FOCUS April 2015 Can Lake County COEXIST?

FREE

APRIL 2015 FocusLakeCounty.com

CAN LAKE COUNTY

?

INSIDE

2ND STORY

OUR SERIAL STORY CONTINUES

HOW SEPARATE ARE CHURCH & STATE?

SIX HANDS: PART II

PUBLIC INVOCATIONS

MORE • LAKE’S LEGACIES: POOLE IN LAKE • FOCUS ON OBAMACARE • IN FOCUS PICS: HOGS & PIGS

Madonna special layout_Layout 1 2/26/2015 2:19 AM Page 1

As seen in Congratulations From the Staff of Lake ENT & FPS! February 21, 2015

CASTLE CONNOLLY TOP DOCTORS

Dino Madonna, M.D. Dino Madonna, MD

As Seen In *February 21, 2015

Board CertifiedFace Facial Plastic Surgeon/Medical Director 2 Face Aesthetics & Wellness 1501 N. US Highway 441, Suite 1404 The Villages FL 32159 855-MY-1-FACE www.Face2FaceFL.com

Board Certified in: Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Otolaryngology Hospital Affiliations: Leesburg Regional Medical Center Special Expertise: Face, Neck, Eyelid and Brow Lifts; Rhinoplasty, Skin Cancer Surgery, Botox & Fillers, Laser Treatments for Skin and Hair

Actual Patient: Lower Face and Neck Lift

Before

After Scan the code to watch interviews with Dr. Madonna, his staff and some patients.

Specializing In: • Face and Neck Lift • Nose, Brow and Eyelids • Injectables – Botox and Sculptra • Laser – Skin Resurfacing, Pigment & Hair Reduction

352.259.5126 Face2FaceFL.com

THE VILLAGES • LEESBURG • TAVARES

CREDITS FOCUS ON CONTENTS

Like us on Facebook FocusMagazineLakeCounty

April 2015 | Volume 8 Issue 3 | FocusLakeCounty.com

Got a story idea? Looking to advertise in FOCUS? Contact us for more information:

6 FOCUS On the Issues: Obamacare

Red Apples Media 734 N. 3rd St., Suite 119 Leesburg, FL 34748

A local doctor and patient share their opposing views on the Affordable Care Act.

10 Can Lake County

Office 352.801.7106 Email info@RedApplesMedia.com FocusLakeCounty.com

FOCUS tackles the often taboo subject of religious diversity across our community.

Standards of accuracy: The goal of the writers at

13 Public Invocations How Separate are Church & State?

FOCUS Magazine is to provide heartwarming stories that are accurate from the start. Being human however, we sometimes make mistakes. Please forgive us.

Should religious invocations be the norm at public functions? Whether you’re a believer or not, this article highlights what community residents and leaders believe and practice.

So if you notice anything that is incorrect, please do not hesitate to contact the editorial department and inform us.

Call 352.801.7106 or e-mail info@RedApplesMedia.com.

The staff will fix the error in a timely manner.

FOCUS Magazine is published monthly and is available at local Lake County businesses, restaurants and venues.

Advertisers warrant and represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. FOCUS Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All letters and their contents sent to FOCUS Magazine become the sole property of Red Apples Media and may be reproduced therein. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Red Apples Media. Use or duplication of material used in this publication is prohibited without approved written consent from Red Apples Media.

Publisher Marc Robertz-Schwartz Marc@RedApplesMedia.com Managing Editor Anthony Rao Anthony@RedApplesMedia.com

?

4

Publisher: Marc’s Remarks

Publisher Marc Robertz-Schwartz on whether the numerous religions and beliefs throughout Lake County can coexist.

16

Six Hands: Part II

18

Lake’s Legacies: Growing up a Poole in a Lake (County)

The second half of our monthly serial story’s introduction to fictional character, Michael Green, as he learns the theory of the six hands.

FOCUS interviews Thomas Poole about the history of his family in Lake County.

23

Immunizations Program Begins in Area Schools

Florida Department of Health in Lake County recently started its immunization program for students entering 7th grade. Find out where and when.

25

An End to Bullying

Special Olympics and Project UNIFY will host an event April 17 to teach local youth about how to combat bullying.

Account Executive Sylvia Ducote Sylvia@RedApplesMedia.com Junior Account Executive Stephanie Payne Sjpayne@RedApplesMedia.com Editor/Proofreader Stephanie Sherman Ssherman@RedApplesMedia.com

5

Help is here for Lake County’s homeless.

9

Contributors Lori Esarey | Leah Connor | Bob Blanchette | Robert Chandler | Kristin Wendt | Dr. Jack Cassell | Look online at FocusLakeCounty.com for location distribution listings.

FOCUS On Mind: Co-Existing with Others’ Faiths How do you exist peacefully with people of other religious backgrounds?

Writers Jim Gibson | Vance Jochim Photography Bonnie Whicher Photography

FOCUS On Philanthropy:

19

FOCUS On the Arts: Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra

In 2005 the international classical concert pianist/composer Guy Saint-Clair and his wife, portrait/wildlife artist Audrey Sanders moved to Lake County and established Lake County’s first professional symphony orchestra. Read more.

22

FOCUS Foodie: Orange Blossom Hills

26

FOCUS In Focus: College, Networking, Art, Pigs & Hogs

Our anonymous foodie visits Orange Blossom Hills in The Villages.

Some of our favorite pics, highlights from last year’s Leesburg Bikefest to Clermont’s annual Pig on the Pond.

Scan the code to watch April’s FOCUS TV.

30

FOCUS On Events: Calendar & Community

What’s happening this month all over Lake County? Find out in the community calendar section.

34

FOCUS On Home: Organizing Your Stuff for Spring Get rid of your clutter and reorganize your stuff this Spring.

What’s a QR code and why would I use it?

You can download an app, such as Barcode Scanner, on most mobile phones from the App Stores on Android or Apple. Scanning the codes throughout this issue will take you deeper into the story with video content.

April 2015

35

FOCUS On Better Living: Choosing the Right Supplements

Ever wonder whether the newest supplement does what it claims? Lori Esarey has some advice that may help you choose the best supplements.

36

FOCUS On Lake County: What Does Economic Development Mean?

38

FOCUS: Flashback

Robert Chandler IV, Director of Lake County Economic Growth Department, gives an insider’s look at how the County’s infrastructure will soon be experiencing significant improvements and explains just what economic development means.

Learn something new about Lake County. This month, the original Leesburg Post Office.

FocusLakeCounty.com

3

PUBLISHER: MARC’S REMARKS

ing, events that began with religious invocations, the idea of “praying on” a situation before making a decision, and a more frequent use of the phrase, “G-d Bless” as a salutation. During my more than 12 years here, I have come to respect and appreciate most of those situations as loving, spiritual and respectful.

Is Lake County, in general, open-minded when it comes to religion? Can the numerous religions and beliefs which have come to populate our community, coexist? Can we learn from each other and respect each other’s beliefs? Personally, I have no answers to any of those questions but perhaps you might find some insight and illumination in this month’s cover story.

G-d Bless,

Growing up in New Jersey, being Jewish did not draw any particular attention to me or my family. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t until my freshman year of college in upstate New York that I experienced my first real taste of anti-Semitism when I noticed the wipe-off board on my dorm room door had a hand-written message; “Hitler called.

Go home Jew.” For that and other reasons, I transferred to the University of Florida at the end of my freshman year.

Several years later, when I accepted a job in Baltimore, I was working with a rental agent while looking for a place to live. Both Owings Mills and Pikesville had been suggested to me as affordable and a reasonable drive to the office. But when I mentioned that to the agent, his response was, “Oh, you mean Kikesville.” For those unfamiliar, “Kike” to a Jew is right up there with the “N word” for an African American.

Marc Robertz-Schwartz Publisher, FOCUS Lake County

Thanks!

Marc, Thank you for your informative article about us this month! We appreciate the awareness from it and your support for our programs.

Continued success with the mag and all you do!

Shelly Gerig, New Vision for Independence

Upon moving to Lake County back in 2002, I began to experience situations and circumstances completely foreign to me; meetings with clients over meals that began with a prayer before eat4

print • digital • television • radio

Congratulations to Lake County’s Teacher of the Year Congratulations to Justin Crouch of Umatilla High School! He is Lake County’s Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made at a celebration dinner presented by the Educational Foundation of Lake County on Feb. 28.

Crouch began his teaching career four years ago as a social studies teacher at Umatilla High School. He continues in that role and serves as the department chair, mentoring other teachers and facilitating weekly Professional Development meetings.

He works with a wide range of students, from those scoring at lower reading levels to those in his upper level Advanced Placement Macroeconomics course and uses innovative ways to help all of them achieve. He wrote lesson plans that are being used for a unit in Economics and AP Macroeconomics throughout Lake County. It centers on a chapter in Terry Anderson and Donald Leal’s book Free Market Environmentalism and is focused on the effects of the privatization of public parks. He was the 2013-14 Rookie teacher of the Year for Umatilla High and is the 2014-15 Social Studies Teacher of the Year for Umatilla High.

Crouch was one of three finalists for the award. The others were Julie Forgie of Windy Hill Middle School and Melissa Meadows of Treadway Elementary School.

April 2015

On Philanthropy

Description of Organization: Helping homeless learn how to live a better life by making good choices and to recover from their hurts, habits & hang ups.

Organization: New Beginnings Year Established: 2007 What is your not-for-profit status: 501(c)3 Non-profit Address: 792 E. Montrose St. Clermont FL Phone: 352.404.6946 Web Address: NBCFL.org Email:

Info@NBCFL.org

Who do you serve and how: 3000 annually by providing homes, food, clothing, professional counseling, job opportunities, hope and encouragement.

What are you most in need of and why: Community support Inspiring words: Not many people know that 3000+ school age children are homeless in Lake County and that number continues to grow. Why? Unfortunately, there is a huge lack of affordable housing and rental rates for 1 bedroom are over $900/month.

Consequently, families are living in motels or sleeping on the floor or couch of friends.

New Beginnings is committed to help these families in transition in that we provide life skills and job training along with free and reduced housing options.

Lake Tech Congratulates SkillsUSA Winners Twenty-three Lake Technical College students received high marks and were awarded medals during the regional SkillsUSA competitions in Orlando. SkillsUSA is a nationally recognized organization whose mission is to “empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA improves the quality of America’s skilled workforce through a structured program of citizenship, leadership, employability, technical and professional skills training. SkillsUSA enhances the lives and careers of students, instructors and industry representatives as they strive to be champions at work.”

Lake Tech’s SkillsUSA chapter is made up of over 240 students and advisors, many of whom competed at the Region 3 level last week. The students who received medals at the regional competition will move on to the state level competitions April 26-29, 2015 at the SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference in Lakeland.

Congratulations to the following Lake Technical College students: (* indicates a high school student who is dual-enrolled at Lake Technical College) April 2015

Auto Service Tech: Steve Talbury – 1st Kevin Santana – 2nd HVACR: Terry Flood – 2nd *Richard Rogers – 2nd *Brandon Wright – 3rd Nail Care: Shayrita Adams – 1st Deshanna Warren – Model Cosmetology: *Olivia Almeter – 1st Esthetics: Cheyenne Adams – 1st Jeanie Knapp – Model Auto Refinishing: *Matthew Keith – 1st *Wyatt Hardwicke – 2nd Keith McNeely – 2nd Anthony Ball – 3rd Auto Collision Repair: *Luke Carson – 1st

Diesel: *Kyle Kicklighter – 3rd Advertising Design: *Samantha Carpenter – 2nd Jacob Porter – 2nd *Matthew Valentine – 3rd Steven Peterson – 3rd T-Shirt Design: Robin Kester – 2nd Jamiyah Taylor – 3rd *Caroline Mullen – 3rd Job Skills Demo A: Zachary Ritz – 3rd Prepared Speech: Brandi Mullens – 2nd FocusLakeCounty.com

5

Obamacare: Pro & Con

A local doctor and patient share their opposing views on the Affordable Care Act.

