Africa with Lipton Tea to tour their tea estates. Younger explains, “We got to pick tea, see how it is dried and eat authentic Kenyan food. It was absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I will never forget.” When not writing, baking or cooking her meals, Younger is seeking out her favorite restaurants that feature “Farm-to-Table.” There’s no doubt that writing from her heart and personal life experiences has lead to Younger’s success. You can read more about Younger and her stories at katheats.com.

on Facebook convinced him to go bigger. Seven thousand followers later, his blog took a life of its own as Peng kept telling it like it is. He feels his followers appreciate his honestly as opposed to the many sugarcoated reviews out there. As a matter of fact, Ken has been kicked out of a local bistro for his honesty by sending food back which lead to a disagreement with the owner. On the other hand, Ken has been invited by the owner of a taco joint to return for a private dinner.

That owner enjoyed reading the review but he was Cambodian and wanted to show Peng what a real Cambodian dinner experience was like. “How often does someone get to say they went to a taco shop,” adds Peng, “and had Cambodian hot pot?” You can read more about Peng keeping it honest at keneatsgainesville.com.

Ken Eats Gainesville, Gainesville, FL Moving towards central Florida we meet Ken Peng of Ken Eats Gainesville. Peng started his writing in-between jobs to help pass the time and his rants about restaurants

Bunkycooks, Atlanta, GA Can a blog be more than images and words? We asked that to our next writer

Gwen Pratesi, along with husband and food photographer Roger. The duo are proof that the answer, without a doubt, is yes! Bunkycooks started in 2009 as a traditional food blog with no other plans than to share their passion and love of cooking with others. This was all inspired by a trip to Spain to spend time with her husband as he fought cancer. The blog evolved from meeting farmers and chefs into a passion for travel. Pratesi’s writing about her passions and travels with her husband has lead her to be nominated for a James Beard award for “best individual blog.” They are now collaborating on their first cookbook with Chef Anthony Lamas, one of the best Latin Chefs in the nation. They own a small culinary tour business which all started with just a web page.

The couple feels that their works have inspired others to go beyond traditional food blogging. Needless to say, they are living their foodie dream!

The Pratesi’s works can be found at bunkycooks.com.

Amy West Travel, Jacksonville Beach, FL Our final featured writer takes blogging to the extreme right from Jacksonville Beach, FL. Please let me introduce you to Amy West Wilson.

Blogging for Wilson started as an off shoot of her travel and lifestyle show “Like, Love, Want, Need.” She feels to have a strong brand these days you need to have an even stronger online presence. We couldn’t agree more and think Wilson has mastered this. What she didn’t realize was that the blog had a stronger audience than the show itself.

When asked if she loves to cook, Wilson replied, “I joke that I enjoy tasting other’s cooking so much, that I don’t bother. The truth is that with a picky four year old and hectic schedule, it doesn’t happen as much as I’d like. I have however, lately been into juicing. I do a ton of that.

My husband loves to grill and that is usually how we get fed these days.”

Wilson’s favorite recipes can be found on her site as well as critiques of restaurants as a part of a series she is

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working on. Her site, amywesttravel. com covers not only food but fashion, fitness and fabulous destinations.

As you can see, the food blogging world is as different and varied as the foods we all love to eat. From a simple recipe to a new technique, or from a local review to a journey half way around the world, the food bloggers are sharing their culinary stories.

These creatives leave us with food for thought and stories from the kitchen that hopefully leaves us all with an appetite for more.

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