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Issue 27 | Spring 2013Copyright © Pulse the Magazine, Inc.

PO Box 1896 • Tavares, FL 32778www.pulsethemagazine.com

facebook.com/pulsethemagazine

PublisherCalvin Arnold

C&L Printing & Graphics

EditorRichard Huss

Marketing & DevelopmentMari Henninger

Design DirectorCristina Miller

Far From Ordinary Design

Advertising DesignLorri Arnold

C&L Printing & Graphics

PhotographyBill Casey

Steven Paul HlavacMarc Vaughn

Steve Williams

IllustrationJennifer Cahill Harper

Contributing WritersJeanne Fluegge

Mari Henninger, Ph.D.Richard Huss

Violet IrmingerSusan Green Jaillet

Tom LloydElla Paets, Ed.D.Pierce Schwalb

Chelsea Teisberg

Assistant Editors Susan Green Jaillet

Mike Ratrie

Advertising SalesCalvin Arnold 407.421.6686 Richard Huss 203.209.6628

Visit our website for more information

about all of our contributors!

table of contents

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 and must be typed or printed clearly, 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 website. 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.

Publisher's Letter/ 7 About the Cover

Ramblin’ with Richard 8 Why Is It?

On the Human Side 12 Confessions of a Closet Perfectionist

Writers One Flight Up 14 Roderick Billette

The Green Scene 16 Slow Turtle Farm: Anything But Slow

Taking Off 20 Update on America's Seaplane City

Lake County Meets New Orleans 25 Tasso Cajun Restaurant

Old Dogs Rock 28 Mickey Carroll Moving On

Choose Your Adventure 32 Mountain Biking in Mount Dora

Mount Dora's National Treasure 34 Lawn Bowling32

14

25

28


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about the

“Blue Poppy Trio” is from a collection of oil paint landscape works by artist Laura Varich using the “alla prima” technique in which the piece is finished in one sitting. Through abstraction, Laura depicts an intimate view of the subject in a style that suggests a memory. Her work is available at The Scott Laurent Collection (Winter Park) and at both Matamo Designs and Synergy Salon & Spa (Mount Dora). Visit her website at lauravarich.com.

Editor's Note: Special thanks to All About Images in Mount Dora for their beautiful work digitizing this piece for Pulse. Check out their ad on the inside back cover for more information.

free | spring 2013

from the publisher

cover

In our spring issue we introduce another new writer, Pierce Schwalb, a recent University of Florida graduate and an avid outdoorsman. He’s also the owner of Mount Dora Outfitters located in the downtown Renaissance Building. His first outing for Pulse was to take a ride and report on the Mount Dora Mountain Bike Trail. We look forward to additional outdoor adventures with Pierce. His article is on page 32.

Congratulations to our very talented illustrator, Jennifer Cahill Harper, who was named "Artist of the Month" (March 2013) by Mount Dora's Artisan's on Fifth. Just recently she held her 2nd show at Artisans. We’re proud to have someone of Jenny’s ability to support our articles with her illustrations. Jenny’s illustrations are on pages 13 and 17.

Also in this issue we bring you up to date on Tavares and the expansion and enhancement of their waterfront facilities, downtown businesses and Entertainment District. It was spring 2010 when Pulse launched its new look with an entire issue dedicated to the developments in Tavares, “America's Seaplane City.” Our Tavares photo spread starts on page 20.

And, we have an error to correct. In the winter issue – see “Learning to Cook with Chef Alex” – we incorrectly listed Karen Monte as “the” owner of KaDee Kay Gourmet Kitchen Products. In reality Karen and her two daughters, Danielle Taylor and Kelly Davant, are the trio of KaDee Kay owners. It’s truly a family Affair.

We had fun bringing you another outstanding issue of Pulse and hope you enjoy it. Let us hear from you ... it helps to make our efforts worthwhile.

Calvin Arnold, Publisher [email protected] | www.pulsethemagazine.com

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Why is it?

Why is it ...? Why is it that I ...? Why is it that I find myself in ...? Frequently I find myself asking myself these questions.

The “Why is it?” question and its derivatives usually deal with something I’ve done – or haven’t done – and that

something relates to my behavior.

I’ve concluded that it has to do with being a man. I can hear people who know me saying, “I’ll tell you ‘why it is’, Bozo. And it’s got nothing to do with your being a man!” I’m sure there are a lot of other reasons why it is, but for now we’re dealing with the man reasons.

Lecturing: Men have an uncanny ability to deliver lectures – especially when not needed. This is paramount to our ability to dig deeper holes in which to bury ourselves. Why is it we think we know almost everything? And why is it when we think we know something, we have this propensity to orally demonstrate we know almost nothing?

I believe it goes back to when we were the ones who literally brought home the bacon – or the Mastodon fat or whatever other form of bacon we could drag to the cave. We were on our own without the help and aid of women. And we were successful. If we weren’t, the tribe died.

Even though we have not seen or hunted a Mastodon in quite some time, we still feel that we know what to do, when to do,

how to do and where to do. So when our partner decides to let us know that’s not always the case or they’re not interested in our alleged knowledge, our fallback position is to break out the old yellowed lecture notes, raise our voice an octave or two and assert our overall superiority. We do this even though none of us has seen a Mastodon other than a massive skeleton or a built-to-scale diorama in a museum of natural history.

Answering Unasked Questions: This typically male behavior falls into the Interruptus Non-listenous group of psychological disorders. If we already know all the answers, or think we do, we blurt out our answer thus effectively cutting off further conversation and probably any chance of learning the real question the person is asking.

Interruptus is a common affliction that causes men to be banished from future discussion. At times this seems like a blessing to us. But when we want or need conversation, a discussion or truly seek advice, we find that the converser is not around, or if around, not willing to engage with us. That’s a problem.