In my 20’s I had health coverage as an employee benefit through a great advertising agency I worked for in Massachusetts. In my 30’s I had health insurance through my then-husband’s employee benefits. I never had to worry about health insurance.

As life goes on, we face changes.

One of my life changes was divorce.

I moved to The Villages in April of 2011 where I’d be closer to my mom.

I have been a bartender/server in The Villages since the day I moved here.

Unfortunately, there are little or no benefits in the service industry. In my divorce agreement my husband agreed to keep me covered for three years through his company’s plan. Then I was on my own. Three years flew by and I kept hearing it was open enrollment time for the Affordable Care Act. That was April 2014. I went to the Florida Blue office in The Villages where my options were explained by a wonderful agent. He explained the different plans,

Dr. Jack Cassell has been in private medical practice in the Florida area for over 20 years.

deductibles, monthly cost and that I was eligible for a subsidy tax credit. I signed up for what I thought best fit what I could afford and what the coverages/ deductibles were and was on my way.

Driving home I was thinking, wow, I really can afford this! I felt relieved to have health coverage.

I re-enrolled in December 2014 with the same plan and to my surprise it was $20 less per month. Yay for me! 2015 was going to be a great year! Just after New Year’s I found a lump in my left breast.

On January 23, 2015 I was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (breast cancer).

I’ve had many doctor appointments in the past few weeks, an initial office visit to my primary doctor to check out my newly-found lump, who then sent me for a mammogram, followed-up by an ultra-sound, then a biopsy. I met my new Oncologist, (two words I never imagined together in one sentence

Obamacare

28%

of Americans believe paying healthcare expenses and the tax penalty is cheaper.

Source: Transamerica Center for Health Studies

Just for the record, I’ve never withheld treatment on any patient, ever. A few years back when President Obama signed ObamaCare into law, I had what many in the film industry refer to as a “Howard Beale moment.” Simply put, I was mad as hell and I wasn’t gonna take it anymore! That legislative leviathan somehow made its way through Congress on a purely partisan effort, despite the much-heralded Scott Brown Senate victory in Massachusetts. And let’s not forget about a few of the behind-thescenes deals that were necessary to queueup this progressive crown jewel to the top of the roster: Nelson’s corn-husker payoff, Landrieu’s Louisana purchase, and of course, 6

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter’s 180 to the dark side. It became apparent to me that there was no stopping this Democrat machine from implementing its agenda. On a straight partisan vote, ObamaCare got pushed upon us with the promise of keeping our existing healthcare plans and our doctors.

One hundred thirty new federal departments and fifteen thousand new IRS agents (but no new doctors) are necessary to make it work, as long as a trillion dollars in new taxes and 800 billion dollars gutted from Medicare could be used to fund it. You know what happens when you remove a quarter of Medicare’s budget? Old, sick people are denied testing and treatment, which basically decreases

print • digital • television • radio

regarding me), who did bloodwork, then sent me to meet my surgeon. PET scan, BRACAnalysis test and mammogram on the other breast; then back to my Oncologist to find out results to all of the above. This is all stressful enough, but can you imagine if I didn’t have coverage through the Affordable Care Act? How could I pay for all of this?

Who would help cure me? What would I do? Would I be able to receive the health care needed to save my life?

I’m a hard-working American who deserves to have health coverage. I don’t have employee benefits through my employer which is the case for many Americans. I am very Pro Affordable Care Act. It’s going to save my life!

Literally!

Kristin Wendt Concerned Citizen and Cancer Survivor

their lifespan. So, now that people are getting their ObamaCare policies from Healthcare. gov, we’re seeing what all the hubbub is about; $8,000 - $12,000 deductibles, doctor panels that don’t provide a hospital or physician closer than 30 miles from home, and more regulations than the clean water act. All this to give the 30 million people who didn’t have health insurance a policy. It has become apparent that there’s a big difference between having a policy and having access to healthcare. This piece of legislation has been built on lies, and the only reason it exists is to redistribute wealth and to exert control over the American people. The answer to the healthcare problem will never come from the government, rather, a free market solution is the answer. The Republican Congress has devised a “repeal and replace” plan that will work. Failure to replace ObamaCare will result in a complete and utter destruction of the best medical system on Earth, as well as massive harm to our economy.

April 2015

Stand Out From the Bunch

Multimedia • Video • Marketing

RedApplesMedia.com • 352.801.7106

LUXURY & ELEGANCE

with ocean views from every window.

Picture yourself surrounded by open ocean, romance, adventure, and elegance.

Indulge in fine dining, high teas, and traditional on-island lobster bakes for a perfect Maine island Lighthouse experience.

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month

Each suite pampers guests with separate si ing and sleeping chambers, king sized beds, and luxury private bath.

Photos by Darren Setlow

Resident Inn Keepers, Mark Zinkiewicz and Heather Graham

Dr. Daniel Wassell, DPM Board Eligible, Am. Board of Podiatric Surgery

Be sure to listen April 2 at 1:30pm to my790AM for featured guest, Dr. Daniel Wassell of Tri-County Podiatry.

Surround yourself with sweeping panoramic views of Maine’s Atlantic Coastline and bask in contemporary luxury and design. The custom millwork, beautiful moldings, coffered ceilings and marble bathrooms are the ultimate in cra smanship. The Cuckolds is a unique experience, receiving each guest in contemporary luxury through layers of bespoke cra smanship and design.

All honoring the sense of place and Cuckolds history. Your island adventure begins with an ocean cruise to this rocky island. The sounds of the ocean waves lull you to sleep each night.

Come and stay...

Call in to 352.787.WLBE (9523) Reservations: 855.212.5252 www.InnAtCuckoldsLighthouse.com

Then watch the program all month long on LSTV. Comcast 13 • Brighthouse 498 • Florida Cable 4 8

print • digital • television • radio

InnAtCuckolds_HalfVert_2015_2.indd 1

April1/8/15 2015 11:42 AM

On the Mind A Question of Spirituality

Spirituality — a belief in drawing comfort, guidance, empowerment and inspiration from personal communication with a higher power, which goes beyond a purely materialistic view of the world, through prayer and/or meditation practices. Spirituality practice is generally broken down into two broad categories: non-secular (formal religious practice, e.g., various Christian-based denominations, Judaism, Buddhism, etc.) and secular (spiritual ideology without formal religious affiliation). Whether practiced “secularly” or “non-secularly,” there are mental health benefits you might want to consider if you are not already engaged in some form of spirituality practice. A 2012 University of Missouri study reports, “…spirituality correlates to better mental health regardless of religion…health care providers could also take advantage of this correlation by tailoring treatments to accommodate an

individual’s spiritual inclinations.”

All of us at some point in life will face extreme challenges and/or traumatizing tragedies (e.g., severe personal illness, death of a loved one, loss of job, physical assault or violation, bankruptcy, military combat, etc.), which may necessitate mental health counseling and/or psychotropic medications intervention. However, counseling, medications and even a strong family support system may not always suffice to fully restore the mental well-being to a seriously, emotionally

overwhelmed individual. For the “unspiritual” when all else fails, this may be a good time to investigate the spiritual world for possible answers and additional relief from emotional turmoil or trauma.

In my professional practice I incorporate an eclectic approach, which blends various psychological techniques/theories individualized to my clients’ specific needs. However, I always at some point in the process broach the subject of spirituality with each new client. For clients who disclose they draw upon spirituality for emotional support, I encourage, as well as illustrate, how to integrate formal religious prayer and/or meditation with any psychological procedure or technique I might teach them. Spirituality and sound psychological counseling need not contradict each other and can work handin-hand together to strengthen and fortify mental health for anyone.

Bob Blanchette is a private practice psychologist in Lake County. humcollab.b@comcast.net 352.217.0131

VOTED #1 RADIO STATION IN LAKE COUNTY 2013

VOTED #1 RADIO STATION IN LAKEVOTED COUNTY 2013 #1 RADIO STATION IN LAKE COUNTY 2013 TAYLOR

UNCLE SHOW THE THE UNCLE RUSSIE RUSSIE SHOW WEEKDAYS 4-6PM PM WEEKDAYS 4-6

TAYLOR

MONDAY & TUESDAY

MONDAY & TUESDAY

TO WIN LISTENLISTEN TO WIN Home Of :

Home Of :

The Party Line • Lake County Auction• Local Sports

TAYLOR

MONDAY & TUESDAY

JAMES

THE UNCLE RUSSIE SHOW The 70’S At 7 Weekdays The Party Line • Lake County Auction• Local Sports JAMES LAKE SHOW MON-FR 8-9a & 11a-NOON WEEKDAYS 4-6 PM WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY TheCOUNTY 70’S AtAUCTION 7 Weekdays MON – FRI 6PM-10PM MON – FRI 6PM-10PM

LAKE COUNTY AUCTION SHOW MON-FR 8-9a & 11a-NOON OFFICE-352-787-7900 * STUDIO LINE 352-787-WLBE (9523) MON – FRI 6PM-10PM

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY

MON – FRI 6PM-10PM MON – FRI 6PM-10PM MON – FRI 6PM-10PM

Streaming Live At www.my790am.com OFFICE-352-787-7900 * STUDIO LINE 352-787-WLBE (9523) NOW PLAYING THE GREATEST HITS OF THE 50’S, 60’S & 70’S.

LISTEN TO WINLive At www.my790am.com Streaming Home Of :

MON – FRI 6PM-10PM

MON – FRI 6PM-10PM

NOW PLAYING THE GREATEST HITS OF THE 50’S, 60’S & 70’S. 70’S SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE MIX 7P-MIDNIGHT

The • The MY790AM Auction ShowLocal • LocalSports Sports TheParty PartyLine Line • Lake County Auction•

JAMES

The 70’S At 7 Weekdays

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY

COUNTYAUCTION AUCTIONSHOW SHOW MON-FR TheLAKE MY790AM MON-FRI8-9a 8-9a& &11a-NOON 11a-NOON

Rock & Roll Palace

MON –Saturday FRI 6PM-10PM 2p-7p MON – FRI 6PM-10PM

OFFICE-352-787-7900 * STUDIO LINE 352-787-WLBE (9523) MON – FRI 6PM-10PM

MON – FRI 6PM-10PM

Streaming Live At www.my790am.com

NOW PLAYING THE GREATEST HITS OF THE 50’S, 60’S & 70’S. LIVE! Radio every first & third Thursday at 1:30pm, plus watch us on LSTV & on the web!

April 2015

FocusLakeCounty.com

9

CAN LAKE COUNTY WRITTEN BY JIM GIBSON

Spirit Life America has been called the “Great Melting Pot.” This idea of our nation as a blend of nationalities, cultures and religions suggests that our individual ingredients, when combined, should form a homogenous mixture in which the whole looks nothing like its parts.

of Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, along with two primary groups of Muslims.

How do the numbers break down across the nation?

