magazine
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 6 • SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 2015 PRICELESSS
Women in Business
Saluting Strength In Our Community
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 1
2 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Your family’s health means everything to us.
New extended late hours. Tuesday and Thursday open until 6:30 p.m.
For comprehensive family care, you can feel confident turning to Lake Shore Primary Care West. And now, we are proud to welcome Michael C. Ukaegbu, M.D., to the group. Dr. Ukaegbu provides services ranging from routine exams to the careful management of chronic conditions. He is dedicated to helping families like yours achieve and maintain good health – for life. Same-day appointments are often available. And for your convenience, you can call or schedule your appointment online.
Michael C. Ukaegbu, M.D. Internal Medicine
Jennifer Scott, ARNP
Board Certified in DOT Physicals Family Nurse Practitioner
Member of the Medical Staff of Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center and Member of the Allied Health Staff of Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center.
221 SW Stonegate Terrace, Suite 101
386-292-7744 ShandsLakeShorePhysicians.com Currents | September/October, 2015 | 3
[c o n t e n t s] 06 A rockin’ good time
Local restaurants, bars — and even a church — offer aspiring artists a chance to shine.
12 ION L SECT SPECIA on starts49 e g a p
12 Working women
Four local businesswomen take on the workforce and rise to the top of their fields.
28 On the water
CHS junior Christian Thompson sets his sights on 2016 Bassmaster Southern Open.
32 A miracle in the making 28 Support the gift of life — and witness a living miracle — by attending Signature Chefs Auction.
40 Find your fall favorites
Columnist Martha Ann Ronsonet shares her favorite fall flowers just in time for planting.
44 Outdoors are his office
Ichetucknee Springs State Park director of volunteer programs Sam Cole has made a career of nature.
[ [ PUBLISHER: Todd Wilson EDITOR: Robert Bridges SALES: Dawn Layton Jose Rodriguez AD DESIGN: Dave Kimler
WRITERS: Larry Griffin Sam Burroughs Nick Rollison Tony Britt DESIGN: Emily Lawson
CURRENTS magazine is a publication of the Lake City Reporter, 180 E Duval St., Lake City, FL 32055. To inquire about advertising, call (386) 752-1293 or e-mail Currents@lakecityreporter.com. © Copyright 2015.
32
COVER CREDITS magazine
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 6 • SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 2015 PRICELESSS
Women in Business
Saluting Strength In Our Community
Women in business in Columbia County are saluted in this issue. October is Women in Business Month.
Composite by Dave Kimler
Two skilled surgeons are just a short ride away. If you ever need surgery, it’s good to know that you have two skilled general surgeons right here to care for you. Jerzy Polmerski, M.D., and Edwin Gonzalez, M.D., FACS, provide a wide range of surgical options, including minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures. For many people, these procedures can mean less pain and a quicker recovery when compared to traditional surgeries.* For more information, call 386-755-7788 or visit ShandsLakeShorePhysicians.com. Edwin Gonzalez, M.D., FACS Jerzy Polmerski, M.D.
These surgeons provide the following types of procedures: Breast Surgery • Biopsies • Colon and Rectal Surgery Cystoscopic • Endoscopic • Gallbladder • General Surgery Hernia Repair • Laparoscopic • Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasounds • Pediatric Surgery (ages 2 and up)
755 SW State Rd. 47
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 5 Center *Patient results may vary. Consult your physician about the benefits and risks of any surgical procedure or treatment. • Members of the Medical Staff at Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical
HANGAR 7
Y T I C E K A L N I E V LI
cal musicians
from lo Venues offer music
T
By NICK ROLLISON | Courtesy Photos
he tapping of a foot, the clapping of hands, the stage and the spotlight all make for an age old form of entertainment. Whether you’re in the mood to listen or you’re ready to face the crowd from behind the mic, there are at least a few places in Lake City that might satisfy your creative or entertainment needs. Not only do these places offer a venue for music entertainment, they also give aspiring local artists a chance to discover if they have what it takes to play in front of a live crowd.
ING UP COOneMSmall Step • Sat, Oct. 31 @ 7 PM
Save the Empire! • Fri, Nov. 13 @ 8 PM
BELOW: Save the Empire! is seen performing recently at Hangar 7, a venue on U.S. 90 that boasts live music every weekend, karaoke three nights a week and open mic night each Wednesday.
One of those establishments, Hangar 7, located at 3839 U.S. 90, has been around for over 30 years. “As far as I can remember ... every weekend we’ve had live events, every weekend,” said Hangar 7 owner and operator Alice Anderson. “A lot of these other places have them once a month, or once every three months, or something like that, but we have been doing this for many years.” The bar hosts live bands on the weekends with its spacious concert area, and Anderson says that local rock bands such as Primal Nature, One Small Step, and Rojo Diablo have all played there. The bar also hosts karaoke sessions three nights a week and an open mic night on Wednesday. Anderson said she prefers rock and roll, but that the bar does offer up variety in their musical guests. “We have about three bands that when they come they don’t have a full four-hour set, so they will bring other bands with them and we encourage that because they always bring variety,” Anderson said. One of the entertainers she seems to recall fondly is Shermy D and The Luscious Ones, a Gainesville-based act. “They call him Shermy D, I believe, and he’s a tall skinny young man and he’s a rapper,” Anderson said. “He has the girls in the back with him with lights all over him, and hula hoops with lights on them, and it’s just a fun thing.”
Gainesvillebased act Shermy D and the Luscious Ones are a hit every time they perform at Hangar 7.
6 | Currents | September/October, 2015
When you’re at your worst, our E.R. is at its best.
Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. You’ll find these at Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center. We’re here for you 24/7. Our E.R. services are led by emergency medicine physicians who are supported by a caring medical and professional staff. They are backed by the full resources of an integrated health system that offers advanced medical technology and diagnostic capabilities for adults and children. And our E.R. is designed for your comfort and ease of accessibility. We’re so proud that Lake City Reporter readers have voted our E.R. Best of the Best! For more information, visit ShandsLakeShore.com.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 7
MARION STREET DELI AND PUB On the other side of town, Ron Robbins, owner of Marion Street Deli and Pub, on 281 North Marion Avenue, also boasts live musical entertainment. Robbins said that his restaurant offers music four nights a week, Wednesday through Saturday, and that some of the nights are themed, such as Ladies Night on Wednesdays, or country music on Thursdays. “I push for local,” Robbins said. “I would rather have someone from Lake City, Live Oak, Jasper, Macclenny play then having to find people out of Jacksonville, Gainesville.” Robbins, a former musician himself, says he brings acts like Kellen Vincent and Little Mike for the customers. He plans to move the music over to an upcoming addition to the Pub that he’s looking to complete in four to five weeks, a room that will connect to the Pub and be designed as a “speakeasy” piano bar. “Entertainment,” replied Robbins when asked why he offered live music. “Entertainment for the customers, but for me, really again, being a musician, it’s also the fact that I like to hear and give people, like Kellen Vincent, give these guys an opportunity to play locally, get their names out. So it’s supporting local musicians which is a real big part of it.” One of those local artists is Kate Dobson, who has been working as a bartender at Hangar 7 for about a year or so, and is part of a new band called Empty Cage. Dobson, who plays the guitar and does
vocals, said that the local music community was a close one. “The music scene for such a small town is impressive,” Dobson said. Dobson, who has played at Hangar 7 and other areas, praised the bar as a good starting out point for musicians that are new to the scene. “It’s a great place to dig your heels in and have a decent sized audience to perform in front of,” Dobson said. “I think the open mic is really important too because it gives new musicians and you nge r musicians a chance to come out and pr a c t i c e their craft, and work on getting over stage fright, or for seasoned musicians to bring out new material and for musicians to meet each other.”
LIVE IN
LAKE C
cont’d
ITY
Terraplane Blues Band is seen playing at the Marion Street Deli and Pub, above. The pub’s owner Ron Robbins talked about how it was hard for a good band to be able to be professional and play at acceptable levels inside the restaurant. Robbins has also invited aspiring local artist Kellen Vincent, left, to perform at Marion Street Deli and Pub to help get his name out to the public.
The music scene for such a small town is
impressive. — Kate Dobson, artist
OUT OF COUNTY
TUNES 8 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Maybe you’re not quite in the Columbia County area and would still like to enjoy a live show or two, or even pick up a mic yourself. Here are some places that offer live music or karaoke in and around the surrounding areas that might tickle your
music fancy. The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, at 3076 95th Drive in Suwannee County, offers live music free of charge on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8 p.m. in the Music Hall.
OTHER LOCAL VENUES There are some other local venues to go to in order to get your ears filled up with the dulcet tones of a local or to practice your own singing career. Applebee’s, located at 2893 W U.S. 90, also offers some live music every Friday and Saturday night. A local band named Kickstart is a favorite and was described as having something of a fan following. Another more community-focused effort is the open mic gospel singing at New Beginning Church that occurs on the third Friday of every month. The church, located on Highway 242, invites every person to come participate. “Anyone that can sing or play an instrument is welcome to,” Geneva Williams, the church’s publicity and weekly bulletins organizer, said. “This is just something we wanted to do for the fellowship and to get to know our neighbors.” So, if you’ve been a music fan since childhood or you’re looking for a good evening of entertainment, stop by any of NEW BEGINNING CHURCH these local venues and be prepared to be amazed.
3rd Friday of the month
FIND OUT MORE For more information about live music in Lake City check out the Lake City Musicians/Artists Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/549149918472264/?ref=br_tf
In Branford, Ellie Ray’s RV Resort and Lounge, 3349 NW 110th Street, offers live music most weekends, with shows starting around 9 and 9:30 p.m. If no band is scheduled to play that weekend, then a live DJ is usually on hand to entertain.
The Keg Room, located at 22671 SR 247, offers live music on Saturday nights starting at 9 p.m. They also offer karaoke singing on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, which also start at 9 p.m. In Baker County, Gator Patrick’s Tavern,
620 E Macclenny Ave., Macclenny, offers karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 9 p.m. Country Club Lounge, located at 1660 S. 6th St, Macclenny, also offers karaoke on Tuesday nights starting at 9 p.m. Currents | September/October, 2015 | 9
Make
MUSIC @home M STATEPOINT MEDIA
usic enriches lives and offers people of all ages a number of benefits — from improving academic outcomes for children to relieving stress for working adults, and even helping seniors keep their minds active. Indeed, social harmony is higher within families when young people listen to music, according to a study conducted by Frontiers in Psychology. This National Piano Month, celebrated in September, is a great time to foster a love for making and appreciating music. Here are three ways to get your family started:
Enroll Take advantage of school music programs, from choral groups to band to piano lessons, your child’s school can provide a great foundation for music education. Supplement this at-school learning by encouraging children to practice at home. Private lessons are a great option and often affordable when taught by
10 | Currents | September/October, 2015
an older student. Online tutorials can also prove helpful. Your school’s music teacher can be a great resource for these possibilities.
Get Equipped Having a piano in your home will not only help ensure that your kids will practice music on their own time, but it can also take center stage when creating musical memories as a family. Look for a family-friendly option, such as Casio’s CGP-700, which features an icon-based menu and a Color Touch Interface that enables musicians to choose tones, select rhythms, split and layer sounds -- fun options that will come in handy during sing-a-longs. Its 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard with simulated ebony and ivory keys gives an authentic piano feel that musicians expect in a grand piano in a compact design. Plus, headphone jacks make practice time easier for shy beginners.
Field Trip Take the whole family to local music events and performances, such as the local orchestra, musical theater or your favorite band coming to town. Exposure to a wide-range of musical genres has great cultural
ITH
W
UR
YO
LY I M
FA
value and will get the members of your family thinking about music theory without even realizing it. This National Piano Month, take time to make and appreciate music at home and in the community.
ny is Social harmo amilies f in h it w r e h hig eople when young p ic. listen to mus
A birthing experience as unique as your baby. Having a baby is one of life’s most amazing experiences. And at The Birth Center at Shands Lake Shore, we’re here for you, as the only hospital in the area standing by with the staff and facilities for your delivery. We offer options to accommodate your personalized birth plan, with the safety of you and your baby as our primary concern. And in most cases, labor, delivery and recovery can all take place in your private birthing suite. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 386-292-7800 or visit ShandsBaby.com.
