FREE :) June 2016 FocusLake.com
“A Catalyst for Conversation”
OMG!
The Communication Conunadrum
Also Inside :D Dial M for Mobile
The Evolution of the Cell Phone
OMG +++
Foodie:
• Legacies:
Carnivore vs. Herbivore
Stories of the Universe
A Boy That Almost Never Was
The Fennell Effect
4 Steps to a Firmer Financial Foundation
Mount Dora Mountain Bike Trail
• FOCUS On Finances: • Hidden Gems:
Feeling like yourself again is
Amazing.
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June 2016 | Volume 9 • Issue 6 | FocusLake.com
FEATURES
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8 OMG! The Communication Conundrum
Today’s youth are more connected to their mobile devices, yet disconnected from interpersonal communication. Local teens share their insight.
10 Dial M for Mobile
It’s been 30 years since we were first introduced to the novelty of the wireless phone. Three decades later, has the technology taken over our lives?
12 Lake Legacies: The Fennell Effect
The Lady Lake Town Hall street address owes its name to a vocal resident who made sure the town had a home for its government offices.
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18 Jerri Blair: Writer at Law
A thirty year career in law ended with a debilitating disease but a new writing career was born from the ashes.
MONTHLY
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29
4 Marc’s Remarks: The Social Media Mess
Marc weighs in on why he thinks social media is destroying our society and why he is so hypocritical in that opinion.
5 FOCUS On Philanthropy: Camp Challenge 6 FOCUS On the Issues: Two Generations and Gaming Etiquette A father and son face off over two different perspectives on the social aspects of online gaming.
13 FOCUS On Mind: Everything in Modulation 14 FOCUS On the Arts: Seeing Beautiful in the Ordinary
Oil painter Kate Carney shows art is an expression of the body as well as the mind.
16 FOCUS On Events: Calendar 23 FOCUS On Lake County: 4-H More than Just a Competition 24 FOCUS In Photos: Chamber Golf, Scholarship Golf, March for Babies,
OmegaMan & Relay for Life
29 FOCUS On Finances: 4 Steps to a Firmer Financial Foundation 30 FOCUS On Better Living: Filling the Daily Dietary Void 31 FOCUS Foodie: Vitality Bistro, Mount Dora
A carnivore squares off against an herbivore in this month’s feature.
32 Stories of the Universe: A Boy that Almost Never Was 34 FOCUS On Home: Lake’s Big Problem with Tiny Houses 35 Hidden Gems: Mountain Bike Up Mount Dora 36 FOCUS On Education: National Props 38 FOCUS Flashback: Pretty in Pink
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June 2016
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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.
Office 352.801.7106 Email info@RedApplesMedia.com FocusLake.com
Publisher Marc Robertz-Schwartz; Marc@RedApplesMedia.com
Standards of accuracy: The goal of the writers at FOCUS Magazine is to
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provide compelling stories that are accurate from the start. Being human however, we sometimes make mistakes. Please forgive us. 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 publishes 8,000 copies monthly and is available free at local Lake County businesses, offices, restaurants and other venues. Look online at FocusLake.com for location distribution listings. FOCUS Magazine assumes no responsibility for photos and ownership of those provided or submitted by third parties. Any violation of ownership, copyright or intellectual property is solely the responsibility of the submitter.
Designer Christine Cruz; Christine@RedApplesMedia.com Editor/Proofreader Stephanie Sherman; SSherman@RedApplesMedia.com Writers Barbara Breuer; Bruce Brown; Lori Farfaglia; TeResa Gibson; Katie Lewis; Blair Parke; Frank Stanfield Photography Bonnie Whicher Photography; Victoria Gonzalez Contributors Bob Blanchette; Cyndi Jones; Don Magruder; Ray Moore; Griffin Poliquin; Kris Poliquin; Jeff Wittman
FocusLake.com
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Publisher: Marc’s Remarks
Ah, social media. It’s either the greatest thing invented or the death of civilization as we know it. On one hand, I’ve enjoyed reconnecting with people I had long lost touch with over the years. Although, people I had little in common with in high school I generally still have little in common with many years later, with rare exception. On the other hand, I want to tear out my hair during lengthy texting or messaging conversations rather than just picking up the phone and completing the communication within minutes rather than hours.
I question the trend where it feels like we spend more time taking and posting pictures and selfies on our vacations than perhaps being truly engaged with our travels, surroundings and companions. I question the speed in which incorrect information can get “shared” with the tap of an icon. I question the challenges of today’s youth to be able to have intelligent and intelligible face-to-face conversations not only with peers but with adults. For a generation that has been raised on emojis and shorthand spelling, trying to get complete sentences out of a teen has become an excruciating exercise. And, I question our ability to hear the tone of a typed message as it was intended rather than how it was heard by the recipient – just pick up the phone! Yes, I am speaking in some generalizations and I am also guilty of all of these things to varying degrees so yes, call me a hypocrite. For me, one of the greatest examples of the new dangers attributed to technology and social media occurred during the recent fighting at Leesburg High School. This event – albeit disturbing – was given a much larger life than it probably deserved due to the immediacy of video spreading through social media… picked up by traditional media… who rediscovered “Lil Ol’ Lake County” for a few days and nights because there was sexy video to drive tune-in. Yes, with 25 years in affiliate television, I’ve been guilty of this as well. I sat at the initial town hall meeting on the issue of violence in our local schools and couldn’t help but wonder (heck, I even posted this on my Facebook feed while I was sitting there) – who was more to blame for the amount of time, energy, resources, grandstanding and community outcry over
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an isolated incident involving a fraction of a fraction of our high school students; social media, or traditional media? Sure, there are fights in school. There is bidirectional disrespect between teachers and students, students and students, parents and administrators and so on. But there always has been – we just didn’t have the ability to sensationalize it through the immediacy of technology and social media until a short decade ago. In my opinion, social and traditional media turned that fight at LHS into a macro-situation based on a micro-occurrence. There are so many more important stories, needs, and events affecting a much larger portion of our student population that deserve as much, if not more attention, coverage, shares, likes and smiley emojis. I recently mentioned in this column that Lake County Schools had gone from a C-rated district to a B-rated district. Imagine for a moment that all of the media coverage and community outpouring that was devoted to the fighting was instead devoted to a simple agenda: “Working as a community to go from a B-rated school district to an A-rated school district.” SHARE and LIKE if you agree. Marc Robertz-Schwartz Publisher, FOCUS Lake County
Guardian ad Litem and Aging Out of Foster Care
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SJRWMD celebrates new trail in Lake Representatives from local and state governments celebrated the opening of a new segment of a recreational trail in Lake County. The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) partnered with Lake County to build the new 2-mile trail connection joining the Green Mountain Scenic Overlook and Trailhead with the Apopka Loop Trail and providing expanded opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking and bicycling. The extension links Lake County’s trail with the
print • digital • television • radio
district’s 18-mile Apopka Loop Trail and provides access to the western edge of the Lake Apopka North Shore. “It’s only through creative collaboration that we are able to provide effective solutions that support our greater vision and mission,” said SJRWMD Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “I applaud Lake County as well as the efforts of our staff to bring this project to fruition.” “This site is an important eco and sports tourism destination for Lake County, particularly now
that athletes starting their training at the Green Mountain Scenic Overlook can seamlessly connect to the Lake Apopka Loop Trail and run or bike all the way to Magnolia Park via the north shore of beautiful Lake Apopka,” said Lake County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Sean Parks. Situated on the northern shore of Lake Apopka, development of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail began with 6.3 miles of recreation trail that allows visitors to traverse a unique landscape of levees, canals and wetlands.
June 2016
Philanthropy Camp Challenge, Sorrento Year Established: 1961 What is your not-for-profit status: 501(c)3 Address: 31600 Camp Challenge Road, Sorrento, FL 32776 Phone: 352.383.4711 Web Address: EasterSeals.com/Florida Email for information: Camp@FL.EasterSeals.com Contact Name: Maggie Denk Ryon Description of organization: Fully-accessible camping facility offering swimming, hiking, challenge course, farm, target range, covered basketball court, campfires and more. Peace of mind for you, and the summer adventure of a lifetime for your loved one. A week-long, fully accessible overnight or day camp for children and adults with disabilities or special needs, ages 6-106. Exciting activities include zip lining, swimming, archery, dancing, sports, music and drama, and more! Easter Seals Florida‌ providing summer memories for individuals with special needs for over 50 years. Who do you serve and how: Children and adults with disabilities. Overnight summer camp, summer day camp, weekend camps, and family fun days. What are you most in need of and why: Summer volunteers and funding for campers. Inspiring words: Camp Challenge offers people of all abilities the opportunity to experience the excitement of camp while making memories that will last a lifetime.
June 2016
FocusLake.com
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TWO SIDES
Two Generations and Gaming Etiquette
Two Sides features one older gamer’s views on the social aspect of playing video games, as well as the flip side of the issue when a next-generation gamer fires back with more than a button on his controller. Let us know what you think about the issue. Email Info@RedApplesMedia.com
Warduke’s Common Courtesy
I’ve been a video gamer since Pong. I remember when the only games to be played were in arcades, gas stations, or at home if you were lucky enough to have a gaming console. It was 1997 when I got started playing Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs), where I was playing these games live with people from all across the world. So I have witnessed this industry go from a relatively small community to the fourth largest entertainment industry in the world (behind gambling, reading, and TV). To put things in perspective, the total revenue for the gaming industry in the U.S. alone was $23.5 billion last year, which was a 5% increase over 2014 (Morris).
years. The number of hours spent online has increased to the point where in many cases they wake up, get on the game, maybe go to work for a couple of hours, then back on the game until they pass out. What is the result? The younger generation is losing the concept of common courtesy, being polite, and general respect for others. I believe the current generation of gamers abuses the anonymity they have sitting behind the screen. Their language can be abusive, vulgar, and can downright make someone When I first started playing blush. And these games the other gamers it’s becoming were all very polite, helpful, commonplace. and fun to play with. You would There simply is no go on whatever adventures accountability for there were, and talk to your their actions. They companions about the game, can say what they real-life sporting events, the want, to whoever news, whatever - essentially they want, and many go out of an extension of the personal their way to make someone feel social interaction you would find extremely bad, all from their anywhere. It was basically the bedroom 3,000 miles away. first text messaging system. Everyone seemed to have the My fear is that this will spread same basic social skills when into their daily lives, in the real interacting with each other world, and their generation is because it was just a game, a accepting it, changing our world hobby or pastime. Since those forever. For proof, just search days I have seen games become YouTube for “Nerd Rage” and more of a lifestyle, a way of life watch a few videos. for the younger generation. Today’s generation of gamers Warduke are not like we were in the early Father of Gryphon
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print • digital • television • radio
Gryphon’s Thick Skin
I grew up playing video games, both single-player games and Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs). I started with single-player games such as Sly Cooper and Kingdom Hearts and eventually escalated to MMOs such as Toontown, Guild Wars, and even World of Warcraft. Gaming is a large part of my life. It has been around me since I was born, and I have been an active participant since I was extremely young. For example, I achieved my first PvP (Player vs Player) kill in the game Shadowbane when I was only five years old, which goes to show how gaming has been in my life for almost two decades.