According to the Pew Research Center, America is approximately 78.4 percent Christian, 1.7 percent Jewish, .6 percent Muslim, .7 percent Buddhist, .4 percent Hindu, 5.8 percent are religious but have no organized affiliation and the remaining approximately 13 percent have no religious affiliation whatsoever.

It’s pretty easy to see that life doesn’t work that way. When it comes to religion and spirituality, America is not a melting pot, it is a multicultural collage whose various parts are as distinctive today as One County Under God they were when the country was founded almost 240 years ago.

So, where do Lake County residents stand compared to the nation when it One Nation Under God comes to religious affiliation and their individual modes of worship? Although With such disparity among us when it the data is incomplete, the Association of comes to spirituality, what do we all have Religion Data Archives (ARDA) provides a in common? Well, it seems most of us rough estimate. Its 2010 report indicates believe in the existence of God. Three that the county is overwhelmingly Chrisout of four Americans believe in a spirtian with the vast majority of residents itual being who ultimately created the unaffiliated with any specific denominaUniverse and mankind. This means that tion. All other religious groups comprise more than 237 million Americans in some only six percent of the county’s 114,251 way reverence God. faithful.

The Christian church is the single largest religious group in America. However, even though most Christians’ basic beliefs are the same, the church has more than 270 different denominations in this country alone and more than 30,000 worldwide. Consider that, along with the fact that there are three major branches 10

In 2010, the county’s Muslim population was estimated to be approximately 4,200, leaving approximately 2,800 residents belonging to various other non-named religious groups. Although the percentages may not match the nation as a whole, each of the country’s five major religious groups are represented in Lake County.

print • digital • television • radio

Such religious diversity can easily lead to misunderstanding. The world’s history and today’s headlines are ample proof of that fact. But does diversity necessarily breed discord? No, and these local religious and non-religious groups and leaders are proof that tolerance and acceptance are as close as your next door neighbor.

The Judaic Experience “Many people equate being Jewish with Judaism, but this is a misconception,” says Joseph Goldovitz, cantorial leader and spiritual teacher at Congregation Sinai in Minneola. “Being Jewish is a matter of ethnicity, [while] Judaism is a cultural and religious expression. Judaism involves our relationship with God, with each other, and with tradition.”

Congregation Sinai was formed in 2003 and now has approximately 140 members. Goldovitz and his wife, Lynn, both spiritual leaders, have been with the synagogue for more than five years. It has become a spiritual home and social center for the thriving Jewish community in South Lake.

What does Goldovitz say are some of the defining characteristics of Judaism?

“Persons practicing Judaism practice it on April 2015

different levels, much as they do in other religions. Some are more observant than others and may adhere more closely to biblical teachings,” he says. “For example, a very observant follower might pray twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. They also might limit themselves only to kosher foods, abstaining from eating certain things that the Torah instructs us not to eat. They would also attend services held at their synagogue on a regular basis. At Congregation Sinai we have a Friday evening service at 7:30p.m. and a brief Saturday morning service that precedes a Torah study. The Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and continues until sundown on Saturday, and it is traditional for most synagogues to have Sabbath services.”

What is it like practicing Judaism in Lake County?

“I am very happy and satisfied being Jewish here. I don’t find that we are isolated in any way from differing faiths,” says Goldovitz. “It is not a part of Jewish ideology that Judaism is the only or the best religious expression, although I personally believe it is the best path for Jewish people… but not the only path a person can choose. Just as we are respectful of others’ beliefs, I find that we receive that same tolerance here. Lake County is a good and comfortable place to be Jewish.”

Teachings of the Buddha Mark Winwood lived in Lake County for 12 years before moving to Seattle.

While here, his Buddhist inclinations led him to create the Chenrezig Project, a twice-weekly meeting place and online presence for area Buddhists.

“There isn’t a great Buddhist presence within the county,” he says. “In fact, after eight years of trying to form a cohesive group, we had a very small number of April 2015

dedicated folks in Lake, and even with community outreach it was hard to grow beyond a certain point.”

Winwood now Skypes his bi-weekly meetings along his group’s “Dharma Bridge” to the remaining local faithful and a group of practitioners in Zephyrhills. He is still dedicated to helping those who wish to follow the Buddhist traditions and says he is hopeful that local interest will grow over time.

“Most people at the knee-jerk level don’t fully understand what Buddhism is,” he says. “Buddhism is a philosophy and by some measures, although not by most Western standards, might be considered a religion. Foremost, it is a way of life and a path of study and practice that leads one to the happiness provided by a more equanimous view of themselves and others in relation to one another.

“Buddhists work to distance themselves from self-cherishing thoughts or self-obsession. We strive to evolve the instinctive reactionary intentions that are based on ‘me’ and turn them into ‘us.’ We break down the self-centered perspectives from which all of our afflictive and unwholesome emotions arise and focus on ‘we’ instead of ‘I’.”

Winwood says that through teachings, meditations and practices, Buddhists learn to live mindfully… aware of life, their reactions to the events and people in their lives, and determining if their intentions and resulting actions are beneficial to others around them.

“As a Buddhist, the day typically begins with these thoughts. ‘What do I expect this day to bring? How will I react to what the day brings and why will I react the way I do?’ I reflect on these thoughts and often sit in quiet meditation for 15 to 20 minutes,” he says. “Then I eat breakfast and go about my daily life… because Buddhism is a cultivated attitude that manifests as considering others’ feelings and my interdependence on those around me all throughout my day. I try to remain mindful of maintaining an attitude of understanding and openness, and I

embrace a philosophy of not harming anyone I meet.”

Winwood says Buddhists eat healthy foods, abstain from alcohol and drugs and attempt to live wholesome, healthy, non-harming lives. Most do not hunt or fish because of the hurt it inflicts on animals and strive to abstain from violence or aggression.

“Buddhists would never blame God or the Devil for whatever happens in their lives, we take full responsibility for how we react to all that happens to us… good or bad. However, we are absolutely accepting of all other religious beliefs, and we never proselytize or seek to make someone a Buddhist. We are not better than anyone else; we, like all others, are just trying to be happy.”

Grace Abounds “I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior, I believe in the virgin birth, the resurrection and that Jesus is a part of the Holy Trinity,” says Dr. Isaac Deas II, pastor, counselor, motivational speaker and interfaith chaplain for Cornerstone Hospice. “That said, I do not force my beliefs on anyone. In fact, I have always attempted to learn of others’ faiths so I would in no way offend them.”

Dr. Deas credits God with saving his life and bringing him to the place of prominence in the community that he enjoys today. While finishing up his doctorate in education at Columbia University in New York in 1990 he began experimenting with drugs and soon found himself addicted to cocaine.

“I had been raised in a Christian home. I knew right from wrong and yet somehow I became a drug addict. I was addicted for two years and I lost everything… my wife, my house… everything. At the time I was only the second black supervisor of juvenile probation in the history of the State of Connecticut. The only way I became free from my addiction was a FocusLakeCounty.com

11

forgiving God and a praying mother. My mother was a true prayer warrior, and she literally prayed the hell out of me,” he says and laughs.

Dr. Deas, a Eustis resident, now practices his faith daily.

“I am the associate pastor at the Tri-County Worship Center in Summerfield, I am a Cornerstone Hospice chaplain and I own Deas Consulting, a Christian counseling service. Every aspect of my life revolves around God, and most of my day is spent speaking on spiritual matters,” he says. “I also surround myself with people of faith who believe as I do, I read my Bible on a regular basis and I watch sermons and Christian speakers on television. We have a saying that ‘iron sharpens iron’ and I believe that. We motivate one another. I also pray… and not only daily… sometimes I find myself praying hour-by-hour.”

Dr. Deas attends a minimum of two church services each week and a men’s fellowship meeting once monthly.

“I am tolerant of whatever another person chooses to believe,” he says. “I do feel that if someone doesn’t believe in the Trinity and Jesus as Lord and savior, then intimate fellowship with God might be difficult. However, I am accepting of the faith they choose.”

Islam in South Lake Five times each day you will find Husman Bacchus, religious director and Imam of the Islamic Center of Clermont, kneeling in prayer before God. This practice is called Salat and it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which also includes: Shahadah, a declaration of the oneness of God and Muhammad as His messenger; Zakat, the donation of 2½% of the believer’s income to the poor; Sawm, sunup to sunset fasting during the month of Ramadan (which this year lasts from June 18 to July 16); and Hajj, an at-least-once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage 12

to Mecca (if financially and physically possible).

“We are commanded in the Quran to pray five times each day,” says Imam Bacchus. “This is done so the Muslim has a constant remembrance of and path of communication to God.” Imam Bacchus was born in Guyana, lived and studied for a time in England, moved to the U.S. in 1979 and has been an Islamic spiritual leader since 2000.

“Today, Islam is being misinterpreted by many people who know very little about it. This is due in part to the actions of a small minority group of Muslims,” he says. “As an Imam and hopefully one day as a missionary, I want to take every opportunity to let our neighbors know what true Islam is like.”

“Islam is tolerant of all religions; after all, the bottom line is that the Quran teaches Muslims that in order to follow their religion, they must treat all human beings lovingly and kindly. The way one treats other human beings is the most important thing in the sight of God. He records our every action and speech.”

Imam Bacchus says that he is pleased with the acceptance of the Islamic community in South Lake and feels welcomed by his neighbors.

“I am a very friendly person and I talk with almost everyone I meet, so I make friends easily,” he says. “I have found that my community treats me with respect and tolerance and that is how I treat them also.”

Life Without God In discussing the spiritual state of America and Lake County, we would be remiss if we simply said that more than 237 million Americans believe in God. This leaves more than 83 million persons unaccounted for.

Of that number, approximately 7.7 million identify themselves as atheists, but pollsters say that number could be far greater.

print • digital • television • radio

What exactly is an atheist? The American Atheists organization defines atheism as “a lack of belief in gods.”

The national group is quick to point out that it is not an unbelief, which would imply that it is a belief system in itself; instead it is an absence of any belief at all.

“I am 65 years old and I have been an atheist since I was about 40,” says Groveland resident Paul Tjaden. “It wasn’t that I just woke up one day and became one — it was a gradual realization. One day I told my wife, Lauren, ‘I don’t think I believe in God.’ She looked at me and said, ‘I don’t think I do either,’ and I have been an atheist ever since.”

Tjaden was raised in a religious home in the heart of America’s Bible Belt and says he felt pressured to accept his mother’s staunch Methodist beliefs.

“Her beliefs didn’t really take at that time, but I did give religion a try during my first marriage,” he says. “I attended a Pentecostal church and even went down to the altar a few times… but absolutely nothing happened. I looked around at the people who spoke in tongues on Sunday but had affairs with each other’s husbands and wives during the week, and I just felt it wasn’t for me. Were these people really representative of God?” Tjaden began to study books on the history of Christianity and its Roman influence while also reading material written by prominent atheist writers such as Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris. He eventually came to the conclusion that religion was created by man and that existence of a spiritual world is “hocus pocus.”

A self-proclaimed “fervent atheist,” Tjaden is proud of his lack of belief, saying he wears T-shirts sporting sayings such as “Atheists Are Nice” and that he regularly posts comments on Facebook espousing his beliefs. He also recently April 2015

gave non-religious invocations at two local government meetings.

“Several years ago I started a group called South Lake Atheists and I belong to American Atheists and a few others. I firmly believe in the separation of church and state and don’t believe in religious indoctrination,” he says. “I believe we are all born atheists, then we are indoctrinated with religious beliefs by our parents and society. I also believe there are a lot of atheists out there who are reluctant to come forward.”

