April-May 2011

C O M P L I M E N TA R Y | A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 1

Special Anniversary Issue

Celebrating Five Years of Informing and inspIring women

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011 1

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011 3

Contents T a l l a h a s s e e W o m a n M a g a z i n e | A p r i l / M a y 2 0 11

7

Q & A with Kerri Smith

18

Women Business Leaders

24

Putting Your Family Back in the Family Room

20

24

From the Publisher

8

Girl Talk

30

Home

34

Healthy Living

36

Entertaining

38

The Dish

42

Community

51

Women We Admire

54

Funny Girl

A few of the cover women from past issues, from left to right: 1. Cindi Trautmann (June/July 2009) 2. Dulce Rush (February/March 2007) 3. Kim Jones (December 2009/January 2010) 4. Kristen Ledlow (December 2010/ January 2011) 5. Angela Hardiman-Cole (October/ November 2006) 6. Kathy Palmer (Silver EditionSummer 2009) 7. Gail Stansberry-Ziffer (December 2006/January 2007) 8. Heather Whitmore (April/May 2008), and 9. Jill Henneberg (February/March 2008).

Photos: 2, 5, 7 by Susan Stripling Photography: 8, 9 by Jo Shoupe Photography: 6 by Nicole Myhre : 1, 3 by Inga Finch Photography: 4 by Adam Cohen Photography.

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Make over your family room so that it is the center point of your home.

6

ON THE COVER

Kimberly Moore, Sue Dick, Linda Figg, and Marsha Doll Faulkenberry Meet four talented business women who are making success their business.

departments

32

As TWM celebrates five years in print, we chatted with Kerri Smith, the woman who was on the premier issue. Five years later, she is still as amazing as ever.

Attention Travelers | Pulling Your Hair Out—Literally | Should You Take a Sick Day? | What Flavor Is Your Personality? | Fresh Looks This Spring

Detailed Design | Room With A View

Teenage Angst or Depression? How to Know When Your Teen Needs Help

Decorating for Your Springtime Festivities

Fresh Veggies, Fruits and More at the Local Farmers’ Markets | In the Land of Tomatoes

Red Dirt Discoveries | Tallahassee Civic Chorale | Make Time For Volunteering Austin S. “Ash” Hamilton Annual Stingray Round Up Karen Vogter—Life, Love, and Tennis

Kitchen Rodeo—My 8-Second Ride

in every issue

14

Capital City Gems 16 | Around Town 48 | Women to Watch 50 | Calendar 52

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH! M ENOPAUSE | E RECTILE D YSFUNCTION | M IGRAINE | H IGH C HOLESTEROL | F ATIGUE | W EI G H T G A I N

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011 5

FROMthepublisher

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

Living Well and Loving Life!

April/May 2011 Volume 6 | Issue 2

Publisher & EDITOR Kim Rosier ASSOCIATE Editor Heather Thomas Advertising sales Director Lynn Solomon

W

e have all heard the saying “time flies when you are having fun.” I recently realized how true this is, and how I would not have it any other way.

GRAPHIC DESIGN Christy Jennings Miqueli INTERNs Alexandra Delgado Alyssa Fleisher Caroline Walker

This issue marks five years since the first issue of Tallahassee Woman rolled off the press. During that time, we have had so much fun—it really seems not long ago that I was at the photo shoot of Kerri Smith, our very first cover woman. We caught up to Kerri to see what she has been doing these last five years. Who knew that since Kerri graced the first cover that we would meet so many inspirational women in our community who make Tallahassee not only a great city, but a place we love to call home.

As another Mother’s Day greets us this May, I can definitely say that time has really flown as I have watched my sons, Max and Dean, grow up. It seems like yesterday that they were toddlers, running around, carefree and full of wonder at every moment. They always make me laugh, whether intentional or not, with their antics, their questions, or their observations. I must have blinked because now they are both teenagers. But I can honestly say that I’ve had the time of my life raising them—maybe that is why the time has gone by so quickly. I have loved every moment of being their mother and look forward to continuing to raise them as they become young men.

As women who have so much going on, it seems that life always keeps us busy. And although we don’t have any control over how fast time goes by, we can enjoy and live in every moment, have fun, and be appreciative of what we have that is good.

Although there may be bumps in the road of life now and then, that just makes us appreciate the good times so much more.

Have a blessed Easter and a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Contributing photographers Adam Cohen Inga Finch Courtney Gwaltney Tallahassee Woman Magazine LLC Post Office Box 13401 Tallahassee, FL 32317-3401 Phone (850) 893-9624 Fax (850) 254­-7038 info@TalWoman.com r

Tallahassee Woman is published six times per year and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout Tallahassee and the surrounding communities. Subscriptions are available for $15 for one year (six issues).

The information in this publication is presented in good faith. The publisher does not guarantee accuracy or assume responsibility for errors or omissions.

Advertising

For more information on advertising, call (850) 893-9624 or e-mail ads@TalWoman.com

TalWoman.com Kim Rosier Publisher

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Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Copyright ©2011

by Tallahassee Woman Magazine LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction, in part or in whole, without express written consent of the Publisher is prohibited.

C e l e b r a t i n g F i v e Y e a r s of T W M

Q &

with

Kerri Smith Tallahassee Woman’s Premier Issue Cover Woman

what have you been doing the last five years?

Wow! Where do I start? First of all, I can’t believe it’s been five years! I was pregnant at the time of the cover shoot, so shortly after the magazine came out, I gave birth to my third child. So, from that day on, I took on the role of being a full-time “stay-at-home” mom. It’s been a busy five years but the last two years things have really started to get crazy, now that my kids are 15, 11, and 4. Most of my time is in my car—they all are in different schools so I have to do three different drop-offs and pick-ups every day, in addition to the never-ending laundry and dishes. But honestly, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. God has definitely been good.

What was the best thing that happened while you were on the cover?

It was fun and kind of strange having people come up and ask me, “Was that you on the magazine?” But there is one thing that stands out in my memory. My precious grandfather (who has since passed from prostate cancer) came to visit from Louisiana and saw the magazine. He said it was a nice picture and that was pretty much it. Well, my mom told me he took a copy home with him.

Later, my grandmother said that during his next doctor’s visit, he showed the magazine to his doctor and said, “See this—that’s my granddaughter.”

It was so sweet and made me feel so proud!

P h o t o g r a p h y b y C o u r t n e y G wa l t n e y Cover photo by Kar li Flat t O’Neal

You are a great representative of Tallahassee mothers. What is your best advice for managing it all?

this ever-changing world, and how to be a responsible adult, a good husband and a great father. I am trying to teach my That’s a great question. After being on the cover, I kept daughter that it doesn’t matter how beautiful you are on the up with all the magazine issues that followed and outside or what designer clothes you wear if the inside is ugly honestly began to feel very insignificant. There were so and not to get caught up in labeling herself into a specific many women who were/are so important and involved in group. I’m teaching her how to be a good wife and a nurturing the community and causes and personal stories of triumph mother. The four-year-old hasn’t gotten that serious yet—just that I just really felt that all I am is a stay-at-home mom. the typical teaching— share, be nice, etc. In all of these Then I started thinking—while everything these women are things, the easiest way for me to manage everything is one day doing is very important and commendable, I’ve realized I at a time. I realize that I’m not perfect and I don’t have all the have one of the most important jobs there is. I have a answers, but I’m just trying to do it all the way God teenage son whom I am trying to teach how to survive in intended—that’s the most important thing. t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

• A p r i l /M ay 2011 7

G i r lta l k T R AV EL | WELLNESS | K NOWLED GE | SHOPPING

Attention Travelers

Caroline

Tuesdays Just Got Better

D

o you spend a lot of time searching online for the best flights at the best rates? Do you end up confused and annoyed? How airlines set and change prices seems to be a mystery. There are some pointers, however, that can help you save money and time. When you book and when you fly impact ticket prices.

According to information obtained from FareCompare.com, the best time to buy domestic airline tickets is Tuesday at 3 p.m. However, many airlines may pull these discounted rates by Thursday or Friday. In addition, airlines do not manage

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inventory as much on weekends; if less expensive tickets sell, prices on others increase. Waiting until the weekend may be costly.

Although Tuesday is the busiest day for purchasing airfare, it is not necessarily the best day to buy. Sign up for e-mail alerts to quickly learn when airlines plan to drop fares. Following airlines on Facebook or Twitter can also help.

At times, when one airline drops prices, others usually follow. Check out competitors and compare prices.

Do you believe that the earlier you buy tickets, the better? That is not

always the case. Some airlines start releasing cheaper seats three to four months before departure for domestic flights and four to five months before international flights.

Waiting may save you money.

FareCompare.com reports that the least expensive day to fly is Wednesday, followed by Tuesday and Saturday.

Friday and Sunday are the most expensive days to travel. Flying on the first flight in the morning, during or after lunch or at dinner will usually save money. However, the “red eye” flights will save you the most.

Emergencies or last-minute flights can cause prices to skyrocket; however, many airlines offer bereavement rates.

Using miles or points, having a flexible schedule or shopping for air and hotel packages can help save money.

There are many online resources to help you find the best rates.

Some travel websites contain historical airfare information, trend data, and information on fuel charges and baggage fees.

So, the next time you need a flight, e Walker set aside some time on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. and see what deals you can find. —Michelle Nickens

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G i r lta l k | w e l l n e s s

Pulling Your Hair Out—Literally Trichotillomania: A Medical Mystery About 11 million Americans suffer from Trichotillomania—the insatiable urge to pull their hair out. And doctors can’t seem to figure out why.

Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder in which sufferers pull hair out from their scalps, eyebrows, eyelashes and other body parts. The condition affects people in different degrees.

Some can exercise general control over the urge, while others can’t help but pull out hair after hair, leaving them with obvious bald spots and skin damage on their faces and scalps.