Fortunately, the vaccine for Interruptus Non-listenous is easy to acquire. It doesn’t hurt and you don’t have to go to Walgreens or CVS to get it. The sure cure for Interruptus is to sit quietly and long enough with your partner – and listen. Then with a simple nod of your head, you agree when your partner comes up with their own answer to their question.

It’s their question. Why is it we can’t let it be their answer?

Our Brain’s Nothing Room: Women really don’t trust us when they discover we have our Nothing Room – that space


in our brain where nothing happens. Here’s how a discussion about nothing generally goes.

Partner: “Hi hon, what ya thinkin’ about?”

Man: “Oh, nothing.”

Partner: “You gotta be thinkin’ about something. You can’t be thinking about ‘nothing.’ What’s going on in there?” (This is actually a second attempt to gain illegal entry to your Nothing Room.)

Man: “Really – nothing. I’m not thinking about anything.”

At this point a smart partner shrugs and walks away, leaves the man to his thoughts about nothing and allows him to continue to hang out in his cranial Nothing Room.

There are some partners, however, who will push and try to force entry into the man’s Nothing Room. This is a real deal breaker and usually activates either his Lecturing Button or produces an attack of acute Non-listenous. We naturally have these behavior traits so we don’t need an inducement to trigger them.

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Men really do have a section of their brain where they can think and/or do nothing – absolutely nothing – and for long periods of time. Neurosurgeons, brain researchers, physiologists – no one has ever been able to pinpoint the location of a man’s Nothing Room. This shouldn’t surprise researchers, however, since there’s nothing to find in the Nothing Room. Nothing is visible or scope-able. And if you can’t see or find anything then you’ll not locate it. So why keep looking for it?

And for those partners still reading, be forewarned that a man’s Nothing Room has absolutely nothing in it because he wants it that way. No flat screen TV. No photos or art pieces. No food, tables, chairs. No decorator colors, no dried or silk flowers, no Martha Stewart towels, no nothing! He loves this portion of his brain. So leave it alone.

Nothing is the beauty of his room. If you came in and decorated it, the room would instantaneously become a Something Room. It would then have to be cleaned, maintained, rearranged and taken care of. The man then would be “responsible for it.”

There’s a reason we call it our Nothing Room. We’re just sorry you don’t have one of your own to enjoy.


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the human sideby MARI HEnnInGER, Ph.D. | illustration by JEnnIFER CAHILL HARPER

on the human sideSPONSORED BY:

Confessions of a Closet Perfectionist

I’m not a poster child for perfection. No one would ever mistake me for Martha Stewart. I guess you could call me a closet perfectionist. It’s not that I haven’t recognized my perfectionistic tendencies, it’s just that I thought I’d mastered them. After all, I did buy a terra cotta “Embrace Imperfection” plaque ten years ago and I do, 'til this day, proudly display it on my doorstep. I just checked – it’s still there, though I noticed it’s covered with bird droppings ... hmmm.

In retrospect, the signs of my perfection relapse were pretty obvious. I couldn’t get anything done that didn’t have an immediate drop dead deadline. It’s not that I didn’t work on my long-term, make yourself healthier, wealthier, and wiser goals. I did work on them, and work on them, and work on them some more....

My website took three years to complete. Standard web templates wouldn’t do; they were too boring. My website designer kept sending me designs featuring lots of people in power suits looking at a laptop in subtle business-like tones of black, gray and blue. So not me … a laid back, non-business person doing business with Fortune 500 companies. So I spent two years designing my own web pages in Photoshop. Was this necessary? Has it won me any more business? Was it expensive both in time and programming costs? Bet you know the answers.

Then there’s LinkedIn, the business networking website. I accidentally joined when a friend invited me to join her

professional network. For years my LinkedIn page consisted of my name and business location. I reasoned I couldn’t do a full LinkedIn profile until I finished my website. Then there was the photo I needed to post.

I hated all of the photos I had of myself. In all honesty, most of them looked a bit like someone waiting to be shot by a firing squad, probably because I just knew I’d hate the photo. Tension does ugly things to your face. Enter Marc Vaughn, an internationally known professional portrait photographer living in Mount Dora. Marc did, against all odds, take a beautiful portrait of me … one that even I couldn’t find fault with. Now I was stuck – what was my excuse? You’re probably getting the bigger picture here … no pun intended.

I recently read that all great humor is based on the humiliating things you’ve done that are hilarious in retrospect. By that standard, you should be having a laugh riot right about now. I’m definitely embarrassed by these confessions, but isn’t confession supposed to be good for the soul, if not the funny bone? As I reflected on my past silliness, I realized that perfectionism is often the first cousin of procrastination and pessimism: procrastination because you’re using perfectionism to avoid doing something and pessimism because you’re assuming once you do "that something" people will judge you negatively or deny your request.

I take comfort in the fact that closet perfectionism appears to be a part of the human condition. My totally laid-back husband, who has a desk rivaling the black hole of Calcutta, gets apoplectic if our clothes aren’t perfectly

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clean and the towels aren’t folded a certain way. Being no fool, I promptly christened him Spot Doctor and delegated the laundry to him. Other friends and family have confessed similarly weird closet perfectionisms, but in the interest of keeping them as friends and family, I’ll spare you the details.

Perfection is a pesky habit that makes everything harder. It’s like wearing a ball and chain on the beach walk of life. I’m not sure you ever cure it, I think you’re always a recovering perfectionist, and I’m pretty sure there’s only one path to recovery – going cold turkey.

Resigning myself to cold turkey, I faced the dreaded task of inviting someone to “join my professional network” from my newly completed LinkedIn profile page. With a

sweaty finger, I clicked the Send button to a colleague I’d known 30 years ago who’d reached the rarified air at the top of the corporate ladder. Much to my amazement, he responded immediately with a phone number so we could reconnect I felt like Sally Field in her Oscar acceptance speech when she said, “You like me, you really like me!”