Tjaden says that even though he is fervent in his lack of belief and willing to share it at every opportunity, he does not force his ideas on anyone.

“I am tolerant of others’ beliefs,” he says. “I believe in live and let live, but I am a devout anti-theist and let my feelings be known whenever I have the opportunity. What I do have is no tolerance for intolerance.

If I accept that you have the right to your belief, then I expect you to accept my right to my lack of belief.”

Peace on Earth Can we coexist? Can the pieces of this spiritual collage form a cohesive mosaic that compliments instead of separates? Can we set aside individual differences and paint a future of peace based on the common thread of love that pervades not only the beliefs of the spiritual but also of those who believe only in the goodness of men’s hearts? Our neighbors have spoken, and it is plain to see they have chosen a path of tolerance and acceptance. But the final answer lies within each of us, and it is up to us to choose the path of peace.

Sources: County Membership Report, TheARDA. com/rcms2010/r/c/12/rcms2010_12069_county_name_2010.asp: Religious Landscape Survey, Religions.pewforum.org/reports: In U.S., 42% Believe Creationist View of Human Origins, Gallup.com/ poll/170822/believe-creationist-view-human-origins. aspx: What is Atheism?, Atheists.org/Activism/Resources/What-is-Atheism (Accessed March 3, 2015)

April 2015

Public Invocations

How Separate are Church & State? decided 5 to 4, with the five conservative Justices supporting the final decision to reject the claim by two women who filed the lawsuit claiming the practice of allowing non-secular prayers was un-Constitutional. The remaining four Justices who dissented were liberals. You can read the Court decision here: Tinyurl.com/k5pnw89 But local Orlando atheist activist David Williamson says that atheists really don’t want any invocations at PHOTO BY BONNIE WHICHER public meetings. Williamson Susan Berryman, minister at the Unitarian Universalist represents the Central Florida Congregation of Lake County, leads a public invocation at Freethought Community, a the 2015 Dragon Boat Festival in March. chapter of the Freedom from WRITTEN BY VANCE JOCHIM Religion Foundation. But since the “Greece” decision, he says they Are opening prayers at local will request to give invocations to keep government meetings on the way out the issue visible. He says the practice of due to a Supreme Court decision? non-secular invocations is still unfair by requiring people to stand up and listen to A May 5, 2014 U.S. Supreme Court decision a non-secular prayer (i.e. from a specific said that the U.S. Constitution still allowed belief like Christian) for two main reasons: non-secular prayers (invocations) at local government public meetings, but the minority • He contends some meeting attendees are opinions also encouraged open invitations (usually) there to ask for something of a for invocations by non-traditional groups local government agency like City Council like atheists, Wiccans or Satanists. That has or County Board, and a requirement to resulted in surprised public members when listen and stand for a specific belief’s prayer the atheists show up to give an invocation. intimidates them.

The decision does not affect private groups’ decisions about invocations.

• He suggests more effort is needed to invite lower visibility “faiths” like Wiccans or When told about the decision, Lake County atheists. resident and active Baptist Velma Dawson asks, “Who are the atheists going to invoke Some local governments do spend spiritual help from – the Ghostbusters?” time trying to invite all faiths to lead an Dawson, who has provided voluntary spiritual invocation. The Greece decision synopsis guidance to women as a “Jail Ministry” mentor did say the Town of Greece did do that, at the Lake County Jail for 23 years, believes and allowed groups like the Baha’i faith or invocations are needed in order to invoke “the atheists to lead prayers, thus they were not spiritual realm of God.” discriminating among faiths.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Town of Greece, NY vs Galloway was The Lake County Board posts notices and FocusLakeCounty.com

13

open invitations for all faiths to lead invocations. In the last three months they heard invocations by Baptist Pastors, an atheist Paul Tjaden, and by Jim Briggs from the Baha’i Group of Lake County.

When atheist Tjaden gave his short, inoffensive invocation at the Lake County Board meeting on August 26, 2014 (Youtu.be/LAnu4PAlS-0 – starting at about 1 min, 25 seconds), it resulted in negative public input and a later column by Orlando Sentinel columnist Lauren Ritchie (Tinyurl.com/mqktqk7).

Tjaden was introduced by Lake County Commissioner Jimmy Conner without explaining why an atheist was giving the invocation.

Sources say the open invitations for “alternative faiths” to lead prayers still result in few requests to speak from Wiccans, Muslims, Hindus, atheists and Satanists. But that may change due to actions by the atheist groups. However, some cities and counties apparently are not open to inviting non-standard faiths.

Williamson, the atheist, says his group has requested to lead an invocation at a number of local cities and counties in Florida, but they did not respond.

Brevard County specifically rejected them, while Longwood and Sanford

14

ignored their requests and Apopka responded but declined.

Willamson says he is working with a Florida group of Satanists to instruct them how to request to provide invocations. The result is the public should be aware of growing efforts to get non-traditional faiths to request to provide invocations at public government meetings. Will these actions result in some groups dropping invocations and substituting with “a minute of silence” like the Lake County School Board does?

Leesburg City Commissioner and Pastor John Christian says invocations are helpful at public meetings because, “We don’t have enough wisdom and need an open mindset to ask the Lord to help make decisions. Invocations bring us together to work together…and help us to stay true to biblical principles.”

As for allowing groups like atheists to give invocations, Christian says, “Nothing precludes two prayers, but allowing others to give invocations is not controversial to me…don’t make it a big thing.”

In response, Williamson says using a second prayer as a backup to the first is wrong, and he would research actions to take if that happened.

print • digital • television • radio

What might happen in the future?

The Greece decision continues to allow non-secular invocations by well-known faiths, but encourages open invitations to non-traditional faiths. Local governments that restrict which faiths give invocations might be setting themselves up for demonstrations and lawsuits since the atheists are monitoring their actions. The safe alternative would be to do what the atheists want – drop invocations. Another issue is defining what group is defined as a “faith” for invocation purposes, which may need legal research. Can taxpayers start a “TaxCutters’ Church” and request to give an invocation? The public needs to be told by local officials about the “Greece” decision, so they are not surprised when groups like the Satanists show up. It is possible that some government boards may drop invocations rather than allow such varying viewpoints.

Meanwhile, we are waiting for one group to show up and invoke help for Lake County from the Ghostbusters.

Writer Vance Jochim is a retired corporate internal audit manager from California now living in Tavares. He has published a local watchdog blog FiscalRangers.com since 2006.

April 2015

1585 Santa Barbara Blvd., Suite B, The Villages TriCountyPodiatry.net // 352.259.1919 MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT OF: • Bunions and Hammertoes • Corns • Morton’s Neuromas • Ingrown Nails and Warts • Heel and Arch Pain • Thick, Painful Toenails • Foot Injuries • Diabetic & Geriatric Foot Care • Sports Medicine • Orthotics • Diabetic Shoes • Numbness/Tingling of Feet

FOOTC A R E F OR PE OPL E OF A L L AG E S W I T H AC T I V E LIFEST Y LES.

MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED

SCAN HERE with your smart phone to learn more about Tri-County Podiatry

Haven’t read the first part of 6 Hands? Go to FocusLakeCounty.com to find it as well as the continuing serialized story.

nickname some time ago for Michael and it stuck. Now would not be the time to protest a pet name.

PART II BY MARC ROBERTZ-SCHWARTZ

Green recounted his last fifteen hours since he received the e-fax, left all the messages, flew to LA, went to the house and now stood before Winston pleading for twenty minutes over a cup of coffee to work through whatever concerns drove Winston to dissolve their relationship.

Green was raised Jewish in the suburbs of Long Island. His interest in religion had waned quickly after his Bar Mitzvah and Green hadn’t been to a place of worship of any kind in more than 25 years – a point of great contention with one of his ex-fiancés. He certainly had not seen a temple of this size and architectural design but then again, this was Los Angeles.

“I can’t meet with you now, Mickey. I’m on my way to the cemetery. I’m a pallbearer.”

“C’mon,” protested Green. “They have like As he stood in the rear doorway of the sanctu- ten guys to do that. This is your life’s financial ary, he quickly estimated about one thousand health we’re talking about. Twenty minutes, attendees, all beginning to rise to their feet Richard. Please.” as the service concluded while a photo slide show played silently on overhead screens.

He spotted Winston in the front row with, “Our relationship was based on what he presumed to be, the family of the one thing and one thing only; how deceased. He debated approaching Winston much money I could make for or waiting for Winston to work his way to the exit. He decided to wait. you and your wife. I don’t need a Forty-five excruciating minutes later, Winston finally worked his way up the long aisle.

Green was sure that every minute he waited his blood pressure was climbing and his net worth was dropping, but it was crucial that he put on a great show when Winston realized Green had flown from New York to meet with him.

Winston caught Greens eye. “Mickey? Son. What are you doing here?”

“You know why I’m here, sir.” Green replied.

“No. I mean here. What are you doing here?

It’s a funeral, son.”

The only thing Green hated more than being called “son” was being called Mickey.

For whatever reason, Winston adopted this 16

father, Richard, I had one of those.

I need a client who just lets me do what I do and we’ll both do well.”

Winston smiled gently. Although he himself wasn’t Jewish, he had come to understand many of its traditions over the years. “In fact,” he explained, “I think you’re confusing being a pallbearer with a minyan. There are six of us who have been honored by carrying Ms. Goldberg’s casket. I’m simply not going to miss that opportunity to show my respect to her and her family.”

She’s dead. How would she even know? Green thought to himself. “Richard, there are hundreds of cars here. It will take them an hour to get out of here and get there. We can walk a block and a half to the coffee shop I passed,

print • digital • television • radio

talk for twenty minutes and you will be on your way. I give you my word.”

“You’re persistent, Mickey. I always liked that about you. Let’s walk and talk and I’ll give you ten minutes at the coffee shop. I absolutely can’t be late to the grounds.”

The two walked side by side along the row of bumper-to-bumper exiting cars, Green’s heart pounding and yet all Winston seemed concerned with was making sure everyone knew where they were going and to thank them for attending. The reviews were unanimous – a lovely service for an extraordinary woman whose life was cut too short at the age of 31.

Green wasted no time; “Richard, I don’t understand. What happened? Why a fax? You never even called me to discuss this. A fax, Richard?”

“How much did you see?”

Green looked at Winston. He was answering a question with a question.

“How much of the service did you see, Mickey?”

“Not much. The last six or eight minutes, I guess. My clock is ticking and that’s not what we’re supposed to be talking about.”

In the calm, soothing tone that made Richard Winston such an exceptional negotiator, he corrected Green, “Actually Mickey, you’re on my clock and that’s exactly what I would like to talk about. You’ve heard me speak of Jackie over the past couple of years, haven’t you?”

Green nodded. “Did you see the photo montage?”

“A few minutes of it. Richard –“ Winston politely cut Green off. “You know what occurred to me in watching the hunApril 2015

dreds of photos? There wasn’t a single shot of just Jackie. Every single photo had at least one other person with her. This is a woman who was truly blessed to be loved by the people she came in contact with.”

Winston continued, “She came from nothing, won twenty million dollars in a settlement and spent every day before and after that determined to do the most with her life and her money. Her authenticity and generosity were inspiring… and rare, these days. A true heart of gold, ironically.”

“Richard, I’m truly sorry for your loss but we have to talk about your accounts.”

“No we don’t, Mickey. My accounts are fine.