When I first started playing I was only allowed to play strictly singleplayer games so the community was out of reach for me at the time, and the adventures I would go on I did alone. As I got older my father would allow me to join him and his guild on multiplayer adventures. In the beginning, I would only talk to my dad in game and no one else so the community then was small. But as I grew older and started playing more multiplayer games, I began to get involved with whatever
community there was in every game I played. It was insane how I was capable of meeting so many people, and able to make friends through an online video game. To this day, I still keep in touch with a few of my old friends that I met almost ten years ago in World of Warcraft. As I got older I was able to participate more within the community using forums, Reddit, or any social media website for the game. Being active in the community I would see toxicity from a lot of players. I would see some harsh statements, vulgar comments, and sometimes even personal attacks. But at the end of the day, I never cared. I could even say that sometimes I enjoyed reading or listening to the hatred from other players. Unfortunately, these people make the video gaming culture look terrible. But it isn’t anything that you wouldn’t see in real life. Due to receiving various kinds of messages of pure rage in game from other players, I was able to grow a thick skin. This has allowed me to nullify any rude statement that comes out of anyone in game, and sometimes in real life. I think that most people today in my generation are just used to people talking that way, and the smart ones just ignore it. Gryphon Son of Warduke
June 2016
Lake County Fire Rescue partners with the American Red Cross to install over 250 smoke alarms Lake County Fire Rescue, in partnership with the American Red Cross and the Mid-Florida Lakes Emergency Response Team, installed 281 smoke alarms in 167 homes in the Leesburg development during May. Fire personnel from Engine 71 and Squad 72 visited residents, educating them on fire safety and installing the free smoke alarms that include tamper-resistant, 10-year lithium batteries. Home fires are the greatest disaster threat to individuals and families across the country, according to the Red Cross, which responded to more than 60,000 home fires across the U.S. last year. Launched in 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign aims to reduce deaths and injuries caused by home fires by 2019, through the installation of lifesaving smoke alarms, and by assisting families with home fire prevention planning. “Having a working smoke alarm gives residents valuable time to get out of a burning home and significantly reduces the chances of dying in a house fire,” said
Lake County Fire Rescue Fire Marshal Capt. Michael Vitta. “Coupled with a family fire escape plan, operational smoke alarms save lives.” In fact, the smoke alarm campaign has helped save 85 lives nationwide. The Red Cross and its partners install a limited number of free smoke alarms for those who cannot afford to purchase them, or for people who are physically unable to install them. Last fall, Lake County Fire Rescue, the Montverde Fire Department and the American Red Cross partnered up to install smoke alarms in Montverde.
alarm installed, however, only 75 percent of all homes have a working smoke alarm. For questions about residential smoke alarms, or for help changing a battery, call Lake County Fire Rescue at 352.343.9458. or visit LakeCountyFL.gov/FireRescue
National statistics show that more than 95 percent of U.S. households have at least one smoke
Lake Makes Waves with National Fishing Show Jack Link’s Major League Fishing, the mostwatched fishing show on television, recently filmed its Shell Rotella Challenge Cup on the Harris Chain of Lakes. The Challenge Cup, which is the 13th Major League Fishing production, is showcasing 30 of the world’s top competitive anglers as they tackle the water bodies of Lake County. The seven episodes filmed locally started airing May 14 and will continue until June 25, receiving nearly 70 hours of airtime on the Outdoor Channel. “This is a region known around the country for great fishing,” said Major League Fishing Commissioner Don Rucks. “And everything about our experience here, from the community support to the quality of fishing, has been first-class. As far as Lake County goes, it’s a mixture. Our anglers are familiar with the Harris Chain, which is nearby, but most have never spent any time on other lakes in the county – and, believe me, there are plenty of great fishing lakes here.” The league’s made-for-television events
June 2016
utilize a format that allows anglers to weigh all the “scorable” bass they catch. Bass are immediately weighed after they are caught, then are released back into the water. Anglers know where they rank in the standings at all times via real-time leader boards in their boats. The competitors are not allowed to practice, or to solicit or receive information before events. “Jack Link’s Major League Fishing show will spread the word nationwide about what we already know - Lake County is the premier destination in Florida for trophy largemouth bass fishing,” said Adam Sumner, Lake County Economic Development & Tourism Division Manager.
For the show’s airtimes on the Outdoor Channel, World Fishing Network and CBS, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/News_ Details_No_Photo.aspx?id=2839. Featuring 1,400 named lakes and seven of the top 11 lakes for number and size of bass fish in Florida, Lake County is the place to catch trophy fish. To plan your next fishing trip, visit LakeBigBass.com
FocusLake.com
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OMG! Written
by
Lori Farfaglia
When those in the now-forty-something age group were in high school, social media didn’t exist. There was no posting selfies and gossip had to be obtained the old-fashioned way - by talking to other humans. You couldn’t Snapchat your friends to find out what was going on Saturday night. You sent letters by mail. You wrote notes in class and passed them when the teacher wasn’t looking. If you needed to make a phone call while you were at the mall, you used a germ-ridden pay phone that you had to pay a quarter to actually dial.
The Communication
Conunadrum
text them. The movie spoofs reality, but as a society, we are moving closer to the reality of a Wall-E type world. Video games now take the place of physical activity and childhood obesity is a rising crisis in America. Exercise is not a priority to young people. To quote one teenager that I interviewed, “I wouldn’t run unless someone was chasing me with an ax.” Really. Physical activity is becoming a thing of the past for a lot of our youth.
Teenagers and younger kids today don’t remember a time when social media didn’t exist. And will likely never know how it feels to write a note, pass it to a The majority of the youth we spoke with said they classmate, felt what they saw on social media was the hope the fabulous part of the lives of their “friends” teacher because they wouldn’t want to post the bad stuff. doesn’t intercept it, and wait for a non-digital response. Today, kids Fast-forward twenty-five short years and simply send a text and voila, Instagram society is headed to the reality of a Disney Pixar film. In the movie Wall-E, in a distant gratification! No matter how far apart kids but not so unrealistic future, mankind are, they get a response in seconds. No abandoned earth because it had become waiting, no reaching across a desk to grab overcrowded with trash. Overweight a note. We have created a “right here, right humans lived on spaceships that resembled now” kind of reality for them. cruise ships, while they hovered around in lounge chairs with headphones on According to the kids, teens and young and watched movies while sipping liquid adults we interviewed, they are dependent nutrients from a straw. Everything was on their phones and social media for automated in the movie. No one needed entertainment, social stimulation, to move from their recliners to get communication… everything. They wake entertainment. In the movie, humans were up to the alarm clock on their phone. overweight because they didn’t exercise They watch movies on Netflix. They call and had no need to interact with other and FaceTime their friends. They fall people. Sound familiar? All you have to asleep listening to music. They Snapchat, do is park outside any high school in Lake Instagram and Facebook. Everything they County or around the country, and wait for do revolves around their phones or tablets; the bell to ring. Students walk out wearing even computers are becoming a technology headphones and staring at their phones. restricted to use by older people. It is just They don’t need to speak to the person a new way of life now. standing next to them, because they can
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print • digital • television • radio
So what are teens and younger kids around Lake County really thinking about social media? FOCUS Magazine tracked down a few and asked about what is going on in their world. Ansley, an 8th grader at Carver Middle School, says she uses her phone for everything. She even uses her phone in class. “I get to look things up that pertain to the lesson we are working on,” Ansley said. Anna Grace, an eleven-year-old 6th grader at First Academy in Leesburg, says she uses her phone before and after school, but not during class. “After school I am on my phone constantly - playing games, watching movies, using social media and texting my friends.” Not surprisingly, most of the young people we spoke to said social media is the number one thing they are doing on their smartphones. They need a constant stream of communication from all their “friends,” from all around the world, at all times. They tweet famous people, they follow celebrities, they Snapchat dancers and Instagram with regular kids from all over the globe. There is a constant stream of communication bombarding the youth of today. We asked several of the young people we spoke to if they ever felt their life was not as fabulous as the people they track on social media and most said “of course.” The majority of the youth we spoke with said they felt what they saw on social media was the fabulous part of the lives of their “friends” because they wouldn’t want to post the bad stuff. Young people seem to have a better grasp on the reality of social media than some adults may have. When Anna Grace is not at school, she says she checks her social media several times an hour. She is constantly holding her phone so if it buzzes or beeps she knows to look at it immediately. Ansley
:)
June 2016
While I was speaking to the girls, I couldn’t help but notice they were all sitting on the floor texting, Facebook-ing, Instagram-ing and Snapchat-ing with one another while they were sitting right next to each other.
says the same thing. She says she actually looks at her phone and social media a couple of times a minute. Ansley usually has her phone in hand or in her pocket, so she too is alerted to posts immediately. When Ansley and Anna Grace were asked if they thought they spend too much time on social media, both said probably, but laughed and said they don’t care. All their friends are connected so they have to be connected too. Both girls say they don’t feel like they are missing out on their lives because they have their heads down looking at their phones. Anna Grace, when asked about the possibility of missing out, immediately said, “No, I’m not missing anything. If someone wrecks their car in the McDonald’s parking lot I might miss that, but if another 9/11 happens, I will hear about it on Facebook or my other social media.” Ansley and Anna Grace are both dancers who dance competitively. They say the only time they put their phones down at dance is when they are actually performing or practicing. Both agree they couldn’t imagine running around outside and playing without their cell phones being with them. Ansley says it wouldn’t be safe to be without her phone. She says she has to be connected with her mom at all times.