In celebration of my most recent perfection recovery effort, I considered cleaning the bird droppings off my “Embrace Imperfection” plaque. After far more thought than bird droppings deserve, I decided to leave the droppings on the plaque as a reminder that I’ll always be imperfect in my quest for imperfection. Like many things in life, you have to take perfection recovery one day at a time.

Perfection is a pesky habit that makes everything harder. It’s like wearing a ball and chain on the

beach walk of life.


Roderick "Rod" Billette, Writers One Flight Up

The story you are about to read, “The Circle,” is written by Roderick Billette, the newest member of Writers One Flight Up.

Rod was born and raised in the area, graduated from Mount Dora High School and claims to have grasped a bit of higher education while studying at Clemson University. Rod’s writing focuses on his central Florida roots. He currently lives in the historic community of Tangerine surrounded by a variety of

left-over southern in-laws and out-laws. His literary voice reflects this distinct and strong southern heritage.

He has been known to jump from a perfectly good airplane and is an avid scuba diver. His first novel, “Journey Home or I Once Was Lost” is, after years of lolling around on a dusty bookshelf, due for release later this year.

In his spare time, Rod is a songwriter, poet, musician and music producer. This piece of Flash Fiction was inspired by a childhood story related to him by his brother, Richard, and the Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover, “Marble Champion,” which appeared September 2, 1939.

"The Circle"

The setting sun cast ever-lengthening, dancing shadows across five sandy-haired boys and one freckle-faced tomboy. The boys either stood or squatted around a circle drawn with a pine stick in the dirty sand, all that is except Shocklett Sneed, the shooter, who knelt scrunched down on one knee and stared with a focus bordering intensity at the lone agate in the center. Between her thumb and forefinger she held her favorite marble, a clear, rust-streaked cat’s eye that matched her fiery hair and makeup to a tee. The collective circle held its breath as Shocklett’s palm came to rest against the taw line. Then, with a sharp turn and twist the cat’s eye bolted across the circle, caught the larger marble at the perfect height and angle and sent it sailing out of the sandy circle while it sat perfectly still, spinning in its own singular orbit.

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Between her thumb and forefinger she held her favorite marble, a clear, rust-streaked cat’s eye that matched her fiery hair....

An intake of breath, followed by a cry of astonishment arose in unison from the boys, and at the same exact moment the west sun sliding slow along the horizon revealed a new, bigger shadow looming across the circle.

This new figure caused an even sharper intake of breath from the group who faced the intruder. (Unfortunately I was not one of them.) They were still sucking breath in when a hairy, calloused hand gripped my forearm and helped me to my feet. Actually, it helped me a little further up than was very comfortable, up to the point where I was listing considerably to starboard with my right foot tippy-toeing the ground and my left foot waving goodbye or hello or good lord I’m about to fly away and never be heard from again. None too gently my left foot finally found the ground as the vice holding my arm relented and agreed to grab my shirt collar for a change of pace.

“Ya hear yore momma calling you, Dakotah? It’s way past supper time, I’m hungry and the rest of us is all waitin’ on you ta eat. What’d I tell ya ‘bout not comin’ home right quick when yore momma calls? I know ya heared her! Well, did ya or not?”

In a sheepish little voice, with my head bowed low, I replied, “Yes, sir. I heared ‘er.”

The other kids backed off a considerable distance, marbles forgotten for the time being and quietly discussed my fate in smothered whispers until I could hear, even over Daddy’s rumbling, an ever growing sound of snickers quickly working

their way up toward outright, unabashed laughter at what was about to befall me – they all knew Daddy.

“All right then, tell these here childr’n what I promised ya the nex’ time ya ignored yore momma an’ didn’t come when ya was supposed to. Go on, tell ‘em. I want ‘em ta hear it from yore own two lips so’s they’ll all know yore daddy keeps his promises.”

Sniffling, I feebly mumbled, “You said I was gonna get whupped all the way home the next time Momma asked you to come and get me.”

“Do ya know how worried yore momma gets when ya stay out, and do ya have any idée how much she nags me ta straighten ya out? Well, ‘Dr. Black’ here is some mighty strong medicine. I’ll bet ya get cured, this very day. Whadda you think?”

A runny, snot-nosed reply dribbled reluctantly out, “Yes, sir.”

“Well then, let’s get started. It’s close ta dark thirty and they ain’t no need in feedin’ no pesky mosquiters.”

The road home was uphill, long, sand-rutted and painful, but the toughest part of my walk-hop-run wasn’t Daddy’s broad, black leather belt. Oh, no! It was that relentless marble mob that whooped and hollered at a safe distance, at my expense, every time that belt burned my bottom, and Daddy – for all his talk – turned out to be in no hurry for the supper table that night.


the green sceneby SuSAn GREEn JAILLET | illustration by JEnnIFER CAHILL HARPER

the green scene

Slow Turtle Farm: Anything But Slow

If you were one of the 108 million people who watched this year’s Super Bowl, then you heard a commercial with Paul Harvey’s voice reading "So God Made a Farmer." “God said I need somebody to get up before dawn and milk cows and work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board. So, God made a farmer!” Substitute goats for cows in this remarkable tribute, and you have Carol Peters.

Go to the Sunday Village Market in Mount Dora and you’ll notice the crowd of smiling people clustered around Carol’s Slow Turtle Farm Goat Cheese stand. On a day when Carol’s brought a baby goat or two, you’ll probably be one of those smiling people who stops to pet a Nubian or an Alpine kid and ask questions Carol answers with a smile while giving you a wealth of information.

What makes Carol and her goats so special? It’s love –loving what she does every day, all day, 365 days a year. “It’s fun. You don’t do it unless you love doing it and I love it.” Not only do Carol and her family raise goats, they raise sheep, alpaca, chickens, ducks, pigs, and one very remarkable Royal Palm heritage turkey named Benny, after Ben Franklin, of course. They raise nearly everything the family eats – meat, eggs and dairy. What they don’t eat is either canned or sold at the Village Market, other farmer’s markets, or Orlando’s Homegrown Local Food Cooperative.