368 Northeast Franklin Street September/October, 2015 | 11 Lake Currents City, |FL 32055
BERHARDT, DEBRA LYNN PARRIS, GLORIA MARKHAM, RENEE FAUL
OLLLY FRAZIER, AMY FRANCIS, JESSICA RENDON, JILL ADAMS, DAW
ELIA MARTIN, JULIE OWEN, TERRI ANDREWS, LORRIE CASON, PATR
ARY GODDEYNE, KATHY NEWMAN, TAMMY HALL, MISSY ZECHE
HRISTIE, MALINA NEMESH, TRACY SPEARS, BETTE CARLSON, MIC
AYLOR, ELAINE TOLAR, DIANA PARKER, ESTA EBERHARDT, DEBRA L
AREN GREEN, PEGGY KENT, DEBRA GRIFFIN, HOLLLY FRAZIER, AM
AWSON, ELEANOR RANSBURG, CHARLOTTE HILL, CELIA MARTIN,
AMMY SCOTT, DESERRAI DAVIS, BECKY HOLLOWAY, MARY GODDEYN
HONDA SHERROD, CARRIE CASON, DEBBIE CHRISTIE, MALINA NEM
TELTENPHOL, DEANA MORRISON, PATTI TAYLOR, ELAINE TOLAR,
ARKHAM, RENEE FAULKNER, JUDY LEAVINS, KAREN GREEN, PEGG
ENDON, JILL ADAMS, DAWN LAYTON, EMILY LAWSON, ELEANOR
NDREWS, LORRIE CASON, PATRICIA STUART, CAMMY SCOTT, DESER
AMMY HALL, MISSY ZECHER, DEBI BENNEFIELD, RHONDA SHERROD
ETTE CARLSON, MICHELLE MORRIS, OLIVIA STELTENPHOL, DEAN
W
BERHARDT, DEBRA LYNN PARRIS, GLORIA MARKHAM, RENEE FAUL
omen are a powerful force in today’s economy. While there remain challenges for women who take on OLLLY FRAZIER, AMY FRANCIS, JESSICA RENDON, JILL ADAMS, DAW workplace tasks formerly reserved for men, their gains ELIA MARTIN, JULIE OWEN, TERRI ANDREWS, LORRIE CASON, PATR have been considerable. In this issue of Currents, we speak with local women
ARY GODDEYNE, KATHY NEWMAN, TAMMY HALL, MISSY ZECHE
HRISTIE, MALINA NEMESH, TRACY SPEARS, BETTE CARLSON, MIC
AYLOR, ELAINE TOLAR, DIANA PARKER, ESTA EBERHARDT, DEBRA L 12 | Currents | September/October, 2015
AREN GREEN, PEGGY KENT, DEBRA GRIFFIN, HOLLLY FRAZIER, AM
LKNER, JUDY LEAVINS, KAREN GREEN, PEGGY KENT, DEBRA GRIFFIN
WN LAYTON, EMILY LAWSON, ELEANOR RANSBURG, CHARLOTTE HIL
RICIA STUART, CAMMY SCOTT, DESERRAI DAVIS, BECKY HOLLOWA
ER, DEBI BENNEFIELD, RHONDA SHERROD, CARRIE CASON, DEBB
CHELLE MORRIS, OLIVIA STELTENPHOL, DEANA MORRISON, PAT
LYNN PARRIS, GLORIA MARKHAM, RENEE FAULKNER, JUDY LEAVIN
MY FRANCIS, JESSICA RENDON, JILL ADAMS, DAWN LAYTON, EMIL
, JULIE OWEN, TERRI ANDREWS, LORRIE CASON, PATRICIA STUAR
NE, KATHY NEWMAN,TAMMY HALL, MISSY ZECHER, DEBI BENNEFIELD
MESH, TRACY SPEARS, BETTE CARLSON, MICHELLE MORRIS, OLIVI
, DIANA PARKER, ESTA EBERHARDT, DEBRA LYNN PARRIS, GLORI
GY KENT, DEBRA GRIFFIN, HOLLLY FRAZIER, AMY FRANCIS, JESSIC RANSBURG, CHARLOTTE HILL, CELIA MARTIN, JULIE OWEN, TER
RRAI DAVIS, BECKY HOLLOWAY, MARY GODDEYNE, KATHY NEWMAN
D, CARRIE CASON, DEBBIE CHRISTIE, MALINA NEMESH, TRACY SPEAR
NA MORRISON, PATTI TAYLOR, ELAINE TOLAR, DIANA PARKER, EST
LKNER, JUDY LEAVINS, KAREN GREEN, PEGGY KENT, DEBRA GRIFFIN
from all walks of life in the business world: a law enforcement officer, attorney, municipal and employment executive. Each has her WN LAYTON, EMILYleader LAWSON, ELEANOR RANSBURG, CHARLOTTE HIL own unique perspective on what it takes to make it in her chosen RICIA STUART, CAMMY SCOTT, DESERRAI DAVIS, BECKY HOLLOWA profession. Each has a compelling story and each has her own way of telling it.
ER, DEBI BENNEFIELD, RHONDA SHERROD, CARRIE CASON, DEBB
CHELLE MORRIS, OLIVIA STELTENPHOL, DEANA MORRISON, PAT
LYNN PARRIS, GLORIA MARKHAM, RENEE FAULKNER, JUDY LEAVIN Currents | September/October, 2015 | 13
MY FRANCIS, JESSICA RENDON, JILL ADAMS, DAWN LAYTON, EMIL
Sikes Audrey
14 | Currents | September/October, 2015
C
LAKE CITY CLERK RISES TO NEW HEIGHTS Story and Photo by NICK ROLLISON
City Clerk Audrey Sikes’ office is filled with all types of documents, some stacked, some not, but in the midst of what appears to be a bewildering mass of paperwork, she greets you with a ready smile. Sikes is proud to have made it to the post she has held for the past 10 years. “I’ve always been very competitive, and if someone ever expresses any doubt, it’s like, you just challenged me, so that gives me my drive,” Sikes said. “It only makes me work harder.” As city clerk, Sikes handles all the official records for Lake City, municipal elections, advertising for official meetings, and keeping track of the minutes of those meetings, just to name a few of the responsibilities her position entails. She is the liaison between the public and their elected officials. Audrey Sikes has spent 15 years with the city, 10 of which she’s worked as City Clerk.