June 2016
“What if I need her or need to get in touch with her?” Ansley asks. Anna Grace agrees. “It’s just not safe out there,” she says. Most of the FOCUS Magazine interview took place in a dance studio in Leesburg. While I was speaking to the girls, I couldn’t help but notice they were all sitting on the floor texting, Facebook-ing, Instagram-ing and Snapchat-ing with one another while they were sitting right next to each other. It was a strange dynamic, but seemed completely normal to all the girls in the studio. Kourtney, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Florida, says she is on her phone whenever she has a break. She checks her social media in between classes and work. “I mostly text, but I also check my social media accounts pretty frequently,” says Kourtney. “I prefer to use Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.” All three girls say they prefer texting instead of actually speaking to someone on the phone. “It is just easier to text and get a response than to try to call someone and wait for them to answer and then talk,” said Ansley. All the young people FOCUS interviewed said they really couldn’t see a downside to having a smartphone and multiple social
media accounts. The only thing Ansley could think of is she hates when her phone dies and needs to be charged. Anna Grace says she can’t stand not having Wi-Fi. Not one young person said they didn’t like the idea of being tracked at all times by their parents. None of them seemed stressed or worried about cyber-bullying. None of them mentioned privacy issues. All the girls said
When the same youngsters were asked how they would feel if they couldn’t touch their phone or access their social media accounts for seven days, they used words like mad, sad and lost. they couldn’t make it a single day without their smartphones and some sort of social media interaction. Technology today is changing the way young, as well as older people, communicate, learn, and entertain themselves. Technology in the form of social media isn’t thought to be as much of a social disadvantage by today’s youth as other people seem to think it is. According to the girls FOCUS Magazine spoke with, they said it is just a way of life.
FocusLake.com
9
Dial
m
for mobile
Written by TeResa Gibson One of the greatest lifechanging technological advances in recent history is the “wireless phone.” Just calling it a wireless phone sounds old-fashioned, doesn’t it? The wireless phone. Mobile, wireless, cell, smartphone… the technology has advanced so quickly and the names have changed so easily that it makes it hard for us to fathom the fact that the first wireless phone call took place just 43 years ago. We’ve come a long way, baby The next time you misplace your smartphone, think about Motorola’s DynaTAC 8000x, the first commercially available cell phone. The prototype, created in 1973, weighed in at nearly four and one-half pounds and was about as easy to lose as a bowling ball. By the time the Federal Communications Commission approved it for sale to the public in 1983, it had been trimmed down to a svelte 28 ounces and was over a foot lengthwise (counting the whip antenna). It cost $3,995 (over $9,000 in today’s money), took up to 10 hours to charge and didn’t give a full hour of talk time. So much for casual conversation. Compare that to today’s newest smartphones, the smallest of which weigh just over an ounce (according to the Guinness Book, Japan’s Willcom WX06A is the current record holder); other models are thinner than three stacked quarters and often can fit into a pocket. Not only size has changed. The DynaTAC 8000x (it’s just fun to write these names) was made just to make phone calls… today, smartphones pretty much do it all. In fact, the new ones
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have become so handy that many Lake County residents admit they are dependent on the devices. Lake County: Living by the Phone “I use my phone every hour of every day,” says teenaged Clermont resident Jay Williams. “Sometimes, if I’m just sitting around the house, I might text with
“I consider myself to be phone-dependent,” Florida Department of Transportation Public Information Coordinator Shemir Wiles says and laughs. “I have a lot of friends who are the same way. I depend on my phone for almost everything. I’m on the road a lot for my job, so I use it for a GPS; I also use it as an alarm clock,
90% of Americans have cell phones 64% have smartphones 47% have no landline and their only
form of communication is a cell phone
19% are “smartphone dependent”
meaning their phones are their primary or only source of Internet access Source: Pew Research Center
friends or watch YouTube videos for several hours. I had a computer, but once I got my phone I didn’t need it anymore, so I got rid of it. With my Galaxy S7, I pretty much know where my friends are all the time, I can see how much money I have in the bank if I want to go out, I can watch Netflix or listen to music. I pretty much live by my phone. It wakes me up in the morning and I go to sleep listening to music at night.”
bank, radio, even a remote… when my television remote’s batteries ran out I started using it, and now I use it to control everything that is media related.” Shemir is 29 years old and lives in Leesburg. She is slightly older than Jay, but this helps prove that smartphones aren’t just for entertainment for young people, they are also used by professionals for the necessities of everyday
Jay isn’t alone. All it takes is a quick look around to see that many of your neighbors are spending an inordinate amount of time on their phones.
June 2016
This fantastic technological age we live in is what we make of it — it can be a utopia filled with seemingly endless supplies of easily-accessed information or it can be what author Aldous Huxley called a “negative utopia” where we chance being controlled by those very things we have created to serve us. life — and on the job. Some people have two smartphones. One for business use and the other for personal. But as much as many cling to their phone, using it can have drawbacks.
checking a phone… but not much. In the 30–49 age group, 47 percent check their phone several times each hour while onethird of persons aged 50–64 find themselves glancing at their phone every few minutes.
“Many times I won’t answer my phone, because I know if I talk to someone I can’t necessarily end the conversation when I want to,” she says. “So I text instead. I can choose when to stop talking and I can make sure what I want to say is perfect. I can read it over and edit it until it is exactly what I want to say. I find that this has affected the way I deal with people in face-to-face conversations… I sometimes feel awkward when talking to others and actually find it hard to communicate... I miss the control I have in texting!”
That’s a lot of phone time and it means if you are looking at your phone, you might not be focusing on things that are more important. This is most assuredly true when driving, and… it could mean your life.
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The National Safety Council has staggering statistics: one in four vehicle accidents involve people on cell phones; 11 teenagers die every day due to texting while driving; persons texting are six times more likely to be involved in an accident than drunk drivers; and almost one-third of all drivers admit to “regularly” texting or talking on their phone while than half of driving.
ccording to Gallup, more young people aged 18–29 check their smartphones several times each hour.
Did You See That? According to Gallup, a Washington, D.C.based polling organization, more than half of young people aged 18–29 check their smartphones “several times each hour” with 22 percent of that group checking their phone every few minutes. The older a phone user is, the less time he or she spends
In response to an increasing number of traffic accidents involving cell phones, the State of Florida took action in 2013 when the legislature enacted a limited statute making it illegal to send or read a text message, email or instant message while driving. The limitation to the law is that it is a secondary law, meaning it can only be enforced in conjunction with another traffic violation. For example, you can be charged under the statute if you run a red light or turn without signaling, if you were using your device when you committed the infraction. You cannot be charged simply for texting on your phone while driving. “Texting while driving is a major concern for law enforcement,” says Sergeant Fred Jones, Crisis Intervention Coordinator for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. “It is the same as careless driving in that it takes the driver’s focus off the road, which leads to accidents. We feel that, much like what happened with the mandatory seatbelt use law, it will eventually be a natural evolution for the texting law to become a primary means of stopping a driver.”
June 2016
Authorities feel that mobile phone use resulting in accidents is grossly underreported, but there are ways to
find out if the driver was texting when the accident occurred. “We are seeing an increase in texting while driving nationwide,” says Sergeant Jones.
“And if a person is involved in an accident causing bodily injury or death, then the cell phone records can be subpoenaed to determine if the driver was texting at the time of the accident.” Jones also said that the Sheriff’s Office has a policy that specifically forbids employees to text while operating a Sheriff’s Office vehicle. The Good, The Bad and What’s Best Technology is a tool to help us live more comfortable and enjoyable lives, but if we lose control of the things we have designed to serve us… they can become our masters. It is up to us to exercise personal discipline when it comes to cell phone use. Utilize its best qualities, but don’t neglect the more important things; good face-to-face conversation, time with family and friends, and... safe driving habits.
The Smartphone Replaced Watch
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LakeLegacies
Written by Frank Stanfield What do you get when you have a head-on collision between the sleepy old Florida town of Lady Lake and the sprawling mega retirement community of The Villages? Culture shock, and then some. Town residents in the 1990s felt like they were ants sleeping next to an elephant and they didn’t know when the giant might roll over and squish their guts out. Town officials tried to keep things on an even keel but there was an element of nastiness and craziness in Town Hall meetings. Sometimes the attacks were personal.
One night a man challenged the mayor’s wife to a fight. At another meeting, he showed up wearing a bulletproof vest.
The Fennell Effect “It did enhance the value of the rest of the property,” said John Burton, a longtime resident and friend of Margaret’s son, Joe. Joe, who had been a boat builder in South Florida, died about six months ago at the age of 75. McKee notes that the five acres donated were part of her homestead and the gift came with virtually no strings attached. The recorded deed said only that the property could be used for a Town Hall, police station and governmental complex, including a library, but not a warehouse or motor pool. In other words, it had to be consistent with surrounding retail and office use. “Naming the road after her didn’t even come up,” McKee said. “That was my idea.” Her property was just north of the old railroad
A look at today’s map shows a road just north of the site called Old Vineyard Boulevard. Old Vineyard is near Home Depot in the Villages. Across the street from Fennell Boulevard is a McDonald’s and shopping centers.
It made good copy for readers of newspaper stories, but it didn’t exactly lead to peace and quiet in the little town. The turmoil was especially distressing to Margaret Fennell, a dignified, soft-spoken petite widow; so she decided to do something about it. “She was so vested in the town and such a longtime resident of Lady Lake, she donated land for a new Town Hall,” said Bob McKee, the Lake County tax collector, who was the town manager of Lady Lake at the time. “She thought it would lead to healing. She was the kindest, most generous woman.” Today, Lady Lake Town Hall sits at the corner of Fennell Boulevard and US 27/441. The road also intersects with County Road 25. Skeptics accused her of getting some kind of personal benefit out of the deal.
bridge which served as the dividing line. When the property was finally turned over to the town in 1996 it came with a rich heritage – the original grapevine for the Stover grape, McKee said. Fennell’s husband had been a partner with Lorenzo Stover, the retired University of Florida horticulturist who developed the first disease-
The turmoil was especially distressing to Margaret Fennell, a dignified, soft-spoken petite widow; so she decided to do something about it. 12
resistant bunch grape in the state. Lakeridge Winery in South Lake County still uses the grape in some of its wines, according to Stover’s 1995 obituary in the Orlando Sentinel, and LakeridgeWinery.com.
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In the 1990s, Burton was appointed by the town to be on a committee to look at proposed sites for a Town Hall. One possibility was a spot on Main Street in The Villages. “That wouldn’t have been fair to the residents who lived closer to Fruitland Park,” said Burton. The location of the Fennell property was ideal, “and the price was right – it was free.” Residents of the old Orange Blossom Gardens retirement mobile home park in the 1970s would be shocked to see the area that has now turned into the sprawling, three-county retirement community. So would the cows that used to munch on the grass while an occasional car drove by. There are still some landmarks in Lady Lake from the days of a more a rustic time, including one of the all-time great road names: Bug Tussel Lane, which is off Griffin View Drive near Deer Lake.