People with Trichotillomania often pull their hair out as a result of negative feelings such as stress and anxiety. On the other hand, some do it for the

feeling of relief that comes with each yanked strand. In some instances, people do it with a plan: they meticulously pull out each hair, one by one. Others do it unconsciously, such as while watching television.

Doctors have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the disorder.

According to the Mayo Clinic, genetics and environmental factors are most likely to blame. Research shows that far more women experience this disorder than men, and it usually develops during adolescence.

The two most commonly used treatments are therapy and medication.

The therapy used is called habit

reversal training, and it involves identifying the urge and learning a new, less harmful behavior to act on when the urge arises. In some cases, antidepressants are prescribed. While the condition is not usually curable in adults, the earlier the treatment, the more control the person will gain.

—Alexandra Delgado

Should You Take a Sick Day—Or Not? There are always those days when we’re feeling a bit under the weather, and most women continue with their hard-working days regardless. This includes going to work that day, even though deep down you know you should be staying home to recharge that immune system. In fact, according to a recent survey from Careerbuilder.com, nearly three out of four workers still attend work when they are knowingly ill. While this is understandable, especially in today’s economy, it’s hard to miss a day of work for health reasons. Fear of poor work reflection, guilt, an extended workload, saving time for when children are ill and unpaid sick days are just a few reasons people ignore 10 t a l l a h a s s e e

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their symptoms. But have any of us ever considered the risk of spreading our germs and putting other people at risk? In this same survey, over half of those surveyed said they have picked up an illness from a coworker. So how do you determine whether work is more important than your health and the wellness of others? A trip to the doctor will confirm whether you need to stay away from others so you don’t infect them or if this is an illness that is not harmful to others. If you aren’t contagious, perhaps this isn’t the day to miss a day of work. However, if the doctor advises you to take some time to revive, well… the doctor knows best!

—Alyssa Fleisher

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011 11

G i r l t a l k | KN O W LE D GE

What Flavor Is Your

Personality?

E

very woman knows that first-date impressions mean

Mint Chocolate Chip: Those who enjoy a little mint

everything—from the first hello to the first meal

with their chocolate chip ice cream are ambitious and

together. According to neurologist Dr. Alan Hirsch, author

confident but a bit skeptical about life. They are close

of What Flavor Is Your Personality?, your favorite ice cream

to family, honest and have plans for the future

flavor not only tells what kind of personality you have but also can help determine whether the man sitting across from you is really Mr. Right. So, ice cream anyone?

Rocky Road: Goal-oriented, outgoing and aggressive, Rocky Road fans enjoy being pampered and appreciate the finer things in life.

Dr. Hirsch, director of the Smell and Taste Research and Treatment Foundation in Chicago, breaks down personality traits into different flavors and shows which are compatible according to preference in flavors.

Vanilla: These classic ice cream fans rely on intuition over logic, are emotionally expressive, aim

Chocolate Chip: People

high, and like

that prefer chocolate

to stay busy and

chip ice cream tend

accomplish things.

to be competitive,

They prefer secure,

accomplished,

romantic relationships.

competent and ambitious; they

Strawberry: Those who

are generous and

enjoy strawberry flavor

tend to be the

tend to be logical and don’t

life of the party.

mind working behind the scenes, while also being

Coffee-flavored: A passion

loyal and supportive.

for coffee-flavored ice cream reveals someone who is dramatic

So what’s best in a

and flirtatious, loves new adventures

relationship? The results

and gives their best in everything they do.

are in. Chocolate Chip is compatible with those

Butter Pecan: The butter pecan fan tends to

who like Butter Pecan

be more introverted, sensitive to the feelings of

or Double Chocolate

others, devoted, conscientious and budget conscious.

Chunk. Coffee is solely

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011

compatible with Strawberry lovers, and Butter Pecan matches perfectly with Mint Chocolate Chip. While Mint Chocolate Chip is compatible with itself, Rocky Road is also compatible with another Rocky Road lover. Vanilla matches up with Rocky Road, and Strawberry mingles with not only other Strawberry lovers but also Vanilla, Rocky Road and Mint Chocolate Chip.

If ice cream is not on the schedule for the

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evening, you may be able to figure out his personality by checking out what type of food is his number one craving. If the guy says he craves salty food, he is the type that goes with the flow. Dr. Hirsch points factors that aren’t his own will determine

with clothing, shoes, accessories and home goods

his fate. If he says sweets are his favorite,

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and likes to stand out and feel special.

How about dark chocolate? If so, this guy is great at parties and good for teamwork.

Guys who crave milk chocolate are more on the quieter side, with an introspective personality. If he likes to indulge in spicy foods, he is the perfectionist type, gives attention to details, loves order and hates to waste time. Lastly, if this guy likes to mix it up with the flavors of sweet and salty combined, he is the loner and creative type.

This may seem a bit crazy to believe, but

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Dr. Hirsch stands by his findings, with over 24 years of scientific study and tests on thousands of people’s food choices and personalities. So why not test your results on the next lucky fellow; invite him out for ice cream and see what flavor he chooses.

—Caroline Walker

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G i r lta l k |

Fav e s & R av e s

Fresh Looks This Spring For You and Your Home There’s something about springtime that makes you want to freshen up your wardrobe or your home with something new. Look no further—we came up with some great finds available right here in Tallahassee that we know you will love as much as we do.

Funktion Spring Beach Bag $62 Available at Sweet Patina 2030-5 Thomasville Road (850) 727-4834

A fun and sexy dress $109 Kukla Fashion by Sherman Rosier Available at GroupFit Studio 1836 Thomasville Road (850) 561-0002 KuklaFashion.com Also available at Cole Couture

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011

Tribal-Inspired Handbag $64 Available at Cole Couture 1240 Thomasville Road (850) 553-3327 ColeCouture.com

Perfect for springtime. A colorful mixed-metals necklace in turquoise, indigo and green. $59 Available at Spriggs Market Street location (850) 894-2630 spriggsluxe.com

Silver Circle Necklace $182 Chanel Pendant Necklace $198 Black-belted dress $94 Great for work or play.

All available at Cotton, Etc. 1355 Market Street (850) 668-1334

Unique, decorative mirror

by Thom Filicia $784 Available at Furniture Showcase and Design The Gallery at Market Street (850) 894-1235 fsdfl.com

Amazonite Cuff $85, Carnelian Cuff $85 Carnelian and Amazonite Cuff $70

By Jan Michaels Available at Vignettes 2066 Thomasville Road (850) 386-8525

Seahorse Lamp $150 Available at Chrysalis 1355 Market Street (850) 224-2924 ChrysalisFabric.com

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011  15

C A PI TA L

CIT Y

Noteworthy events coming up in the area that you don’t want to miss.

LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival April 16–17

The LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival showcases works by some of the best regional and national artists.

The much anticipated festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free, and the public is invited to enjoy food, entertainment and various works of art—from photography to sculpture to painting. Participating artists have a chance to win up to $2,000, as each submission will be judged by a panel of experts. Some pieces will be for sale. Proceeds benefit LeMoyne’s educational programs. Visit chainofparks.org for more information.

Spring Fling 2011 Under a Spanish Moon April 28

Tallahassee Film Festival April 6–10

The 2011 Tallahassee Film Festival will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the action comedy Something Wild, starring Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels, which was filmed in Tallahassee. For more information, visit tallahasseefilmfestival.com .

USTA TALLAHASSEE TENNIS CHALLENGER April 9–16

The 12th annual USTA Tallahassee Tennis Challenger will take place at the City of Tallahassee’s Forestmeadows Tennis Complex. Proceeds from the tournament continue to benefit the Tallahassee Memorial Vogter Neuro-Intensive Care Unit. For more information, visit tallahasseechallenger.com/history.htm.

“Bond for Life” Boys Town Spirit of Youth Gala April 15

The North Florida chapter of Boys Town has been providing treatment and care for abused and neglected children of the community since 1983. The organization focuses on children’s success both at home and in school as well as the problem-solving methods their families use. The 8th annual Spirit of Youth Gala will be held on April 15 at the University Center Club at FSU. Boys Town friends and supporters are invited to participate in a silent auction at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner and celebration beginning at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds go to the care and treatment of these at-risk children. Get more information and buy tickets at boystown.org.

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011

Spring Fling is an annual fund raising event by Big Bend Hospice and Tallahassee Nurseries. The event will be held at Tallahassee Nurseries from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Attendees can enjoy food, drinks and live music. Each $100 ticket to Spring Fling buys two cocktails, a buffet dinner and access to three full bars.

Proceeds from Spring Fling benefit Big Bend Hospice’s Patient Care. Big Bend Hospice has been a home to many members of the Tallahassee community since 1983. This event is open to the public. Call (850) 701-1375 to make a reservation.

Crystal Stair Mother and Son Gala May 7

The 2nd annual Crystal Stair Mother and Son Gala gives sons, as well as the whole community, a chance to honor mothers and mother-figures in the Tallahassee area. The event, hosted by the Silver Dome Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Moon. Tickets are now available at The Moon box office for $20 each. Proceeds directly benefit the Scholarship Fund of the Silver Dome Foundation, Inc. E-mail silverdomefdn@gmail.com for more information.

Kentucky Derby Gala May 7

Enjoy food, derby cakes and mint juleps at this year’s Kentucky Derby Gala at the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum. From 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., attendees are invited to watch the race on big-screen televisions, participate in a silent auction, find out who will be named Kentucky Colonel this year and more.

Jan Schultz Soto, who started Derby Galas in 1968, is one of the many people that make this event come to life. There is a

minimum donation of $50 per guest, with the proceeds benefiting Leon Advocacy & Resource Center and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. Visit leonarc.com/derby to make a reservation.

Cinderella by the Tallahassee Ballet May 7– 8

The Tallahassee Ballet will perform Cinderella at Ruby Diamond Auditorium, at Florida State University. For tickets and additional information about the performance call (850) 224-6917 or visit online at tallahasseeballet.org.

