Pulse Spring 2010

1 • PULSE • SPRING 2010free | spring 2010

PULSE • SPRING 2010 • 2

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3 • PULSE • SPRING 2010

Apnea | Insomnia | Narcolepsy | ParasomniaNocturnal Myoclonus/Restless Leg Syndrome | Other Disorders

1 0 0 0 Wate r m a n Way, tava r e s | 3 5 2 . 2 5 3 . 3 5 2 0 | W W W. f h Wat.o rg

Sleep Disorders Center

a r e y o u f a l l i n g a s l e e p

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Let us help.Call today for an appointment with our sleep specialist.


Ramblin’ with Richard 6

Sex, food, and...giving?

Bird Watching with Pam 8

Bald Eagles in Tavares

Writers One Flight Up 10

The Brian Arnold Memorial Scholarship Winner is...

Down the Dora Canal 14

An escape right at your back door

The Tavares Story 18

A simple shift in focus is revitalizing the City of Tavares

The Seaplane City 21

What’s coming next for the New Tavares

Dining In Tavares 24

Great new locations to eat

View 9

Committed is a must-read for the unwed, newlywed, and wearily-wed

Visit 12

A “New” Historic Skyline

Consider 22

10 Tips for Traveling Green

Issue 15 | Spring 2010Copyright © Pulse the Magazine, Inc.

PO Box 1896 • Tavares, FL 32778

PublisherCalvin Arnold

[email protected]

Managing EditorRichard Huss

[email protected]

Marketing & DevelopmentMari Henninger

[email protected]

Design DirectorCristina Miller

[email protected]

Advertising DesignLorri Arnold

[email protected]

Photography Bill Casey

Marc Vaughn

Contributing WritersRachelle Lucas

Pam MyersMari Henninger

John DruryNancy Clutts

Advertising SalesCalvin Arnold

[email protected] Don Thibodeau • 352.552.2655

[email protected]

Pulse the Magazine is published quarterly. We are advertiser–

supported and available without charge at participating businesses

in the Mount Dora, Eustis and Tavares area. Mail subscription

information is available upon request. All opinions expressed in these

pages are those of the writers. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Please type or print clearly. Letters must carry the writer's name and

city of residence, a signature if sent through hard mail, and at least

one type of contact information: e-mail address, phone number, or

physical address. Only the writer's name and city will be published.

All letters sent to Pulse the Magazine may be published in print

and/or at our Web site. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy,

brevity, clarity, legality, and taste. Letters should be e-mailed to

[email protected] or hard mailed to Publisher at Pulse

the Magazine, PO Box 1896, Tavares, FL, 32778.

table of contents

about the

Jennifer Cahill Harper is a native of Mount Dora. After many years in New York illustrating for book publishing, she now resides in Eustis and enjoys her family and making art.

cover


We have always said Pulse is about change. Well, life is about change. We lose loved ones and we have new loved ones come into this world. Personally, I lost a brother and gained a grandson in just the last nine months. What would we be without change? Can you imagine everybody running around being the same? Wearing the same clothes, the same hair, having the same ideas, thoughts, perspectives? No…I can’t either. Pulse, and life, would be quite boring without change.

Issue #15 of Pulse personifies change. We cover the significant changes civic leaders in Tavares have launched to make their city more attractive as a place to go, to have fun and be entertained. Pulse has also initiated a scholarship, The Brian Arnold Memorial Scholarship, given to the winner of our essay contest. The finalists are published in this issue and the winner is Shari-Anne Whitelocke from Mount Dora High School. You may also notice a few journalistic changes in Pulse starting with this issue. And there are more to come in future issues.

We also have gone electronic with the launch of our web site at www.pulsethemagazine.com. The web site will give you more access to Pulse: to our writers, photographers and advertisers. It’s just one of several changes we plan for our advertisers and readers to reap the full benefits of Pulse Magazine.

We hope you enjoy issue #15 of Pulse and welcome change with us. Yes, change…it’s constant!

Cordially,

Calvin Arnold, Publisher

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It used to be drugs, sex and rock n’ roll. Now it’s sex, food and giving. Yes, giving.

Scientists have shown that acts of giving light up the same pleasure centers in your brain as sex and food. Imagine that. Giving. I’m talking about doing good deeds. Helping others.

It’s safer, healthier, and in some instances, tax deductible. And now scientists say that it definitely helps you feel better.

No wonder I feel sated after I go out of my way to do something good for someone else. In fact, I submit that just by smiling and saying hello to folks, you can have the same pleasure as little sex side trips and indulgent snacks. Think about it! Writing that check to support Haitians blasted out of their already deplorable circumstances by an earth-shattering-quake probably carried you to the level of the ancient Roman bath-food-orgies at the height of the Empire.

But seriously, folks, what I’m talking about is the fact that doing good helps make us feel good. Talk about a quid pro quo relationship! What else do we need to know to motivate us to get involved in making our world a better place? Yeah, I can hear some of you now, “Huss, you’ll never make a real difference. Things are just too screwed up.”

Hey…the joke’s on the naysayers because the bottom line is this: I’m not trying to make “a real difference.” I admit it. I’m just acting selfishly. I’m looking out for “good old numero uno” – me. Extending my self beyond myself feeds my self. It helps me feel better about me. And I truly enjoy making me feel good. Is this a legitimate form of hedonism?

Here’s what’s cool about this giving concept: It’s not

limited to writing checks or dropping cash in Christmas bell buckets. You derive this basic human pleasure by giving in ways other than cash…with your time, your brain power, your creativity, your moral support and your brawn. Let’s look at a few ways we can become more and more selfish and hedonistic in our daily lives locally:

Wow, this sure feels good #1: I love the Cat Protection Society folks. They stretch their limited dollars to take care of kittens and cats in a NO KILL shelter. That’s a huge responsibility, requiring lots of support in many different ways: Volunteer your time (in the store, at the shelter, vet services), donate things you no longer want or need that they can sell at their consignment store, cat supplies and food. And yes–cash. This is just one of many worthwhile local organizations that can use your help.

Hook up with your favorite organization and start enjoying some guilt free pleasure.

Wow, this sure feels good #2: In the last few months I noticed that several of our Tri-City retailers and restaurants (PizzAmore, Ruby Street Grille, Yada Yada Pottery, Mount Dora Center for the Arts) sponsored “charity nights” where they donated a percentage of their sales or auctioned items with proceeds going to the charities. By participating, you get a fun evening, good food–a double pleasure hit!–and you’re supporting a worthwhile organization. If you can’t make it, send a check to the sponsor or the charity, or buy a ticket and give it to someone who can go to the event.

I think I’m gaining weight from all of this!

Wow, this sure feels good #3: I’m too disorganized to use coupons, but in these times lots of folks need them just to make ends meet. When you get coupons in the store, you can give them to the cashier to use for someone else in the line, or give them to the person behind you. I got a $5 coupon “toward your

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next purchase” the other day at Walgreens and spotted a lady next to me, hands full of children’s medicines, looking a little down-and-out. I gave her the $5 coupon. Twenty minutes later in Publix she passed me and thanked me again.

Was that a “two-fer?”