June 2016
The Mind
Social Networking: Everything in Modulation
M M
ost of us use email and have also heard of or actually use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. — all avenues for socializing in two-dimensional cyberspace without having to physically interact face-to-face or talk on the phone every time we want to communicate with another person. It’s easy, convenient and saves time, and it can also be a rewarding experience to divert some of our socializing activities to communicating on the Internet. We can at times be spread a little thin and be too busy to phone or meet with friends and associates directly.
among young people, due to substituting too much cyberspace time for real time with people in a face-to-face setting; and I don’t mean seeing their faces on Skype. Spending too much precious time in maintaining superficial connections on the Internet can take away from the time needed to cultivate deeper reallife relationships. A study conducted in 2015 by Emily Drago of Elon University concluded, “Rapid expansion of technology is negatively affecting face-to-face communication. People are becoming more reliant on communicating with friends and family through technology
that building a Facebook profile is one way an individual can identify themselves and make themselves feel important and accepted. A social network satisfies that basic need to belong, as well as providing addicting instant feedback and recognition for someone 24 hours a day.
Spending too much precious time in maintaining superficial connections on the Internet can take away from the time needed to cultivate deeper real-life relationships.
I think my 84-year-old mother, who recently passed away, God rest her soul, is a good example of someone who maximized the However, this behavior comes at the cost positive benefits one can derive from of distancing ourselves from face-to-face, socializing over the Internet, with her real-life conversations. In youngsters, it email and Facebook endeavors. Being the can inhibit them from learning to read gregarious extrovert she was, she amassed facial expressions, body language, empathy many friendships over the years that were and vocal tones. None of these skills scattered throughout the U.S. and she are necessary when chatting on a social stayed in close contact with our relatives media site, but all are very necessary for in Connecticut, Maine and our homeland, successfully negotiating and building a Germany. She was able to stay in regular rewarding life in the three-dimensional real contact with childhood friends she had for world. Over the Internet one is less selfmore than 70 years in Germany. I am sure conscious, less inhibited, less concerned that the engaged reader out about how their words impact there can also list many of the reader at the other their own advantages and side of the screen. Even Only on the Internet can a person be lonely and recount positive personal in older people, extreme popular at the same time. ―Allison Burnett experiences and benefits over-engagement in twofrom socializing and dimensional cyberspace can networking in cyberspace. and are neglecting to engage personally, stunt and even deteriorate existing social uninhibited by phones and devices, even skills; the old axiom, “use it or lose it” can However, in this article let’s talk a little when actually in the presence of others.” be applied here. I rest my case. about moderation and possible reasons to Paul Booth, PhD, a professor at the College consider for “modulating” your use of the of Communication, DePaul University adds, Only on the Internet can a person be lonely Internet for socializing and networking. The “Our interactions on social media tend to and popular at the same time. ―Allison Burnett formal definition of “modulate” includes the be weak ties — that is, we don’t feel as following: “To change or adjust (something) personally connected to the people at the Michelle Robertson contributed to this article. so that it exists in a balanced or proper other end of our communication as we do She has a Bachelor of amount.” Here are some points to consider when we’re face-to-face.” Though we may Science and a Diploma in for creating a healthy balance between be communicating more via the Internet, Psychotherapy from Open social networking and making the time and we may not necessarily be building College in the UK, and is a effort to socialize in a three-dimensional relationships as strongly as in the past licensed therapist. physical space whenever possible. It has before social networking. been argued that interpersonal relationships Bob Blanchette Counselor and social skill development are being Philip Hodson, from the British Association increasingly adversely impacted, particularly for Counseling and Psychotherapy suggests Human Collaborations HumanCollaborations.com
June 2016
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Arts
Seeing Beautiful in the Ordinary
I
Written by Blair Parke
Oil painter Kate Carney shows art is an expression of the body as well as the mind.
T
here was never a time Kate Carney of Eustis can recall not drawing, painting or being involved in art, even in her childhood. It’s been a lifelong passion of Kate’s that has only bloomed over the years, as she has become recognized all over Florida for her oil paintings. Recently, she has begun including human figures in her artwork again (after concentrating on birds); winning show ribbons for two popular pieces that feature humans next to crows. For Kate, it is about painting authentically and believing there is a market of art buyers that want your art. “You do have to keep in mind what people want and who your market is. I notice I have done better work and sold better when I have been more authentic, even taking a few risks. Even doing figures in my art again, I took a huge risk, but it was one that worked,” says Kate with a smile. Body of Expression Kate bases several of her muses for her artwork on what she calls “obsessions or phases” she finds herself in: storms, wildlife, animals, plants. Her current muse is that of birds, primarily black crows, which always arouses questions in viewers regarding her bird of choice. “I include crows in my artwork, which some people think are ugly but I think they are rather beautiful. Birds have always been a fascination of mine for years, because of what they can do and that they can fly,” Kate says. “With my two peacocks painting, a lot of their shapes are not particularly attractive but put together, they are beautiful. A lot of times, I will choose subjects that are beautiful but may not be behaving beautifully at that moment in the painting. I think that life is like that too, but those are the things that speak to me more in subject matter than others.” Although Kate has tried several mediums over the years, she finds oil creates the most longevity in her artwork, due to its intense nature and its effortless blend with her impressionist color palette.
Conversation Skills Image courtesy of Kate Carney
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Deciding to incorporate human figures in her artwork again has produced several wins at Florida art festivals and shows, as well as one, Oblivious Together, being sold. Viewers find themselves intrigued by the human-crow connection in Oblivious Together and Conversation Skills, even
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attempting to pose in the same way as the painting figures, with humorous results. “If you look closely at these paintings, the body language of the crow and human mirror each other and the concept of the paintings is about body language - speaking with your gestures as opposed to words. Painting is what you say without words. Body language, whether it is a sculpture or painting, is a visual language, which both of these paintings are expressing,” she claims. England to the United States Raised in Surrey, England, Kate developed her talent for art with formal training at the Chelsea College of Art, followed by learning art history and humanities at Queen’s College in Cambridge and University College in London. Born in the US, her family moved back to America when she was still in college. After she rejoined her family in Miami she was offered a teaching position at a school that wanted students to be taught art by real artists instead of teachers. She also worked as a graphic artist for her husband’s commercial Oblivious Together Image courtesy of Kate Carney printing company until the company closed in 2009. Presently, Kate is remaining dedicated to her full-time job of painting and appearing in art shows around the Southeast, trying when possible to stay close to home to support her youngest son’s participation in the Eustis High School marching band. She also supports the endeavors of her three other children, who are on their way to establishing careers in teaching, art management and music. As for future plans, Kate hopes to develop her human figure artwork into a series and take part in new art shows in Florida and out of state, in the fall. There is also the option of making appearances in more galleries. One of those is in New York; right now she is still in negotiations on that. What was once a love of drawing as a child has become a way of expression and life for Kate, one she encourages others with the talent and the drive, to attempt. “I feel really blessed to do what I do for a living and it’s what I love. If you want to find a career as a fine artist badly enough, and work hard enough at it, you can do it,” she concludes. Visit Kate’s website at KateCarneyFineArt.com to view her paintings.
June 2016
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Events June 11; 12 PM - 9 PM Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival Clermont Waterfront Park For more info 407.312.3909
Every Saturday and Sunday Round Trip Steam Train Rides Orange Blossom Cannonball Steam Train For more info 352.742.7200
June 14, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30 4:15 PM - 6:15 PM Middle School Summer Rowing Camp Clermont Boathouse For more info 303.656.8816
Every Saturday; 8 AM - 1 PM Leesburg Saturday Morning Market Downtown Leesburg LeesburgSaturdayMorningMarket.com June 11; 5 PM - 10 PM Leesburg Food Truck-n-Flick Night Towne Square FoodTrucknFlick.LeesburgPartnership.com
June 16; 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM SCORE Workshop: The Close - Techniques that Increase Sales South Lake Chamber of Commerce For more info 352.399.0050 June 18; 9 AM - 1:30 PM Book Sale by Friends of the Library Cagan Crossings Community Library For more info CaganFriends@gmail.com
June 2; 7:30 PM Tavares Civil War & WWII Roundtable Tavares Civic Center For more info 352.357.8476
Every Sunday; 9 AM - 2 PM Farmers’ Market Historic Downtown Clermont For more info 352.247.4640 June 3; 5:30 PM - 9 PM Family Food Truck Night Historic Downtown Clermont For more info 352.247.4640 June 3; 6 PM - 9 PM Music on Montrose Downtown Clermont For more info 352.247.4640 June 4; 10 AM - 2 PM National Learn To Row Day Clermont Boathouse For more info 303.656.8816
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Every Friday; 5 PM - 7 PM Friday Fish Fry: Red Friday Awareness AMVETS Post 2006 For more info 352.323.8750 June 1; 12 PM Care Packages for Our Troops AMVETS Post 2006 For more info 352.430.4355 June 1; 9 AM - 5 P Citizen’s Academy Leesburg Police Department Contact Sgt. Kim Stewart 352.728.9859 June 1-15; 9:10 AM - 5:10 PM U Pick at Just Perfect Plants Call before attending 352.504.2481
June 6, 20; 3 PM - 4:30 PM Manga Art Club Tavares Public Library For more info 352.742.6473
June 9, 16, 23, 30; 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Story Time Leesburg Public Library For more info 352.728.9790
June 7, 21; 9 AM Board of County Commissioners Meeting Admin Building, Commission Chambers For more info 352.343.9888
June 18; 6 PM Lake Front Nights Ski Beach, Venetian Gardens For more info 352.728.9885
June 8, 22, 29; 12 PM - 1 PM Lake Toastmasters Meeting Lake County Agricultural Center For more info 407.760.1396
June 19; 1 PM - 7 PM Bake Sale for Charity AMVETS Post 2006 For more info 352.323.8750
June 13, 27; 6 PM Lake County School Board Meeting Admin Building, Commission Chambers For more info 352.253.6500
June 24, 25; 4 PM - 7 PM 13th Annual Juneteenth Rhythm, Blues, BBQ & Car Show Berry Park, 2121 Johns Avenue For more info 352.787.0477
June 20; 2 PM - 3 PM Talako Indian Dancers Tavares Civic Center For more info 352.742.6204
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July 29 & 30; 8 AM - 5 PM Guardian ad Litem Volunteer Training Royal Highlands Meeting Room Must register ahead 352.343.2736
June 2016
Every Sunday; 9 AM - 2 PM The Mount Dora Village Market Elizabeth Evans Park MountDoraMarket.com Every Thursday - Saturday; 2 PM Guided Food & Wine Tasting Tour Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce For more info 352.729.6291 June 1-16; All Day “Lost Footprint” Exhibit Mount Dora Center for the Arts Call for info 352.383.0880
June 10; 11 AM - 5 PM Splash Pad Grand Opening Eustis Aquatic Center For more info 352.483.5491 June 17; 6 PM - 7:45 PM Friday Night Naturalist Trout Lake Nature Center For more info 352.357.7536 Every Fourth Saturday; 5 PM Cruise-In & Classic Car Show Historic Downtown Eustis For more info 407.310.6123
June 4; 9 AM - 11 AM Ellis Acres Reserve Nature Hike Ellis Acres Reserve, Paisley For more info 352.431.8798 June 6; 6 PM - 8 PM The Healing Power of Herbs Marianne Beck Memorial Library Howey-in-the-Hills For more info 352.324.0254
June 2-5, 9-12; Becky’s New Car The IceHouse Theatre IceHouseTheatre.com
June 11; 7:30 AM - 11 AM Quarterly Bird & Butterfly Survey Pasture Reserve, Groveland For more info 352.242.4950
June 4 & 5; 8 AM Mount Dora Paddle Fest Lakeside Inn For more info 407.227.5606
June 12; 9 AM - 11 AM Herp Hike Ferndale Preserve, Ferndale For more info 352.516.7011
June 12; 4 PM Flow Arts Spin Jam Gilbert Park For more info 321.236.0991 June 13, 17, 20, 24, 27; 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Kids Art Summer Camp Mount Dora Center for the Arts Call for info 352.383.0880 June 24; 6 PM Final Friday Wine Walk Downtown Mount Dora For more info 407.603.9215
June 1; 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Story Time Fruitland Park Library For more info 352.360.6561 June 3; 3 PM - 4 PM Wii Play Fruitland Park Library For more info 352.360.6561 June 9; 4 PM - 5 PM Bilingual Chat with Charla Bilingue Fruitland Park Library For more info 352.360.6561
June 16; 4 PM - 5 PM Howey Writing Club Marianne Beck Memorial Library Howey-in-the-Hills For more info 352.324.0254 June 28; 2 PM - 3 PM Color Me Calm Minneola Schoolhouse Library For more info 352.432.3921
June 24; 1 PM - 3 PM Family Movie Fruitland Park Library For more info 352.360.6561 June 30; 1 PM - 3 PM Mario Kart Tournament Fruitland Park Library For more info 352.360.6561
June 10; 6 PM - 8 PM Lake County Schools Alumni Hall of Fame Celebration Mission Inn, Howey-In-The-Hills For more info 352.326.1265
Every Thursday; 8:15 AM - 1:30 PM Lake County Farmers’ & Flea Market Lake County Fairgrounds For more info 352.357.9692 June 1-4; 10 AM - 4 PM Potter vs. Painter Exhibit Lake Eustis Museum of Art For more info 352.483.2900 June 3; 6 PM - 10 PM First Friday Street Party Downtown Eustis For more info 352.357.3434
June 2016
Every Tuesday; 9 AM - 1 PM Lady Lake Farmers’ Market Log Cabin Park For more info 352.552.1266 June 14; 1:30 PM - 6 PM Business to Business Expo Water Oak Country Club For more info 352.753.6029
FOCUS Magazine Lake County Go to FocusLake.com and Like the FOCUS Lake County Facebook page to find more events information.