What’s so special about goats? They were the first animals domesticated by man over 10,000 years ago. They’re ruminants with a life expectancy of around 8 to 12 years. It’s estimated that 500 million goats live worldwide and more meat and milk are consumed from goats than from any other animal. Goat’s milk is more easily digestible than cow’s milk and has a higher fat content. Carol uses her goat’s milk to make several different kinds of cheese which she has available from her stand.

Slow Turtle Farm is a five-acre homestead outside Eustis where Carol and her family have lived since 1987. Carol worked as an Electronic Technician for Lockheed Martin for nine years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. After developing breast cancer and undergoing chemo in 2005, she could “no longer sit on a tractor or bushhog.” She thought goats “would browse the weeds and bracken in the back field” and do what she couldn’t.

Her first goats were acquired by stalking a woman driving a truckload of them on the highway. She followed the woman and obtained some of the goats she carried. Carol says those goats she started with captivated her and today’s herd is much larger, although she won’t say just how large as apparently that is bad luck for a goat farmer.

Carol is a Florida Dairy Goat Association (FDGA) Board Member and is the FDGA Dairy Herd Improvement Chairman. She’s become such an expert on goats that she was invited to present on Small Ruminants at the 2013 Sumter County AGRItunity Regional Farm Conference. She and her goats travel to fairs, shows, and sales. On her website, you can reserve goats for purchase in advance of their birth.

This quest for knowledge and sharing that knowledge with others comes from Carol’s lifelong love of animals. “As a child, I was always bringing home strays. My childhood highlight was visiting my great-aunt’s farm and as a teenager living on a New Hampshire farm for several months. That changed my life, but not right away. I had to grow up and find myself first … and I’m stubborn. I had to go through a bunch of baggage before I realized my passion for life is in other life … animals.”

Continuing, she added, “Eventually I learned I was not going to have the dream job or glamour career, but I was going to devote my time to working outside, loving creatures that love back, and maybe if I worked hard enough at it, it might pay for itself.”


Carol’s passion is apparent in every question she answers at the Village Market. It’s evident in the cheese she makes, the milk she bottles, the yarn she spins, the food she grows, the love she shares. It shows in the way she names her goats, by lines of heritage. There’s the French line – Uni, Deux Blanc, Trois Images; the herb and spice line – Cinnamon, Pepper, Curry, Cumin, Ginger; a song line – Lucy in the Sky, Billie Jean; celestial bodies, gems, Disney, Dr. Seuss. It’s imaginative, fun, and makes the goats and their genetic lineage easy to track. And yes, she knows each one by name. They come when she calls them for milking.

“Goats are like potato chips,” Carol tells a customer. “You can’t just have one.” Goats are social animals, said to be

smarter than dogs and even easier to train. They’re herd animals and show affection just like dogs. Goats can be trained to pull a cart or carry loads. They provide milk, cheese and clothes to wear. Raising goats has taught Carol’s family “that life is precious and not to be wasted trying to fulfill what may be expected of them. They’ve learned if they have a passion and it makes them happy, they need to go for it … and to be patient, it may take awhile.”

What a valuable lesson for any of us.

For more information, please go to slowturtlefarm.com or Facebook Slow Turtle Farm LLC.

“Goats are like potato chips,” Carol tells

a customer. “You can’t just have one.”


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TAkING OFFIn our Spring 2010 issue, Pulse interviewed members of the Tavares administration shortly after their

rebranding as America's Seaplane City. With signs of life beginning to return to the economy, we want

to know: have the efforts to revitalize a city that was dying on the vine been successful? Pulse talked

with Tavares business owners, developers and city officials, all of whom have invested their time and

themselves into Tavares, to see if the gamble is paying off.

by RICHARD HuSS | photography by BILL CASEy



JOYCE ROSS, Director of Public Communications –Joyce Ross was hired three years ago by the Tavares administrators who put their new vision of Tavares into motion. She left a county government position in southwest Florida and assumed her responsibilities in Tavares – to explain what was envisioned and what was going to happen to anyone and everyone interested. And some who were not.

Joyce was drawn to Tavares by the sheer enthusiasm and sense of entrepreneurship expressed by the city administration. “I was really swept away with their positivity,” says Joyce. “I wanted to become a member of this team and work to make the vision a reality.”

That was three years ago and she hasn’t regretted it.

“I’ve worked in quite a few other government situations, and this group by far understood how important it was for the taxpayers – in this case the residents of Tavares – to see a return on the tax dollars they were being asked to invest. This City Council had the right ideas and the right attitudes. I wanted to make the move.”

The economic bottom line in Tavares was to build a tax base for investment that was not tilted toward residential taxpayers (originally at an 80:20 ratio), but rather was based on a strong commercial tax revenue stream. According to Joyce, due to the number of new businesses recruited, the city is on track to achieve an economically healthy 60:40 ratio, residential tax dollars to commercial tax dollars, by the end of fiscal 2013.

“This is an amazing shift in tax responsibility given the length of time and the size of our city. I’m very proud to be a part of this and to see the tax burden being more equitably shared by the business base in Tavares. The changes that have been accomplished in Tavares make this a great place to live, work and play.”

LOU BUiGAS, Owner, Hoity-Toity Mercantile, 206 W. Main Street, Tavares – Lou Buigas opened Hoity-Toity Mercantile in February 2013 – she had just moved from neighboring Mount Dora. I asked her what the appeal was ... why she made the move to Tavares.

“The city directors made it a pleasure for me to relocate and start my business in Tavares. There were no problems, just solutions. It was like, ‘Here are the regulations. How can we help you get through them?’”

The Tavares Waterfront Entertainment District was a major attraction for Lou. The Ruby Street-Main Street designated area is a free zone where visitors can walk from establishment to establishment with open drinks in the approved containers.