Parade of Homes May 7– 8 & May 14 –15

The Tallahassee Builder’s Association Parade of Homes gives builders a chance to show off their constructions each year. It is also a great opportunity for house hunters to discover some of the area’s treasures (in different price ranges) as well as the current trends in construction. The homes are open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from Noon to 6 p.m., and admission is free.

For more information, visit tallyba.com or call (850) 385-1414.

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011 17

These women are change makers — women who take bold steps to not only improve their own lives and businesses, but the lives of others.

Meet four Tallahassee women business leaders whose strength and determination have made a positive impact in their field of work, the community and beyond. Their lives reflect a spectrum of talent and leadership styles, yet all echo a heartfelt desire to leave a legacy for generations to come.

For them, it’s about making headway, not headlines. They believe that to truly make a lasting impact it has to be more than just business as usual.

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Kimberly Moore CEO Workforce Plus

Women Business LEADERS

By Heather Thomas

“Change Maker” Kimberly Moore

W

hen Kimberly Moore was in ninth grade in Greenville, Florida, she had an English writing assignment that asked her to explain what her future would look like beyond high school. Kimberly wrote about opportunities that existed only within Madison County, but her teacher encouraged her to dream bigger. She remembers her teacher telling her, “Kimberly, you’ve got to imagine more for yourself. Don’t think about what it is, but what it could be.” From then on, she imagined herself as the Chief Executive Officer of a company, a goal that became a reality in 2005, when she became the youngest CEO in Florida’s workforce system as head of Workforce Plus.

Because Kimberly started from the ground up in the workforce system, she’s able to relate to every level of employment. She says, “I had a wonderful opportunity to see an organization evolve, and that gives me a unique perspective.” Workforce Plus is a private, nonprofit business under the oversight of Workforce Florida, Inc., which replaced the Department of Labor in 2000, and created twenty-four regional workforce boards across the state. When Kimberly graduated from Florida State University with a degree in criminology, the idea of workforce development was still in its planning stages.

She was able to obtain a job at the entry level and then work her way up by setting goals for herself in every position, going back to school to get her MBA and gaining a keen awareness of the needs of the organization’s employees and the needs of Florida’s job force.

Photography by Inga Finch

Putting her forward-thinking skills to good use is one of her main assets as a business leader. “This isn’t a short-term organization. We work with local schools, colleges and universities to build a pipeline of talent. If you build it, then you will retain people here and you won’t lose them to other communities.” The primary role of Workforce Plus is to ensure that there is a trained and skilled workforce to meet the needs of regional employers. They make sure that job seekers have the skill sets and education that employers are looking for, and then they help make the match between the two. Kimberly calls this “the one-

stop shop for the community.” On average, Workforce Plus serves 75,000 people a year, providing career counseling, job-search assistance and research and referral services. As CEO, Kimberly says her most important job is to listen.

“Our goal is to be at the forefront of areas of opportunity, so I’m a news junkie. I analyze data at state and national levels, I listen to our board, I listen to our clients, and I listen to our employers and I take all of that and try to steer us towards the horizon of Florida’s new economy.”

Believing that we are all stakeholders in our community’s future, Kimberly is very involved with her church and many community organizations. Her faith and her family have been instrumental in helping her grow as a person and thus be able to better connect with those she leads and serves. She is a single mother to her college-attending son and has tried to instill these principals in him. “I feel that ‘to whom much has been given, much is required,’ and I firmly believe in the importance of servant leadership and faith in action.”

During Kimberly’s fourth year of being CEO, she was asked to serve as president of Wakulla County’s Chamber of Commerce and was also awarded the Small Business Development Champion of the Year award. In 2010 she was awarded the Economic Development Champion of the Year, which visibly reflects her commitment to help businesses and job seekers succeed in an ever-evolving marketplace. Her ingenuity and creativity are reflected in Workforce Plus’s television and radio commercials, which she writes and directs herself, and she has become a guiding voice for the region’s business community.

When thinking back to her days as a young girl in Madison and to the leader she has become, Kimberly is proud that she was, and is, willing to be a trailblazer and that she remained true to herself. She is now hopeful that she is inspiring others to do the same. “To other women and future business leaders I would say…don’t take no for an answer, dream big and if there’s not an open door, create one. Use each day to build on the dream of who you want to be.” t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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SUE DICK

Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce President

“A Team Player” Sue Dick Serving as the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s president for the last ten years, Sue Dick, a wife and mother of two, is at the very heart of the Tallahassee business community, and her dedication for the city and its people guides her every decision. Sue considers herself not just a leader, but a partner, someone who is completely invested in the future of the group she is leading and the community she is representing because she considers herself just a part of the whole. Her leadership style exemplifies the importance of a team atmosphere and a hard work ethic, and her unwavering focus has helped to steer the chamber through changes and challenges to provide hope in an uncertain business future.

When Sue was a young girl growing up in Miami, Florida, her parents encouraged her to embrace the United States and its opportunities, since both of them had emigrated from Cuba during the Cuban Revolution. This is where she says her hard work ethic comes from.

“My parents came here with nothing and worked very hard. They taught me to take great pride in my work, to never give up and to try to be an encouraging example to those around you.” She also became involved with team sports in high school and realized how being part of a team can also help contribute to a strong character. “A team approach is so important. Some components are predictable and other factors are not. You realize your strengths and weaknesses.

Commitment, hard work, selflessness and being humble are all important characteristics of a team environment with the goal of celebrating successes.”

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Photography by Inga Finch

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Along the way for Sue were critical business mentors who gave her examples of leadership and still play a pivotal role in her life. “I’m very blessed to have a circle of friends around me that are not only professionals, but are peers that I can turn to for guidance. They reflect me, as well as what I aspire to, and they challenge me to push myself.

Leadership, to me, is being honest with yourself and recognizing what your weaknesses are and then trying to improve upon them.” Faith is also crucial to Sue’s journey. She says that “there are divine reasons why I am here, at this moment. I believe that I have not created that plan, but the plan is set in place for me; I try to positively impact all of the people around me who I’m journeying with.”

Being the first female chamber president, Sue has been at the forefront of local women business leaders, and her positive spirit has certainly touched many. During her ten-year tenure, she has seen the chamber grow to over 1,600 members and has been an instrumental part in bringing in new business to Tallahassee, implementing mentoring programs, networking programs and helping to form creative partnerships among business and local government, community-based organizations and neighboring counties. “I know I can sometimes come off as being serious, but I think a better word for me would be focused since I take the responsibility of my job seriously. I’m accountable to a 16-member team and their families, to the board and to the business community. It’s very important to me that everyone be treated fairly, and my hope is that I will be remembered as someone who understood and respected the position that I have been gifted with.”

As she leads the chamber into an uncertain and different business future, Sue believes it’s important to help small businesses not only survive, but thrive, and she believes the answer is by forming partnerships through relationships and sharing resources and talents. Although the Tallahassee business world may be uncertain, its leadership is not. Sue says, “I want to lead by example, to lead with integrity. I’m grateful for the opportunities that Tallahassee and the chamber have given me to grow as a person and to be able to pass on what I have learned to others.”

“BRIDGING ART” LINDA FIGG The Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St.Petersburg/Tampa; the Selman Crosstown Expressway in Tampa; the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys; the Broadway Bridge in Daytona; the 17th Street Causeway in Ft. Lauderdale; the MidBay bridge in Destin and others—most of us have probably traversed at least one of these bridges in our Florida-resident lifetimes or others across the country and the world. They are architectural marvels and

Linda FIGG President and Chief Executive Officer of FIGG Engineering Group breathtaking in their scope of engineering and design. They are all engineered by one company under the lead of Linda Figg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Figg Engineering Group (FIGG).

She is a leader, who is gifted at connecting people together through business and design and has been instrumental in helping to develop a Tallahassee-based engineering firm into a global enterprise.

With offices all over the United States, and bridges in 38 states and 6 countries, FIGG has garnered 325 awards, including 3 Presidential Awards, with only 5 awards ever given for bridges.

Their goal is to ‘create bridges as art.’ Any engineering firm can construct a bridge, but an eye for beauty, ingenuity, and a genuine concern for a local community’s needs and natural surroundings is what separates FIGG from its counterparts. This can also be said of Linda herself. She is also a recipient of many local and national awards, and with bridge projects totaling in the billions, Linda spends her time traveling and overseeing current bridges, but is also creatively involved with the design of new bridges. She also works closely with a community and its local government to construct an enduring testimony of functionality t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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W om e n b u s i n e s s l e a d e r s and art. Linda literally and figuratively bridges the gap between business and artistic and engineering design. “A bridge joins more than just two banks of a river or great distances across land; it connects people to each other and to their dreams. The sculptural beauty of a bridge improves the economy of an area and becomes a lasting symbol of the spirit in a community,” Linda says.

Her love of bridge design was inspired by her father, Gene Figg, who founded the firm in 1978 while Linda was in engineering school at Auburn University. She admired his passion for bridge making, and as she grew older, she began to realize she looked at the beauty and purpose of bridges like he did, seeing how a man-made construction can harmonize with its natural surroundings, and become a lasting tribute to its landscape. “My father’s creative spirit influenced our thinking to go beyond traditional designs of the past and forge new ideas that combine function, economy, eco-friendly construction and aesthetics in each bridge. With this extraordinary foundation we have continued to bring innovation to the forefront creating functional bridge sculptures,” Linda said. When Gene passed away in 2002, Linda had been serving as Vice President of Operations for the company and had closely worked with her father for 20 years. She knew his vision intimately and felt that she could lead FIGG with confidence and connect her father’s legacy with the new vision she would help create. In the past nine years she has lead the FIGG team in many new and exciting directions in bridges.