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Writer at Law: Jerri Blair Written by Anthony Rao When Jerri Blair first graduated from the University of Florida and started practicing law in 1985, she didn’t plan on having a second career. Although she wrote throughout her days as a trial attorney, her work in the field of law consumed her. Now, authoring books is what takes up a lot of her time. Of course, her first love was, and still is the law.
“I felt like I was contributing and doing things that helped the world,” Jerri comments on having her hands in numerous facets of practicing law. “My clients were everything to me, I still have clients call me all the time. I was very passionate about my cases, especially the ones where I could affect a life.”
Jerri says practicing law has taught her so many interesting things because every case brought new subjects to her attention and “I always knew that I wanted to be a lawyer required lots of research. “To be able to try because I wanted to help the world. My life your case you have to be able to understand has been focused on doing good in the world,” what’s going on so you can properly present Jerri reminisces. the facts for what you want to have happen legally,” she continues. I’m such a cowgirl, I was willing to die She learned so much from the extensive with my boots on in the courtroom variety of cases she covered that it’s helped Spirituality is the most important part of Jerri’s translate well into her new career as an author. life. In fact, it’s what drove her during her 30 After Jerri began feeling the effects from year career as a lawyer. She worked many long chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hours advocating for children, parents, foster in 2013, she decided she had tried her final parents, grandparents and other people caught case and was inspired to begin work on editing in the darkest places of the legal system. the six books she had written during her time as an attorney at law. Jerri was involved in children’s and parents’ rights, as well as helping to tackle problems “I’m such a cowgirl, I was willing to die like racism within the community. And her with my boots on in the courtroom,” Jerri practice wasn’t only contained to Lake County. comments. “I’m a very empathetic person and In fact, she has been involved in quite a few I realized I wasn’t going to have the strength high profile cases. Like the emancipation case to stand up and do the things that I had done of Gregory Kingsley in 1992, one of the first for all those years.” trials to be televised. Jerri was contracted by the State of Florida to help represent the The passion Jerri has for the law has bled over Department of Health and Rehabilitative into the books she has penned and is currently Services, now the Department of Children editing for publication now. Jerri’s first book and Families. She also ran the gamut of death was published in 2014, a work of fiction called penalty and commercial cases. Plus, she served Justice for the Black Knight, and her second was a nonfiction book called College Football as the city attorney of Wildwood for 22 years. Etiquette. This book was in honor of her father and her alma mater; her dad Bob was a WWII During her career she saw lots of issues within veteran who played football at UF and founded the legal system, especially problems with the Central Florida Officials Association in racism that tied up many people in lengthy 1947. Her father too was a trailblazing courtroom battles.
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character, standing up against racism during the 1964 civil rights movement by integrating black officials into the organization. Now those days are behind Jerri as she sits calmly working on her novels. Her most recent of which was inspired by another motivating force in her life, the late Jerry T. Lockett, former circuit judge in Lake County and Jerri’s best friend. He is now the inspiration for a new series, The Lincoln County Law Trilogy, of which the first book, Black and White, was published in March. It’s a tale following the story of J.T. Lockman who finds himself in the middle of a trial involving the Ku Klux Klan and racism in the rural South during the 1980s. It’s a book Jerri wrote not only to commemorate her friend but also to honor the men and women who sacrificed so much to achieve freedom for others. “Eventually, I believe the color of your skin will be like the color of people’s eyes or hair. But if we don’t recognize the changes that have been made, then we are belittling the efforts of the people who were killed in the attempt to bring freedom to this country,” warns Jerri. “There are many people who died during the civil rights movement.” Of course, that’s in the real world, but in Jerri’s new novel you’ll have to read the story to find out which characters have changes of heart and which ones don’t.
June 2016
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Saturday, June 4 & Sunday, June 5 Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19 352.742.3398 •• Central Central Florida’s Florida’s Most Most Award-Winning Award-Winning Custom Custom Home Home Builder Builder •• KevcoBuilders.com KevcoBuilders.com 352.742.3398
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• STABILITY: More than 35 years serving Lake County & surrounding area • HONORS: 2015 Dream Home Builder along with numerous & unprecedented Parade of Homes awards • FLEXIBLE: Models, designs, floor plans & options to suit most any budget • CUSTOMIZE: Modify our most popular floor plans or bring us your custom desires • CONVENIENCE: Beautiful Design Centers conveniently located in Eustis • COMMITMENT: To quality, customer service, on time, on budget, making your dream home a reality
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• 5 1/4” Baseboard Trim in Public Areas, 3 1/4” in Bedrooms • 5 1/4” Crown Molding in all Public Areas • Ceramic Tile in Foyer, Kitchen, Baths & Laundry • Elegant Designer Lighting • Masonite® 2-Panel Colonist Interior Doors & Bi-Fold Doors • Rounded Corner Bead in Main Living Areas • Ceiling Fan / Light Outlets Pre-Wired in All Bedrooms, Family Room & Covered Lanai • Stucco Finished & Painted Masonry Walls Inside of Garage • Solid Surface Granite Countertops & Upgraded Moen® Faucets
“We wanted the features that we would really be happy with, that we had dreamed about, and Kevco made that happen.” -Beth & Daniel Heine
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“WE ARE ThE OnLy hOME BUILDER In ThE AREA ThAT OFFERS FREE In-hOUSE DIGITAL DESIGn SERvICE. This helps us to value
engineer along the way and keep within budget while you customize the home of your dreams.” - Joe Ziler, President
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• digital • television • radio June 2016 Centralprint Florida’s Most Award-Winning Custom Home Builder
22
Lake 4-H Shoots for Nationals Written by Bruce Brown
Short and the clubs are very proud of the students they have trained as they have qualified for the national tournament in 12 out of 16 years, sending 28 students to the national finals. This year they are
A
s the school year comes to a close, so begin the many summer activities for students all over Lake County. Although a variety of sports are going on all year long, another organization that keeps it going for the kids is the 4-H club. When we think of 4-H clubs, we usually think of kids involved in activities that include horses, other farm animals, and agriculture. But today’s 4-H is much more than that. It also includes programs to help kids learn and grow with topics such as money management, food nutrition, computers, and gardening. Another program they have that you may not know of is learning about firearms. “There are two clubs in the area, rifle and shotgun, because they have different disciplines in their training,” according to coach and club leader, Martin Short. These programs stress safety above all else, and teach kids the responsibility and discipline required to properly use firearms.
Parents can also share in the safety of the club and kids by adding extra sets of eyes to watch over the activities. One part of the program students get involved in with 4-H is giving demonstrations, and when they give these at schools, wooden guns are used. The kids themselves teach safety and discuss how to stand and other proper methods of using firearms
4-H member Anna Gazdecki pictured during a recent competition. Image courtesy of Lake County
again sending children to the national competition, after taking top honors at the
Martin was a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader for 15 years and was a merit badge counselor for Scout merit badges for shooting. When he moved to Lake County, one of the gun clubs that hosts the 4-H clubs was only a few miles from his house. One day he went for a visit and noticed several kids shooting. A member of the gun
Three Lake County 4-H club members will be competing on a national level this year in Grand Island, Nebraska
“It’s not just these two clubs, the 4-H also has programs in archery, muzzleloaders, small bore and air rifle. Some states allow air pistols, however Florida is not one of them,” Martin continues. They have anywhere from 12 to 24 students in each club and are supported by various organizations and clubs around Lake County, including the Eustis Gun Club and The Villages Chapter of Friends of the NRA, to name two.
state level for competitive archery, air rifle, sporting clays and trap shooting. The state win is a requirement for being invited to the nationals. Three Lake County 4-H club members will be competing on a national level this year. The National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Nebraska is being held June 26 through July 1. Kids from 35 to 40 states will compete in air rifle, air pistol, archery, muzzleloader and shotgun, with different events taking place in each category. The students from our area will compete in air rifle and shotgun. A very important part of the programs, clubs and training is
June 2016
that the parents must be involved. They too learn much of what the kids learn so that they can discuss it.
club came over and started talking to him and asked if he wanted to help with 4-H. And for Short, that was just the beginning. As an NRA certified instructor, Martin takes very seriously the training he provides, making sure the kids learn the importance, discipline and safety of what they are doing. Two of the kids who have graduated from the program have even earned college scholarships. Some of his graduates have come back to thank him for what he taught them. The point of the 4-H program is to teach and promote life skills - including decision making, teamwork, self-discipline, problem solving, ethical behavior, and a lifelong participation in recreational activities which leads to better physical, mental and social health.