Maxine and I are just fine, no matter who’s managing our portfolio. It’s just money. We lost millions in the crash and didn’t skip a beat, thanks in large part to you.”

Green gently grabbed Winston’s arm, breaking their stride. “Then what are we talking about?”

“We’re talking about you, son. Who are your six?”

“My six, what?” Green asked with both frustration and confusion.

Winston continued their walk to the café.

“Today I will be one of six people who were selected among hundreds to carry the casket of a beloved young woman. A bittersweet honor, to be sure. You and I have known each other for more than a decade, Mickey. I’ve watched you, I’ve listened to you, I’ve marveled at you and at the same time, worried about you. I sat in Jackie’s hospital room and thought about you, Mickey. It occurred to me that you’ve lost all perspective of life and scorched the earth you’ve walked, all in the name of wealth. Life’s too short, son. Jackie reminded me of that. So I ask you again, who will be your six hands which carry your coffin one day? Will anyone show up at all for the funeral of Michael Jason Green?” Winston stopped walking again.

Green was stunned. “I don’t understand. You pulled the accounts on purpose because of a dying girl who I never met just to prove a point? Are you serious?”

“I am. And I did. But I’m not sure, from your tone, that you understand the point just yet.”

As hard as he tried, Green could not match April 2015

Winston’s calm. The New Yorker in him began to surface as his body became more animated. “So this was out of spite? Because I didn’t make enough donations to charities or volunteer my time at a soup kitchen? Our relationship was based on one thing and one thing only; how much money I could make for you and your wife. I don’t need a father, Richard, I had one of those. I need a client who just lets me do what I do and we’ll both do well.”

Green had walked right into the courtroom trap Winston had laid so carefully. “So ours is a commissionable relationship?”

fully it was a valuable investment for you.”

Green extended his hand to shake Winston’s.

“Richard.” He said with a chilly formality.

Winston smiled again. “Mickey, don’t be so serious. This might be the easiest math you’ve ever had to do. All you need is six hands to affirm that we have touched, moved and inspired as few as six people during our lifetime.

Six people, Mickey. Heck, you’ve been engaged to almost that many people!” Winston laughed, slapped Green on the arm and got in Dave’s car.

“It is.” Green said defiantly.

“Whatever I make, you get a percentage?”

“It’s just that simple,” replied Green.

“What I make, Mickey, is the most of life. I make friends with total strangers. I make a difference in my community. I make the short list to carry Jackie Goldberg’s coffin at her funeral. But I also make mistakes. And to not have sent you this wake-up call would have been a mistake which I didn’t want to make.

So if you get a percentage of what I make, it’s time for you to collect, son.”

Green stood in rare silence, staring at Winston’s soothing smile. He knew there was no malice in what he had just heard but Green was losing this battle. The silence was broken by a light tap of a car horn.

“Richard, everything ok?” asked the driver through his lowered passenger side window.

Winston gave the driver a thumbs up. “Been calling you for days to see if you needed any help with the funeral.”

“I think I must have left the phone in my gym locker when I rushed out to the hospital. Kind of liberating, to tell you the truth.” Wait until he listens to those 18 messages, thought Green. “Can I hop a ride to the cemetery, Dave?” The door locks popped open, an audible affirmation from his ride.

Green’s feet had been glued in the same position for the past few minutes. Was Winston really about to drive off, leaving “Mickey” standing on the street a mere 20 yards from the café?

Winston extended his hand, “Good luck, Mickey. Thank you for coming so far to see me. That meant a lot, son. I’m not sure your reasons were particularly sincere, but hope-

It had been a long day for Michael Green. He sat in the airport bar at LAX, staring at his dead cell phone and counting the moments until the gate agent called for first class boarding. He was pissed. He wanted to be furious with Winston but if he took the money out of the conversation he was having in his head – not an easy task for Green – he didn’t know what to be mad at Winston for.

Throughout his 40 minute drive from the synagogue to LAX he couldn’t help but think about his six. He was at a loss. For the first time he realized the impact his drive had had on those around him. This would be a monumental task – the math was the easy part and he kept coming up with a zero.

He turned over the customer copy of the receipt, clicked the pen the bartender left behind to sign her copy, and Michael started to write names. Where would he start? When would he start? It had to be someone he knew had not moved since his last contact with that person.

Michael looked up at the departing flight screen, looked down at his list, circled a name and rose from the bar.

He would not be flying back to Newark tonight.

Look for the continuing story of Michael Green in next month’s edition of FOCUS. If you are interested in contributing to the story as a writer please contact Anthony@RedApplesMedia.com.

FocusLakeCounty.com

17

Lake’s

LEGACIES

Growing Up a Poole in a Lake (County)

How could three generations of one family in Lake County achieve success in civil rights, found a church, avoid a letter bomb and shootings, have a sculptured bust in the Lake County History Museum, get a scholarship from former President Harry S. Truman’s Foundation, play baseball and be in the Navy?

The Eustis, Florida family of Thomas H. Poole Sr. (T.H. Poole) and wife Rena and their son Thomas H. Poole Jr. (Thomas) and his wife Robin, did just that.

T.H. Poole grew up in Chandler, Oklahoma, but later moved to San Diego where he graduated in the early 1950’s from San Diego High School. He then moved to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee on a football scholarship. There at college he met his wife Rena, who was from Sanford, Florida.

Upon graduation, both were recruited out of college to teach in Lake County, Florida. At that time, schools were segregated, and it was a time of civil unrest over racial integration.

“T.H. went full bore on civil rights issues with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and continued also for 30 years as an educator in Lake County schools,” says Thomas.

During that time, racists were sending out a rash of letter bombs to known activists. One arrived in the mail at the Poole’s house. Rena, not knowing what it was, set the envelope aside “for some unknown reason” and let it set for two weeks. Then the FBI called and told her they found out the Pooles might be on the letter bomb target list. She calmly told them to come over and 18

Thomas Poole, Jr. (Top) Bust of Thomas H. Poole, Sr. (Right)

get it. To this day, she does not know why she set that one envelope aside for those two weeks.

One of T.H.’s successes was in the reinstatement of hiring of black teachers. The Lake County schools did not hire any blacks for a twelve-year period, but started doing so after efforts by T.H. and NAACP activists.

T.H. Poole was active in the NAACP for 26 years, and retired from the Presidency of the Tri-City Branch of NAACP in 1994. A “bronze-cast portrait” bust of him (now in the Lake County History Museum) was unveiled in 2007 at a large awards banquet in T.H.’s honor.

(the former President) Foundation full scholarship, which was only awarded to two students per state. He earned a BS in economics at the University of Virginia and also worked as a diversity coordinator at the University of Illinois. He later returned to Eustis to help care for his parents and run a small bail bonds firm with his father and later one on his own.

Then in 1995, “I got a call to the ministry.”

He later became a full-time pastor for AME churches (African Methodist Episcopal) in the Lake County area while also teaching math and economics at school districts in Osceola and Lake Counties.

T.H., now 88, is currently residing in a medIn late 2014, he was chosen as the Foundical care facility, and his wife Rena is still ing Pastor of the new Grace AME Church living at her home in Eustis. in the Villages and will be moving to the Wildwood area at some point. Thomas’s Violence against blacks was common when wife Robin works in Orlando as a Program Thomas Jr. was in high school. At 18, he Director for a psychiatric facility. was playing in summer league baseball and a fracas started over a “bad” referee call Son Richard (25) is a petty officer in the at a game in Ocoee. Thomas, and the only US Navy, based in Jacksonville. Daughter other black player, were told by their coach Taylor Marie (22) is a graduate of the Fishto go home. They jumped into Thomas’s er School of Accounting at the University old 1969 truck and drove out while being of Florida and is now in the MBA program chased by a “line” of other trucks with at Rollins College in Winter Park. She is passengers shooting at them. They drove starting a summer internship with the “Big as fast as they could to their hometown of 4” accounting firm of E&W. Eustis, and escaped the shooters.

Thomas graduated from high school in 1982, attended the University of Florida for some classes, then moved to Washington DC. He was turned down for a lobbyist position due to lack of a college degree. That trigger point encouraged Thomas to return to college funded by a Harry S. Truman

print • digital • television • radio

It is clear that the Poole generations have contributed to the integrity and growth of Lake County, and they are a great role model for families everywhere.

Writer Vance Jochim is a retired corporate internal audit manager from California now living in Tavares.

He publishes a local watchdog blog FiscalRangers.com

April 2015

On The Arts

History of the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra

In 2005 the international classical concert pianist/composer Guy Saint-Clair and his wife, portrait/wildlife artist Audrey Sanders came to Lake County from their home in Europe. That same year they established Lake County’s first professional symphony orchestra, The Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra.

While awaiting the building to officially house the symphony which Guy Saint-Clair and Audrey envision, the orchestra performs in the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Mount Dora, and the Family Christian Center (FCCLive) in Clermont.

10 Seasons Strong (2014/2015) Made up of more than 60 professional musicians from all over the world, Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra is the resident professional orchestra of Lake County, Florida. The FLSO has established a reputation for excellence. Call 352.589.1500 for more information.

People are always incredulous when they first attend a concert performed by the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, unless, of course, they happen to be some of the lucky ones who have attended concerts from the orchestra’s beginning, in 2005. “Why, this orchestra is every bit as good, or better, as we have heard in major cities in the North!” they say…with a certain expression of surprise!

Well, the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra was begun with its founders coming from Europe and settling in Lake County, first in Groveland, and then in Mount Dora. The internationally-acclaimed pianist/composer and former child prodigy, Guy Saint-Clair April 2015

and his portrait artist/ former European high fashion model, wife, Audrey Sanders came The Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra will be performing to beautiful Lake County and brought with them their “Enchanted” April 23 in Mount Dora and April 24 in Clermont. combined talents to the idea Virtuoso Bulgarian violinist Konstantin Dimiof a professional orchestra in the middle of trov continues to anchor the orchestra since a fairly rural place.

2006 as Concert Master and fabulous violin soloist.

In the process of forming and bringing international talent to the orchestra, maestro With the immense stage presence, guidMichael J. Garasi was recruited as princiing light and infallible musical sense of the pal conductor from 2006 to 2014. Guest founder, Guy Saint-Clair, piano soloist in Conductor in 2013, Eimear Noone became many great concerti, and the artistic/orgaprincipal conductor in 2014 to lead the ornizational skills of the co-founder, Audrey chestra into a new decade.

Sanders, executive director, the orchestra was established as a formidable force on the The lovely Eimear Noone hails from Ireland cultural scene of Central Florida. by way of Los Angeles. Her international career has led her to conduct the Royal Phil- In April of 2010, the orchestra and audience harmonic Orchestra, the National Symphony were saddened by the untimely passing of Orchestra at Wolftrap, the Toronto SymGuy Saint-Clair on the eve of his “Indigo phony, an Irish Concert Television Special Dreaming” concert. The symphony then with James Bond star, Pierce Brosnan, and presented this concert in his honor with his actor/producer, Roma Downey, at the Holly- wife reading poems and art she dedicated to wood Bowl. Also, the Miami Symphony and Guy. The symphony continued in May with many others as well as world tours with the the steadfast resilience of its co-founder and famous video game, Legend of Zelda, and the loving remembrance of the musicians. many more incredible achievements. She is also a gifted composer and has just comApril 23 in Mount Dora and April 24 in Clerpleted work on the new video game, World mont: the program “Enchanted” will begin of Warcraft. Her composition, “Malach, with the fiery “Ruslan and Ludmilla OverAngel Messenger,” won the Hollywood Meture,” Suk’s touching “Scherzo Fantastique,” dia Award for best music for video games in “Sleeping Beauty Waltz,” “The Swan,” and November of 2014, and was premiered live continue with the unique “Firebird Suite,” with the FLSO the same day as the game and climax with “Danse Bacchanale.” was launched, and immediately went to No. This orchestra is certainly a treasure of Lake 6 worldwide on iTunes for all music genres.