According to Lou, “It’s a friendly blending of business with a relaxed and festive party atmosphere in a unique setting. At any given time, you have a 'Chamber of Commerce moment,' the steam train is moving through town, a seaplane is landing and it just makes you smile! And it’s an honor to be a part of this city.”

Lou went on to say, “We have something new and different to offer in Tavares. We’re a destination point. You can get to us by car, train, boat or seaplane. I’ve been fully welcomed as a new business owner by all the other owners. It’s great.”

RODGER kOOSER, Entrepreneur – Rodger Kooser arrived in Tavares approximately seven years ago. He was attracted by the opportunities he envisioned with the raw lakefront property available for development. He hasn’t been disappointed, and today with a group of investment partners he is the owner of AL’S Landing, AL’S Top Shelf,

AL’S Sandbar, Lakeview Inn East and the newly built Lakeview Inn West.

According to Rodger, the primary attraction for him was the vision the “city fathers” had for the Tavares lakefront and their business-like atti-tude to moving Tavares

forward. They developed a sound business and entertainment plan for the benefit of Tavares residents and tourists, which in turn has dramatically increased activity, revenues and positive publicity for the City.

“The Tavares’ administration understands how the ‘business’ of a city has to be conducted. This in turn creates opportunities for area businesses to flourish in the downtown area. The resort and entertainment

"There’s always activity at the waterfront –

and that’s a good thing."


atmosphere created just three years ago is a direct result of the willingness of the city and its residents to invest in an incredible natural resource – its lakefront.”

“We have recently finished our Antique Boat Show and Festival and the responses from the folks in attendance were fantastic. Statements like ‘We were very impressed with the changes and the growth’ and ‘We definitely plan to return’ were heard over and over. In fact, we’re already booked for next year.”

“It’s not just the large events and festivals that attract the visitors,” Rodger adds.

“We constantly have folks show up just to watch the seaplanes land and take off. The new steam train is also a huge success. There’s always activity at the waterfront – and that’s a good thing.”

JOHN DRURY, City Administrator – John Drury came on board with the City of Tavares about the same time that Nancy Clutts, Mayor at the time, led the city council members, Tavares Stakeholders and city leaders in deep discussions about the future – what Tavares should be

and where Tavares should go. The fact was that in a boom economic time, downtown Tavares was essentially vacant and withering on the vine.

“I liked the Council’s ideas and enthusiasm. But most important was their concept of ‘civic entrepreneurism’ – the idea that our city needed to invest in itself and that taxpayers, who are usually the investors, deserved a return on their investment.”

John pointed out the city’s growth over the past three years. He reminded me, “The city launched its new brand, ‘America’s Seaplane City,’ about the same time that the country went into a major economic decline. We faced a

"…our city needed to invest in itself…”

Continued on Page 37


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Lake County Meets New Orleansby VIoLET IRMInGER | photography by BILL CASEy

Tasso Cajun Kitchen, a new waterfront restaurant in Tavares, has made a huge splash with local restaurant goers. With its bright tangerine interior walls, vibrant images of New Orleans and the pulsing beat of Zydeco music, you can’t mistake this restaurant for anything but pure Cajun.

When I arrive, Owner/Chef Deshaun Scott is carefully reviewing daily food orders while he takes phone calls and evaluates computer print-outs. All this on a round high-top table – a makeshift desk he often uses between the lunch and dinner crowd – tucked in a quiet corner of his restaurant. Quickly he slides the papers aside, and with a warm welcome and an offer to share some beignets, he begins his story.

Baltimore born but raised in Central Florida, Chef Deshaun explained that his career as a chef gradually developed while attending Dr. Phillips High in Orlando. Friends often invited him into their homes where he discovered exciting and unusual aromas pulling him into their kitchens. It was his high school friends who lured his discriminating palate to the irresistible flavors found in ethnic cuisine, ultimately inspiring him to pursue a new career path.

A talented ceramist and painter, Deshaun said, “I planned on going to college to study visual arts. But the art of creating and preparing a tasty meal pushed me toward culinary arts.”

Creativity is clearly a part of Chef Deshaun’s DNA. Many


of his family members have been recognized for a multitude of talents, including his brother, Michael James Scott, currently performing on Broadway in the popular musical, “The Book of Mormon.”

Graduating from the Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts in 2002, Chef Deshaun immediately went to work for Brio’s Tuscan Grille chain of restaurants. He started as a line cook and quickly worked his way up the corporate ladder, traveling from city to city, training staff and opening new restaurants. It was during this time that Deshaun’s entrepreneurial spirit was awakened.

He soon found a lucrative niche as a personal chef and restaurant consultant. With the significant number of celebrities and professional athletes living in and around Orlando and a reputation as a chef, it didn’t take long for Chef Deshaun to build a thriving business.

One of his clients, Los Angeles Lakers (and former Orlando Magic) NBA superstar, Dwight Howard clearly enjoys the culinary talents of Chef Deshaun and a move to LA hasn’t stood in his way. Since the trade to LA, the former Magic star has asked Chef Deshaun to cater parties and events at his Los Angeles home. “When Dwight won the slam dunk contest at the NBA All Stars in 2008, he asked me to cater the party celebrating his achievement,” Deshaun said.

Deshaun’s gallery of all-stars also includes Apopka native and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Warren Sapp; former NSync member and performer, Joey Fatone; and Orlando Magic point guard, Jameer Nelson.

When an opportunity to purchase a turn-key café in Winter Garden presented itself, Deshaun and his bride, Najla, decided to take the plunge. “Our first restaurant,

“We fell in love with the food, the culture and the energy of the Cajun and Creole people."


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The Carved Eatery, gave me the confidence I needed to move to the next level. It was a great place to start, but I knew eventually I wanted to own and operate a full-service restaurant,” he said.

“One day, when I had a little free time, I stopped at the Tavares Chamber of Commerce and requested information about the possibility of opening a restaurant in Tavares. The next thing I knew I was in a meeting with Bill Neron, the Economic Development Director for the City of Tavares,” said Chef Deshaun.