FocusLake.com
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photos
12th Annual Miss Leesburg Scholarship Golf Tournament The 12th Annual Miss Leesburg Scholarship Scramble Golf Tournament was a great success, with 100 golfers and 111 hole-sponsor signs. There were great raffle/ auction/door prizes donated the support of the community was overwhelming! A lot of hard work but worth it for the scholarships that the program is now able to award to local young ladies to further their education.
19th Annual Leesburg Chamber Golf Classic The Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce held its 19th Annual Golf Classic at the Continental Country Club in Wildwood. The event helps support the Chamber’s many local endeavors and is held each year to enable chamber members to participate in relationship-building in a relaxed atmosphere. Over 60 different businesses were represented among the sponsors, golfers and volunteers. Images courtesy of Leesburg Chamber of Commerce
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June 2016
photos
OmegaMan at Beverly Shores OmegaMan is a unique school assembly presentation. The point is to deliver an anti-bullying and character development
message through superhero characters, “OmegaMan & Friends.” The event was held at Beverly Shores Elementary School in Leesburg. The superhero identity captures students’ attention and helps them retain the message for the long-term. The school is planning another event this fall. Images courtesy of Bonnie Whicher Photography
June 2016
FocusLake.com
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PHOTOS
March for Babies
The March of Dimes, March for Babies event, held on the campus of the South Lake Hospital, raised over $177,369 and hasn’t stopped yet, donations are still pouring in. Even though The March only lasts a day, its purpose of providing a fighting chance for every baby continues to be an important reason for fundraising all year long. You can find out more at MarchofDimes.org. Images courtesy of Brenton Hodges
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print • digital • television • radio
June 2016
PHOTOS Relay for Life
Cornerstone Hospice and Osprey Lodge hosted annual ceremonies for The Relay for Life in beautiful Ferran Park in Eustis. By night’s end the Golden Triangle communities raised a total of $51,344 with C’s for Cancer in 1st place with $7,315 and First National Bank of Mount Dora in 2nd place with $5,726 raised. Survivors and spectators celebrated life, caregivers and hope. Images courtesy of Victoria Gonzalez
June 2016
FocusLake.com
27
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Finances
Four Steps to a Firmer Financial Foundation
e’ve all heard the recommendation to have at least six months worth of living expenses in savings. And that’s a very important rule of thumb. But maybe your circumstances make that goal unrealistic at the moment. Just because that amount is out of reach right now doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have something in an emergency savings account. So what should you do to determine a more manageable emergency fund for the time being, and how do you get there?
The first step in determining your financial readiness for an emergency is to define what an emergency is to you. For example, if you own your home an emergency might be your air conditioner or water heater going out; if you rent, neither of those would likely cause you an expense. If you have a new car that is still under warranty, a car repair might not be cause for alarm. But if you have an older car, an unforeseen car repair may require a significant amount of cash out-of-pocket. If you have a deductible on your health insurance, what amount of cash would you need if you had to visit the doctor a few times or needed to be hospitalized? And if you have children, what situations might you have to deal with at a moment’s notice?
And what if you are facing more than one emergency at a time…is your emergency cash ready for that scenario? Clearly, a short-term financial emergency will be defined differently by everyone depending on the circumstances. The important thing is to give some careful consideration as to what constitutes an emergency in your world…and most importantly, how much will that emergency cost? That way, you can establish realistic expectations for the amount you need in your short-term emergency savings account. Once you’ve figured out the amount you are shooting for, the next step is to start
It can be challenging if you aren’t accustomed to saving, but don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by it. What if someone close to you passes away? Do you have enough in your emergency savings account to afford transportation to attend the services or to help with funeral expenses if needed?
saving. It can be challenging if you aren’t accustomed to saving, but don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by it. Start with simple things like:
1
Set up an automatic deposit into your savings account each time you get paid. If you don’t see the money, you likely won’t miss it. If you are scared you can’t do it, start small - try $5 a paycheck. After a few paychecks, increase the amount to $10 a paycheck. You will be surprised how quickly the money will accumulate.
2
Sell something. We all have things we don’t use anymore—electronics, housewares, etc. So consider selling those items using an online site. And then commit to putting the money you make into your emergency fund.
3
Make a deal with yourself. Give up one thing that you can live without—maybe it’s eating out every day or maybe it’s an expensive coffee. Find a less expensive alternative and put the difference into savings. The sacrifice doesn’t have to be huge to make a big difference. And just imagine how good you are going to feel about yourself when you see that emergency savings account balance increasing!
4
Once you save it…don’t spend it. Put the money in a separate account from all your other money so you won’t be tempted. The idea is to only spend the emergency fund on a true emergency, not a new pair of shoes. Obviously, having some emergency savings is always a better alternative than having no emergency savings. The good news is that by giving careful consideration to what you might need and by making small changes to your current savings habits, you can be on your way to being financially prepared for an unexpected emergency. And who knows… you may be closer to the goal of six months living expenses than you think! Cyndi Jones, PMP VP–Communications & Projects Insight Credit Union InsightCreditUnion.com
June 2016
FocusLake.com
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Better Living
E
Filling the Daily Dietary Void
very morning is a new day. That’s what I like about being in the nutrition business – because every day I have this opportunity to help someone to make a new choice for good diet changes and a healthier lifestyle. Our diet is what makes us who we are. You wake up and say “today is the day I am going to get a handle on my cholesterol.” Many people don’t realize that a drug for that problem is not the only helper – you can also make dietary changes (which include increases to 25-35 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber per day to your diet). Keep all the bad fats out of your diet and increase the good ones. Exercise with the goal of losing some weight. All these are good supports to use on the fat attack. Weight loss is really the biggest aid for a host of health problems. Issues like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides. As mentioned earlier, we can make changes in lifestyle and diet to help ourselves with our health problems. However, most of the people I get as customers have not tried to make, or have not stuck to, making proper eating choices. And that’s the word that counts the most – choices. Taking
We have the ability to make better choices each minute of each day. We can start doing so by taking responsibility for our own health. medication for health problems is something many people simply settle for, which is respectfully, like patching your tire. You will have to continue taking those meds probably for the rest of your life. Drugs do their job for your problems but may come with some side effects. Lifestyle changes, improvements to our diet and the forming of good habits is best for each of us; it’s the right choice. I always say when I teach a class, that everyone needs to have a good regimen of supplement choices that will benefit us. And all my favorite supplements start with the word “good.”
1 2
Good probiotic. Start your day with this, first thing. The best ones to look for will have prebiotics as well. Make sure it says enteric coated on the label. Good multi-vitamin. Take one with your meals. Multis do a good job of filling in the blanks. It helps add what we’re missing in our diets. Make sure there are no added artificial colors or any sugar... read the label well.
3
Good fats. This would have you looking for a good fish oil capsule. (If you are on blood thinners get your doctor’s opinion first.) Fish oils are well-documented and studied and are a great addition to our diets. A good resource for information on the value of what you’re taking is PubMed.gov.
4
A good Vitamin D3. Another welldocumented supplement that regretfully, many Americans are terribly deficient in. We get some from the sun (UVs) but we don’t utilize it enough and our diets are extremely lacking in it. A starting place would be, when you have blood work done to ask your doctor to check your Vitamin D3. It is a great nutrient we need to have in proper amounts. It is vital for calcium support for bone health and is very needed for our immune support.
These are my four favorites that I believe are needed to fill the voids in our diets due to lack of balance in the foods we eat. It also helps fill gaps in our knowledge regarding what we should be eating. When you buy supplements always make sure there are no chemicals, colors, sugars, preservatives or other additives. Proper diet, exercise and possible supplementation to fill in the blanks are all good choices. They help create a lifestyle of trying to do our best to be our best. This information is not intended to treat or cure any illness or disease. If you are under a doctor’s care check with them before making any lifestyle changes or supplement additions.
Jeff Wittman Licensed Nutritionist Jeff’s Health & Nutrition
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print • digital • television • radio
June 2016
FOODIE
An Herbivore and a Carnivore at Vitality Bistro
H
Reviewed by Kung Foodie & The Herbivore HERBIVORE: It took a bit of convincing, but I finally sold a fellow foodie on the idea of reviewing restaurants together. As a vegan, restaurants in Lake typically have very few options to offer me, other than a salad, for dining options and I wanted to shed some light on what exactly a vegan eats. Thrilled my carnivorous friend said yes, and with FOCUS Magazine’s enthusiastic green light, we headed to Mount Dora to a little place called Vitality Bistro, located on the south edge of downtown.
CARNIVORE: Although not sold on the
idea of a restaurant that specializes in vegan, organic, gluten-free and live cuisine (what is live cuisine anyways?), I figured that I could hit the Cuban place around the corner after we ate if the salads offered did not fill me up. I enjoy trying all types of cuisine, but my staple would have to be “meat and potatoes.”
CARNIVORE: Vitality Bistro is a very clean and well-decorated place with a good westward view towards the water. Upon entering we were immediately greeted and had our choice of tables. There is a variety of seating available, both low and high tops as well as a small living room set in the back.
Guacamole Sliders
HERBIVORE: Reading over the menu in their clean, well-lit, second story corner bistro, I was thrilled to know I could order every single item on the menu without having to ask for the dish to be modified, or if it was safe for a vegan to eat.
CARNIVORE: For our appetizer we chose the Guacamole Sliders, which consisted of guacamole, salsa, and cashew sour crème on onion bread points topped with sprouts. It was extremely tasty, though a little challenging to eat, but tasty nonetheless. The sour crème had a very nice flavor that complemented the onion bread points extremely well. And as always, guacamole and salsa go very well together. HERBIVORE: Restaurants that offer organic, vegan food made from scratch are very difficult to find, especially in Lake County! I was a little surprised there was not a wider variety of drinks available, however, I was pleased with the Green Goddess I ordered. I believe it was made when I ordered it, so it did take some time to arrive, but it was refreshing.
CARNIVORE: For my main course I
decided on the Portabella Pizza Boats. Two portabella mushroom caps filled with marinara sauce, brazil nut “cheeze,” grilled vegetables and kalamata olives, topped with crushed red pepper flakes and cashew “parmesan,” served with a house salad, which was very good. I have to say that it was a fantastic dish. The mushrooms were very large and were absolutely stuffed. The combined flavors were extremely good and I will certainly go back for this meal.