Besides having an overall vision for the firm and a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of bridge design and function, another of Linda’s strengths as a business leader is her patience and fortitude. Bridge building takes a significant amount of time. From its earliest planning stages, to acquiring community feedback, to land assessment, to government and business negotiations, and then to the actual construction of the bridge itself, some bridges can take years until completion.

Linda must patiently navigate through it all, creatively dealing with any setbacks along the way, but still strongly adhere to the artistic and structural concepts that will stand the test of time. “Each bridge tells a story of its time and place, of technology and of the culture in a community. It takes special time and care to ensure that the connections of all the important bridge features are melded into a harmonious design,” Linda said.

FIGG will be designing their first bridge in Tallahassee across South Monroe Street as part of Cascades Park. This park pedestrian bridge will be a signature design that includes a number of green, eco-friendly technologies as a showcase for Tallahassee.

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Even though the accolades are many, with more sure to come, at its heart FIGG is run by a humble woman who doesn’t like to speak of herself. She feels that she is simply doing what she loves best. Like other great works of art, perhaps it’s because the bridges themselves say more about her and the firm than words ever could. Strong, resilient, and patiently spanning across the divide, Linda has carried on her father’s business and engineering legacy with tremendous grace, adding her own personal style, and contributing significantly to our local and global architectural heritage.

“Star Quality” Marsha Doll Faulkenberry Just down the road in Perry, Florida, Marsha Doll Faulkenberry was once a young girl who dreamed big dreams while working in her grandfather’s clothing store. Living in a small town yet traveling with her family on clothing buying trips to bigger cities helped Marsha develop an appreciation for style and the glamorous, yet capricious, world of modeling.

For over 20 years, Marsha has been the owner of Marsha Doll Modeling and Promotions and travels all over the country and the world for modeling and talent searches, competitions, coaching and promotional staffing. During that time, she has worked with thousands of women and men who dream big dreams also but sometimes lack the confidence to reach for them. Recognizing star talent and then promoting it is what Marsha’s business seems to be all about. But to really understand Marsha and her business style, it’s about so much more. Helping people, women particularly, find and nurture their inner star is what Marsha feels she was born to do. “I know that I was put on this earth to empower people. That is why I am here.”

Undeniably, she is a local, national and, even, international success in her field, but getting there wasn’t easy. She first had to face her own fears and grow in confidence and charisma. At the young age of 23, after working in the modeling industry as a model and agent for several years, she made herself face fears of failure and started her own agency. This tenacity of spirit permeates everything she does. “You can let yourself be intimidated by everyone and everything, or you can let your biggest fear become your biggest thrill.” As her business grew, so did her family. Being a wife and the mother of four children while operating a business from home certainly had its challenges, but she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“My family was able to grow with me, and they learned the importance of working hard for something you believe in.”

Marsha Doll Faulkenberry Marsha Doll Modeling and Promotions

Photography by Kevin Dodge

As for charisma, Marsha has it in abundance. Star quality, as defined by Marsha, is an undeniable magnetism that transcends looks, age, and background. You don’t necessarily have to be born with it but can build it from the ground up, which she started doing as a teenager, with help from mentors who believed in her. “One of the main things I teach is to surround yourself with positive people you can learn from, and who will help you grow as a person.” When you meet Marsha, you can’t help but be drawn to her, and once you’ve met her you will never forget her, which is exactly what she teaches to her models. “Whether or not one of my models makes it big, I want to help them believe in themselves and to acquire the skills and confidence to be a success, to be unforgettable, no matter where life takes them.” It’s important to Marsha that people feel good about themselves and to never stop believing in their own future.

“I’m your biggest cheerleader and your biggest fan. The world of modeling can be unstable, but people always know they can count on me to be honest, trustworthy and dependable.”

With 48,000 models and talent in her agency’s database and clients such as Vogue, COVERGIRL, Seventeen magazine, Ralph Lauren and Proctor and Gamble, just to name a few, Marsha has achieved extraordinary results from her ability to inspire others to go after their own dreams. In Marsha’s own business future she will be partnering soon with ABC Channel 27’s Kristen Ledlow, who was also featured in a recent issue of Tallahassee Woman,

on a makeover reality segment called Magical Makeovers with Marsha Doll.

Whether or not it’s her strength of character or charisma that makes her the gold standard in her field, when it comes down to it, Marsha’s key to business success is delivering star

quality results. If a client or a model asks, “Can I count on Marsha?” she answers resoundingly with, “Of course.

I’ll be there, I’ll do it and it’ll be done well. Having people count on me to do something seemingly impossible and coming through in a big way is my favorite kind of challenge.” t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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Room design by Terra

PUtting your family back in

your family room

By TuTu Divine

Palmer of Terra Palmer Designs

Photography by Adam Cohen

Even though we have experienced the hardships of a slow economy, the size of the American Dream has grown largely over the past few decades.

More families have both parents working, the average home size is larger and kids are participating in more extracurricular activities than ever before. All of these trends have resulted in the family being misplaced from the most important room of the house—the family room. We found four Tallahassee homes that have made over their family rooms to be the center point of their homes and, most important, brought their families closer together.

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Creating an environment that draws your family into the heart of your home should be your first consideration when designing what works for you. If you have small children, this is not the time in your life for sophisticated elegance. Designing a room that is functional and appealing to your family’s current dynamics is critical. Keep in mind that you want to keep your basic elements flexible so that you can easily adapt as your

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family grows. Choose fabrics that are practical and easily cleaned to eliminate the stress of everyday use. Use your space to create a safe harbor for your family members to

feel comfortable and relaxed. Giving your family the ability to participate in their individual interests all in the same room will bring you closer together. Adding a specific design element—such as an oversized coffee table for “Family Game Night” or space for a piano, musical instruments, a pool table or even a large television if your family loves sports—will be a good reason for everyone to be in the same room at the same time. The secret is to have a key element in your family room that draws everyone in.

Room design by Everett Thompson of Furniture Showcase and Design

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HOME

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BRIDAL & BABY REGISTRY 2066 Thomasville Road | 850-386-8525 | Mon-Sat 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

CLASSIC INTERIORS W I T H PA N AC H E

Home of Jackie and Jim Slack. Room design by Jackie Slack with the assistance of Terra Palmer of Terra Palmer Designs.

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Your home should reflect your unique style and personality.

Let my resources, expertise and knowledge get you there!

Complete Design Services • Over 23 years Design experience • References Available

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Also, consider the space you have to work with and the size of your family. Make sure that sofas and chairs are comfortable and adequate for maintaining prolonged use. Try to include enough furniture functionality to easily welcome guests and friends—not just your friends, but your kids’ friends as well. Keep three feet of walk space between furniture for easy maneuvering, and design your room to accommodate conversation. Furniture should be close enough together so that you are not shouting to be heard but spaced far enough to allow for easy traffic flow. Add wireless routers so that laptops can be

brought into the family room for homework or free time. Keeping a close eye on what your children are viewing online is an added bonus. Also, give yourself the ability to change your lighting needs to adapt to moods and weather by using lamps, dimmers and recessed lighting.

Having a home large enough to incorporate individual bedrooms and separate entertainment rooms is a blessing to most families, but do not discount the value gained by keeping your family

gathered together in one room. Don’t allow your family room to become the most formal and unused space in the house. Instead, design a room that brings a little nostalgia from the past, where families ate dinner together nightly and relied on each other for entertainment. Designing a room that meets all the needs of your family will allow you to capture memories that will last a lifetime.

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H O M E | D e cor a t i n g

Detailed DESIGN

By Wendy Kerr

I

don’t know how it all started, but I do remember from a very young age being very detailed-oriented, categorizing my doll clothes by pattern and color or grouping my play dishes by size and purpose.

I was always a very organized child—some may say even obsessively organized. But today, I can’t think of a better way to survive in my crazy life as a wife, new mother and owner of a furniture and design business.

I’ve translated these meticulous habits into a philosophy for designing homes. You have heard the phrase “design is in the details” countless times, but what it means to me is that a home’s unique design isn’t truly complete until every aspect of the room is finished. Selecting the right furnishings is important (think of them as the basics of your wardrobe: a little black dress or your favorite pair of jeans), but the finishing touches that adorn each room are the “jewelry” that speaks volumes about the personal style of your home.

The lighting, window treatments, wall coverings and decorative accessories should work seamlessly to not only make your exclusive home fashion statement but to make your friends feel 30 t a l l a h a s s e e

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welcome and your family feel at home. It may seem overwhelming at first, but if you concentrate on one room initially, you will be surprised how effortlessly it can all come together.

Lighting should include layers of ambient, task and accent lights, each supporting one another brilliantly.

Balance is achieved by knowing how much to use of each type and where to use it. If your focal point is an elegant chandelier that provides ambient lighting, a table lamp on one side of the room and a floor lamp on the other can illuminate specific tasks such as reading.

Well-placed portrait lights may accent your treasured art or photography. This well-balanced approach will provide visual excitement to the room as well.

Windows can be dressed up or dressed down, but they must be dressed with something fabulous. Whether you opt for simple woven wood blinds or shutters with a tailored valance or you choose opulent fabrics, tassels and fringe there is no shortage of selection for any budget or style. Start with the style of treatment, then choose your fabrics and trims, and lastly decide on drapery hardware, such as poles, brackets, rings or decorative finials available in a wide variety of wood and metal finishes.

Wall coverings are no longer limited to just paint or wallpaper. Today’s options include anything that can be applied to a vertical surface. Fabric, wood, tile and mirrors are just a few of the ever-expanding mediums that are in use today. Even the old paint and wallpaper of yesterday has evolved to include decorative paint techniques that mimic the appearance of leather and suede or wallpaper applications of natural grasses and dramatic metallics. And don’t forget the fifth wall—the ceiling; fabric, wallpapers and paint are now standard

options to accentuate the extra canvas above, including the facias and soffits of tray ceilings.