County and worthy of the Biblical quote: “If She explained that “some young people may anything be of beauty and worth, think on go to a live symphony performance once a these things.” We are all enriched by the year or in their lifetime; they listen to video presence of the FLSO here with us, and we games all day long – this is one fantastic encourage you to lend your presence to the way to reach out to them.” concerts of this fine orchestra.

FocusLakeCounty.com

19

Friday Night April 24th

Saturday Night April 25th

Sunday Afternoon April 26th

Foodie Orange Blossom Hills

Orange Blossom Hills Country Club in The Villages re-opened in November after extensive renovations. It is located on the historic side of US 27/441 at 1542 Watertower Circle, just under the water tower in the Village of Country Club Hills and was The Villages first country club, opening in 1985.

On a recent cool and cloudy afternoon I decided to lunch here. It was not very busy as it was after 1:30pm and we were immediately greeted by a friendly hostess. We were seated in a large closed dining room of tables and chairs with minimal wall décor which I felt could have used some booths and/or more artwork to give the room some personality. Our server came over immediately to take our drink orders and they were delivered quickly.

We started our lunch with the chicken tortilla soup and New England clam chowder. Both were outstanding! The chowder was creamy with large pieces of clams, potatoes and very thick. The chicken tortilla soup was loaded with chicken and veggies, very flavorful and a little spicy and tangy. They tasted homemade and I would get both again for sure.

Having heard quite a lot about the renovations, my first impression upon entering the restaurant was that it had been updated with a much-needed lighter and brighter interior. They did move the bar so the beautiful pool waterfall is in view and it gives you a real Florida feeling. The bar/ lounge is much more ‘inviting’ with both inside and outside seating. The restaurant has a full bar with interesting concoctions. Happy Hour runs all day to 5pm and averages $2 off each drink. They have a “Loyal Tee” Club and there is occasional entertainment. The only thing missing is some live steel drum music to complete that island feeling.

For our entrées we chose the citrus chicken salad, which was a large portion served on a crisp bed of field greens with goat cheese and tossed with a very light citrus dressing. It was accompanied by a tasty piece of warm rosemary focaccia bread.

We also had the gluten-free cheeseburger with a side of the roasted beets. It was served on a gluten-free bun and cooked to ‘perfection’ (medium-rare) and the roasted beets are “not to be missed!” I dissected their cooking process with every bite… they are simply fresh-roasted in olive oil and garlic. So far we were very impressed with our appetizers and entrees, but for some reason our server was nowhere to be found to replenish our beverages, remove our empty dishes or follow-up about dessert and it was far less busy Real critiques of your favorite Lake County than before. A few restaurants. FOCUS sends an anonymous Foodie to minutes later our review them each month and then gives the local owner a chance to answer the good and not-asserver appeared

Anonymous Foodie

positive experiences we’ve had in the restaurant.

Enjoy and bon appétit.

22

print • digital • television • radio

with the dessert tray. There was a selection of molten chocolate cake, key lime pie, salted caramel cheesecake or apple crumb pie. Upon our server’s suggestion we opted for the apple crumb pie. We waited quite a while for it to be served. It was not what we anticipated…it was very hot, very soggy, covered with a melted brown sugar drizzle and not very tasty. We couldn’t figure out why it was so hot if it’s not served with ice cream and the heat only made the apples and crust turn to mush. We didn’t eat it. Again, we had to wait longer than we wanted for the check and for it to be picked up and then for it to be returned; and the restaurant was not at all crowded.

Orange Blossom Hills Country Club hours are 7:30am to 9pm daily and one hour later on weekends. They serve lunch and dinner daily and do offer a daily brunch.

The menu is truly American and quite affordable. It does a good job of denoting vegetarian and gluten-free items.

The owners operate here and at Evans Prairie, Bonifay and Belle Glade Country Clubs in The Villages. The food for the most part was really good and affordable.

I would definitely return for their soups, salads and burgers and maybe opt to sit in the lounge area where there is a much nicer view, anticipating better service and hopefully a little steel drumming in the background.

Fooderella will give Orange Blossom Hills Country Club another try.

At the time of publication, no response had been provided by Orange Blossom Hills Country Club.

April 2015

Florida Department of Health in Lake County Begins Immunizations Program at Area Schools The Florida Department of Health in Lake County in collaboration with the Lake County School Board will be offering immunizations at the following schools for students who will be entering 7th grade in the 2015/2016 school year: • East Ridge Middle Tuesday, April 7th • Eustis Middle Thursday, April 9th • Cecil E. Gray Middle Thursday, April 16th • Spring Creek Charter Tuesday, May 5th • Lake Academy Tuesday, May 5th • Tavares Middle Tuesday, May 12th • Umatilla Middle Tuesday, May 19th • Windy Hill Middle Thursday May 21st • Lake Academy Eustis Friday, May 22nd • Lake Hills Friday, May 22nd • Imagine Schools of South Lake Friday, May 22nd Parents of 6th graders will receive information and required documentation in the mail from the Florida Department of Health in Lake County. All vaccines are offered at no cost and parents are required to complete, sign and return all documentation to the school in order for their child to be vaccinated.

The Florida Department of Health in Lake County School Health team will provide the following required vaccinations: • • • • •

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) Hepatitis B (Hep B) Polio Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Varicella (Chickenpox)

April 2015

Although not required, an additional vaccination, Meningococcal, is recommended for the prevention of bacterial meningitis. We encourage parents to come to one of our Health Centers at a later time to obtain additional information and get their child vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following receive the Meningococcal Vaccine: • All children 11 – 18 years of age • Unvaccinated children at entry to high school • All college freshman living in a dormitory “The school-based immunization program is very convenient for parents since all they have to do is review the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) and sign and return the permission (consent) forms to their child’s school. Parents won’t have to miss work for the purpose of getting their child vaccinated in order to meet the 7th grade immunization entry requirements. It is just that simple

so beat the summer rush and vaccinate now,” states Genet Exalien, Nurse Program Specialist.

A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Immunizations is available for parents at the CDC’s website by either downloading and printing a free copy or requesting a free booklet, which features children’s drawings to assist in educating the entire family. For more information regarding the CDC’s National Immunization Program visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents or call 800-CDC-INFO or contact the Florida Department of Health in Lake County at 352-771-5500 or visit our website at Lake.FloridaHealth.gov

YourHometownHealth.com FocusLakeCounty.com

23

SPRING IS HERE!

Some of the Lowest Prices in The Villages Area!

$20.00 off

Purchase of $100.00 or more Expires April 30, 2015

352.748.ROCK (7625) 4144 E. CR 462, Wildwood, FL 34785

UPCOMING SHOWS April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 9 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 15 April 16 April 17 April 18 April 19 April 20

315-481-4298

24

Maggie’s Attic 7-10 ALS Landing 7-10 The Grille at Riverview 7-10 1884 Restaurant and Bar w/ Larry Z 7-11 Down the Hatch 1-5 ALS Landing 7-10 Merrill’s Market 7-11 Down the Hatch 1-5 Flagler Tavern 5-8 Ruby Street Grille w/ Jeff Whitfield 7-11 ALS Landing 7-10 Clancy’s Cantina 7-10 1884 Restaurant w/Jeff Whitfield 7-11 ALS Sand Bar 1-5 Mark heads to his Island Gig! See you in the FALL!

New Owners. New Attitude.

New Opportunities.

Contact us now for more information about multimedia advertising with us.

Email us at Sylvia@RedApplesMedia.com

Call 352.801.7106

Follow on FB –Mark Zinkiewicz

print • digital • television • radio

April 2015

An End to Bullying Ask any high school student what they would do on a trip to Florida, and most would plan for days spent at the beach or theme parks.

But on April 17, more than 300 high school students from Boys and Girls Clubs across the country will converge on Clermont to learn about inclusive sports, a new concept that pairs athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports teams.

Members of the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Keystone Club selected Central Florida as the destination for their 2015 national conference. Student members are considered youth leaders in their local communities and were selected to attend based on leadership, character and local service work. Headquartered in Clermont, Special Olympics Florida will host the students at the National Training Center for a full day of activities meant to foster inclusion and acceptance.

But exactly why would 300 high school kids come to Clermont to learn about inclusion and anti-bullying?

“It’s just fun,” says Darrell Taylor who oversees Special Olympics Florida’s Project UNIFY® program. “We use sports as a vehicle to have fun while building friendships, fostering respect and showing that everyone can be valued for their contribution.”

The goal is to teach inclusive behaviors that counter bullying. The need for these types of programs is at an all-time high, considering that national research shows that 71% of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school.

April 2015

Special Olympics Florida offers sports training and competition to people with intellectual disabilities, but their broader vision is to foster unity by inspiring communities to value and accept all people with disabilities. Many times, students who have an intellectual disability are singled out or bullied for being different. Nationwide, more than 67% of students believe that schools respond poorly to bullying, with a high percentage of students believing that adult help is infrequent and ineffective. Special Olympics started Project UNIFY, a program that targets high school and college age students, to confront negative behaviors and help change the way communities think about people with intellectual disabilities.

Lake County has eight schools active in Project UNIFY: Eustis Heights Elementary, Lake Hills School, Leesburg High School, Montverde Academy, Mount Dora Middle School, Tavares High School, Tavares Middle School and Windy Hill Middle School. There are 76 schools across Florida who participate in the

program and more than 4,500 schools nationwide that are active. Through Project UNIFY Lake County schools have hosted respect rallies, unified sports field days, and unified student clubs that mainstream student groups with anti-bullying and inclusionary messaging.

While playing on unified sports teams is the most popular activity, local students have also participated in pledge drives to stop use of the word retard(ed) on campus. Once an accepted medical term to describe people with intellectual disabilities, it’s devolved into derogatory slang and now seen as a form of bullying.

“It’s our hope that their experiences will follow them from the playing field to the classroom and beyond. We want students to become agents of change – to take a stand for what’s no longer acceptable,” says Taylor.

And it’s working. When a former Lake County student who was involved in Project UNIFY recently got married, his best man was his classmate who also happens to have an intellectual disability.

While at the National Training Center, the visiting Boys and Girls Clubs Keystone members and local Special Olympics athletes will occupy five fields at the state-of-the-art fitness facility, playing favorite unified sports like soccer and flag football.

The group will also hear firsthand from Lake County’s Special Olympics athletes and their experiences as students, athletes and why it’s important for everyone to embrace people for their ability instead of excluding them for their disability.

At the end of the day, Clermont will have been a temporary home to 300 students who have explored social issues like inclusion and bullying and return to their hometowns as advocates for a more accepting world.

For more information about the event or Special Olympics Florida Project UNIFY contact Darrell Taylor at darrelltaylor@sofl.org

FocusLakeCounty.com

25

IN FOCUS COLLEGIATE ACADEMY IN SOUTH LAKE

PHOTOS BY ASHTON BRACCIODIETA

Lake-Sumter State College, Lake County Schools, South Lake Hospital, Montverde Academy and UCF have joined forces to bring to life this unique vision of the Health Sciences Collegiate Academy that will be located in the South Lake area.