Carnivore’s positive reaction to the appetizer, I was pleased he ordered the Portabella Boats, as they can be a great “meat replacement” type Rawsiago Sandwich of meal. I ordered the Signature “Burger,” which sounded particularly appealing as it is made from a carrot and almond base, but it was not available. The server recommended the Rawsiago Sandwich, a creamy “cheeze” spread made with brazil nuts, kalamata olives and shallots on onion bread. I enjoyed it, but it was very similar to the sliders. Honestly, either the sliders or the sandwich would have been perfect for me, but I do not recommend ordering both!
CARNIVORE: Overall, I must say I was very impressed with this restaurant. The food was great, although a little pricey depending on what you ordered. My tree-hugging friend seemed to really enjoy it as well. So if you’re looking for something different I highly recommend trying it out. HERBIVORE: They have an extensive menu and offer a wide range of foods, and I was pleased that there were options for my meat-loving friend. This is a lovely little place to gather with a few friends, share a few dishes, and spend some time together.
HERBIVORE: Encouraged by the
Portabella Pizza Boats
Restaurant Response: All of our food is organic (packed with more nutrients than conventionally grown and produced food) and only top of the line, high-quality ingredients are used. We source our ingredients from highest quality purveyors because it makes that much of a difference in the end product. Everything is made from scratch, including every sauce. Nobody else in Lake County does this but us. Guests drive hours just to eat from our particular menu. They are grateful to have made-from-scratch vegan organic food and they know it is well worth what they pay. They leave our place feeling satiated in a good way, feeling great, feeling good about themselves.
June 2016
FocusLake.com
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I I
think it runs in families. My mother’s family for instance, seemed to attract experiences which individually, might be explained away as chance, but together appeared to challenge rationality. Mom’s older sister for instance, won at Bingo. I do not mean occasionally (we all do that) but almost all of the time – so much so that she was banned from the local Bingo hall where she played. Though that didn’t matter much, because she also won in local raffles and lotteries.
to never being born because my parents had come very near to not getting married. As I grew older, the skeptic in me began to doubt my parents’ account of their wedding day, but tactful enquiries amongst my relatives convinced me that, as improbable as it might seem, some force brought Rose and Chris together on that day. When World War II broke out in 1939, much to his relief Chris was too young to be called up. He was, however, a machinist working in a hosiery mill in Nottingham
Chris and Rose chose not to get married before Chris was shipped out, but it was pretty much agreed that they would marry when (if) he returned from service. Sadly, my mother Rose did not share her sister’s good fortune, but odd things did happen to her. One day, she came home having been asked to leave a particular shop. The manager had “recognized” her as a former employee who had been dismissed and arrested for stealing money from the register. He was amazed that my mother should have the effrontery to show her face in his shop again. Mom, who had never been to the shop in her life, asked the name of the woman who had worked there. “You know well enough,” replied the manager, “that your name is Rose.” Speechless, my mother walked out.
I heard this next story from my parents when I was a child. My father, Chris, used it to tease me that I had actually come close
32
and machinists were in great demand so a few months later he moved to Oxford to work in aircraft production. Being a very young man in a town where he knew no one, Chris was miserable until he met Rose (I never did get from them the details) who had unbeknownst to him, just ended a relationship with a young man because her family objected to his drinking. By this time, Chris was old enough to be drafted, but since the Battle of Britain was at its height, he found himself in an occupation designated “essential war work.” Meanwhile, of course, his romance with Rose was blossoming.
the navy’s planes serviceable. Unlike many couples, Chris and Rose chose not to get married before Chris was shipped out, but it was pretty much agreed that they would marry when (if) he returned from service. Chris was, as he admitted many times, a reluctant recruit. I think there was always a simmering resentment that he was the only one of four brothers who saw active service, the others being too young, too old, or too “essential.” I have a photograph of him with the pyramids in the background and one in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. In both, he is in a small group all wearing the navy uniform of shorts, short-sleeved shirts and sailor hats set at a jaunty angle. He eventually joined the H.M.S. Victorious, an aircraft carrier, under the deck of which he patched and repaired the planes making sortie attacks over Burma, now Myanmar, in an attempt (ultimately successful) to push back the Japanese.
As Britain’s need for aircraft became less urgent and its need for soldiers more urgent, Chris knew that it was only a matter of time before he would be called up; so in the summer of 1941, he volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm, a branch of the British Royal Navy. These were technicians who kept
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Never great writers, Chris and Rose somehow kept up a correspondence and their attachment grew Never great writers, Chris and Rose somehow kept up a correspondence and their attachment grew despite their separation. Occasionally, he might have had second thoughts, like the time in India when he received a rather soggy and malodorous parcel in the post. Three weeks before, Rose had seen in the Oxford market some strawberries, a fruit that had virtually vanished during World War II. Knowing that my father liked strawberries, she bought a punnet and packaged it with a few cartons of cigarettes, and mailed them to him. You can imagine the state they were in when Chris opened them, and the ribbing he got from his mates about the girl they knew he was going to marry. Only when the war in the Pacific came to an end was Chris able to return to the naval docks at Portsmouth, England. Whether he had any leave in which to see Rose again, I don’t know. I do know that once he was given his demobilization date, Rose was left to make the arrangements for their wedding in Oxford. She was supposed to write to Chris with the details, but no letter arrived before he demobed out of Portsmouth.
invitations. It really was not her fault that the most important letter, indeed the only really vital letter, had become a casualty of an overworked Post Office and was missing in action at the bottom of a sack somewhere in the South of England. Though he could only afford a third-class train ticket, Chris had a compartment to himself and the guard, if he noticed at all, made no objection when Chris stretched himself across the seat and went to sleep. At intervals throughout the night he was woken by the guard calling out the stations, and at 6:00am he had to change trains in Birmingham. However, four years of separation from his family were about to come to an end, and as the train pulled
“Where are you all going?” he asked. “Off to a day at the seaside is it?” “Nothing of the sort,” said his mother coming forward and vigorously straightening his tie. “We are going to your wedding. Here’s the letter we got from Rose a week ago.”
Two arms grasped him in a hug for what was perhaps the first and last of his life, the Moore family being noted for its reserve.
That is how it came about that on August 1, 1945, Chris, resplendent in his demob suit of charcoal grey, boarded the overnight train from Portsmouth to Nottingham where, he reasoned, a letter from Rose must be waiting for him. The letter was indeed waiting (and for all I know is waiting still), because with unusual efficiency Rose had booked the church and sent out the
into Nottingham Midland Station around 8:30am he anticipated being home in time for breakfast. Taking his government-issue cardboard suitcase from the rack above his seat, Chris made his way along the corridor and stepped down onto the platform. Steam from the engine billowed thickly, trapped beneath the overhanging canopy of Platform 3 so that figures appeared no more than shadows, until he had climbed the two flights of steps which led up to street level. Passing the ticket office on his way to the exit, he heard a familiar voice, though he could not immediately place it. “Chris! Chris, is that you? Well, what the ----- are you doing here?” Two arms grasped him in a hug for what was perhaps the first and last of his life, the Moore family being noted for its reserve. Eventually extricating himself, Chris saw his eldest brother Bob, his sister Lily and his mother; in fact, the entire family was there at the station.
June 2016
Chris read the letter twice through. There could be no doubt: Cowley Parish Church had been booked for 1:00pm on Wednesday, August 1, 1945; reception in the parish hall. “You’re just in time for a cup of tea in the buffet if you’re quick,” Bob said. “I’ll get you a ticket.”
Instead of a canceled wedding and reception, followed by weeks of confusion, re-booking and delay, Chris and Rose were married on August 1, and I came along nine months later. But for the Universe, I might have been the little girl, Elaine, they really wanted, so Dad was right, I might never have been born.
Ray Moore Mystery & Educational Author RayMooreAuthor.com
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Home
Don’t Expect to See Tiny Houses in Lake County
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he hottest housing trend sweeping across America and social media is tiny houses, which are 100-400 square foot homes that combine cute with maximum efficiency. These homes are providing struggling millennials and working families a chance to own a home, reduce living costs, and at times, get off the grid. You cannot open up your Facebook page without seeing these tiny homes and the joy they are bringing to thousands of people who would otherwise be homeless or stuck in high-cost rentals.
In most cases, the cost of government fees would be more expensive than the land and house itself.
For local families struggling to find affordable housing, don’t expect to see these tiny houses anytime soon, because they are illegal and impractical in Lake County. Based on the Lake County Comprehensive Land Plan adopted in 2011 by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, the smallest home allowed to be constructed in Lake County is 850 square feet and that
is only in certain areas. In nicer areas and subdivisions, the minimal square footage can range from 900-1,500 square feet. Plus, in many areas the minimal lot size is a quarter of an acre or more. The other problem with tiny houses in Lake County is the building codes and requirements. The biggest hurdle is the requirement that they must be permanently strapped down and no trailer tongues or wheels can be exposed. Most tiny houses are built on small flatbed trailers and that type of structure is not allowed in Lake County. Other code issues, such as the landscape ordinance which mandates a minimal amount of trees, and hookup requirements for sewer, water and electric, make it virtually impossible to get a tiny house approved. Based on the current codes and Comprehensive Land Plan, there is little doubt that tiny houses will probably never be approved in Lake County. Now for the impractical reasons why you can’t build a tiny house in Lake County, and yes, it has a lot to do with local government. A tiny house in most markets ranges in price from $10,000 to $30,000, depending on how
much they are cutely trickedout. To build a 300 square foot (15’x20’) tiny house in South Lake County, the homeowner would have to pay $12,259 in road, school, fire, parks, and library impact fees, plus about $300 in building fees. This does not include well or septic hookup fees as well as permit fees from the State of Florida or hookup fees to city utilities. And if you are building in a city municipality you would also have to pay their impact fees. If it were not against code to build a tiny house in Lake County, depending on where you build the cost of impact fees and building permit fees would be anywhere from $13,000 to $19,000. In most cases, the cost of government fees would be more expensive than the land and house itself. This is why tiny houses would not be practical in Lake County.
The sad truth about Lake County’s housing requirements, codes, and fees is that it highlights just how much local government is failing to make affordable housing actually affordable. Local elected officials are telling millennials and many working families that they are potentially fated to a future of high rent, unsuitable housing, and poor living conditions. Worse yet, Lake County’s housing policies deny young families an opportunity to step onto the first rung of the housing ladder to build real wealth. Lost is a chance to build a community based on pride and family. See, tiny houses are not just a hot trend on social media—they are a way out for many.