City Clerk,
City of Lake City Location: 205 N Marion Ave, Lake City “We have a lot of committees and boards that I’m responsible for and just a lot of day to day responsibilities, but I thrive on things of that sort. I thrive on a challenge,” Sikes said. “And every day is not the same in here, I think that’s what I like most about my job. Every day is not the same thing.” Sikes, who was voted City Clerk of the Year in 2012 by the Florida Association of City Clerks, is a native of Williston. She described moving around a lot at a young age to places such as Mayo, Live Oak and Plant City. Sikes says she was never sure what she wanted to do growing up, but that she had an inkling it would be in business. “I never wanted to let my parents down, I always wanted my parents to be proud of me and so, I’ve always had that drive. I was a worry-wart as a child,” Sikes said, “but I don’t think I was a child very long. I grew up really, really fast. I didn’t have a lot of time for kid’s stuff past sixth grade.” One fond memory that she holds is from one of her first jobs which was working at Maryland Fried Chicken in Plant City. “I loved that job. I learned so much from the owners, just little things, like, they had a mirror in front of the telephone when you take a to-go order, and it’d say ‘Smile, they can hear it in your voice,’ and just little things like that to make you smile,” Sikes said.
“Your uniforms had to be scrubbed, and you had to be clean, your shoes had to be a certain way and your hair had to be a certain way. It taught me a lot.” Sikes is heavily involved in the Florida Association of City Clerks, and served as their president for the 2014 year. She now acts as the organization’s Immediate Past President, and much of her time this past year was spent traveling to other city councils on a wide range of FACC business. For now, though, the mother of two, Logan and Luke, says she’s ready to focus her energy at FACC
on another challenge. Florida does not have a state-level certification for city clerks, something Sikes would like to see changed. It’s not all work, though, at least not all the time. Sikes’ hobbies include running and hunting. As for advice to those who might follow in her footsteps, she offered a simple statement, but one that shows a serious commitment to duty: “Never feel that your worth is inadequate, always believe in yourself,” Sikes said. “Always reach for the stars, always reach for your dreams.”
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 15
Propane Filling
Station
Drive it in and We’ll Fill It Up
WE HAVE ETHANOL FREE GAS G.W. Hunter, Inc.
1130 US Hwy 90 W • Lake City
(386) 752-5890
SilencerS are legal ... to hunt with in Florida
LocaLLy owned and operated
Master Dealer
www.jwweaponry.com
turn up the silence
386-243-8587 2747 SW Main Blvd. (South 41) Lake City
16 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 17
Hisler -Pace Tracy
Public Affairs Officer, Florida Highway Patrol Location: 1350 W US Hwy 90 # 101, Lake City
18 | Currents | September/October, 2015
F
KEEPING TRAFFIC — AND INFORMATION — FLOWING AT FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL
F
By NICK ROLLISON
For Florida Highway Patrol Troop B Public Affairs Officer Sergeant Tracy Hisler-Pace, her job is her passion, and she speaks fondly about her career and her family, husband Kevin (also an FHP sergeant) and 12-yearold son, Dylan. However, she does recall a recent moment that highlighted the hardships her job entails. “With all the negative things being said and things happening to law enforcement, and my son being so on top of his current events, he sees this on television and he says, ‘Mommy, I don’t want you to do this’,” Pace said. “And that just tore my heart out.” Pace, who grew up in Miami and graduated from Miami’s Barry College, is closing in on her twenty-fifth year with FHP. She’s proud of her son, an honor roll student at Lake City Middle School, but says that she and her husband don’t shy away from telling him of the danger their profession faces. “And I really think that’s just the little man in him, protecting his mom, and that just swells my heart, but my husband and I have sat him down. We have had some very serious, honest, open talks with him,” Pace said. “We can’t sugarcoat it for him, and we both decided to talk to him about the what-ifs, and to let him know, that if something were to happen then there are provisions made for him and he would be fine.” Pace’s job is to provide the correct
information to the media in regard visited us for the afternoon...and drivto events involving the FHP, as well ing south through Miami we saw all as to educate the community on the these blue lights, red lights, going on dangers of driving by visiting schools in Liberty City, and back then, there and participating in other local were no pagers, no cellphones, so events. On top of this, she still has a when we got home our house phone duty to perform as a patrol officer in was ringing and my dad picked it up. that she must respond That’s when the Liberty if she comes across a City riots had started, “This is a job traffic crash or disabled and I remember that was where you wear the only time in my mind vehicle. many hats during I can recall ever really “This is a job where the day. You you wear many hats being worried, scared. I during the day,” Pace can do your law remember asking my dad said. “You can do your enforcement, you not to go to work.” law enforcement, you Pace says she has become a marriage encountered very few become a marriage counselor and counselor and more. on-the-job hardships as You’re out there somemore. You’re out a result of her gender, times and you have to there sometimes but that there have been be the nurse or the docand you have to a few instances during tor, and then you have traffic stops where the be the nurse or to be a mediator. You person tried to persuade the doctor, and never know what you’re her, thinking that since going to encounter then you have to she was a woman she every day.” be a mediator. You might wilt. Law enforcement, or However, she says never know what more specifically, being some advice from her you’re going to a state trooper, is in her father has served her encounter every well. He told her to treat genes, as her grandfather, father, and father-in-law others the way she would day.” have all been involved want a family member with the FHP. She retreated. called an early moment “I think if you portray in her life with her father, Ronald Hisler, yourself, just to be yourself and not and the Miami riots of 1980. try to be someone else that you’re not, “It was actually more of a scary people will respect you more for that time for me,” Pace said. “We had and I’ve just gone out there...and this taken my grandmother home, she is me.” Pace said.