The official signing event took place on March 3, 2015 at the LSSC South Lake Campus in Clermont.

26

print • digital • television • radio

April 2015

IN FOCUS

GRAND OAKS NETWORKING

The ďŹ rst event in a new networking program hosted by The Grand Oaks Resort. We are hoping to gather individuals from a variety of industries within the Central Florida region to make new connections, discuss current business topics, ideas and innovations.

In the future, we will highlight short talks or demonstrations for our attendees. If you are interested in speaking or presenting please contact one of the organizers: Robyn@thegrandoaks.com or Nikki@thegrandoaks.com

April 2015

FocusLakeCounty.com

27

IN FOCUS

PIG ON THE POND

PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE PAYNE

The 17th annual “Pig On The Pond” was held in March at Clermont’s Waterfront Park with its traditional BBQ, Mac n Cheese competitions, carnival, 5k Run/Walk and many other festivities tracing back to 1998.

This event helps raise money for scholarships and education in South Lake County. With more than 20 local non-for profits helping raise funds and 50+ sponsors, this event has averaged over 27,000 attendees and raised over $700,000 dollars since 2003.

28

print • digital • television • radio

April 2015

IN FOCUS LEESBURG BIKEFEST

The 19th Annual Leesburg Bikefest will be held April 24, 25 and 26 throughout Downtown Leesburg. It’s a biker and music event that draws more than a quarter million people from all over the world and packs it all into 30 square blocks over three days with over 85 concerts, 250 vendors, bike shows, demonstrations, bikini contests and much more! These photos are from last year’s event.

Pictures are courtesy of the Leesburg Partnership.

LEESBURG ART FESTIVAL

PHOTOS BY BEVERLY JOHNSON

The 38th annual Leesburg Art Festival, presented by the Leesburg Center for the Arts, was held March 14 and 15. There were more than 100 artists on Main Street, with live art demonstrations, interactive art experiences, and live entertainment.

April 2015

FocusLakeCounty.com

29

On Events Every Saturday; 8 AM - 1 PM Leesburg Saturday Morning Market LeesburgSaturdayMorningMarket.com April 2; 5:30 - 8:30 PM 19th Annual Spring Fish Fry Fishfry.LeesburgPartnership.com April 11; 6 PM Leesburg Food Truck - N - Flick Night FoodTrucknFlick.LeesburgPartnership.com April 23 - 26; Thurs - Sun 19th Annual Leesburg Bikefest™ LeesburgBikefest.com

Every Sunday (minus Easter); 9 AM - 2 PM Farmer’s Market Historic Downtown Clermont ClermontDowntownPartnership.com April 3; 5:30 - 7:30 PM Family Food Truck Night Historic Downtown Clermont ClermontDowntownPartnership.com

30

April 3; 6 - 9 PM Alive After 5 Montrose St ClermontDowntownPartnership.com

April 4; 6 PM WXW Live Pro Wrestling Leesburg Recreational Complex Adults $15 – Under 10 $5

April 4; 12 - 3 PM Bench Press for Special Olympics Crosstrain Clermont Information: (407) 614-2126

April 9, 10; 9 AM - 4 PM LAA Workshop Series Leesburg Center for the Arts LeesburgCenter4Arts.com

April 17; All Day Project UNIFY National Training Center UnifiedRelay.com

April 10; 7 PM CFA Live Presents Songwriters’ Night Leesburg Center for the Arts LeesburgCenter4Arts.com - $10 Tickets

April 24; 7:30 - 9 PM FLSO, “Enchanted” FCCLive FloridaLakesSymphonyOrchestra.com

April 11; 9 AM - 3 PM Nature Center Open House PEAR Park Nature Center

April 25; 7:30 AM Start Run Around the Lake Half Marathon, 12K & 5K Clermont Waterfront Park SommerSports.com April 25; 6:30 PM Lake Minneola Sunset Triathlon Lake Hiawatha SommerSports.com

April 2; 5 - 7 PM Meet the Artists, Pastel Society of Central FL Leesburg Center for the Arts PastelSocietyofCentralFlorida.com April 3; 8 - 10 AM Bluebird Blitz PEAR Park Wildlife Conservation Area,

print • digital • television • radio

April 13; 7:30 - 12 PM Concert Series, Florida Southern Chamber Singers Morrison United Methodist Church April 17, 18, 19; 7 - 9 PM The Good Doctor at Royal Highlands The Great Hall at Royal Highlands April 25, 8 AM - 2 PM Open House & Native Plant Sale PEAR Park Wildlife Conservation Area

April 3; 6 - 10 PM Rock Around the Clock Downtown Entertainment District April 4; 10 AM - 1 PM Spring Fling Egg Hunt Ferran Park Information: (352) 357-7969

April 2015

April 6, 13, 20, 27; 7 - 9 PM Smooth Country Band Monday Nights WindHorse Theater

April 9, 10, 11, 12; 7:30 - 10 PM Hank Williams: Lost Highway The IceHouse Theatre

April 11; 7:30 - 11 AM Quarterly Bird & Butterfly Survey Lake May Reserve

April 10; 6 - 8 PM 2nd Friday Art Stroll Mount Dora Center for the Arts MountDoraCenterfortheArts.org

April 22; 9 - 11 AM Earth Day Work Day Marsh Park and Boat Ramp April 24 & 25 Relay for Life of Eustis/Tavares Ferran Park RelayForLife.org/EustisTavaresFL April 25; 5 - 9 PM Cruise-In Classic Car Show Historic Downtown Eustis Information: (407) 310-6123

April 4; 9 AM Kayakathon benefit for Camp Boggy Creek Wooton Park Expansion April 8; 10:30 AM - 12 PM Leave Memories Not Conflict Lake County Agricultural Center April 18; 9 AM - 5 PM Planes, Trains & BBQ Wooton Park Something for the entire family. Free Admission.

April 18, 19; 9 AM - 4 PM Landscape and Garden Fair Discovery Gardens

April 11; 4 PM - 7 PM Finding Dora Drawdy Donnelly Park FindingDoraDrawdy.com April 11; 7 PM Sally Anderson’s Dolly Parton Tribute Featuring the Rodeo Rhythm Kings Community Building MountDoraLive.com

April 4 & 5; All Day 62nd Annual Sail Boat Regatta Mount Dora Yacht Club MountDoraYachtClub.com

April 2015

April 22; Noon Top Scholars Luncheon Leesburg Community Building EdFoundationLake.com April 23; 5:30 PM Take Stock in Children Contract Signing LSSC, Leesburg EdFoundationLake.com

April 16; 5:30 - 6:30 PM FLSO Concert Prelude Talk W. T. Bland Library April 18, 8 AM - 5 PM Mount Dora Blueberry Festival Downtown Alexander FestivalsofFlorida.com

April 2; 1:30 - 3 PM Friends of the Paisley Library Meeting Paisley Library, Paisley

April 18; 10 AM - 4 PM Earth Day Mount Dora Donnelly Park MountDoraEnvironment.org

April 5; 11 AM - 5:45 PM Easter Sunday Grand Brunch Buffet Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills Reservations call 352.324.3930

April 23; 7:30 - 9 PM Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, “Enchanted” St. Patrick Catholic Church

April 8; 2:30 - 3 PM Afterschool Activities Paisley County Library, Paisley

April 24; 6 - 9:30 PM Dining in the Dark Lake Receptions NewVisionFL.org/dining April 25 The Michael Jackson Experience Relive the memories of the King of Pop! MountDoraLive.com

Every Sunday; 9 AM - 2 PM Mount Dora Village Market Elizabeth Evans Park MountDoraMarket.com April 4; 9 AM - 5 PM Vintage Garden Show Renninger’s Antique Center

April 16; 7 PM Night of Stars LSSC, Leesburg EdFoundationLake.com

April 16; 1 - 2 PM Scratch the Surface Home School Book Club East Lake County Library, Sorrento April 18; 6 PM “Once Upon A Time” Gala Auction Villages Savannah Center, Villages Information & tickets: (352) 365-3518 April 18; 9 AM - 2 PM Spring Cleaning Tag Sale & Craft Show Paisley County Library, Paisley April 18; 9 AM - 1 PM St Francis-Dead River Blueway Paddling Adventure Ed Stone Park, Deland

April 11; 9 AM - 3 PM Amazing Race for Charity Ferran Park, Eustis EdFoundationLake.com

April 25; 8 AM - 5 PM CM Box Car Racing Wilson Lake Parkway, Groveland

Go to FocusLakeCounty.com and Like the FOCUS Lake County Facebook page to find more events information.

FocusLakeCounty.com

31

On Community

Lake Robotics Teams Qualify for World Competition

Five robotics teams from Lake County Schools have qualified to compete at the World Championship in Louisville, KY, April 14-19.

The teams from Fruitland Park Elementary, Cypress Ridge Elementary and Carver Middle schools were part of the Florida VEX Robotics State Championship on Feb. 21 at the University of South Florida’s Sun Dome in Tampa. The VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) is a STEM program with 300 Florida teams ranging from elementary to college students. VEX has grown to nearly 12,000 teams worldwide representing 36 countries.

Top teams from local events throughout the state qualified to compete in the 2015 state championship in high school, middle school and elementary school divisions.

Lake County Schools brought 14 teams to the state competition.

The top teams in each division will compete at the world competition.

Included are five teams from three Lake County Schools. They are: • Fruitland Park Elementary Wizards (VEX IQ) – Dencov Bryant, Lexie Cowgil, Nichola Desgorges and Sydney Williams (Teacher, Crystal Rizzo) • Cypress Ridge Elementary Betabots (VEX IQ) – Ethan Loden, Mattias Peroni, Koen Phipps and Emma Schoer (Teacher, Ashley Phipps)

• Carver Middle Raider-Gators (VEX IQ) – Joey Jarrett, Matt Jutkofsky, Acadia Schwartz and Marshall Widmann (Teacher, Bart Nash) (Pictured above) - State STEM Research Project Award • Carver Middle Hunters (VRC) – Noah Burry, Harrison Dicus, Caleb LeWare, Will Pyles and Craig Yox, Jr. (Teacher, Bart Nash) - State Tournament Champions • Carver Middle Avalanche (VRC) – Dylan Humphrey and Andrew Junkin (Teacher, Bart Nash) - State Tournament Finalists - State Design Award - State Programming Skills Award The teams had their robots on display before the Lake County School Board meeting on March 9 and were recognized by the board for their accomplishments.

Teams are asking for community support to help with World Championship expenses. If you or your business would like to sponsor them, please contact Lori Humphrey at HumphreyL@Lake.K12.FL.US

- State Design Award - Teacher Ashley Phipps was named a State Volunteer of the Year

32

print • digital • television • radio

Scan the code to see students display their robots in front of the Lake County School Board.

Adjusted Building Impact Fee for Education Going into Effect April 6 Beginning April 6, the new adjusted educational impact fees will be $2,537 for a mobile home, $4,636 for a multi-family dwelling, and $7,719 for a single-family home.

Educational impact fees are imposed by local governments and paid by developers to address the increase in school facility infrastructure demands created by new development. The collection of impact fees is typically done during the issuance of the building permit, although individuals may pre-pay prior to submitting a building permit application.

An individual may pre-pay at the current rate of $845.50 for a mobile home, $1,545.25 for a multi-family dwelling, and $2,573.10 for a single-family home.