So what’s left? The final and most enjoyable items to shop for are the decorative accessories. The right accessories will not only enhance the space but also reflect you and your family. They can represent your travels, your heritage and your personal style.

You can start with the walls, and choose from paintings, prints or photographs.

Or you might decide to do a grouping of antique plates or hand-carved brackets supporting elegant vases. The candlesticks, plants, boxes, books and collectibles that will inevitably grace your tables and shelves can be grouped in odd numbers and varying heights to create interest for the eye.

COME SEE OUR NEW STORE FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL NEW FABRICS ART AND ACCESSORIES! Fabrics • Trims • Wallpaper • Home Accessories • Custom Furniture • Custom Labor • In-Home Consultation

NEW LOCATION • 1410 Market Street The Pavillions, Next to My Favorite Things 850.224.2924 | chrysalisfab@aol.com | www.chrysalisfabric.com

This should tie it all together and create your ultimate detailed design. Of course, I wish I had more space to go into more detail. If you’d like to find out more about the limitless options available to you, come by and see me. I’ll be the one organizing the showroom fabric samples by color and pattern.

Wendy Kerr is the owner of Furniture Showcase & Design at The Gallery at Market Street.

Furnishing

finest FAMILY ROOMS

~ Since 1983~

TALLAHASSEE’S

Your family room should be a comfortable space to relax. But nobody said you can’t do it in style. Let us show you how to add the perfect details to finish the room.

The Gallery at Market Street 894-1235 fsdfl.com Fu r n i t ur e

L ig h t i ng

A c c e s s or i e s

Rugs

Wi ndow Tr e a t me nt s

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H O M E | GA R D EN

Room With a View Contributed by Paul Brock

Impatiens are our most reliable performer for shady gardens, blooming all summer and into the fall. And now they are come in every color you can think of. Plant them in containers or in sweeping beds of color; use a mass of a single color or mix them up for a joyful patchwork effect.

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hat do you see when you look out the family room windows? What is your view from the window over the kitchen sink? What do you look at when you are sitting on the deck?

Your outdoors can be as stylish and attractive as your indoors when you dress up the views with containers of blooming plants. And it’s so easy—much more civilized than digging in the dirt on your hands and knees. Here’s how:

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Garden pundits differ about whether individual pots should be planted with an assortment of plants (often with a tall, grass-like specimen in the center) or a mass of a single kind and color.

You decide, but aim for a consistent theme among all the pots in the display.

In our Tallahassee climate, we are lucky to have flowers blooming all year. Plan to maintain your outdoor display by changing the plantings two or three times a year. Pansies and violas are

absolutely cold-hardy and bloom all winter. Then go wild in late spring and early summer with a huge selection of beautiful, colorful flowers—marigolds, petunias, salvias and lots more. Late summer and fall are a challenge, but a few tough plants like lantana will bloom right through the heat. You may

P h o t o g r a p h y b y C o u r t n e y G wa l t n e y

A few large containers are more effective than a clutter of little pots.

Look for containers at least 12” in diameter or larger. Really large pots (especially ones with colorful glazes) are very dramatic but too heavy to move around, so plan to leave them in a permanent location. You can slip lightweight utility pots inside that can be changed out anytime.

plants or a consistent color scheme.

For instance, cobalt blue pots with yellow or red flowers are dynamite in a sunny spot. Stone-like concrete urns and planters with ivy and ferns have an Old World look on a shady brick terrace. Terra-cotta pots look good anywhere and come in a big selection of sizes and shapes. Go for a calico garden effect by planting a wide shallow dish with a mix of pansies or petunias. Or try a feminine look with tubs of pink and white begonias.

want a few containers of permanent plants that look good all year.

Boxwood topiaries are always nice, clipped into cones or spheres.

Or try something sculptural like an agave or a small palm.

And finally, a few hints to keep the plants growing and looking their best. Use a quality potting soil made for container use.

Don’t even think of using dirt; even the best garden soil will pack hard in a container. Always add a slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote when you plant. And every few weeks, give the plants a kick in the roots with a watering can full of water soluble fertilizer. Container plants simply will never perform well without fertilizer. To keep plants from wilting in containers in really hot, sunny areas, try a product called SoilMoist. This funny stuff swells up like Jello when you water the plants and releases moisture back into the soil as the plants need it. Invest in a watering wand and a water breaker nozzle to fasten on the end of your hose. This makes it so much easier to soak the containers thoroughly without splashing the soil out of the pot or getting your feet wet.

Your source of inspiration for your garden and your home...

You will take such pleasure in your container garden as you sit surrounded by flowers on the deck and every time you see them out the window.

Paul Brock is a gardening expert and one of the owners of Tallahassee Nurseries.

For more information, visit their website at tallahasseenurseries.com.

2911 THOMASVILLE RD. (One Mile South of I-10) • 385.2162

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Smartphone Q R Code

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HEALTH Y LIVING

Teenage Angst or Depression?

How to know when your teen needs help

By Marne Owens

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dolescence is a time when teens are trying to separate themselves from their parents. They want space and power to make some of their own decisions. It’s just part of growing up.

Often, though, this separation between parent and teen may cause the parent to miss some important warnings.

Signs of depression could be one of those danger signals and, if unnoticed, could lead to real problems. The good news is that depression is treatable, and teens who are treated can go on to live happy and productive lives.

W hat ex actly is depr ession, a nd w hat causes it?

Depression is that familiar “blue feeling,” only it lasts longer than a few days and it affects about 5 percent of teens. While many of the signs can be the same as normal teenage irritability, there are certain things to watch out for to know if your teen has a more serious problem.

According to local therapist Shelly K. Mincy, MSW, LCSW, your teen may be depressed if he exhibits changes in his routine habits for a period of two weeks or longer. Symptoms could include difficulty sleeping or sleeping much longer than usual.

Teens could also seem frequently angry, sensitive or more irritable. Loss of appetite or a significant increase in appetite could also be problematic.

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general pains are often a common complaint. Parents should also watch for changes in the teen’s social habits and school performance. If any of these last for two weeks or longer, your teen may need help.

The reasons a teen falls into depression can vary. Sometimes depression is triggered by change at home, stress at school, prolonged illness or the death of someone close. Depression may also be hereditary, so it is more likely that a teen could be depressed if a parent or grandparent has had problems with depression. Also, teens that experience chronic illness or other behavioral issues are more likely to develop depression than those without such barriers.

W hat should par ents do if they suspect their teen is depr essed?

First and foremost, talk to your teen.

“Don’t be afraid to talk about it,” says Mincy. “If you see a change in your teen’s patterns for more than two weeks, sit down with him and ask him if he needs help or wants to talk.” Then, take the next step and get help. Talk with your family physician about the best course of treatment for your teen.

Often, teens benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or counseling, which involves a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Psychologist working with your teen to give him strategies for problem solving and coping with stress.

Sometimes counseling is not enough, and medication therapy is prescribed. Medication can help your teen regain the energy she needs to get better. A psychiatrist will work with you and your teen to prescribe a medication and dose that works with your teen’s particular symptoms.

This does not mean she will always need medication. Over time, the need for medication may dissipate as your teen learns strategies for coping with bad days and stressful situations.

How should a par ent help the r est of the fa mily cope with depr ession?

The effects of depression are felt by each member of the family. It is important to talk to other children in the family and let them know the situation. Depression is an illness and should be treated like any other medical problem. “Reassure your other kids that they are all loved,” advises Mincy.

“Give them tools that will help them cope, and then give them a break from the stress occasionally.” There are books available by age group to help your other children understand depression.

Need to talk?

Summer Brooke Gomez, MSW

850-421-1260

Helping your teen through depression can also be an opportunity to reconnect with him and with the entire family. Make positive changes in the family routine, such as taking walks in the afternoon or other physical exercise the whole family enjoys. Start a regular movie night or game night together. Keep communication open; let your teen know that you are available to listen without judgment.

Depression is frightening, but it can be overcome. Says Mincy, “Ask for help. Depression is common and it’s treatable. You don’t have to be afraid.”

Marne Owens is a freelance writer living in Tallahassee.

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011 35

ENTE R TAINING | C ELEB R ATI O NS

Decorating for Your

Springtime Festivities A beautiful table setting will make your guests feel extra special.

Following are some simple, yet sophisticated ways to make your table at Easter Sunday dinner, Mother’s Day brunch or any event this spring lovely and unique.

N

othing says “spring is here” more than tulips. For an extra special place setting, insert a tulip in the napkin for a touch of elegance. For your Easter centerpiece, fill a vase with tulips and sprinkle jelly beans in similar colors around the base.

Instead of dying all of those hard-boiled eggs for Easter, try something a little different. Wrap the egg in a ribbon and insert a daisy or another favorite flower in the ribbon. Set one at each guest’s place setting or leave several in the center of the table for a beautiful (and edible!) decoration.

Your dyed eggs will look extra beautiful with some sprigs of real grass placed around the nested eggs in a colorful basket. So simple and beautiful.

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011 37

T h e D ISH | F r e s h F ood For those who have perhaps heard of farmers’ markets but are wary of them to put it simply, a farmers’ market is defined exactly as it is titled. With individual vendors, mostly farmers, these small yet prosperous markets supply anything a consumer may need. From produce and fruits to meats and dairy, farmers’ markets supply delicious products for healthy, local communities. If you love to cook but are running out of original ideas, most farmers’ markets provide delightful recipes as well as detailed demonstrations. Too busy to cook? Plenty of markets have meals prepared for customers. We all have those stressful days. Some markets even supply soothing botanicals, lotions, teas, scented products and incredibly inventive products that assist in rejuvenation.

Why farmers’ markets you may ask? Well just consider the potential values. Not only is the food continuously fresh, but you are purchasing products directly from local growers. Since you’re buying locally, each individual sale helps ensure that more capital remains in the community. And as for the ultimate test—taste—once you sink your teeth into some of the fresh local products, you will find that you are ready to go back again and again.