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 19
Olin Melissa 20 | Currents | September/October, 2015
A
FROM ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR TO PRESIDENT OF HER OWN FIRM Story and Photo by NICK ROLLISON
Attorney Melissa Olin seems pleased as she describes the events in her life that brought her to the point she is now, with her own law firm in Lake City. The former assistant state attorney is now free to pick and choose her cases and, according to Olin, everything has been working out fine so far. Olin owes her interest in a law career to two experiences, one from early on in her life, in her hometown of Palatka, and one when she had a family of her own and a business with her husband in Lake City. “When I was young, I would go hunting with the judges and sometimes we’d have to go to first appearance before we could go to the woods. So, I would go and hang out while they did first appearances,” Olin said. “So, I was exposed early on to a fairly decent side of the law I guess you could say, and then later on we went through an eminent domain suit, and I came home in the middle of that and told my husband that I think I wanted to go to law
President / Attorney,
Law Offices of Melissa Gates Olin Location: 235 SE Saint Johns St., Lake City school, and he said OK.” The family was sued under eminent domain by the Department of Transportation, forcing them to move their mulch and landscaping business, Mucho Mulch. “They finally settled. They were actually trying to overturn a case that had been ruled on in the state of Florida,” she said. They were trying to get a better ruling. I believe that they were really trying to use our case to do that with, and they failed miserably, and we ended up settling and moving the mulch, and by that time, I was well on my way to UF.” Olin talks briefly of her days at UF’s Florida Levin College of Law and her position of assistant state attorney for the Third Circuit State Attorney’s Office that followed. However, her face lights up when she starts talking about her private practice. “It’s been fantastic. One of the biggest questions I get is how do you go from being a prosecutor to a defense attorney, and the one thing that always sticks out in my mind is, I believe I’m sitting in a criminal law class at UF and Mike Segal was our
professor, and he said every day that you get up as a lawyer...just do the right thing, do the right thing! It’s not hard, do it,” Olin said. “I feel like people deserve a defense. I feel like people have every right to question the state’s evidence and to make the state meet their burden. If they can’t do it, they can’t do it. I think people think it’s a moral dilemma and it’s not, it’s the practice of law.” Olin says one of the hardships of her job are when she see’s the trickle down effects of the cases she has to deal with. “You know, probably the effects on the client’s families, that’s hard to contend with, whether it be mom or the wife slash long-term paramour, or the children,” Olin said. “Watching how many people the cases affect, it’s not just the defendant, it’s so many more people that are affected.” On the flip side of that coin, it’s bringing good news to her clients that she enjoys most, that, and the courtroom. Now that she is in business for herself, Olin is also free to pursue other community activities that might have conflicted with her job as a prosecutor. Olin is president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Third Judicial Circuit Chapter, as well as a member of the Rotary Club of Lake City, along with her husband James. They have two children, Stephenie and James, and Olin also loves to go hunting. Although Olin admits her life revolves around her job, she insists that she knows how to pace herself. “I know that’s a very common
perception of lawyers, is that they’re just run ragged, and maybe that could be true, if somebody’s an associate at a huge corporate law firm and they’re putting in a hundred some hours a week, and being yelled at every day, but not here, not for me,” Olin said. “I pick and choose what I want to do.”
We are Dedicated to Improving Lives - Everyday.
TOI-Health.com
146 SW Orthopaedic CT Lake City, FL
386-755-9215 Currents | September/October, 2015 | 21
After Years Of Simulated Use, We Maintained Support 4 Times Better Than Other Leading Brands
Bay Island Memory Foam
699
$
95
Queen 2-pc Set
Prices Starting At
Joycestreet
109900
$
Queen 2-pc Set
Prices Starting At
Destiny Opti Cool Memory Foam
1299
$
95
Queen 2-pc Set
Prices Starting At
Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. • Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
FURNITURE SHOWPLACE Wholesale Sleep Distributors
CATALOG SHOWROOM FOR COMPLETE HOME FURNISHINGS US 90 West (next to Publix) Lake City • 386-752-9303 22 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 23
Mendoza Anna
Director of Operations, Career Source Florida Crown Location: 1389 W US Hwy 90 Suite 170, Lake City
24 | Currents | September/October, 2015
HER EMPLOYMENT HISTORY LED TO WORKING TO HELP OTHERS FIND JOBS
A
Story and Photo by LARRY GRIFFIN
Anna Mendoza, director of operations at Career Source Florida Crown, thinks of herself as task-oriented and motivated as she goes about finding jobs for the unemployed. “I like to work to reach out to individuals looking for work,” she said, “whether with my system or with the team that I have, to provide them with resources available to become efficient.” Her family is from Venezuela, but Mendoza grew up in Lake City after they moved here when she was very young. Her early adulthood was full of odd jobs. She worked waitress jobs, bookkeeping jobs, cleaning jobs and more, she said. It was those experiences that motivated her to help other people find jobs. In a 15-year career with Career Source Florida Crown, Mendoza has been climbing the ladder. From her early days at the front desk, she eventually graduated to employer service representative, where her job consisted of going out and meeting people in the community to ally their businesses with Career Source’s online system. After her promotion to Director of Operations, she works primarily from her office now, overseeing both the Lake City office and another office in Trenton. “We reach out to the youth,” she said. “Knowing there’s a need, if there’s a barrier with a disability, or if they just came out of school. If they cannot, for whatever reason, reach out and go back into the community, my role is to find them work. That has been the most impact I can have with the community.” When asked what she wants to do in the future, Mendoza said she’s been considering opening her own fitness business. While it’s a whole different world from helping people find jobs, Mendoza said the aim is quite similar. “It’s a different change, but what it boils down to is, I’d still have the satisfaction of helping people better themselves,” she said. “To make sure they are in a better, healthy lifestyle in order to be successful.” When she isn’t working, Mendoza said she spends a lot of time with her daughter Karissa Shepard, who is a cheerleader in 10th grade at Columbia High. She said she goes to all the football games and the two of them are also in a runner’s group at Step 24 Fitness in town. To contact Career Source, call 386-755-9026. They are located at 1389 US Highway 90 West, Suite 170 in Lake City. Currents | September/October, 2015 | 25
26 | Currents | September/October, 2015
HOLIDAY BUDGET
It’s never too early to plan ahead. new CLASSWIZ fx-991EX scientific calculator allows users to create spreadsheets of up to five columns and 45 rows for a maximum of 170 data items on its high-resolution LCD screen. With its icon-based display and 274 functions, this tool can prove valuable when planning your pre-holiday season savings. More information can be found at www. ShopCasio.com.
STATEPOINT MEDIA The holiday season will be here before you know it, and it is never too early to start budgeting for this exciting time of year. While many may seek financial absolution in January, the first of the year will be a lot brighter if you avoid seasonal overspending in the first place. Here are some simple strategies for setting up a holiday budget and sticking to it.