Wow, this sure feels good #4: At times it seems we indeed live in a rude society. Aggressive drivers, people cutting in front of you at the door, cell phone invaders. Hold the door, even if you have to wait for a few seconds for the next person to reach the entry. Park your aggression when you get behind the wheel–let the other driver have his way. When your cell phone rings, check the number and unless it’s an emergency, let it go to voice mail, then call later when you’re in a private situation. Don’t intrude in other people’s space. Let a server or a retail assistant know when they’re doing a good job. Just like the rest of us, they also have a need for job satisfaction. Show a little kindness and you get a “mini hit” in the pleasure center of your brain.

Is that a smile of satisfaction I see?

There is one no-no: Never, ever, after treating yourself to selfish pleasure by giving to someone, should you ask, “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”

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Eric and I have a favorite bicycle route from our home in Eustis to Wooton Park in Tavares. One of the highlights of the ride is a dependable sighting of Bald Eagles soaring along the edge of Lake Dora. Over a period of five or six years we have been aware of an eagle’s nest high in a pine tree near the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and Bay Street. Last year the pair of birds that have claimed this as their breeding territory abandoned the 2000 pound nest near the road and built a new one in a towering tree a hundred feet away. The nest is active this spring. You can often see the adults landing and feeding their young. By the time this column goes to press there will be another family being trained to fly by those attentive parents that love this Tavares spot. Tavares has seven or eight active nesting territories and Lake County has around 70! We rank third of all 67 Florida counties for nesting eagles!

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the only eagle we see in Florida. It is the second largest bird of prey in the United States with a 6 to 8 foot wingspan. Florida has the greatest concentration of nesting Bald Eagles in the country. This is in part due to our climate, our numerous lakes and rivers, but it is also a tribute to the efforts of our wildlife/land management programs. This great bird is no longer listed as an “Endangered Species.” It was federally delisted in 2007 and delisted in the state in 2008 due to its successful recovery from the catastrophic effects of DDT pollution. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) adopted a new eagle management plan in April 2008. Under this plan, it is prohibited to disturb the birds, nests or eggs. If you see a nesting territory that is posted “No Trespassing,” don’t enter under any circumstances. There are penalties for trespassing as well as taking or possessing any part of a bird, nest or egg. (This includes feathers.)

Thanks to some great research and monitoring of the eagle populations, the FWC has some amazing facts to share about the Bald Eagle. The birds’ nests weigh approximately 1 ton (some as much as 2 tons) and are built high in a dominant tree within 1.8 miles of water. The nests are lined with Spanish moss, grass

and leaves and are built of sticks measuring up to 5 feet long. Many of the eagles that nest here migrate north for the summer, but return each October to repair their nests and begin their mating ritual for the annual reproduction process. This explains why we see so many more Bald Eagles in the winter and spring months! The female lays 1to 3 eggs in December and January and they hatch five weeks later. Both adults feed the eaglets fish, rodents, reptiles and carrion for 10 to 12 weeks until they leave the nest. It takes five years for the young bird to develop the adult plumage of white head and tail. As they mature they appear completely dark from above and mottled with white from below. Adult females are 25 percent larger than the adult males. When you see the two adults side by side tending the nest, the size difference will be most apparent.

To locate eagle nests in your neighborhood, go to www.myfwc.com/eagle/eaglenests/nestlocator.aspx. The map shows 19 nests within an hour bike ride from my back door!

In addition to birding, Pam Myers enjoys a full life working as a

realtor, bicycling and canoeing with her husband Eric, and keeping

pace with their black lab pup Jessy.

I’m a Bird WatcherBy Pam Myers | Photo by Bill Casey


Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Committed, is best known for her international best seller, Eat, Pray, Love. While Gilbert had earned impressive literary credentials, she was a relatively unknown author prior to writing Eat, Pray, Love. But word-of-mouth recommendations from inspired readers created a national publishing phenomenon

that culminated with more than five million copies in print and an appearance on “Oprah.”

Eat, Pray, Love chronicles Gilbert’s journey from a deep, divorce-related depression to emotional healing, ultimately finding Filipe, her Brazillian Prince Charming. The journey was both metaphorical and literal. She traveled to Italy where she reconnected with her ability to experience pleasure, to India where she healed her spirit and finally to Bali where she regained the emotional balance needed to connect with her future husband.

While it’s easy to dismiss Eat, Pray, Love as a modern fairy tale, it struck a deep emotional chord with readers, leaving them anxiously awaiting the next episode in Gilbert’s journey...what would happen when she returned to the U.S. and “real life?”

Committed, the long-awaited sequel, employs the same deeply personal, informal writing style that helped Gilbert connect so deeply with readers of Eat, Pray, Love. And like Eat, Pray, Love it centers around the resolution of a personal crisis involving marriage. But, while the first book chronicled her recovery from divorce, Committed chronicles her reconciliation with “being sentenced to wed.”

Filipe and Gilbert moved from Bali to the U.S., living in happily unwedded bliss. Both survivors of painful divorces, they were deeply committed to each other

but equally committed to not remarrying. But fate, in the form of Homeland Security, intervened. Felipe’s visa was revoked, leaving Gilbert and her intended to wander outside of the country for ten months, struggling to live on $30 a day, as the slow wheels of bureaucracy produced the necessary paperwork for them to marry.

Gilbert used the ten months of travel to make peace with her “marriage imperative” by researching the social history of marriage as well as talking with “every soul she encountered along the way.” Many of those souls were from non-Western cultures and provided an interesting counterpoint to the Western view of marriage.

The author’s unique insights into the pivotal role marriage plays in America’s obsessive pursuit of happiness are particularly provocative. She argues that marriage is such hard work in America because of the expectations surrounding it. She realizes that much of her trepidation about remarrying comes from those expectations which she describes as: “That

we should somehow be answerable for every aspect of each other’s joy and happiness. That our very job description as spouses was to be each other’s everything.” That’s a lot of heavy lifting for one institution and two fallible human beings!

Equally provocative are Gilbert’s observations about the history and evolution of marriage. A few fascinating tidbits include:

Marriage was not central to early Christianity. Early Christians were

committed to purifying themselves for the imminent apocalypse. Part of that purification was celibacy. Marriage was for those few weak souls incapable of curbing their sexual appetites.

Marriage was primarily a secular institution meant to secure property. For more than half of the first millennium, marriages were largely family matters and divorces were relatively easy to obtain. But in the thirteenth century, Pope Innocent III, wishing to

view Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

by Elizabeth Gilbert | Reviewed by Mari Henninger

Her thoughtful excursion through the wilderness of marital research, my th

and kitchen table wisdom makes Committed a

must read for the unwed, newly wed and wearily wed.

(Continued on Page 27)


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By Shari-Anne WhitelockeMount Dora High SchoolClass of 2010

I always had my own vision of America. I believed it to be the greatest country on the planet.

In my mind, anything was possible, achievable, and no dream was too far way. I really believed everything was simple, and there was an easy way to anything.

Growing up in the Caribbean island of Jamaica contributed to my vision. I resided in Negril, Jamaica, until I was eleven years of age. Jamaica was such a difficult place to be. Year after year the economy got worse and worse. I never understood why. What I failed to realize as a child was that it was the same everywhere else. No matter where you go, you

have to strive for what you want, no exceptions.