Pre-payments will be accepted through 5pm on Friday, April 3. If an individual does not pre-pay by 5 p.m. on April 3, they will be required to pay the adjusted educational impact fee during the issuance of the building permit. Pre-payments are valid for 12 months.

For more information, visit the Economic Growth Department’s Planning and Community Design Division at 315 W. Main St., Suite 511, Tavares, or contact Mary Harris, Program Associate, Development Processing at 352.343.9855 or MHarris@LakeCountyFL.gov

April 2015

Living.

Learning.

Local.

FocusLakeCounty.com

33

Organizing Your Stuff for Spring As we start to see the first signs of spring, it is the perfect time to begin a home remodel! There’s something about seeing the sunshine on a daily basis that makes us want to spruce up in and around our homes. Inspiration is all around us as Spring Home Remodeling Shows and Parade of Homes tours begin with the new season. Walking through these fresh, newly designed and decorated spaces sparks our creativity and spurs us to shake off the winter, and get busy improving.

While I design for others every day, I always learn the most when designing for myself. Most recently, I decided to renovate my bedroom. To start, I cleaned up the piles that had accumulated in the years since my last bedroom redo.

What was once a bench intended for sitting and putting on shoes, had become a shelf for an unpacked suitcase, or a pile of clothes needing to go to the dry cleaners, or folded laundry that hadn’t quite made it back into drawers or closets. On the dresser sat a pile of costume jewelry in need of repair and a stack of mail, mixed with to-do lists. Just

ridding myself of these piles of clutter felt like a remodel in itself!

Spring is typically a very busy time for my business, and things started to get rolling in the midst of my own design project. With clients as my priority, my bedroom sat unfinished for several weeks. I began to realize how much I loved the uncluttered look and the feel of the room. I started to appreciate the minimalist feel of “less is more.”

I am often reminded of a remodeling project I was working on early in my career, in which the homeowner expressed that she would like her “new home” to look like a model home. I knew the difference between her newly remodeled home and the “model home” that she longed for was the absence of clutter; a clean slate, so to speak. Reality is the difference. We have “stuff” and “stuff” must have a place or it becomes piles that clutter our homes. Organization will help keep your space clutter-free. Consider how a space is used and plan for ways to avoid allowing the clutter to accumulate. I realized that my dresser drawers weren’t sufficient for my clothes. Deeper drawers in my new furniture are more spacious and accommodating, which makes putting clothes away easier. Before you begin

choosing colors, and tearing out carpet, clean out the space. Once you start with a clean slate, after all the painting and remodeling is complete, you’ll realize living without clutter is not just aesthetically pleasing, it’s spiritually uplifting.

Leah D. Conner, ASID Interior Designer ID-0004224 LeahDConner.com Leah is a Registered Interior Designer, licensed by the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design. She has earned degrees in both Interior Design and Business Management. Leah’s design career spans 26 years and includes a range of projects in both commercial and residential design.

Serving The Villages & Lake County

352.414.6556 Se Habla Español AireMasters1.com

Where Affordability Meets Professionalism 34

print • digital • television • radio

CALL FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE

Honesty Above All Else Licensed & Insured #CAC1815401

April 2015

On Better Living

Choosing the Right Supplements

To use or not to use supplements is not the question. It has been well established that our standard American diet lacks nutritional density and even if we adhere to cleaner eating, we have gut wall integrity issues that limit absorption of the nutritional value. This argument will be saved for a future article. At present the greater concern is when using supplementation, how do we choose the RIGHT product.

I would like to propose to you that even if you pay $1.00 for a supplement, it could be the most expensive supplement you will ever purchase. According to the Attorney General’s office in a report dated February 3, 2015 AG.NY.gov/ press-release/ag-schneiderman-asksmajor-retailers-halt-sales-certain-herbal-supplements-dna-tests, it could cost you your health, the very thing you were attempting to preserve.

When choosing your product, you should be aware of the company who produces the product and ask these questions: 1. Are the raw materials used in your product tested and how?

As required by FDA GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices labeling standards), each and every raw material must be tested for identity. Identity testing is simply confirming that the raw material is indeed what it says it is on the raw material’s labeling. Many different identity testing options are available, some of which include Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometers (FTIR) or Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Third party indeApril 2015

pendent testing is conducted and some of the most reputable labs in the industry for the identification of botanical ingredients are Alkemist Labs and Advanced Botanical Consulting & Testing.

In addition to finished product Certificates of Analyses (COAs), you should request COAs on raw material identity testing for any raw material in a given finished product lot.

2. How are your nutraceutical companies assuring purity, strength and composition?

Label Claim Verification - Each active ingredient is verified to be no less than 100% of the amount claimed on the label.

Microorganisms - Must meet United States Pharmacopeia (USP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and/or National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) acceptance criteria for dietary supplements.

Heavy Metals - Most products are required to meet USP acceptance criteria for dietary supplements. Where feasible, others must meet California’s Proposition 65 safe harbor levels.

Physical Characteristics - Capsule/ tablet weight average and weight variation, disintegration, organoleptic testing, scoop testing, etc.

Reasonably Anticipated Contaminants In certain finished products, reputable companies will test for contaminants that have a slight possibility of ending up in the product.

Unfortunately, this level of testing is not the norm in the industry. Your decision to strategically use supplementation to assist you to reach your health goals is a good one. However, you must be an informed consumer, and beyond the choices you must make to determine what is best for you in overall nutrition, you must now look way beyond the label and identify how the companies you choose to purchase from are safeguarding you.

When there is a lack of transparency and communication, it should make you think twice about who you are doing business with.

Lori Esarey MS, ARNP-C, CS Masters in Nutritional and Metabolic Medicine Total Nutrition and Therapeutics TotalNutritionandTherapeutics.com FocusLakeCounty.com

35

On Lake County: What Does Economic Development Mean?

It has become a catch phrase for everyone from politicians to the local grocery clerk. Those with an interest in the health and well-being of their communities are quick to cite it as the answer to all that ails their town. “Economic Development.” You hear it all the time, “the key to the future of our community is economic development.” It sounds great, doesn’t it? But, what does it really mean? What are we really talking about when we say “economic development?”

When most people speak about “economic development” they are referring to the attraction of business and industry into a community. This is the glamorous side of economic development, the part

Economic development isn’t just about incentives and recruiting new businesses. It’s about helping a business owner find the resources he or she needs to expand or providing the skills a young professional or laborer needs to locate and excel in a job. that makes the newspaper headlines; identifying a company that is interested in relocating, marketing your community’s strengths and assets to that company and then putting together a package (incentives, land, subsidized rent, tax breaks, workforce assistance, etc.) to entice that company to choose your community.

Unfortunately, in today’s economic development environment, the competition for new companies is incredibly fierce, and it is very difficult to win in the recruitment game. Every town and city in America is competing to grab the attention of only a very small handful of companies. If a community is not willing or unable to dedicate significant financial resources to an incentive program, in more cases than not, an economic development strategy focused heavily on business attraction 36

will not produce the desired results for the local economy.

In essence, the goal of any economic development strategy is to improve the economic well-being and quality of life of a community. While business recruitment is one tool used in achieving this objective, effective economic development takes on many different forms. It involves providing support for existing businesses and developing strategies to capitalize on a community’s competitive advantages. It requires a focus and commitment to improving local factors that make a community a desirable place to live, work and play such as a strong K-12 education system, an innovative workforce development network, parks, trails and recreation opportunities, diverse arts and cultural offerings and other “quality of place” fundamentals.

Utilities and transportation networks, zoning and land use, technology infrastructure, labor costs, all of these factors play a role in economic development.

that allows businesses to thrive.

Clearly, there is no single answer for what economic development is. Each community has its own unique set of challenges and opportunities; and the strategies for accomplishing economic development across those communities can be varied and far-ranging. In next month’s article, I will expand on how Lake County is approaching its economic development efforts.

Robert L. Chandler IV Director Lake County Board of County Commissioners Economic Growth Department

Economic development isn’t just about incentives and recruiting new businesses. It’s about helping a business owner find the resources he or she needs to expand or providing the skills a young professional or laborer needs to locate and excel in a job. It’s about connecting two local companies, so that they can do business with each other rather than with companies abroad.

Economic development is about government supporting the local business community and creating a regulatory environment

print • digital • television • radio

April 2015

Monique McGuire Realtor

Watson Realty’s Top Agent 2013-2014

Monique McGuire was recognized as Watson Realty’s Top Agent in Clermont throughout 2013 & 2014. She successfully listed and sold more properties than any other agent in the office. Monique also received the Pinnacle award for closing over $5 Million of sales in one year and has been a multi-million dollar producer for over ten years consecutively.

She loves her career and helping people find or sell their dream homes! Monique married Bill (who was born and raised in Clermont), they now have a three year old son and two year old daughter!

Monique has extensive knowledge of waterfront and golf properties, as well as standard residential properties in Central Florida.

Call Monique today for a FREE Market Analysis or consultation.

352.348.5191 Direct 352.243.4166

Fax

MMcGuire@WatsonRealtyCorp.com MoniqueSellsFlorida.com

WatsonRealtyCorp.com

1390 Hancock Rd., Clermont, FL 34711

FLASHBACK

LEESBURG – Post Office Circa 1956

Leesburg’s old post office was built in 1934, originally as a sandy-colored building, located at 600 Market Street, in the downtown area. This aging building was built under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Program. In the mid-1960’s the building was turned over to Leesburg and became a library. Fast forward to 1983, when the library was moved and the building was converted to serve as a City Hall annex. Today it is the home to the Leesburg Business Incubator and now rocks a sky-blue color that did raise some debate in 2007, when they also considered returning it to the original sandy color.

38

print • digital • television • radio

April 2015

Where beautiful Skin Happens Gift Certificates are always available

Arctic Laser Peel 25% Off ProFractional 25% Off Skin Tightening 25% Off Radiance Peel 15% Off Combine any or all of these treatments and get addt’l 10% Off Offer Expires 4/30/15

Open 9:30 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday

call us and Add your Email to our online concierge system and receive exclusive discounts and gifts

US Hwy 441/27 Lady Lake, Fl. 32159

352-350-1210 www.alani.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alani-Medical-Spa

Building a new home, or remodeling your current residence? You owe it to yourself to stop by and visit our Ro-Mac “hands-on” interactive

Window & Door Showroom See the craftsmanship, feel the quality, and try it before you buy it.

We sell, install, and service new and replacement

also offer custom glass inserts for new or existing doors

windows. We will come to your house and custom

and entries. We are your headquarters for beautiful,

measure to ensure a proper fit. Our certified Ro-Mac

energy efficient, hand-crafted windows. We also carry

technicians can fix most door or window problems. We

a full line of building materials and specialty hardware.

Are your windows efficient? Take

The Touch Test

Ask about our Home Install Financing Program

Can you tell the temperature outside, simply by touching the inside of the glass or frame of your current window?

Then you probably have old fashioned, poorly insulated, solid-core aluminum windows. These are energy robbers!

Call Ro-Mac Windows today for a quote on new high-performance, Low-E vinyl or aluminum-clad windows from one of these great manufacturers, and keep the outside from coming inside.

LEESBURG 352.787.4545 700 EAST MAIN STREET

OCALA 352.622.7099 1432 SW 15th AVENUE

Contractor’s License Number CBC1252465 • Home Improvement Retail Installment Seller License Number HI9900545, HI9900003, HI9900004, and HI9900005. *If you qualify. Improvement to a single-family residence • For projects from $1,000 to $30,000.