There are a number of farmers’ markets in different locations around Tallahassee. So next time you find you need to restock for your family meals, make it a point to find one near you and stop by for something fresh and delicious.

The Lake Ella Growers Market 229 Lake Ella Drive

Fresh Veggies, Fruits and More

At the Local Farmers’ Market

By Alyssa Fleisher

O

ur modern-day, progressive society is constantly updating its trends. One day it’s frozen yogurt shops, another day it’s jeggings. With all of the recent health awareness, one trend that has seemed to rise like a phoenix from its ashes from years of discrete existence is farmers’ markets.

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(Behind the Black Dog Café)

Every Wednesday evening.

3:00 p.m. to dusk.

Rain or shine.

Workshops held during market hours: 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Market Square Farmers Market 1415 Timberland Road at Market Square (under the pavilion)

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Year-Round 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Killearn Farmers Market 4500 W. Shannon Lakes Drive

(Corner of Shannon Lakes and Kerry Forest Parkway near the roundabout)

Tuesday and Friday (rain or shine) 2:00 p.m. to dusk

Sunshine Growers Market Between 4025 and 4055 Esplanade Way Mondays (except holidays) year round 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Downtown Market Place Saturdays March–November Downtown Tallahassee 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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850.668.1334 t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

• A p r i l /M ay 2011 39

The Dish | Shop

In the Land of

Tomatoes

By Alyssa Fleisher

F

resh tomatoes, tradition, loyalty and love—even these words don’t fully describe Tomato Land owner Linda Reagan’s devotion to cooking and serving loyal customers who have come to depend on her delicious homespun fare. Made each day by her loving hands from fresh ingredients, much of it from local growers, Tomato Land regulars stop in to find out what’s for supper.

Working hard and learning the business alongside her husband Butch, Linda has taken the food preparation side of what was originally her parents’ farm stand to a whole new level. However, produce was nothing new to Linda and Butch when they offered their first tomatoes for sale. Both had grown up on farms of their own, learning not only how to grow their own quality fruits and vegetables, but how to separate the ripe, quality produce from that which showed potential inadequacy—only the best for their customers is their family mantra.

While they may be known for their produce, Tomato Land provides delicious foods for any type of palate. All of their fruits and vegetables are naturally grown by local farmers from all areas of Florida, even providing organic options for their customers. It is easy to see Linda’s passion for her life’s work as she described one of the greatest benefits of her market’s traditions. “With each new term comes new produce. It’s almost a way to watch the seasons change with us.”

While there are always fresh fruits and vegetables available, shoppers might be more in the mood for jam or jelly. All of

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Linda Reagan

Tomato Land’s sweet and rich preserves are prepared and served by Linda’s own hands. And Linda is not shy about sharing her recipe for Southern sweet pickles, jams and jellies and almost anything else. It is all about spreading the love for fresh ingredients that yield the tastiest food. While customers have the option to take foods home raw and ready for preparation, they can also purchase prepared foods—perfect for breakfast or lunch. There’s a blue plate special almost every day. Not to be missed is the Tomato Land Deluxe Sandwich: bacon, lettuce, tomato, fresh avocado, sprouts, arugula and cucumbers on freshly baked wheat

bread slathered with pesto mayo. On Fridays, Linda and her crew serve up a fried-fish plate with all the trimmings.

In addition to serving Tallahassee residents for 33 years, Tomato Land has also been serving loyal customers from all over Florida, and their reputation has even spread north of the state line—far north. “Perhaps one of my favorite memories was one that happened recently,” Linda recalled. “A boy who has been a long-time customer came in with his girlfriend and his mother. He brought his mother all the way down from New York City, just to experience

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what he loved so much about our market. It showed incredible loyalty.” His mother shared that the first time that this boy had been in the store was as a baby in a stroller. It is moments like these that Linda says keep her motivated to get up and thoughtfully prepare food every day. After seeing generations of families share the recipes and traditions that she has cared about for so long, it no longer feels like a job for her. She has come to view these customers as her own extended family. Pleasing their palates has simply become part of her, an expression of love and respect for the land.

So next time you are driving down Thomasville Road and see the giant tomato, turn in and take the time to smell the tomatoes and feel the love. Linda will likely be in the yellow building sitting on a stool in the back prep room peeling or chopping fresh produce. Butch will be under the farm stand, making sure everything they sell is fit for anyone who is looking to nourish their friends and family with Tomato Land love.

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C omm u n i t y | C LUBS

Red Dirt Discoveries A Family Nature Club

By Caroline Walker

A

re you looking for a way to get your kids away from the video games and television set while also spending quality time together as a family?

Well, one club may be the ticket to kicking the technology-crazed habits and getting some fresh air.

Red Dirt Discoveries is a free family nature group that serves the residents of the Tallahassee/Leon County area with fun and adventurous outdoor excursions.

The club was created by Russ and Meghan Mick, both Tallahassee natives. The couple enjoyed biking, hiking and exploring the outdoors as youngsters and were looking to return to their natural roots with their own children. After checking out nearby parks and other natural areas with their kids, they not only rediscovered familiar places but also found many new discoveries.

The philosophy behind the club’s mission is to bring families together through exploring different and unique places around town. Not only does the club give kids a safe place to play and be outdoors, but it also contributes to their healthy development. Outings are usually held monthly. A summer camp is also planned for the first week of June. For more information on Red Dirt Discoveries Family Nature Club, visit www.reddirtdiscoveries.org.

Children of Tallahassee families enjoying the activities of a Red Dirt Discoveries outing.

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• A p r i l /M ay 2011 43

C omm u n i t y | E v e n t s

T

his year is cause for celebration for the Tallahassee Civic Chorale as they celebrate 25 years of music. The nonprofit community chorus was established in 1986, and since then they have strived to entertain the community with their 40 to 50-person chorus performing three major concerts every year as well as entertaining at local events. Although many come to see the group perform, the Chorale also makes it a point to go to those that cannot come to them, hosting “sing outs” in which they travel to retirement homes and public schools to perform.

Current artistic director Stefanie Cash expresses how special it is to work with the Chorale. “It has been a pleasure to

work with the Tallahassee Civic Chorale this year. The Chorale is a wonderful group of hardworking, kind men and women who love to sing quality choral literature. They have also been extremely welcoming and flexible as a new director assumes the podium.” Stefanie is currently getting her doctorate in philosophy with an emphasis in music education and choral conducting from Florida State University.

says Stefanie. The concert will feature music

by American composers as well as FSU alumnus Paul Basler’s “Songs of Faith.”

Proceeds from the concerts help fund a music scholarship with the TCC Foundation for Tallahassee Community College students who sang with the Chorale in the previous semester. For tickets and more information, visit online at civicchorale.org or call (850) 942-1893.

To celebrate their 25 years, the Chorale’s spring concert, Silver Jubilee, will be held on April 26 at Tallahassee Community College. “This is a special year for the Chorale. Twenty-five years of quality music performances is quite an accomplishment,”

“It has been a pleasure to work with the Tallahassee Civic Chorale this year. The Chorale is a wonderful group of hardworking, kind men and women who love to sing quality choral literature.” ~ Stephanie Cash 44 t a l l a h a s s e e

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Make Time For Volunteering Contributed by Sandra Huster, Director of Volunteer Services Covenant Hospice

V E R I TA S M U S I C Training People to B ecome Successful Musicians

W

hen people think about volunteering for hospice, their first thought may be, “I could never do that,” or “I would be too depressed.” However, talk to a Covenant Hospice volunteer and he or she will tell you a very different story.

Covenant Hospice volunteers come from many different backgrounds, ranging from retired persons to working professionals, active military personnel, high school and college students. They all have one thing in common—a desire to give back, and in that giving, they receive so much in return.

Guitar - Piano - Drums Located in the Circle K Shopping Center K illar ney Way

(850) 321 2910

Covenant has opportunities for people with diverse skills and interests. Volunteers who are looking for a chance to meet new people and be active in the community will love Covenant’s Ambassador Program. For those who want to have fun and socialize with others, Covenant’s fund raising events are the perfect fit. Volunteers who enjoy office work or computers can find a home in administrative support. Individuals with care-giving experiences and emotional and spiritual support skills may choose to visit Covenant’s patients and their families.

Persons that have experienced the loss of a loved one understand what families have gone through and make wonderful bereavement volunteers. Volunteers from our communities help to garden, clean yards, make simple home repairs, build ramps, sew, crochet, cook and bake. Volunteers receive specialized training that prepares them to volunteer in their area of interest.

Covenant Hospice promises its volunteers that they will find a sense of purpose, worthwhile work and the realization that they are making a difference. That’s why more than 2,600 individuals have chosen to give an important part of their lives to Covenant Hospice.

So if you are looking for a way to give back and to make a difference in people’s lives, become a hospice volunteer. By helping others, you will find the experience very rewarding as well. t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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comm u n i t y | e v e n t S

Austin S. “Ash” Hamilton

Annual Stingray Round Up Bow Fishing Tournament

A

fter returning home from Iraq, Austin Hamilton, “Ash” for short, a soldier in the army, discovered a passion for bow fishing months before his death in Texas this past May. After his family traveled to the lone star state for his funeral, his brother and his father, Keith, were introduced to the sport, and both fell in love with it just as Ash did.

Because most of the fish that are hunted in Texas are protected or nonexistent in Florida and bow fishing happens at night, Keith decided to move to saltwater bow fishing, which gave him the ability to fish in daylight hours. The love for the sport continued, and in honor of their son and fallen soldier, Keith and his wife, Cindy (who was featured on the cover of the October/November 2009 issue), decided to create the Austin S. “Ash” Hamilton Annual Stingray Round-Up Bow Fishing Tournament.

“The idea came to me as a way to memorialize my son with something he loved so that everybody that loved him can share this each year with us and in memory,” says Keith.