“He introduced me to Rodger Kooser, the owner of Tavares waterfront restaurants, Al’s Landing and Top Shelf. At that time, Rodger’s latest venture, the Lakeview Inn, was under construction. By chance, the deal for the restaurant that had been originally slated for the ground floor space had just fallen through,” he added.

It didn’t take much to persuade Chef Deshaun that a restaurant at the new Lakeview Inn would be a home run.

The idea that prompted Najla and Deshaun Scott to consider a Cajun theme for their new restaurant came to light by yet another chance encounter:

“With three kids and one on the way, we needed a third row seat for our SUV. The best seat I could find was in Metairie, Louisiana,” he said. “We needed a vacation so we decided to take a day or two to see the sights.” Purchasing the third row seat took just a few minutes then off Najla and Deshaun went to explore the infamous Crescent City – New Orleans, where a planned overnight stay turned into a whirlwind four day vacation.

“We fell in love with the food, the culture and the energy of the Cajun and Creole people. What better way to share our experience than to open a New Orleans inspired restaurant.” He added that the inspiration for the name of their restaurant, Tasso, also came to them while visiting New Orleans. Tasso (TAH-so), a Cajun staple, is a smoked seasoning meat used to flavor dishes like Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Red Beans & Rice.

Chef Deshaun is proud to say that other than French bread shipped directly from the Leidenheimer Baking Company in New Orleans, everything served at Tasso Cajun Kitchen is made from scratch. “The roux for the gumbo is made with real chicken broth – not canned. I prefer to use locally grown produce and my restaurant serves only grass-fed ground beef.” he said.

Because each dish is made to order, Deshaun added, “I can turn up the heat – make it spicy hot, or I can tone it down. If a customer is on a low salt diet, we don’t add salt until we finish off the dish, so we can accommodate special no/low salt diets.”

If a trip to New Orleans isn’t on your horizon, then you need to step into Tasso Cajun Kitchen and voilà – you're there!

Tasso Cajun Kitchen is located on the ground floor of the new Lakeview Inn in Tavares, and open seven days a week. For more information, call 352.702.3060 or visit www.tassocajunkitchen.com.


The hambone kid loosens his skinny tie, slicks back his DA with a dab of Brylcream, flips up his Mr. B. collar and asks the prettiest girl on Bandstand to dance with him. It’s the 1950s and Philadelphia teenagers are crazy about the local TV show featuring high school kids bopping to the newest songs. Big swing bands are on their way out. Dreamy looking boy groups are all the rage, and Mickey Carroll yearns to be one of them.

Mickey sings and strums his guitar at south Jersey record hops where he’s half of Billy and Mickey, two white boys singing Doo-Wop. The starry-eyed duo cuts the record “You Are” in 1958. It has the slow- dancing lyrics teenagers swoon over, but it doesn’t make a huge splash in the

crowded rock and roll sea. Mickey’s not as gorgeous looking as teenage heartthrobs Frankie Avalon and Fabian. He has the required thatch of dark hair riding high above his unlined forehead, but his toe hold into music’s golden door is a weak one, and he struggles to push his way in.

Mickey moves on to play 50s rock and roll with a trio called The Counts. They play cocktail lounges in Atlantic City, Chicago and Miami, with exotic names like Chez Paree, Club Harlem and The Jungle Club. Inside smoky nightclubs Mickey listens to black musicians who set his soul on fire. He lands in New Orleans on Bourbon Street where jazz, blues, gospel, and African rhythms as old as

Old Dogs RockMICkEy CARROLL MOvING ON

by JEAnnE FLuEGGE | photo by STEVE WILLIAMS

slavery, fill his head with exotic tempos; sounds he falls in love with.

After a decade of paying his dues, stardom shimmies up so close to Mickey, he’s blinded by its shine. He’s been playing in upscale Florida hotels when Don Cornelius, a promoter for black artists and creator of the TV show Soul Train, takes a liking to the mellow Mickey Carroll sound.

Mickey gets a recording contract with Solar Records to make an album on a ship anchored off the coast of Catalina Island. The 1975 album doesn’t go very far, but Mickey gets to hobnob with music’s “big boys.” He writes the song “I Can Do It All Night” for the Soul Train Gang …and then … his second album “Love Life” is considered for a Best New Artist Grammy in 1979. But Mickey Carroll’s jazzy/blues sound falls between the cracks of 1970s musical genres. His star lingers at the edge until 1981 when The Whispers (Solar Records popular R&B group) record Mickey’s song “Love is Where You Find It.” The record goes “Gold.” Google it and hear Mickey’s sweet lyrics all wrapped up in R&B’s golden harmonic tones.

Of course, now the hambone kid isn’t a kid anymore, and it’s too late to be a big star like Frankie Avalon or Fabian. Still, he flies on the edge of their flock, makes some good money, and always has steady work. For almost thirty years Mickey strums his guitar and sings in hotel lounges and boozy clubs until one day he puts on a show at a veteran’s hospital in South Florida, and this changes everything.

Mickey steps down from the stage to connect with as many vets as he can. He even trots out the old Bandstand steps, but mostly he sings his heart out for them. It’s as if he’s giving the audience a huge Valentine.

Soon they come by the bus load; the impaired, disabled, and injured. Instead of plush Miami nightclubs, they gather in huge all-purpose rooms and sit on metal folding chairs. Mickey’s personal attention washes over them like a shot of vitamin B12. He’s making music built on compassion, but he wants to do more. This is when Mickey leaves Miami’s high wattage lights to settle in Mount Dora, and where Mother J Productions, his non-profit, is born.

Mother J Productions is Mickey’s way to give back through the arts. He brings people together through community events designed to raise funds for arts education and disaster relief. Mickey’s first big event is the musical “Mother J.” It’s the fictional story of a black woman’s journey to bring unity and love into a small southern town. Six actors (local Jazz queen Jacqueline Jones playing

Mother J.) and a slew of kids, along with Mount Dorans playing themselves, celebrate community. “Mother J” won the Dorothy Mullen National Arts and Humanity Award for Florida. It’s not a Grammy, but “how sweet it is.”