Don Magruder CEO Ro-mac Lumber & Supply RomacLumber.com
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June 2016
Mountain Bike Up Mount Dora they said. “Somehow it feels like the trail is more downhill than up,” Melnik explained. “Even though that isn’t possible.” The difficulty level of each of the various sections of the trail is indicated by color. Yellow indicates “easiest,” blue is “more difficult” and red is “most difficult,” according to the OMBA website. Written by Katie Lewis
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ob Stoutz loves nothing more than hopping on his bike, strapping on his helmet, and taking off down a winding, tree-lined trail. “Lately, my adventures more and more often have been leading me to Mount Dora,” he said. When it comes to pedaling a mountain bike on a fun-filled ride up and down a shaded, twisting trail, it turns out Mount Dora might just be the destination bicyclists have been searching for. A partnership between the Ocala Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) and the City of Mount Dora made the Mount Dora Mountain Bike Trail possible, according to Mount Dora Public Information Officer Megan Glass. The trail was built by OMBA volunteers who also maintain the trails. The City of Mount Dora supplied materials and checks the trails, said Glass. “The shade is a huge plus for this trail, especially during the summertime in Florida,” said Stoutz, a Tennessee native. “It is difficult to find a trail with elevation changes in Florida.” Nestled behind the Lincoln Avenue Community Park and the Mount Dora Dog Park on 11th Avenue, the bike trail truly is a hidden gem. However, local mountain bike enthusiasts say the trail, which has been in existence since about 2011, is gaining in popularity. It is becoming a destination for mountain bikers who travel from places such as Lake Mary and Clermont.
For example, a part of the trail called “Gravity Destroyer” is designated a yellow trail, meaning it is the lowest level of difficulty. While, on the other end of the spectrum, “Pure Adrenaline” ranks red, meaning it is the most difficult. The majority of this trail is designated yellow, according to the trail map on the website. Aside from the color-coded markers, there are signs warning riders if they are going the wrong way on the trail, which is problematic on a single-track (one-way) trail because it is so narrow. Though a walking path and a multi-use path both are available for those who aren’t into the thrill of the ride, the majority of the trail is for bicyclists. The trail is narrow enough that one part even takes riders right between two halves of a large, fallen oak tree that crosses the root-strewn, dirt path. Scott Ward, of Clermont, has been biking for about 40 years. He said the Mount Dora Mountain Bike Trail is great for “a quick ride with some really fun trails and some wooden features.” Located at the trailhead, “Skillsville” offers wooden tracks and jumps and serves as a practice area for riders before biking into the wooded, 40-acre park. “The Mount Dora Mountain Bike Trail is good for beginners and up,” Ward said. “And it has trails to test your skills for all levels. OMBA does an amazing job building and maintaining trails and making sure the color-coded trail markers are in place.”
For David Melnik and Gene Cristan, the well-maintained 2.5-mile trail definitely is worth the 45-minute drive from Lake Mary where they both reside. They have been friends and riding buddies for 20 years and have been frequenting the Mount Dora trail for almost two years. “You pretty much have to drive to get to any single-track trails,” said Melnik. “This one is really nice because it flows really well.” Melnik and Cristan enjoy riding this trail because it’s “benign,”
WingsAndWildflowers @WingsWildflower
OCT. 14-16, 2016 Venetian Gardens in Leesburg, FL
www.WINGSandWILDFLOWERS.com/FOCUS • 352-742-3918
Hosted by Lake County, Florida in partnership with the City of Leesburg
June 2016
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Education
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Local Schools Ranked Nationally
Written by Barbara Breuer
Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report recognized two TheSouth Lake County schools as academic leaders, both in the state
and nationwide.
The Washington Post reported East Ridge High School in Clermont as the highest ranking Lake County school on the publication’s list of America’s most academically challenging high schools in the nation. East Ridge ranked 76 out of the 374 schools listed in Florida, and it ranked 364 out of 2,344 schools in the U.S. Lake Minneola High School placed second in Lake County according to that list, ranking 90 in the state. Leesburg High, Mount Dora High, Tavares High and Eustis High were also included on The Washington Post list. See the full list at apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge According to U.S. News & World Report, Lake Minneola High School appears as the only Lake County school that is listed as one of the high schools ranking in the country and state on this list, ranking 121 out of 889 high schools on the Florida list and 2,087 on a national level out of 21,000 schools ranked. See the full list at USNews.com/Education/ Best-High-Schools The principal of Lake Minneola High School, Linda Shepherd-Miller, says that she feels blessed the school received such a high ranking. She stated that the accolades were the result of her staff’s hard work as well as the students’ willingness and drive to succeed. “Since we first opened our doors in 2011, we have been building a legacy of excellence,” added Shepherd-Miller. “Both the staff and student body understand and value the role of education. We are on the right path to continue and build upon our goals to make sure that our students are academically prepared for the future, whether they decide to join the workforce after graduation or pursue higher education.” According to Shepherd-Miller, the school’s motto, called the Hawk’s Creed, sums up the success of Lake Minneola High School’s superior ranking: students are Honorable, Academically focused, Wise, Kind-hearted and Successful. East Ridge High School principal, Julie Robinson-Lueallen, believes that the ranking the Clermont school received from The Washington Post is no coincidence; rather, it is the result of the dedication of the staff to create programs that challenge the students.
East Ridge High School, Courtesy Lake County Schools
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The school offers 22 AP classes and it adds at least one new AP class per year. As of now, they are close to capacity as far as the addition of any new AP classes is concerned. The newest class, AP Computer Science, is being introduced in August 2016. “We are honored to receive such a high ranking, and we are always going to do our best to ensure that our students are ready for college, career and wherever life takes them,” says Robinson-Lueallen. Dr. Stacy Keaveny, Assistant Principal of Curriculum, explained why East Ridge High School’s curriculum is unique. “We encourage all students to take at least one AP class during their high school careers. We offer open enrollment, which means the students are not required to obtain a faculty member’s recommendation in order to apply for an advanced course.”
east Ridge HIGh School
76 out of 374 Florida schools • 364 out of 2,344 US schools Lake Minneola high School
90 out of 374 Florida schools • 2,087 out of 21,000 US schools Keaveny went on to explain that East Ridge was on the cutting edge in 2007, when it began to implement its open enrollment procedure for AP courses. However, it wasn’t until 2011 when the participation began to reflect the demographics of the student body, proving that such a program can benefit everyone. This year, over 1,000 students out of the 2,300 enrolled in East Ridge take part in the AP program, and 1800 AP exams were administered during the first two weeks of May. The high ratings from The Washington Post are a strong indication that the school is moving in the right direction and it will continue to be innovative in helping its students reach their full potential. The principals of Lake Minneola High and East Ridge High agree that the foundation of learning has been firmly established in their respective schools. They understand that complacency is not the answer, and they must strive to set the bar high in order to increase their schools’ rankings in the years ahead. Their students always come first, and by sharing successes at the district level, they can build a powerful legacy in which all Lake County high school students may benefit in order to be ready for their lives after graduation day.
Lake Minneola High School, Courtesy Lake County Schools
June 2016
Lake is a Bronze Florida Healthy School District Lake County Schools has been named a 2016-2018 Florida Healthy School District, Bronze level.
The recognition is the result of the district’s submission of the Florida Healthy School District Self-Assessment, a tool based on sustainable infrastructure, policy, programs, and practices identified from national and state guidelines, best practices, and Florida statutes. It was developed by the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership (CSHP) out of a desire to recognize and celebrate the hard work and success of school districts related to physical, mental and social health of students and staff. During the 2015/16 school year, the Lake County School District Food Department purchased hydroponic garden towers for ten schools. Teachers at the schools work with students and teach them about gardening, vegetables, and nutrition while working in the school garden. The produce goes back to school food services for the school meals so students get to see and eat the food they helped to grow.
Lake County Schools demonstrated its highest scores related to policies and processes in the following areas, and was recognized at the Bronze level. Health Services (71%) Health Services removes health-related barriers to attendance, performance and academic success. Nutrition Services & Education (73%) Children who are well nourished are able to achieve in school and healthful eating reduces the risk of lifelong chronic health conditions. Employee Wellness (81% commendable) Employees who are healthy are less likely to be absent and are most likely to be engaged and remain in their jobs. The cost of healthcare to the district is reduced when employees are healthy, thus freeing up funds for educational purposes.
Lake Students Win Disney’s Shining Star Award Three students from Lake County Schools are among the newest recipients of the Disney Dreamers and Doers “Shining Star” Award, presented by the Walt Disney World Resort. These students serve as role models in their schools and throughout the district, with positive actions they have taken at home, in school, and in the community, to inspire others. Out of the nearly 400 students in Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole counties chosen by their school principals as Disney Dreamers and Doers, 15 Shining Stars were selected as the best of the best.
Now he spends time collecting donations for the Ronald McDonald House, and building teddy bears at Build-a-Bear to donate to children in the hospital.
The Lake County winners are: Nine-year-old Ryan Boyd of Groveland Elementary School has been playing the piano since he was four and started tumbling and gymnastics when he was five. On March 30, 2014, Ryan was knocked unconscious after a fall. He spent time in an induced coma to allow his brain to heal. Five months after the accident he was able to start back at school.
Reaghan Wooster, a Tavares High School senior, was shocked to discover the distance
June 2016
Seventh grader Tyler LaBelle of Windy Hill Middle School has many admirable qualities that make him a wonderful candidate for this honor. Tyler is an exceptional student who exhibits positive character traits in and out of the classroom and always has a smile on his face. He has goals and the support to meet those goals in the future that will in turn help others less fortunate.
between the general student body and special-needs students at her school. With the help of her school’s special education teacher, she was able to found their own version of Best Buddies, the Bulldog Buddies. She befriended Jacob, who has Down syndrome and is nonverbal. They communicated through facial expressions and body motions. Honorees are recognized during an IllumiNations Dessert Party at Epcot. They also receive a Mickey Mouse statue, called the “Mousecar,” a gold medallion, and annual theme park passes for themselves and their immediate family.
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Flashback
When Hollywood Turned Mount Dora Pink A pink town. Elephants water-skiing across Lake Dora. It sounds like something that could only be found in the movies. You won’t find evidence of it today, but there was a time when Mount Dora was once the star attraction for a Hollywood film production. In 1980, the small community was looking to attract tourists and strengthen the local economy. They would soon have an opportunity in the form of a movie, “Honky Tonk Freeway.” For the production, Mount Dora became Ticlaw, a small Florida town so desperate for tourists that it would do anything to attract attention. Led by eccentric Mayor Kirby T. Calo, played by William Devane, townsfolk took up paintbrushes, trained an elephant to water-ski, and eventually blew up the freeway that had passed it by. Though the film ultimately proved to be one of the most expensive box office flops in history, it helped the real-life Florida community. A strong boost in tourism and recognition, combined with increased economic growth, were the results of the film and these benefits have only continued to grow since. 38
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