Ash was also an organ donor and was credited for saving five lives within hours of his death. Through the donation of his eyes, tissue and other necessary organs, Ash will continue to save and improve many more lives in the future.

“What better way to honor a son than to do what he loved and bring awareness to a cause he lived for,” Keith says.

In their son’s memory, Keith and Cindy created the Austin Spencer “Ash” Hamilton Foundation for Organ Donation Awareness, which will be one of several recipients from the tournament’s earnings. Keith and Cindy are not only bringing awareness of their son’s foundation and accomplishments after death but are also lending generous support to other organizations around Tallahassee, including C.A.R.E. (Care Tallahassee Christian Home for Men), Chelsea House and the Good Samaritan Network, Inc. “We plan to have a Celebrity Cook-Off the day after the tournament to raise additional funds through a silent auction and food-tasting event. The remaining food will be donated to The Shelter for the homeless,” says Keith.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 23, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Marks Lighthouse boat launch.

Entry fee is $300 per boat, with a four-man limit. Registration is from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. For more information call (850) 339-4653 or visit TheAshFoundation.org/StingrayRoundup.aspx.

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NEED WE SAY MORE? Come to the USTA Tallahassee Tennis Challenger and see the greatest tennis stars right in your own back yard. n April 9-16, 2011 at Forestmeadows Tennis Complex in Tallahassee, FL.

USTA TALLAHASSEE A USTA Pro Circuit Event Benefiting the D. Mark Vogter, M.D. Neuro-Intensive Care Unit at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare

n For more information about tickets, sponsorships or volunteer opportunities, visit our web site at TallahasseeChallenger.com or call the TMH Foundation at 431-5389.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Winner of the 2007 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger; 5 career singles titles; 2010 Semifinals Australian Open; plays Davis Cup for France; currently #13 in the world.

Mardy Fish Winner 2006 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger; 5 career singles titles; plays Davis Cup for USA; currently #16 in the world--a career high.

John Isner Winner of the 2009 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger; Winner 2010 Heineken Open; Winner longest tennis match in tennis history, Wimbledon 2010; plays Davis Cup for USA; currently #19 in the world.

Ball Kids Sponsor Banners

VIP tent Special Olympics

Please visit our Web site at: www.tallahasseechallenger.com * Photos by Mike Olivella

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AROUNDTOWN Special Events • Speakers • Benefits • Activities

Red Hills Horse Trials Three days of exciting equestrian events brought many to the Red Hills Horse Trials which was held at Klapp-Phipps Park.

Karen Murphy, Brenna Murphy, Kate Harrison

Julia Capdevila, Elizabeth Barranco Dr. Earl and Barbara Becker

Randall Box, Becky Daniel

Delilah Womble, Scott McCall

Dode Pantaleon, Laurie Falk, Louis Sullenberger 48 t a l l a h a s s e e

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P h o t o g r a p h y b y C o u r t n e y G wa l t n e y

Day of Dance® Kleman Plaza was the site of dancing, health screenings, music and more at the Day of Dance® for Your Health sponsored by Capital Regional Medical Center.

Elizabeth Powell, Lindsay Tanner

A Reason to Celebrate!

Tallahassee Woman™

An Award Winning Magazine Jovita Bakker, Jennifer Menendez

COMPLIMENTARY

December 2010/January 2011

Kristen Ledlow She’s Not Your Mother’s Beauty Queen

TW’s Faves & Raves

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Get FIT in 2011

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• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 1

Dec-Jan_2010.indd 1

11/22/10 9:48 AM

Silver ADDY for Best Magazine Design December 2010–January 2011

Thank you to the Tallahassee community for your support.

We look forward to many more years of bringing you

Tallahassee Woman.

P h o t o g r a p h y b y A l e xa n d r a D e l g a d o

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wom e n t o w a t c h

Women to Watch

is a listing of women with new jobs or promotions, business openings and changes, awards and installations or women who are reaching out and making a difference in our community.

E-mail information for Women to Watch to listings@TalWoman.com.

Liz Jackson

Julia Mitchell

Liz Jackson and her custom bakery Bite Of Your Life have recently celebrated six months of successful business ownership in their new Tallahassee storefront location specializing in custom sweets, such as sculpted cakes, custom cupcakes, dessert bars and cupcake bar parties. Having participated in community events with the Capital Region YMCA, the March of Dimes, Big Bend Hospice and the Children’s Home Society, Liz’s company has proven its commitment to the Tallahassee community.

Julia Mitchell, Physician Assistant, has joined Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic. She has 20 years of medical experience and will be assisting three Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. Julia is one of the Botox and dermal filler specialists and is involved with “Botox Friday” and other antiwrinkle facial filler injectables.

Sandy Gorski

Sandy “Sandra Lea” Gorski recently returned to Tallahassee and joined Impressions Salon, a locally owned and operated full-service salon and spa.

Amy Forman, a Tallahassee native and owner of Papaya Wedding Planning, recently celebrated a successful first year in business. As an FSU graduate and a member of the National Association of Professional Women, she brings her fashion design background to her clean, classic wedding designs with a Southern romantic flare.

Amy Forman

Rachel Melson

Rachel Melson was recently named Leon County Schools Florida School-Related Employee of the Year. She also recently won a $10,000 business grant and extensive mentoring package from 100 Urban Entrepreneurs and The Cash Flow after presenting her idea in a business pitch competition. The business, Sunny Days Bakery, LLC was one of over 45 submissions in the competition.

Catherine Lee is owner of Growing Room Tallahassee, a child development center. In one year, Catherine has opened two Growing Room Child Development Centers, which now employ 70 teachers, management staff, cooks and auxiliary staff.

Catherine Lee

Dania Irvin

Dania Irvin recently launched ChristeningWardrobe.com. The online specialty store sells heirloom-quality children’s wear and accessories for baptisms, christenings and other special occasions.

Medical Aesthetician Nancy Grissom has joined Jolynn Greenhalgh and Dr. Charles Moore at Silhouette Laser. After many years in Tallahassee, Nancy spent the last year and a half in Tampa doing consulting work and teaching skin-care seminars. She is now back in Tallahassee offering medical skin-care services at Raydiant Skin Care in conjunction with Silhouette Laser.

Nancy Grissom

Amber R. Tynan was recently promoted to Executive Director of the Southeastern Credit Union

Foundation, a nonprofit organization of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions dedicated to progressive professional development of credit union staff and volunteers, financial education programs for youth and adults and creating valuable resources for member credit unions and the Amber R. Tynan communities they serve.

Cheryl Hatcher a long-time veteran of the tourism and travel industry recently joined the Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown as Director of Sales. New to the Tallahassee community, Cheryl and her family relocated to Tallahassee from Lexington, Kentucky where she was the with the Kentucky Department of Tourism and was the project manager for “The Kentucky Experience” Pavilion at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

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wom e n W E A D M I R E

KAREN VOGTer

Life, Love, and Tennis

By Michelle R. Nickens

Tennis begins with love – Author unknown

Photography by Inga Finch

by close friends, tennis became an integral part of their life together. “Watching the tournament was fun. We met the most amazing people,” she said. “Playing was something we could do and enjoy together.

So we bought racquets, started taking lessons and played in leagues.” Karen and Mark went to more tournaments, and over the years, their support for the game, the tournament and the community grew.

serene and joyful smile swept across Karen Vogter’s face the moment she sat down. You cannot help but feel enlightened as she talks about her family, her friends and, of course, tennis. Someone once said, “Love is nothing in tennis, but in life it’s everything.” Karen’s story begins with love. She’s a leader in our community, inspiring people through her work with the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger tournament and through her personal journey.

As a critical care nurse for years, Karen has a passion for people and for their health and well-being. Likewise, as a neurosurgeon at the Tallahassee Neurological Clinic, Mark was dedicated to saving people’s lives. They spent years working hard, building a family, supporting our community and playing tennis. “You have to play the game,” she said. However, some games you win and some you lose.

And, unfortunately, Karen experienced the biggest loss. After 19 years of marriage, Mark unexpectedly passed away. “Mark was one of a kind. People gravitated towards him,” Karen explained. “He loved his family and his patients—he changed lives.”

One might think that Karen would have met her husband Mark while playing tennis, but they actually met while dancing. Soon after, Karen and Mark were married, and although they were both athletic, they had not tried their hand at tennis yet. After they were invited to a tennis tournament

Shortly after Mark’s death, friends approached Karen with an idea—a memorial that has now benefited countless individuals. The D. Mark Vogter, M.D. Memorial Endowment for the Neuro Intensive Care Unit was established at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. At the

A

unit, patients are treated for neurological trauma, stroke, brain tumors and spinal cord injuries. Like a perfect match, the tennis tournament would be the venue to raise funds. But it has done more than that. It has brought people together, educated our community, invigorated our youth and celebrated life.

This year, the 12th Annual USTA Tallahassee Tennis Challenger will be held April 9–16, 2011, at Forestmeadows Tennis Center. Next year will mark 20 years that Tallahassee has had a professional tennis tournament. Friends of Our Parks Foundation was instrumental in helping the tournament succeed. Karen explained that the strong partnerships with the TMH Foundation, the City of Tallahassee, the USTA Pro Circuit and the USTA Florida Section have helped propel the event. People from all over Florida, more than 300 volunteers, come to Tallahassee to help.

In addition to funding the endowment, the tournament supports the Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center. The tournament also hosts events for the Boys & Girls Club and First Serve participants, holds free clinics for adults and children and features QuickStart Tennis. “We want our youth to engage in an activity they can do for the rest of their life.” Her face lit up when she spoke about working with Special Olympics children during the tournament.

In 2004, Karen assumed the role of Tournament Director. Her close friend Maria served as the Tournament Chair until last year when she retired. Karen stressed that many people have worked hard to make this happen and seems to downplay her role. But just as people gravitated toward Mark, they gravitate toward her too. She is the epitome of truth, honor, respect and all that’s right in the world. “We want to make a difference,” she says. And, Karen certainly has.