Almost every day at 3 p.m., I begin my shift at the local McDonald’s. I have been doing so for over two years. Within that time, I have seen employees come and go. As I greet customers at the front counter and drive-thru windows. I am asked the same question at least once daily: “Are you hiring?” People of different races, age, and religions enquire about the same positions that many didn’t have to resort to years before. The jobs many took for granted are now sought after by hopefuls that have been hit by the recession, and the very same employees that could care less about their job security are now doing all they can to maintain their form of income.

I laugh when the elderly customers say, “I remember when you could

go to McDonald’s with a buck and walk out with a hamburger, fries and a milkshake.” It makes me question the worth of a dollar today. What is a dollar when it is almost three dollars for a gallon of gas? What is a dollar when a movie ticket is almost ten? I think of how often my friends and I would go to the mall and spend money on things that weren’t of much importance as opposed to how we “pinch our pennies” today.

Besides the personal effects of the current recession, there are constant public reminders of how much the country really is in jeopardy. So many banks and car companies have merged in order to save their businesses. Restaurants and stores have closed down due to bankruptcy. Even schools have tightened their budgets. For instance, the Bright Futures scholarship that I

Brian Arnold • 1957-2009Brian Arnold packed a lot into his 52 short years on Earth. Brian’s work was in the printing industry, but his fun world was on the track and in the pits wherever there was stock car racing. He was a 20 year Mount Dora resident and all three of his children graduated from MDHS. The Arnolds named the Pulse Scholarship in memory of Brian because he was tireless in working for ways to increase funding for the arts, athletics and academics at MDHS. Brian would approve of the Brian Arnold Memorial Scholarship and the competition among students to win it.

Writer’s One Flight Up announces their next contest for writers! Send us the first 100-150 words, of your mystery novel. The success of any novel depends on your opening paragraphs, so entertain us--regale us--grab us...or terrify us! Three finalists will be selected and published in the Summer Issue of (July 2010). Go to www.writersoneflightup.com for full details, deadline and submission guidelines.

How is the economy affecting you, your friends and your family? Is there any thing positive in your life that has come out of this economic downturn?


have been working towards for years now requires more academically to ensure that the applicants are serious about obtaining the scholarship and will put the money to good use.

It frustrates me that the economic crisis is taking place at the very peak of my scholastic life so far. I began high school in Nottingham, England. There, you begin high school (secondary school) in 7th grade. It has been a long time since then and my graduation has been highly anticipated by me and my family. The recession has really put a damper on my year of new beginnings and independence; but despite the financial strain, my family has been holding everything together. They tell me how proud they are of me because during these strenuous times I have kept a steady job. Instead of feeling defeated because of the state of the economy, I am becoming an understanding and hard-working young woman.

My grandmother constantly tells me, “a good attitude is essential in these times, always be aware of what is taking place in around you.” Her words ring in my head and help me realize that as long as I stay positive, then none of my dreams are too far away. No matter where I go, I have to strive for what I want, no exceptions.

By Matt NicholsMount Dora High SchoolClass of 2010

The recent economic turmoil has had a genuine, significant impact on my family, and a most important lesson for me has been how quickly a family’s sense of stability can seem to

change. I must admit that the last two years have been difficult ones for my family.

One of the best parts of the American Dream is self-determination, and my father is a good example. He was the mayor for the small town of Lake Placid, Florida, from 2002 to 2004 and a real estate agent. My grandparents asked him to move to Mount Dora to help out with the family business. Thinking that he would work towards taking over the business, he moved home to Mount Dora as my mother, my siblings, and I stayed back to finish out the school year. Having the family live apart was tough, but necessary. Fortunately, after two years of working in the business, my father realized that he was not working to take over the business; he was working for my grandparents and not with them. It was difficult decision, but he quit and decided to



visitWhen Major Alexander St. Clair Abrams laid out

the town of Tavares in 1880, he set out to make the town a tourist and educational center. Also, he intended to place an ornamental park fronting Lake Dora. And though he built the Opera House and the grand Peninsular Hotel, his plan leaned more toward an industrial and railroad center. The Major laid down a firm cornerstone and cemented a rich heritage for future generations of Tavareans to build upon.

Today, the City of Tavares has embraced its Founder’s legacy and taken his visions to heart. With the citizens of Tavares creating a “vision statement” to use as a guide for their renaissance, Tavares has begun a new era; adding a new chapter in its illustrious history. That new era has begun with Lake County’s Capital City building on its historic foundation, as pledged in that vision statement.

At the heart of this renaissance is Wooton Park, which provides a lakefront haven for citizens and guests. Wooton Park sits on the location the Major envisioned for his ornamental park. The park was donated in 1948 by Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wooton, who purchased the Lake Dora property from Mayor Edward Irving Burleigh in 1948 for the sum of $6500 and then promptly donated it with the stipulation that it would always be used as a public park. Various structures, including the popular Wooton Wonderland playground were built over the years. In 1997, there were plans for improvement of the City’s waterfront that would include moving the public boat ramp and building seventeen hundred feet of pedestrian paths. There were also plans at that time to build an observation tower at the end of Rockingham Avenue. The tower was never built and the park remained a somewhat quiet and inactive place, especially since the Pavilion, Tavares’ first real community center, was razed in the early 1960s.

Today, with its revitalization, Wooton Park has become an extraordinarily vibrant location highlighted by several historic re-creations, two of which are Tavares icons–the 1912 Coven Pavilion and the 1871 Woodlea House.

Currently under construction at this time is the new Coven Pavilion. The original pavilion, which jutted out into Lake Dora, was built by Leo George Coven. Born in Ohio in 1884, Leo apprenticed under master builder Henry Beck and became an architect and master craftsman. Leo and his wife Chloe left Ohio for Tavares in 1903 where he became the foremost builder in town.

In 1917, a year after Chloe’s death, Leo returned to Ohio where he met and married Leela Roberts. Leo and Leela returned to Tavares where they purchased and renovated a rundown house on the corner of New Hampshire and Alfred Streets. The home is still standing today. One of Leo and Leela’s sons, Leod Lamar, who

everyone called “Babe” built many of the early structures at Wooton Park and carried on his father’s work as a Tavares building contractor. A large gazebo near the Children’s Splash Park is dedicated to him.

Many of the homes and buildings built by Leo Coven are still standing today. In 1924, Leo built the Harry Duncan house located on Lake Dora, which is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places. You can also see some of his structures along Main Street, including the Margaret Vanderhaven house built in 1914 now housing the Republican Headquarters, and the Lake Abstract Building across from the round Lake County Administration Building.

Anchoring the west side of Wooton Park, visitors will see a replica of one of Tavares’ most recognizable structures, the Woodlea House, which serves as a ship’s store. The original Woodlea House, built by Captain

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Melton Haynes and his wife Sarah Isabella in 1871, was located on the shore of Lake Harris in an area known as Lane Park, three miles west of downtown Tavares.

Captain Haynes, born in Whiteville, North Carolina, in 1827, served in the Confederate Army with Florida’s “Swamp Fox” Captain J. J. Dickison during the War Between the States. Captain Haynes was elected to both the Florida House of Representatives in 1854 and the Senate in 1866, and is credited with introducing the sweet orange to the Lake Region in 1845.