Shopping Strategies
Get Started Early Purchasing gifts, decking the halls, throwing holiday parties and getting out of town will come as no surprise, and neither should the associated expenses. You can end 2015 in the black by planning ahead. Just as you may tuck away savings for a rainy day or for a big purchase down the line, you can also create a holiday fund. Cut back on unnecessary expenditures here and there, diverting that portion of your income to a special savings account marked “Holiday Spending.”
Smart Spreadsheets Before hitting the stores, map out your
spending with an organized spreadsheet. It is easier to keep track of your purchases when you have an interactive visual to assist you. These days, it is easier than ever to mathematically calculate your expenditures as certain new models of scientific calculators for the first time offer spreadsheet functionality. For example, Casio’s
Store designers have admitted that floor displays are designed to keep you browsing and to encourage impulse purchases. You can circumvent these obstacles by being aware of them. For example, the area around checkout is full of grab-and-go smaller items, the purchase of which can easily be justified on a whim. Making a list and knowing what you plan to purchase before entering a store can help you get in and out without adding more to your cart than you planned. With smart planning and new tech tools, you can end this year with your coffers full. Currents | September/October, 2015 | 27
Bass Mast
CHS JUNIOR SPENDS WEEKENDS ON THE LAKE AS SEMIBy SAM BURROUGHS | Courtesy Photos
B Christian Thompson, 16, has been angler since he was 4. dreaming of becoming a professional
28 | Currents | September/October, 2015
y day’s first light, Christian Thompson is already on a boat pursuing his dream. At 16 years old, Thompson is a semipro angler with a will to work. Currently, he has his sights set on the 2016 Bassmaster Southern Opens. “The Southern Opens is an open tournament,” Thompson said. “Anybody can fish it but it’s getting the confidence in yourself to be able to fish it.” Thompson, of Lake City, is a bass fisherman. He has been fishing since he was 4 years old. By the time he was 9, bass fishing was his main focus. “When I was 10, we got a boat. So, that first weekend that we had it, we went out to Lake Jeffery and I caught my first bass,” Thompson said. Fishing is Thompson’s passion and he plans to pursue it professionally. “It’s just the feeling, like when you finally get the bite, you never know what’s going to be there — how big that fish is going to be at the end of the line,” Thompson said.
TRIP! HERE’S YOUR NEXT
TOP 10
fishing HOT SPOTS
1. LAKE FORTH, TX
More state-record bass have been caught on this lake than anywhere else in Texas.
2. FALCON LAKE, TX Trophy-size bass and the trill of the chase make this lake on the border one of the best.
ter
-PRO ANGLER
Thompson’s 16 hoped-for 20 Bassmaster ns Southern Ope location
Thompson will be fishing at the 2016 Bassmaster Southern Opens as a co-angler so he can gain experience with professionals that will help him achieve his dream of fishing professionally. His biggest dream is to win the Bassmaster Classic. A junior at Columbia High School, Thompson fishes every weekend with his dad, Matthew Thompson, and sometimes even during the week. He has 10 sponsors that he will be representing at the tournament. While the location for the event has not been revealed, Thompson says he hopes it will be held at Lake Okeechobee. Currently, Thompson’s most frequented fishing spot with his dad is the Santa Fe River, where they go almost every weekend. After countless early mornings and long days, Thompson has learned that there is more to the sport than some people think. “It’s more than ‘throw a hook out there and just let it sit’,” he said.
3. O.H. IVIE, TX
Whopper-size bass over 15 pounds are ready to be caught in this well-kept secret reservoir.
4. TABLE ROCK LAKE, MO Smallmouth and spotted bass can be found in great abundance & deep water fishing lasts year round.
5. LAKE GUNTERSVILLE, AL One for the pros, especially in late winter, this lake sees a lot of tournament action and trophy fish.
6. CASTAIC LAKE, CA
Nowhere in the United States will you find a lake that produces so many bass over 20 pounds.
7. LAKE OKEECHOBEE, FL Florida’s largest lake produces monster fish yet carries enough smaller-sized bass to keep excitement high.
8. LAKE OUACHITA, AR
The biggest lake in Arkansas is also considered to be one of the cleanest lakes in the United States.
9. LAKE ERIE
It’s hard to deny Erie’s status as the ultimate for smallmouth bass anywhere in the world.
10. CHAMPLAIN, NY
Cold weather won’t keep smallmouth bass from willing their way to a snack. *Information found on World Fishing Network
Thompson will be a co-angler at the 2016 Bassmaster Southern Opens. The date and location have yet to be determined. Currents | September/October, 2015 | 29
THE OPENS:
“You’ve got to determine where the bass are living at that time of the year, where the sun is, where the weeds are, where the shade is, where the current’s moving, where the plankton is in the water, where the bait fish are. I mean, it’s everything.” Last April, Thompson caught his biggest bass, weighing in at 9.14 pounds. While personal records help Thompson move forward in the fishing world, his favorite part of fishing is letting the fish go. “Then you get to see them swim away,” Thompson said. “[And you think] ‘I’m going to catch you again soon. You gain about 10 pounds you’ll be my best friend.’”
TOURNAMENT BREAK DOWN • THREE BY THREE There are three Open divisions (South, Central, and North), and there are three tournaments for each division.
• QUALIFICATIONS Anyone with a B.A.S.S. membership can qualify for the Opens, though priority registration is set aside for previous competitors, Federation Nation members, and those with a lifelong B.A.S.S. membership.
• THE BEST ADVANCE The winner of each tournament automatically qualifies for the Classic, so long as that angler fishes the other two tournaments in their division as well.
• ELITE STATUS To qualify for the Elite Series, you must rank in the top five in points at the end of the season in one of the divisions.
Last April, Thompson caught his biggest bass, weighing in at 9.14 pounds. But his favorite part of fishing is letting the fish go.
Make yourself as comfortable
386-496-3467 LAKE BUTLER LICENSE # CAC0589099
30 | Currents | September/October, 2015
386-752-0720 LAKE CITY
touchstoneheatingonline.com
All re pa mone irs are y guara back nteed . Our e q 10 ye uipment h ar part as guara s & labor ntee.
We Are Now Offering Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Testing! 347 S.W. Main Blvd. • Lake City 758-6770
This specialized testing allows patients and medical providers to understand how each person’s genetic makeup affects their responses to medications. ALL medications do not work the same for everyone! Call for more information today!