Fabian and Frankie Avalon lost their boyish good looks years ago, but Mickey Carroll is a dreamy looking seventy who’s moving on. His latest CD,

“Old Dogs," is jazzy/blues about living and loving life; perfect music for hip Baby Boomers. You know the ones … the cool kids who were dancing with Bandstand in their basement rec rooms?

One look at this joyful man soaking in his tub of bubbles, a cigar in one hand, a glass of red wine in the other, and you hope “Old Dogs” is on its way to gold.

For more information about Mickey, visit www.olddogsmickeycarroll.com.

Fabian and Frankie Avalon lost their boyish good looks years ago, bu t Mickey Carroll...

Old Dogs Rock Photo by Marc Vaughn


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choose your adventure:mount dora mountain biking

by PIERCE SCHWALB | photography by STEVE WILLIAMS

If I wasn’t already awake before my feet hit the pedals, trail names like “Gravity Destroyer” and “Extra Crispy” snapped my eyes wide open. I had expected the Mount Dora Mountain Bike Trail, nestled between little league fields and a dog park, to be more family friendly. However, I soon discovered that the trail’s creators, volunteers with the Ocala Mountain Bike Association (OMBA), had designed a course both forgiving to novices and challenging for seasoned pros.

Falling somewhere between those two categories – though decidedly closer to novice – I felt the burn in my thighs in no time. The trail led me around sharp curves, up quick ascents and down sandy banks. The first trail sign reads: “Ride with your head, not over it.” This trail taught me a few hard lessons: wear a helmet, don’t rely on the front brake and lean back when taking a steep descent.

My favorite part of the trail is that riders can create their own experience. Every half mile or so, the trail is divided into two parts, each with its own difficulty rating. With a cheeky reference to fast food, the “Extra Crispy” trail is marked with a Very Difficult designation, but riders looking to avoid all that oil and batter can opt for the more level section.

While I would like to say I took advantage of the rougher options during my first ride, less courageous heads prevailed. Quite a bit of time was spent peering down difficult trails trying to anticipate just how steep or bumpy they would be. Turns out that’s an impossible feat; the only way to decide if you can do it is to do it! However, I was grateful for the option. It was nice to be able to decide when I needed to fully exert myself and when I could take a breather.

And exert I did. The OMBA created challenging features that maximize the trail’s elevation. From an almost ninety-degree drop, marked Expert Riders Only, to a built-up, wooden A-frame structure that requires lots of mome-ntum, the obstacles should definitely be taken seriously.

The trail has attracted the attention of mountain bikers from all over Florida, and I have met local riders who were thrilled to see a trail built closer to home. One rider, Brian, made the commute every weekend from Leesburg to Belleview to reach the closest mountain bike trail. Now he has a closer alternative.

“The trail is a great place to work on your fitness level and build confidence,” he said. “I do a lot of mountain biking across the state, and the OMBA did a great job designing a challenging course.”

Brian is one of many serious mountain bikers who enjoy the trail, but it also attracts a significant number of first-timers. People come into my shop all the time saying what a great ride they had on the trail and asking where they can find more like it. It’s a great way to experience nature, and break a healthy sweat.

The trail winds through 45 acres of natural scrub forest that is owned by the city of Mount Dora. The aggressive features are thrilling, but I would also recommend taking lots of breaks to enjoy the varied aspects of the trail. During my more leisurely rides, I’ve come across birds, armadillos, snakes and even spotted a fox. It’s also great to take advantage of complex shaded canopies created by the towering oaks along the trail’s borders.

The trail has attracted the attention of

mountain bikers from all over Florida…

Continued on Page 37


MOUNT DORA’S National Treasure

by JEAnnE FLuEGGE | photography by STEPHEn PAuL HLAVAC


Old? Absolutely not! Old is hoarding time until it’s gone. Old is waiting for something to happen instead of making something happen. And Mount Dora’s lawn bowling club is far from old. It sizzles with action.

Porch chairs, comfortable and shady, sit empty, while out on the greens steely eyes laser in on the jack, a little white ball bowlers aim for. Tanned knees dip down without a hitch as bowlers make an approach, and steady hands throw bowls (oval balls) as heavy and dense as Bakelite rocks.

More inspiring and surprising, lawn bowling is ranked one of the most dangerous sports in the world. I considered this a huge plus and a compelling reason to become a bowler. Lawn bowling causes more deaths per year than cave diving, rock climbing, and Brahma bull riding. Lawn bowlers do what the rest of us only talk about – they stay in the game until their last breath. And what a game it is.

On a sunny Saturday, I decided to test my mettle by joining up with forty prospective lawn bowlers at Mount Dora’s clubhouse located at 125 Edgerton Court. After devouring a loaded “Belly Buster” hot dog and huge slice of homemade strawberry shortcake, my glazed gaze roamed around the handsome clubhouse taking in its round rattan tables and woven chairs, lazy ceiling fans, and brass chandelier.

I had met World Champion Bowler, David Bryant, and his posh British team when they visited the club a few weeks before. These ever-so-proper Englishmen bowling in white sports coats and turquoise team ties, the women in mid-calf pleated skirts and stockings had Mount Dora looking like Pondicherry, India, circa 1936.

My romantic notions came to an abrupt halt when “beginners” were led onto the green for a lesson. Our instructor, an Indiana Jones type named Rick, stood at the edge of the court with an expression on his face that said, “It isn’t as easy as it looks, folks.”

Rick rolled the flat-sided ball, the bowl, down yards and yards of narrow unmarked lane. His bowl rolled to the far right of the jack. Then at the last minute, as if drawn by an invisible force, the bowl turned and stopped inches from the jack in the center of the rink. The concepts of bias and weight were bantered around by our group, trying to explain why the bowl curved instead of running straight.