For more information about the tournament, visit online at tallahasseechallenger.com. t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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CALENDAR OF

EVENTS 52 t a l l a h a s s e e

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Special Events April 1 through May 20 Relay for Life 2011 Relayforlife.org for locations and dates of relays throughout the Tallahassee area.

April 2 4th Annual Divine Sisterhood of the Costume Closet A Tallahassee Ballet fund-raising event Tallahasseeballet.org or (850) 224-6917 ext. 5 for tickets

May 7-8 & 14-15 Parade of Homes (850) 385-1414 or tallyba.com May 15 Sharks & Chablis Gulf Specimen Marine Lab annual fundraising event (850) 445-8618 or e-mail rudloe.cypress@gmail.com

Art Exhibits

April 24 Monty Python’s Spamalot Tallahassee Broadway Series Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center (850) 222-0400 or tlccc.org May 7-8 Cinderella Presented by the Tallahassee Ballet Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU (850) 224-6917 or tallahasseeballet.org May 6-8 & 13-15 Curtains Presented by Theatre A La Carte Theatrealacarte.org

April 3 Cinderella’s Tea Party Dorothy B. Oven Park Tallahasseeballet.org

April 1–May 28 Eluster Richardson: A Culture of Quilts Gadsden Art Center (850) 875-4866 or gadsdenarts.org

April 6-10 Tallahassee Film Festival (850) 878-5433 or Tallahasseefilmfestival.com

April 8-28 Graduating Artists FSU Museum of Fine Arts (850) 644-6836 or mofa.fsu.edu

April 9-10 Tallahassee Jazz and Blues Festival Tallahassee Museum (850) 575-8684 or tallahasseemuseum.org

April 15 “Bond for Life” Spirit of Youth Gala & Auction Boystown.org

April 15- July 9 Heather Parker Paintings Gadsden Art Center (850) 875-4866 or gadsdenarts.org

April 20-23 Easter Walkabout Piedmont Park Alliance Church (850) 386-7157 or easterwalkabout.org

April 16-17 LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival Chainofparks.org

April 16 Tallahassee Community Chorus Annual Spring Concert: Verdi’s Requiem Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU (850) 445-4499 or tcchorus.org

April 21-23 90th Annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival Thomasvillega.com or (866) 577-3600 April 23 Austin S. “Ash” Hamilton Annual Stingray Round Up Fund-raiser Bow Fishing Tournament For more information contact Keith Hamilton at (850) 339-4653 April 24 Easter Egg Hunt at Myers Park Hosted by the City of Tallahassee (850) 891-3887 or talgov.com April 28 Spring Fling 2011: Under a Spanish Moon Benefit for Big Bend Hospice Tallahassee Nurseries For information contact Laura at (850) 701-1341 May 7 Crystal Stair Mother and Son Gala To benefit the scholarship fund of the Silver Dome Foundation. For information e-mail Silverdomefdn@gmail.com.

May 7 Kentucky Derby Gala For information visit Leonarc.com/derby

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May 6-28 Cat Life Invitational (850) 222-8800 or lemoyne.org May 6- June 3 Tri-State Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition FSU Museum of Fine Arts Cvatd.fsu.edu

Theatre and Dance April 1-3 Ain’t Misbehavin’ FAMU Essential Theatre Charles Winter Wood Theatre, FAMU (850) 561-2425 or famu.edu April 1-10 Charlotte’s Web Young Actors Theatre (850) 386-6602 or youngactorstheatre.com April 7-9 & 14-16 CHICAGO The Musical Theatre TCC! Turner Auditorium, TCC (850) 201-9882 or tcc.fl.edu/theatretcc April 14-16 Evening of Dance FSU School of Dance (850) 644-6500 or dance.fsu.edu

Music

April 26 Tallahassee Civic Chorale’s Silver Jubilee Call (850) 942-1893 or Civicchorale.org April 30 Solid Gold Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Ruby Diamond Auditorium (850) 224-0461 or Tallahasseesymphony.org May 15 21st Annual Tallahassee Youth Orchestra Spring Concert Tallahasseeyouthorchestras.org

Other Activities April 1-2 Wakulla Wildlife Festival Wakulla Springs State Park Wakullawildlifefestival.org April 2 2011 Springtime Tallahassee Festival (850) 224-5012 or Springtimetallahassee.com April 9-16 USTA Tallahassee Tennis Challenger Proceeds benefit the Tallahassee Memorial Vogter Neuro-Intensive Care Unit. For more information visit Tallahasseechallenger.com/history

April 10 Capital City Caper (850) 201-6064 or capitalcitycaper.com April 10, 17 & May 8, 15, 22 Downtown Marketplace Ponce de Leon Park (850) 224-3252 or Tallahasseedowntown.com April 14 Southeastern Plastic Surgery Informational Session Skin Care Technology (850) 219-2000 se-plasticsurgery.com

Coming up in the next issue of Tallahassee Woman Outdoor Living

Ovarian event

Travel Destinations Sizzling Summer Fashion Pet Projects

April 16-17 The Ochlockonee River Paddlefest Proceeds to benefit Keep Tallahassee-Leon County Beautiful.

For information visit Ochlockonee.com.

April 22-24 21st Annual Carrabelle Riverfront Festival Carrabelle Riverwalk Carrabelle, FL (850) 653-8678 or anaturalescape.com/Area_Events.aspx April 27 Third Annual Author’s Day at Goodwood The Last Word Book Club Reservations needed by April 18 menapettit@yahoo.com May 1 May Day Party at Railroad Square CommunityAtRailroadSquare.org May 5 Southeastern Plastic Surgery Informational Session on breast rejuvenation, augmentation, lift, and reduction. For information call (850) 219-2000 or visit se-plasticsurgery.com.

May 6-7 19th Annual Apalachicola Historic Home Tour Trinity Episcopal Church in Apalachicola, FL For information call (850) 653-9550 May 13-22 The Great Plein Air Paint Out 2011 (850) 653-8678 or Naturalescape.com/Area_Events.aspx May 16 Jazz for Justice Benefit Contact Mary at (850) 385-9007 for more information.

June 27-30 & July 11-14 C.A.M.P Communication Always Means Progress A summer camp for children with ASD. E-mail victoriacammarata@comcast.net or call (850) 445-9013

tallahassee woman online Now you can keep up with Tallahassee Woman Magazine online!

Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook.

To submit an item for the calendar, please be sure to include the event title, date of the event, contact name, telephone number and e-mail or website address.

Submissions are subject to approval. Send the information to us at info@TalWoman.com.

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FunnyGirl

Kitchen Rodeo My 8-Second Ride

By Kimberly Powers

I

am recovering from the rodeo last night. I know most people actually go to a rodeo, but I decided that with all the painting I had left to do, I would bring the rodeo home. Due to our strict HOA rules, there was not a bucking bull in sight.

I, instead, wrangled a 20-foot extension ladder, named Beelzebub, into my kitchen.

I whooped and hollered; he kicked his legs from underneath himself—and out the chute we went. Beelzebub pawed at my upper kitchen cabinets, sending the crown molding straight to the counter below. He then gave me a good buck as we bounced off the granite, yet leaving not a scuff in sight. At his last attempt to oust me, he planted all four hooves firmly into my hardwood floor. I felt my bones clatter as I pounded down on this menace’s back. Then with his last little twist, off I went; he had expelled me at last.

I slowly stood to look at the judges, awaiting my score. I grabbed the rim of my paint tray, from the top of my head and tipped it to the gathering crowd.

What a first ride!!! It felt like an eternity, but had I made it the full 8 seconds?

I expected Beelzebub to receive the complete 50 points, for his ride had all the required bucks, jolts and blasts. My performance was also quite outstanding.

I stayed atop that wild animal through every bounce and ricochet. It was only on his last swirling burst that I was finally thrown, to the ground, in a pool of paint.

So, surely I would get a perfect score and go on to the next round. I had to finish; that wall was only half painted.

The judges disqualified me, stating I had left the chute without a bull rope or bell. It did not count that I still had my paintbrush in hand. That was not part of bull riding, they said. I stood to my feet, paint dripping and shaking. The x-rays showed no bones were broken. There was just one sore cowgirl with a splatterpainted kitchen, a few broken dishes, and a wall half painted. I sighed as they led poor Beelzebub out, for he had taken quite a walloping and was mangled and bent. They said he could never be ridden again. With my favorite bull retired and the judges frowning, I had to wait for my rung-spaced bruises to expire.

Next time I will conquer my kitchen and wrangle that bull, for the full 8-second ride!

About the author: Kimberly Powers is a follower of Christ, a wife, the mother of four and a business coach.

She loves the outdoors, singing, reading, being with

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her family, volunteering and living life. She says there is nothing better than making someone else smile, inspiring them to take the next step, and helping people achieve their goals. You can read more about her at KimberlysCards.com. Article source: EzineArticles.com

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You will receive a bill from Radiology Associates for reading your mammogram. t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n • A p r i l /M ay 2011 55

Convenience doesn’t have a price,

it has a discount

Florida Commerce’s updated online mortgage center makes applying for a mortgage easy. You’ll find helpful tips and resources including: your best mortgage options, checklists, calculators, rate information and more! Everything you need in one easy location. PLus, when you apply for a mortgage online at FloridaCommerce.org you’ll receive an instant decision on your loan in just seconds.

Apply online before June 30th and we’ll give you

$250 off your closing costs At Florida Commerce, convenience doesn’t have a price, it has a discount.

For more information, call 850.488.0035 or visit our mortgage center at Floridacommerce.org.

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BLAIRSTONE BRADFORDVILLE | CAPITAL | THOMASVILLE | MAHAN | WESTSIDE •A /M | 2011 wo m a n

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