After Captain Haynes tragically drowned in the Dora Canal in 1883, Sarah continued to live in the house for several more years and then sold it to Amos Wakelin in 1892. Amos’ son and daughter-in-law, Guilford and Maud, came from Philadelphia to live there. Guilford Wakelin was one of the original organizers in 1909 of the Lake Region Packing Association and of the Florida Citrus Exchange.

In 2005, the City of Tavares relocated the old Haynes-Wakelin Woodlea House from its original location to restore it, but in 2007, it was burned down by arsonists before any preservation began. The new Woodlea not only welcomes guests as a themed shop, but also serves as a monument to this beloved historic treasure.

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Sometimes the solution to a problem is right under one’s nose–and in this case, I found it to be practically in my own backyard. The past few months have been hectic ones providing countless excuses to put off enjoying a leisurely activity. Add the unseasonably cold weather to the mix, and I was experiencing my own personal version of cabin fever.

I needed fresh air, a little exercise, and next to no traveling time…and I had the perfect vehicle for such an endeavor–my kayak. Except for a brief paddling trip in early December, it sat and sulked in the garage, having not seen the light of day for the last two and a half months. It was time–time to stop making excuses and “just do it,” as the company of my same name touts as its motto! Armed

with motivation, I now focused on location…where could I get the biggest bang for my buck? –the Dora Canal, a mere six miles from my home in Mount Dora.

Historically, the Dora Canal has attracted sightseers for a couple of centuries. Grantland Rice, a nationally syndicated sportswriter in the 1930s, commented that the Dora Canal was the “most beautiful mile of water in the world.” Known for his powerful and inspirational style of writing, he likely drew more attention to an already popular destination. Originally known as the Elfin River, its main channel is a scant 1.25 miles of natural waterway connecting Lake Dora to Lake Eustis. Part of the Harris Chain of Lakes, these cypress swamp waters make their way north through the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin, ultimately

draining into the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville. In addition to its natural beauty, the Elfin provided a crucial link for the commercial transportation of goods vital to the growth of the area in the 1800s. Its original passage was not an easy traverse, and in the early 1880s Alexander St. Clair Abrams, founder of Tavares and a local steamboat captain, gathered a crew of laborers to clear, straighten and generally make the Elfin more passable. If you study the “shoreline” and gaze beyond and back into the thick, primeval forest of cypress trees, you will see some of the remaining giants–stubborn sentinels that have witnessed many more hundreds of years.

Having traversed the Canal fairly frequently over the years, I was looking forward to an early start.

Down the Dora Canal

Story and Photo by Nike Bolte


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the teens of sweet apple swoon as rock and roll’s biggest star heads off to the army!

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Boat traffic would be at a minimum which would likely maximize bird and other wildlife activity. Anticipating, at the very least, a modest struggle to awaken on the day I had picked to go, I had gotten two friends to commit to the journey with me, rendering the repeated hitting of the snooze alarm a non-option. By 7:30 my friends and I were on the water launching from a public boat ramp at the mouth of the canal on Lake Eustis.

Paddling around the reeds, we got our first water-level view of Lake Eustis–a massive display of sky and water separated by a thin, dark band of distant land. The pale pink and yellow-hued clouds were reflected perfectly in the flat-as-glass water. Mixed with the subtle grays and blues of the morning sky, it was an impressive and calming sight. We quickly rounded another bend, passed between several dead and dwarfed cypress tree and headed into the darkness under the bridge. An other-worldly image greeted us as we emerged. Tall cypress trees towered over our heads. Spanish moss swayed from barren, winter limbs in the gentle breeze. The yellow-orange tint to the water contrasted sharply with the grays of the tree trunks. We couldn’t help but pause to take it all in.

In the main channel, we turn our kayaks gently around the first slight bend…and leave all man-made

sounds behind us. As I acclimate to the quiet and solitude, I realize that my assessment is erroneous–my surroundings are teeming with life, and I am privileged to bear witness via my small, unobtrusive craft. The air is filled with the sound of birds, large and small, many of which go about their business just beyond the bounds of human observation. I hear the call of a Barred Owl but cannot find its source. What is observable to my, and my camera’s, eye is a delight–and I am so thankful for the ability to linger in an up close and personal kind of way.

The four foot tall Blue Heron that frequently positions himself on a particular elbow of protruding log is just up ahead on my right. I gently position myself to drift relatively close by and stop paddling. I am so keen on observing him that I almost forget to take a photograph. I have picked an appropriate distance as he barely flinches when I pass…yet I feel an imperceptible tension and know his watchful eyes could trigger flight at any moment. I am reminded of another unique aspect of the Dora Canal–the relative tolerance of wildlife for the passing parade of humanity. I take advantage of this once again as I paddle by a male and female Anhinga, their long slender necks stretched towards the sky, wings extending out and away from their bodies.


They, along with the often seen cormorants, are expert fishermen known for their diving skills and chasing of prey underwater. Nature has exacted a price for this skill–the absence of oil glands for waterproofing their feathers. At some point, they must perch and air-dry–and this pair seem perfectly willing to let me linger and observe their mandatory time-out.

We continued on, taking in the sights and sounds. A brief image of Humphrey Bogart, struggling to pull the African Queen through these waters, popped into my head…I would have loved to have been an aerial observer during the filming of those particular scenes!...and aerial observers are, and were I’m sure, plentiful. While the Canal hides the nature of its underwater life inside its murky waters, one has only to look up to see the variety of species enjoying the treetops and the airways above and below. The winter months bring a multitude of nesting birds, the most striking images of which are seen high overhead and lining both sides of the Canal in this section. Cypress trees are deciduous, leaving their leaves to litter the ground starting in about November. Their bare limbs, along with those of their non-living, sun-bleached neighbors, stand out starkly against blue skies and provide the perfect perch for spotting prey. I love to lean back in my boat and float

through this section…peering through far off clumps of mistletoe or nesting material to see an Osprey, taking note of the way the sun strikes a particularly statuesque Blue Heron, or hoping for a glimpse of a passing Eagle.

Today the vultures are out in abundance and dot the limbs like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. A whoosh of white goes by me–the large wing span of a Great Egret. Yellow-beaked, its jet black legs descend gracefully onto a half-submerged log a short distance ahead.

...my surroundings are teeming with life, and I am privileged to bear witness via my small,

unobtrusive craft.


Paddling past, I take note of the striking lime green area around its eyes–a temporary condition produced by the breeding season. Several other wading birds are present in the canal this morning–the Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, and a Tri-colored Heron. We also pass the bobbing heads and long, curved, red-orange bills of a handful of white Ibis pecking along a semi-solid stretch of land.

Hearing another boat approaching from behind, we pull over to the side and let them pass. We bob up and down briefly, the waves lapping softly through rows of Cypress knees and back towards the fluted bases of their parent trees. As we head into the more heavily canopied mid-section, a higher pitch of bird song prevails. Smaller birds enjoy the leafier surroundings which provide even more welcoming shade for flora and fauna in the hot summer months. A Belted Kingfisher keeps its distance, flying ahead of us from one stretch of trees to another. Sunlight filters softly through the dense, leafy canopy and interlocking branches, the contrast of darks and lights lending an air of enchantment to our passage.