A ghostly parade of gutter balls haunted me the instant it was my turn to step on the green. The bowl felt like a cannon ball in the palm of my hand. My first three rolls traveled so far to the left of the jack they ended up in the next rink. Finally, I aimed the bowl toward the rink on my right and still missed the jack by three feet.

After scores of practice rolls sullied the green, everyone’s bowl began curving closer and closer to the jack – except mine. Eager hands shot up when Rick asked who would be returning for two weeks of free lessons – except mine.

Knowing that women do as well as men in this coed sport, I slunk back to the clubhouse in embarrassment. I couldn’t even use the “weaker sex” excuse. Two of the Mount Dora Club’s women compete internationally on Team USA. Other members bowl in the North Central Florida League, while the less competitive play in intra-club tournaments and games between club members. There’s even a niche for non-bowlers like me. We become associate members and go to all of the social events: parties and dances, plus weekly Bridge, Euchre and Mahjong games.

Photos taken at the Club’s 1928 dedication show town founder J.P. Donnelly with the same kind of fit, happy people you see at the club today. It’s clear that lawn bowling is more than a game or a social club: it’s a refined lifestyle with attitude. For generations lawn bowlers have enriched Mount Dora with historic traditions and elegant style; their court’s a destination for bowlers from all over the world; their row of stately flags announce something important happens here.

A town must cherish its traditions or lose its character and misplace its heart. Without a lawn bowling club Mount Dora would be a giant step closer to the ordinary brand so many small towns wear these days. As the appraisers on Antiques Roadshow say when they come across something rare and exceptional, “Mount Dora, you have a national treasure! A national treasure!”

For more information, visit www.mdlbc.org.

Lawn bowling causes more dea ths per year than cave diving…


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daunting task.”

“Our cornerstone is The Pavilion – designed to be the economic anchor for downtown as well as the entire area. Everyone will benefit. As an entertainment destination, it will have a positive economic impact on area small businesses, restaurants and lodging. We will be able to handle conferences and small conventions as well as weddings, receptions and business meetings. The original Pavilion was opened in 1914 and the new Pavilion will be open in 2014 – just in time for a 100-year anniversary celebration.”

John went on to talk about the new businesses already attracted to Tavares as a result of the Council’s forethought and investment: numerous new restaurants and small businesses, the new Medical Park, Chet Lemon’s Big House, The Osprey Lodge, a high end resort/retirement community, and Sea Ray, a seaplane manufacturer. He also mentioned that Tavares is now officially designated as an FAA approved airport – call letters FA1.

“Our civic entrepreneurism is beginning to pay off,” he said. “We’re turning Tavares into a fun and profitable place – for businesses and residents.”

For more information, upcoming events and more, visit tavares.org or follow City of Tavares - America's Seaplane City on Facebook.

As a bonus, the OMBA built a skills park right next to the trail where riders can work on their balance and climbing abilities. With small wooden bridges and clay ramps in the park, riders don’t have to leave Florida to find some challenging elevation.

Purchased by Mount Dora for its recreational benefits, the land also serves a larger eco-educational purpose. The area is home to threatened gopher tortoises. As part of the park, the city plans to promote environmental awareness through preservation and to create interactive, educational displays for visitors.

An addition by the Mount Dora Community Trust has placed large wooden benches along the trail so riders can rest and contemplate their next moves. On my last break, as I sat and admired a stand of red berry bushes, Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” drifted across my mind.

I resolved to take the difficult path – next time.

For more information about the Mount Dora Mountain Bike Trail or to learn about volunteering to maintain the trail, please visit www.omba.org.

TAvARES, continued from Page 23

BIkINg, continued from Page 33


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Last Show of the 2012-2013 Season!PERFECT WEDDING

May 17–June 9, 2013 • by Robin Hawdon

5 and 6 Show Season Subscriptions Now Available!Contact the Box Office for Details.

Kicking Off the 2013-2014 Season

July 19 – August 4 • Book and Music by Lionel Bart

11 0 0 N . U N S E R S T R E E T • M O U N T D O R A , F L 3 2 7 5 7 • / T H E I C E H O U S E T H E A T R E

B O X O F F I C E 3 5 2 . 3 8 3 . 4 6 1 6 • W W W . I C E H O U S E T H E A T R E . C O M

A man wakes up in the bridal suite on his wedding day with an attractive, naked – and unfamiliar – girl in bed beside him. In a few moments, here comes the bride…and pandemonium!

Perfect Wedding

Dickens’s timeless characters are brought to life in the story of the boy who dared to ask for more.

Songs include Consider Yourself, I’d Do Anything and As Long As He Needs Me.

Tickets: $20 Adults, $18 Seniors (65+, Thurs & Matinees), $16 Groups (15 or more), $10 & $15 StudentsShowtimes: Thursday 7:30 PM • Friday 8:00 PM • Saturday 2:00 OR 8:00 PM • Sunday 2:00 PM


411 N. Donnelly St., Mount DoraTheGourmetSpot.com

352.735.4777

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. Their seasonal mega-

wine tastings draw visitors from near and far.

un and tasteful inspiration can always be found at

The Gourmet Spot. Their vast selection of award-winning

foods, specialty kitchenware and artisan entertaining pieces makes

them a favorite among locals and visitors. This quaint shop always

brings a smile.

he ultimate pampering experience

awaits at Synergy Salonspa. This

full service, ultra-modern salonspa

features a relaxing couple’s massage

room and self-sanitizing pedicure

chairs. It’s the perfect place for a

refreshing new style or a renewing

spa treatment.

F

E

109 4th Avenue, Mount DoraTheWineDenOnline.com

352.735.5594

Donnelly & 3rd Ave, Mount DoraSynergySalonspamtdora.com

352.383.2900

The locals’guide to downtown’s

unique places.

T

to downtown’sunique places.

Documents

Pulse Spring 2013