Many insurances pay 100% (no charge to you).
3718 Hwy. 90 W • Lake City 755-9300
7729 S.W. Hwy. 47 • Fort White Currents497-2580 | September/October, 2015 | 31
LIVING PROOF OF
W
By TONY BRITT | Courtesy Photos
here do parents’ hearts turn when their child has been born too early and has fight for every day and every breath?
For Justin and Shellie Young, the parents of Isabella Grace Young, the quest for life that enraptured their daughter unfolded in a span elapsing a little more than a month when their child was born weighing less than three pounds. The hearts skipped beats with every potential medical crisis; poured sympathetic, compassionate and unconditional love into the newborn, but more importantly, grew stronger in faith with each passing day that their child would be all right. “Bella,” as she is called by her parents, was born at 31 weeks and spent six weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after her birth. “Our thought process really was to enjoy each day we had with Bella and to continue to see improvement and every day she could get better, even if it was the smallest little bit, we felt like we had saw a big degree that day,” Justin said.
32 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Isabella Grace Young is seen in the Neonative Intensive Care Unit soon after she was born at 31 weeks. Weighing just under 3 pounds, she spent six weeks in intensive care. LEFT: Bella, as she’s called by her parents, is seen at age 6, healthy and thriving.
Miracles
Young said what vividly remains in his memory is right after Bella was born, they took her out of the room to wash her and it’s a strong memory he has of the first time hearing her cry and how tiny she was. “She had some size to her as far as length, Thre but didn’t have much weight on her,” he said. Young ewdays after fin “She was just skin and bones. It wasn’t like the world as born at 31 ding out I had w some people say you can fit them [preemies] I’ve nev, weighing 2 poueeks’ gestationp. reeclampsia, Is e tubes an r seen such nds, 12 ounc From the m abella Grac in a shoe box, she was just very depleted as far h earts wod machines. Wa small, little p es, she was a foiment she enteree as nutrition because the womb wasn’t benefitd knowing uld drop, hop ith every alarm erson hooked u ghter. ing her, so she was just really skinny. Really i o n p u a g our life. r God has a for the best nd beep of t to so many tiny. It looked like she was starving.” h but anti master p For six cipatinge machines our l a n Now Bella is six years old and she loves a n d th purpose strength weeks Bella for everye worst, dance, shopping and working with her grands s t o a y s e h d e event in in the N could ev many do mother. In fact, she’s a “hair-tall for her age,” I e c n C t t o u U r a s lly go ho and nur fighting with th m her father said. If not feir love and encoses poured into e and join our for life and He said the March of Dimes was instrudoubt inor the March o uragement. our Bella and family. So our lives mental in saving Bella’s life. technolo our minds thatf Dimes and th g e “They helped us through their research. y B i r a ell re nd staff life. took a tia would not be swearch there is n They were able to give Bella a steroid prior to o ny fighte Bella is r and gaith us today. T her birth that allowed her lungs to develop so strong a now approachi h ve her a chance ae that she could breathe on her own when she She is pnd beautiful. Tng her seventh b t was born. Without that, I and play assionate abou hat fight for l irthday and is don’t even know that We will , dancing and st all aspects ofife is still withihealthy, she would have opportuforever be thankinging everywherlife. She lovesn her. nity they f e to run lived or she would personaul l for the Marcshe goes! l h y of provided have had a treour fam Dimes and the mendous time ily. S learning to hellie Y oung breathe on her own.”
Open L
etter fro
m Bella
’s Mom
Isabella Grace Young at 2 years old.
For event information, turn the page. Currents | September/October, 2015 | 33
Runners, walkers, and bikers start the March of Dimes March for Babies last April.
babies y h t l a e h A recipe for
Signature Chefs Auction is November 19
T
he March of Dimes Signature Chef ’s Auction will take place from 6 - 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Lake City National Guard Armory on Lake Jeffery Road. Vern Lloyd is the logistics chairman for the 2016 March of Dimes Signature Chef ’s Auction, while his wife, Maureen, is the publicity chairman for the event. Lloyd said it’s important to continue to hold the annual event because it’s one of the most
d e t i v n I e r Yo‘u
on hef ’s Aucti Signature C arch of Dimes M supporting 19 November Thursday, p.m. 0 from 6 to 1 ard ational Gu Lake City N ake Jeffery Road L Armory on
What: When: Where:
Bob Smith spots during the live auction at the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction last year. 34 | Currents | September/October, 2015
successful fundraisers for the March of Dimes. “Last year we were up in the mid-$70,000 range and this year we’re looking to increase a few thousand and looking to maybe raise as much as $80,000,” he said. He noted the March of Dimes’ mission is to prevent prematurity, infant mortality and birth defects and the fundraising efforts are a catalyst in reaching those goals. “The March of Dimes offers long-term research benefits, but there is also support given to families that have infants in the neonatal intensive care units,” Lloyd said. “That’s an immediate benefit that comes to those people who need it.”
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 35
Family-Fun Activities for Halloween season STATEPOINT MEDIA Trick-or-treating may be the standard Halloween tradition for most American families, but the holiday has branched out extensively over the last decade. Today, Americans spend over one billion dollars visiting Halloween-themed attractions. Where are they going, and what are the best activities for your family? The experts at Hauntworld.com are offering some spooky answers in this ultimate fall to-do list.
Family Fun Many farms offer tons of fall activities ideal for families with young children, including picking the perfect carving pumpkin, finding your way out of a corn maze and drinking homemade apple cider. Other fun activities include pony rides, hay mazes, non-spooky hayrides, petting zoos and even shooting pumpkin cannons.
Ghost Tours Ghost hunting television shows have really increased the popularity in finding haunts and eerie tours. Learn more about your local area’s
spooky history by taking family or out of town guests to haunted mansions, cemeteries, prisons and more.
if you’re on a budget. For tips and tricks on haunting your own house, visit www. hauntedhousesupplies.com.
Zombie Runs
Escape Rooms
What could be scarier than a 5K run? One with zombies of course! Zombie runs are a good time for the whole family, providing a fun reason to get kids and teens moving, using obstacle courses, contests, prizes and more as incentives.