Signs of life–the human variety–continue to increase. We pass under another roadway that borders Summerall Park, its banks lined with noontime fisherman. An older gentleman sits above a bulkhead across the Canal on our left, his cup of coffee enticing us back to reality. We pass the waterworks in Gnome Village, and a few feet farther down, check out the little lighthouse with several Hummel figurines displayed in its top…quite a contrast to the scenery of earlier morning!

Passing under the old railroad trestle and into Lake Dora, we stop paddling and gaze lake-ward for a moment. But only for a moment…intrigued by a high and lazily swirling mass of vultures towering over the tree tops, we turn and happily head back towards the heart of the Dora Canal. I am filled with a deep sense of satisfaction and amazed that its source was literally right at my fingertips.

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Early into her years of public service, Mayor Nancy Clutts discovered that Tavares was without a

“citizen-generated” vision. In 2006, Mayor Clutts formed numerous public/private partnerships

and created a forum for the diverse group of Tavares stakeholders to gather together for a

series of Town Hall meetings. These meetings were geared toward shifting City Hall’s exclusive

culture to one centered on citizen inclusion and contribution. The Town Hall meetings were

designed specifically to establish Tavares’ vision for the future. It was time for the citizens who

had one thing in common, concern for their hometown, to have an authentic conversation.

Original content and illustrations provided by Nancy Clutts | Edited for this publication by Bob Grenier

the

storytava r es


During the visioning process, Tavares’ stakeholders also learned that no vision existed. Decisions being made intending to support the community appeared to be random and without purpose. Early into the process, citizens reflected on what they liked and disliked about their community. One thing was certain, the downtown waterfront would provide a clear focus for building a foundation steeped in history and assets essential to creating a distinctive identity. Visioning participants studied Tavares’ rich history, a heritage that later became a cornerstone for today’s waterfront projects, projects directly tied to the vision. In the beginning, stakeholders articulated both their pleasure and displeasure for the daily impact of the trains, seaplanes, boats, and for being the county seat. After much conversation, all engaged in a common belief–what was once considered to be undesirable, with the right focus and structure, could easily become distinct value assets. A shift in focus began, and this would later prove to be true, as Tavares moved to utilize these unique assets that would position and brand the town as a seaplane community.

Time and again, Tavares’ stakeholders envisioned the future as one abounding with centers of activity that would support their vision. With this discussion, priorities for focusing staff time and resources were identified. Conversations and interests centered on evaluating the rules which governed the Tavares’ environments. Participants discovered several rules which were out of alignment with what they desired for their future. Stakeholders suggested specific incentives, later put in place, to attract unique and desirable commerce.

The meetings resulted in the creation of a

Vision Statement for the City which is now used as the foundation and measure for her leaders’ decision making. That statement reads: Tavares–the Capital Waterfront City of Lake County–Building on a Historic Foundation–Creating an Authentic, Accessible Community of Neighborhoods, Businesses, and Citizen Services–Distinguishing Itself as the Defining Vision of Where You Want to Be!

ImplementatIonIn 2007 implementing the community’s Vision

Statement became the number one priority. A multi-faceted plan was created specifically to invigorate downtown. Careful attention was paid to embedding aspects of the vision into a series of planned waterfront projects. Plans included the construction of a seaplane port, clean marina/fueling station, children’s splash park, train depot, the re-creation of the 1871 Woodlea House to be used as the Ship’s Store, and the 1912 Coven Pavilion planned to be the community’s Cultural Arts and Events Pavilion.

With the implementation of the citizens’ vision well underway, the time had come to narrow the focus for how Tavares would be known in the future. This was done with an extensive branding campaign designed to capture the most unique element from Tavares’ numerous assets. In the fall of 2009, the community’s brand was revealed. Tavares would become known as America’s Seaplane City. Plans are underway for the design and construction of gateway features, signage, and public furniture, all created to extend Tavares’ seaplane identity into a variety of public spaces. Tavares’ brand, rooted in history, positions the community with

What was once considered to be undesirable . . .could

easily become distinct value assets.


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a clear focus on cultivating seaplane related business and industry. The creation of unique events, such as Tavares’ signature event, Planes, Trains, and BBQ, is designed to elevate the identity for America’s Seaplane City.

While experiencing America’s exciting new Seaplane City, residents and guests can board the train for a relaxing excursion around Lake County, jog the scenic trails, paddle kayaks on Lake Dora, play a vigorous game of volleyball on a sandy beach, browse through the cracker-style Woodlea House, or view an exhibit at the two-story Pavilion. Children can frolic in the seaplane-inspired Splash Park and climb and swing in the newly refurbished and updated “Wooton Wonderland” playground. Guests can dine in themed restaurants, tour Main Street in an electric cart, shop in a variety of specialty stores, or just rest on Tavares’ brand benches, watching soaring seaplanes and whistling trains as they come and go.

The foundation has been laid for this vision to become a reality. That reality is now being created as the revitalization of the Tavares landscape has begun to take shape. Working together, the efforts of Tavares’ residents, businesses and civic leaders have resulted in a comprehensive, diverse, and sustainable economic vision which will ensure Tavares’ distinction as the place to be for generations to come.


“Distinguishing itself as the defining vision of where you want to be” is how a dedicated group of Tavares citizens and stakeholders summed up their precisely penned “vision statement” after spending eighteen months together with Mayor Nancy Clutts conversing and planning for the future of their hometown.

Then in 2008, the citizens completed a very detailed Master Plan to support their vision, and last autumn, they developed a brand that supported both the Vision Statement and Master Plan–“America’s Seaplane City–Land and See”.

Through this process, the citizens re-discovered their well documented past, and also learned of a significant “new” historical affiliation with seaplanes when it was discovered that the first recorded seaplane operation, off the shores of Tavares on Lake Eustis, occurred in March of 1914. That first operation was in none other than the intrepid Thomas Flying Boat, just a few years after the airplane was invented. That flight carried famed aviatress, Clara Adams, Amelia Earhart’s equally famous friend, the first woman air passenger to circle the world in 1939.

Clara Adams changed the public perception of aviation from a dangerous enterprise for daredevils in leather helmets to something all Americans could enjoy. Also, her courageous pioneering flights led to the creation of the passenger airline industry. Adams’ passion for aviation began in Tavares and seaplanes have been operating from the shores of Tavares ever since. The citizens have honored this historic event and the continued operation of seaplanes by branding itself as “America’s Seaplane City.”

With this exciting piece of history providing another dimension to Tavares’ multi-modal environment, an FAA approved Seaplane virtual east-west runway has been established on Lake Dora. The Tavares Seaplane Port will include seaplane docks with a fueling station, paved parking, and an access ramp.

In addition to the “visioning project,” Tavares waived impact fees as an economic development tool. Though the long term economic impact of this 2010 project and impact fee waiver program is yet to be seen, the

By John Drury, Tavares City Administrator

A m e r I c A ’ S Seaplane City



consider

#1 - at Home Let’s start these green tips with the beginning of your trip. Before you pack your bags and head out of town, there are several things you can do at home to ensure your trip is good for the environment. Give yourself some credit and a green pat on the back because I bet that you already do most of these at-home energy savers. Things like turning up the temperature on the AC, putting your lights on timers, and unplugging your appliances and electronics so they don’t use up phantom energy.

#2 - travel light Packing green can be done without buying an expensive organic fabric suitcase. I know you all may have grumbled about the weight limits and extra baggage fees when flying. But airlines are not restricting luggage size because more people are flying...they’re restricting to save on fuel! So reduce your luggage weight and extra fees by checking out The Ultimate Guide to Packing Light at GoTravelGreen.com. They have a list of over 45 tips including how to fit everything you need into one bag and some example packing lists so you can check that you have the essentials you need without bringing extra.

One of the suggestions I received on Twitter was a fun one. A woman said she travels with an empty suitcase. As soon as she gets off the plane she goes to the local market and buys a couple of outfits. Not only does she blend in like a local, she has some great souvenirs to boot! This is probably more appropriate for European travel, but still a fun idea. If you like this idea and want even more green points, pick one favorite article of clothing to bring home with you and then donate the rest. Which leads me to my next tip...

#3 - Buy local One way to make sure your suitcase doesn’t weigh too much on the way home is to minimize your collection of tchakis and souvenirs. I think the current state of the economy has everyone re-thinking their purchases. Maybe that Las Vegas snow globe, New York City Big Apple paperweight, and 10 t-shirts you bought for $10 is something you could leave behind.

Instead, look for something that is made locally. Not only are you supporting the local economy...you also have something meaningful to take home. Years ago I started collecting Christmas ornaments when I travel. I look for ones that are hand painted or locally made. It’s a great collection to bring out at the end of the year and reminisce about all the places I’ve been.

#4 - Green Gadgets I’ve already covered one for your house, but here are a few to take along with you. There is a new rechargeable battery by USBCell.com that plugs into your USB port, so there’s no need to pack additional converters! And in case you forget the batteries entirely, Bedol makes a water powered alarm clock. Just pour water in through an open spout and it runs. Seriously.

How many of you will admit to walking barefoot through the TSA security line at the airport? Hmm? Think the 10 second rule is going to save your feet from germs or bacteria? Since your watch is usually in a plastic bin along with your keys and belt, you probably didn’t notice your last little “soleless” stretch of security lasting for 15 minutes or longer. Thankfully, a California company, ecoLiving Essentials, devised biodegradable travel booties that you can slip on at security, stay germ free, and then at the end of the line toss in the garbage guilt free.

And one last green gadget tip is a homemade one. An idea suggested from IndependentTraveler.com: wash and reuse half-dozen sized egg cartons to tote your jewelry and other small items. It’s light weight, and something that doesn’t appear enticing to thieves. Bonus because it’s one of the three R’s...reduce, REUSE, recycle.

#5 -- Bottle It Americans drink an average of 400 million cups of coffee per day and while some of that is

Top 10 Ways to Travel Green

By Rachelle LucasPhoto by MacBeth Photography


at home, most of it is while traveling or working. That’s potentially a lot of paper cups! Add to that the fact that water consumption has doubled in the last decade and you’ve got great big ole piles of plastic water bottles clogging up the landfills.

Recycling on the road is a difficult task as the opportunity is still not readily available. Instead, pack a mug and some soap to wash and reuse for water and coffee.

#6 -- Go paperless Instead of printing, save your directions, plans, and itinerary confirmation numbers on your phone or PDA. I’m able to check email on my phone, so I send myself an email before I leave with all of the essential information including addresses, phone numbers and travel confirmations. I don’t recommend reading directions on your phone while driving, but there are many affordable GPS options these days, including renting one.

If you’re still going old school with electronics...not a problem. Reduce the amount of paper used by printing double sided and recycling the paper when you return from your trip.

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by Richard Huss

Tavares: It’s not your father’s downtown scene

anymore. The story of downtown Tavares

“dining” used to be the lunch break — lawyers, jurors and government

officials grabbing a sandwich or a quick

cup of soup and a salad between appointments. But, that’s all changing

now. Tavares is actually growing up, and offers

several new destination restaurants. And yes,

they’re open past 3!

Casa mia: New to the downtown scene and located in the Belton Building across the street from the courthouse, Casa Mia recently moved from its old and cramped Alfred Street location into this beautiful new spot. Rocco and Rita Gaglioti and their family now work with twice the seating capacity, a huge new kitchen and a beautiful full bar. The ambience is enhanced by a soft Tuscan colors, balanced with low lighting, and widely spaced tables. “La Cucina di Rocco,” scrolls over the open arched window of Rocco’s expanded – and clearly upgraded kitchen – allowing us to watch him prepare entrees, salads, desserts, and yes, pizzas, while we enjoy dipping homemade rosemary foccacia and sipping cocktails or wine. Al fresco dining on the covered Main Street entrance is available, too. Casa Mia Ristorante: 505 West Main Street, Tavares, 352.742-9940, Mon-Thur 11:00 AM-9:30 PM, Fri 11:00 AM-10:00 PM, Sat 4:00 PM-10 PM.

Café Basil: Opening late October 2009, Café Basil is a one-of-a-kind breakfast and lunch experience. Four intimate boutique-style rooms provide seating, each brightly painted and stylishly decorated, walls filled with artwork by local painter, Jackie Berkeley. Chef/owner, Evelyn Patrick, a former pilot for Angel Flight northeast, bakes her own croissants, breads and rolls for sandwiches. The fresh quiche and Honest-to-God homemade soups are all prepared daily. Café Basil is worth a drive to Tavares and is fast becoming the “go to” place for an incredibly delicious lunch or a kick-start breakfast. Café Basil: 206 Main Street, Tavares, 352.253.6246, Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-3:00 PM.

Ruby Street Grille: RSG has become a food and entertainment mainstay on Tavares’s lakefront with live music Thursday through Sunday ranging from jazz ensembles to R&B. Ruby Street offers a spacious deck overlooking Wooton Park, two full-service bars

Tavares Dining


and a more formal and intimate dining room inside where you can escape from Mother Nature and the deck hustle. The RSG kitchen turns out rich black beans laced with just enough cumin, perfectly seared Ahi tuna nicoise and Main Street meatloaf. The fresh soups are also a highlight. When I’m not tempted by the soup of the day, I order their onion soup, “naked,” loving the richness of the broth without the clutter of the fried onions and cheese topper (which are also delicious). Naked, it’s dark and rich with a hint of spice. And it’s healthy. Ruby Street Grille: 221 East Ruby Street, Tavares, 352.742.7829, Open every day 11:00 AM until closing.

The downtown Tavares dining scene is rounded out with O’Keefe’s Pub, known for its worldwide selection of beers; Gracie’s Café, for informal American dining; and World’s Worst Deli and Pressed for Time, both local favorites for a quick lunch.

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stabilize his power base, decreed that marriage was a sacrament that could not be dissolved.

Marriage is an evolving, rather than static institution. Until relatively recently, women forfeited all of their property to their husbands, ceasing to be separate legal entities. It wasn’t until the 1970s that wives in some states could take out a loan or open a bank account without their husband’s written permission. Until a Supreme Court ruling in 1967, interracial marriage was illegal in seventeen states. At the time of the ruling, polls showed 70 percent of Americans were vehemently opposed.

Same sex marriage may be the next evolution of matrimony. Gilbert argues that at a time when marriage is declining across the Western world, same sex marriage could save the institution, serving to stabilize the larger social order. While her arguments are unlikely to change opinions on this highly polarizing issue, they are unique, thoughtful and, at times, humorous. Gilbert notes that “...just when matrimony is about to become as evolutionarily expendable as pinkie toes and appendixes, just when it appears that the institution will wither due to lack of social interest, in come the gay couples, asking to be included!” With her trademark candor and self-deprecating humor, she further notes, “So why not welcome them in? Why not recruit them by the vanload to sweep in on heroic wings and save the flagging and battered old institution of matrimony from a bunch of apathetic, ne’er-do-well, heterosexual deadbeats like me?”

Having covered the history of marriage, Gilbert moves on to an exhaustive, but none the less entertaining, review of the scientific research on marriage. She interweaves the research with her experiences during her grueling exile with Filipe and advice solicited from friends. While she finds no scientific formula for a successful marriage, she gleans a few nuggets of sound advice, including, “You can measure the happiness of a marriage by the number of scars each partner carries on their tongue from biting back angry words.” Her thoughtful excursion through the wilderness of marital research, myth and kitchen table wisdom makes Committed a must read for the unwed, newly wed and wearily wed.

By chronicling her journey in Committed, Gilbert once again gives us unique insights into our own lives and cultural assumptions. Like Eat, Pray, Love, Committed is a memoir rather than a self-help book. But when pondered deeply, her observations ring true, offering both insights into what it means to be human and hints on how happiness might be obtained in this far from perfect world.

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pursue a long time dream of being a teacher. He got a job as a visiting instructor at the University of Central Florida with some hope of a permanent position. Then the economy changed. He works from year to year. His contract expires at the end of this year, and he must reapply with no guarantee. To make ends meet and to assure that he has work in the summer, he started moonlighting as a grocery clerk at Publix Supermarkets. He currently works 65 plus hours a week between them.

That dream of self-determination was also a dream of my mother’s. Taking a chance, she used her entire savings to open a floral shop in 2006. The recession took a toll on everyone, everywhere, and flowers suddenly became a luxury most people had to do without. As a result, my mom closed the shop in 2008 at a tremendous financial loss. Soon after, she got a job working part-time as a cashier for Publix. It was tough but necessary. Working hard at her job, she was soon promoted to a full-time position as the lead Apron’s clerk at her Publix.

When my mom opened the flower shop, I asked if I could work there. Since I hadn’t got my driver’s license yet, I began as a receptionist and helped with deliveries. Once I turned sixteen, I started making the deliveries by myself. After she closed down the flower shop, I applied for a job at Publix and was hired. For the past two years, I have worked hard as a part-time grocery clerk. I also help my parents when I’m not at school, work, or soccer practice by watching after my brothers and sisters. Being a babysitter is something I don’t like because I would rather enjoy my senior year, but I never complain because my parents work and sacrifice their own free time to ensure that we have the necessities to get by.

Both my parents have had to deal with real disappointments, but they keep working. A positive outcome for me is my parents’ lesson of diligence and forbearance. They both took chances, and while they experienced setbacks, they push on. My drive to succeed and to do well comes from their lessons and mistakes. If people don’t make mistakes, then they will never learn, and I am privileged to have parents who are willing to risk everything they have to help their children succeed. I want to work hard to try to emulate the character and drive both my parents have. They have taught me to accept nothing short of success, and that is what I’m on a journey to do–achieve success. I feel that I have learned a great lesson: sometimes one must do what is tough but necessary.

By Kelsea MullaneMount Dora High SchoolClass of 2010

Economic hardships are one of life’s certainties. The state of our country’s economic affairs is as volatile as the wind. One day we could be spending our money without a care in the world and the next wondering where our paycheck will be coming from. It is a difficult time right now for everyone. However, the best thing we can do is to cope with the situation by adjusting our financial plans.

This is what I have learned to do over the past year. Life may throw a curve ball at you, but if you can take it with intelligence and hard work you can survive.

The recession of the past year came at a very crucial time for me. Next fall I will be starting college. With this experience comes tuition costs, room and board. I had never thought that anything could stand between me and my dream of success in college. I had heard my friends complaining about paying for college in previous




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“ . . . . m a k e i t a m e r r y o c c a s i o n ”SIMON G. JEWELRY... FOR YOUR LIFETIME

Wine Tasting

Every 1st & 3rd Saturday, 6-8 PMIncludes Wine, Beer, Hors D'oeuvres,

and Live Entertainment

Wine-DownWednesdays

With Music at 7:00 PM

Join Us For...

237 West Fourth Avenue • Mount Dora, Florida352.383.5451 • www.maggiesattic.us

FINE WINES • DOMESTIC & IMPORTED BEERS

NEVER A CORKAGE WITH PURCHASE

352.636.6336


342 Dora Drawdy WayMount Dora FL 32757

Between Donnelly and Alexander StreetsIn the alley

352. 383.4788

6 Fresh Baked Cookies6 Free WiFi6 Coffee Specialty Drinks6 Soup of the Day

6 Open 7 Days6 Boar’s Head Deli6 Homemade Quiches

6 Belgian Waffles

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

www.mountdora.com

9TH ANNUAL TASTE

IN MOUNT DORA

APRIL 25, 2010 5p-8p

*New Venue* Lake Receptions

Highway 19A, Mount Dora Tickets on sale:

Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce 352-383-2165

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English American Pubwith Traditional English Fare

Featuring Outstanding Fish & Chips and Great American Burgers

Weekend EntertainmentDaily Happy Hour 4-6pm

Winter HoursSun - Thurs 11am-9pmFri & Sat 11am-11pm

The Renaissance Building, 411 N. Donnelly St. Mount Dora

352.383.1936

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PRESENT AD FOR 10% DISCOUNT

short term impact has been immediately evident. Since the development of the community’s new vision as America’s Seaplane City, some twenty new businesses have returned to Main Street during one of our most economically challenging times. While there are too many to list, they range from the Sea Rey Seaplane Manufacturing facility to several new restaurants and businesses.

There are also some “big picture” economic development initiatives in Tavares that set the stage for the perfect work, live, play, learn, and smart growth community. The first initiative is growing “up” instead of “out” to combat urban sprawl. Tavares city codes have been changed to permit taller buildings. The second initiative is becoming multi-modal. Downtown Tavares accommodates seaplanes, rail, water taxi service, bus service, and the TavLee biking and walking trail, as well as electric golf carts on all city streets. The third initiative is regional. Tavares participates on regional boards, supports commuter rail, and is conducting a study to implement commuter rail from Tavares to Orlando. The fourth initiative is our Rail Village project which will provide a commuter and freight railcar repair and maintenance facility, warehousing, manufacturing and distribution facilities with rail access spurs, and a railcar village for the “Yacht Passenger Cars,” private rail cars for the super rich. Tavares’ Rail Center will be a drop-off and service center for these unusual ultimate luxury modes of transportation. The fifth initiative is Tavares’ new Hospital and Medical Villages. The city is actively growing our medical villages in and around Florida Hospital Waterman. And the sixth initiative is our “Niche and Wow” Seaplane Marina project which will accommodate flight training, scenic tours of Lake County’s 1,400 named lakes, air charter service to the Bahamas, Disney World, and Key West, as well as seaplane aircraft sales.

While Tavares plans for these initiatives, the City continues to move forward in providing improved services and updating, with new Public Safety and Public Works Complexes on the horizon. Upgrading and adding new sidewalks and brick-paving alleyways have been ongoing. Two other parks in Tavares have also been enhanced. A dog park, located within Aesop’s Park, is fully designed, with new benches, paths, picnic tables, grills, and more planned. Improvements last year to Summerall Park, located on the Dora Canal, included a new boat dock, covered picnic areas, restrooms, and landscaping.

Land and See … America’s Seaplane City … Tavares, a place with small town charm, building for the future while honoring its past.



108 E. 3rd Avenue, Mount Dora, FL 32757

Corner of 3rd & Donnelly

(352) 383-DOGS (3647)

Bring This Ad in For 10% Discount

Chicago Style Hot Dogs, Italian Beef, Ice Cream, & Shakes

Daily Specials

Eat-In or Carry Out

©Vienna Beef

#7 -- Green Backs The best kind of green is in your wallet. So here are a couple of ways you can save on travel before you even book.

Compare prices on Kayak.com. This is the best site for typing in your travel needs, and then having a window open for every online booking service pop up with their results so you can compare prices. Another great resource is Priceline.com where you can bid for your deal by setting the price you want to pay.

But my newest favorite travel site is TravelZoo.com where companies post last minute deals to try and fill their occupancy. Some of those steals recently included a five-night all-inclusive stay in Riviera Maya for $599.

#8 -- Green Hotels When searching for a hotel, choose one that is certified green. They are easy to find in any state and most online travel booking sites give “green” or “eco-friendly” as a search option.

Also, bring your home green practices with you. Things like reusing sheets and towels, turning off lights and electronics when they’re not in use. Nothing annoys me more than someone who is on vacation and feels the only way to get their money’s worth out of a hotel is to use up every single little thing daily, and leave the lights and TV on all the time because, “they’re not paying for it.” Well, indeed they are. Or at least the environment is!

#9 -- transportation Getting to your destination seems like it’s the biggest energy hog, but it doesn’t have to be. You can choose an airline that is environmentally conscious by checking out SeatGuru.com or CleanTechnica.com and discover which planes are testing bio-fuels, which ones are the most energy efficient and what airlines recycle.

Another way to reduce your carbon footprint when traveling is to take advantage of public transportation while you’re there. Some major cities have even made it easy to rent bikes with roadside rentals that are set up very similar to the way you rent a luggage cart at the airport.

#10 -- Give Back The ultimate way to go green while traveling is to make your vacation about “making a difference.” In the travel industry, it’s called “Volun-tourism.” Check out VolunTourism.org, Gap-Adventures.com or GlobalAware.org to discover some feel-good-do-good adventures such as painting and repairing schools in Costa Rica or teaching English at the Buddhism Association School in Cambodia.

“Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints” --Chief Seattle




years, but I never understood the reality of it until now. It’s as if I was traveling down the road of life and all of a sudden there was a huge brick wall that appeared. Unfortunately for me, I smacked into this wall at about 110 miles per hour. I was so busy with high school academics and activities that the thought of paying for college didn’t even cross my mind.

This fall, however, it really set in. I realized that next year I would need money for things like tuition, food, clothes, and books. I realized that I would not be able to ask my mom for twenty bucks for Friday night when I’m four hours away. It was with this knowledge that I decided to get a job.

I went to many different establishments around town and filled out applications. I attached my resume and eventually got an interview. My new job included tasks such as preparing food and waiting on customers. It also included life skills such as sweeping and mopping. I have learned how to deal with stress when things don’t necessarily go the way I want. I have learned to be punctual and respectful to customers and my fellow employees. It has given me a taste of what the real world is like. Because of my job I have also met many new people from different backgrounds than my own. Working with them for thirty hours a week has allowed me to become friends with them, and I know I can rely on them if I need to.

So things in the job market have been really bad this past year. We have seen companies go bankrupt and the unemployment rate rise to the highest it’s been in a decade. I personally have seen my dad stay home much more in the past year because his work slowed down. I have seen neighborhood businesses fail because more people are being frugal with their money. Even during all of this, I have had many positive experiences. Because of it, I have learned the value of a dollar. I have learned to appreciate the things that I have. I have also learned to appreciate how lucky I am to have a job. Many people much more qualified than me are out of a job right now. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to earn a paycheck each week even if I am only making minimum wage.

I have been really blessed this past year. Even though I am aware of the economic situation, I feel like it has taught me more than it has taken from me. It has allowed me to experience new things, and I’m thankful for that every day.

Winner & Finalist Photos by Bill Casey

g r a p h i c d e s i g n

f a r f r o m o r d i n a r y

quality gr aphic designdoesn’t have to break the bank .

Affordable, accessible print design servicesfor the business on a budget

logo design | marketing materials | more

352.217.3712 | www.farfromordinarydesign.com


• Manicures & Pedicures• Acrylic Nail Service• Skin Care• Little Princess Services• Many Luxury Packages• Hair Removal

16708 Hwy. 441Mt. Dora

(next to Wasabi Restaurant)

383-2204OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Monday-Saturday 9am-7pmSunday 11am-5pm

20% OFFAll Services through

March 1, 2010With ad through

June 31,2010

Member SIPC © Edward Jones, 2009

Is it radical to ask that your life savings get some attention? Hardly. That’s why we’re built to have

who’ll focus on you. And your nest egg. Join the nearly 7 million investors who know. Face time

and think time make sense. www.edwardjones.com

Has the audacity to believeinvesting should be face to face, not just inbox to inbox .

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one financial advisor in each office. Someone

Richard A HarryFinancial Advisor.4701 Highway 19A Suite 2Mt Dora, FL 32757352-357-2282

Rebecca B Sargent,CFP®Financial Advisor.4701 Highway 19A Suite 2Mt Dora, FL 32757352-357-2282

THE PARTY STARTS HERE!

* 25 % off Custom Wedding Invitations

* Wilton Cake Decorating Classes

* 50+ Party Themes

* Balloon Bouquets Starting at $6.99

2910-2 Kurt Street, Eustis, FL 32726Located Behind Haystack & Sobik’s

(352) 357-5700


Uniquelydowntown

xplore the town’s best selection of wines ‘buy’ the glass or bottle

at The Wine Den, a unique combination of wine bar and wine

shop. ‘First Friday Wine Tastings’ and 3rd Friday ‘Yappy Hours’ are

big local favorites.

iscover award-winning edibles from decadent choco-

lates and desserts to exotic spices, sauces, soups and

more at The Gourmet Spot. It’s truly a boutique in

good taste. Ask about their fun cooking classes, too!

elax in Synergy Salonspa’s ultra modern salon

while their creative professionals provide services rang-

ing from hair, makeup and facials to peels, manicures

and couple’s massages.

D

E

R

Stroll through Mount Dora and experience something special.

m o u n t d o r a411 N. Donnelly St.TheGourmetSpot.com

352.735.4777

109 4th Avenuethewinedenonline.com

352.735.5594

Enter at Donnelly & 3rd Ave..synergysalonspamtdora.com

352.383.2900

Documents

Pulse Spring 2010