Escape rooms offer an immersive and interactive experience like none other. These Halloween-themed attractions involve working together to solve puzzles and riddles in order to escape a room in under an hour.
Haunted Hayrides
Haunted Houses
Hayrides can be as sophisticated as a Hollywood movie, complete with fog machines and lights. Some have even adopted new twists. For example, on a zombie paintball hayride, guests go on a high adrenaline adventure, hunting and shooting zombies with paintballs. Haunted hayrides make guests and especially smaller kids feel safe as they ride in groups.
Haunted houses come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from three-dimensional black light attractions to haunted trails to major scream parks. Haunted houses also change regularly, so it may be very different from visit to visit. Today, most haunted attractions don’t rely as much on blood and guts as they do on interactive special effects, sophisticated costumes, story lines and computer-generated imagery. To celebrate the scary side of Halloween, get the family together for an unforgettable night filled with fun and screams.
Home Haunts Americans are now decorating their yards and homes into spooky graveyards with high tech lights, animations and more. Some homeowners take it further by also decorating their home’s interiors and creating mazes in the garage or backyard. Finding a spooky home haunt or neighborhood near you can be a great Halloween activity to do
While tradition never gets old, novel Halloween activities provide different thrills than a standard trick-or-treat trip around the block.
REVIEW A COMPREHENSIVE DIRECTORY OF THESE ATTRACTIONS AT WWW.HAUNTWORLD.COM. 36 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Helping dreams come true...one smile at a time.
Martin ORTHODONTICS
• Adults • teens • Children
Clear Braces & Invisalign
CelIA MARTIN, D.M.D.
“Creating Beautiful Smiles Since 1979”
MeMbeR Of AMeRICAN ASSOCIATION Of ORTHODONTIST
755-1001
flORIDA ASSOCIATION Of ORTHODONTIST
CREDIT PLANS
701 SW SR 47 Lake City, FL 32025
www.martinorthodontics.com
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 37
Helping nature provide.
Helping nature provide.
Our backyard is your backyard.
38 | Currents | September/October, 2015
P
H n p
BAYA POINTE
NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER
a Consulate Health Care Center
5 STAR RATING As of April 2015
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 39
FALL T
Martha Ann Ronsonet | GARDENING
he change of seasons is always an exciting time for me. Whatever the season, each one brings a special feeling of anticipation. Fall brings us football, back to school, cooler days as the leaves begin to fall and best of all lower humidity for North Florida. I begin to plan what needs to be done in the garden, besides weeding, when I’ll be able to spend more time comfortably outdoors. Working with Mother Nature Use your leaves. Leaves are valuable and can be added to your garden beds as they are, or shredded by your mower. As they break down over time, they provide nutrients for your plants. That’s the way Mother Nature makes compost (organic fertilizer). Reducing the need for additional fertilizers and mulch helps keep the soil more moist. It also helps prevent weeds and looks more finished than bare soil. Mulch should be about 3-4 inches deep, but keep it from settling against the stems of flowers and trunks of trees as that can cause retained moisture and may cause plant problems (rot or pests). Fall is the best time to divide spring blooming bulbs and perennials. Iris, agapanthus, daylilies and amaryllis need dividing every few years as they become crowded. Amaryllis bulbs should be planted with the top one-third of the bulb above the soil line, about a foot apart in well-drained, organically enriched soil. Too deep and they won’t bloom.
40 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Time to Transplant Wait until January for transplanting, but you can root prune larger plants (dig a trench at the drip line around plant) in November to give them six weeks to grow new feeder roots. Then when January arrives, dig just outside the new roots and move to the new spot. This helps avoid the shock of removing so many roots at one time. If you wait any longer than six weeks to transplant you run the risk of injuring the newly formed roots that form at the trench. When planting from containers or transplanting, I plant about an inch higher than the soil line. As the freshly disturbed soil settles, the new plant won’t be too deep, which is a major cause of plant decline and death, especially for camellias.
Hurricane lilies (right) appear in late summer with a fountain of lush, strappy leaves. The blooms persist through the winters of North Florida when so much else dies with the first frost. COURTESY PHOTOS
Favorite Fall Flowers One of my favorite fall bloomers is the daisy mum. They are white and tinged with pink and bloom profusely with so little care. I pinch them back in spring and early summer, so they will be bushier and less lanky. They are one of those “passalong” plants I wrote about last year. When a plant is shared, the memory of the giver is always fresh, as their plants continue to give pleasure. I think of my friends fondly every time I pass the plants they have given me. Here are some of my other fall favorites: • Cannas are easy-care plants, blooming all through the heat of summer. They are really enjoying the wet weather we have had. They
There are more than 2,000 cultivars of the cannas plant, available in red, yellow, salmon, pink or combinations of these. have few pests and disease problems. Rejuvenate old plants by separating the rhizomes and replanting or giving away the extras. There are more than 2,000 cultivars available, ranging from 12 feet to only 18 inches, with brightly colored flowers of red, yellow, salmon, pink or combinations of these. Foliage comes in greens, purple and variegated stripes and are banana-shaped, giving your garden a tropical look. Some are self-cleaning, others should have their flower shoots removed for continued blooming, otherwise the plant will use all their energy
for seed development. • Lycoris (hurricane lilies) are unusual plants. The blooms appear suddenly in late summer, sending up leafless stalks topped with spidery, exotic-looking blooms. The foliage is dormant during the heat of summer, then after the blooms appear and wither, a fountain of lush, strappy leaves appear and persist through the winter, when so much else dies down with the first frost. The yellow Lycoris aurea and red Lycoris radiata, varieties grow well for our area. Lycoris squamigera, which is a pale pink is reportedly not well adapted for the heat and humidity of our zone, but friend Sandra Plummer has what we think are them, growing in her yard, so there are always exceptions. There are more than 20 cultivars available. The bulbs prefer drier soil when dormant so hopefully they haven’t been harmed by all the rain we’ve had this summer. As an added bonus, Lycoris
Pinch back fall planted snaps when they are about 5 inches high. If you do this several times as they grow, they will be sturdier, more compact plants. Many annuals will benefit from pinching the blooms off when planting. This will give the roots a chance to get established before putting their energy into blooming. Deadheading (removing withered blooms) is important for most annuals to keep them blooming. are deer resistant. • Another late-summer blooming beauty is blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora), which is not really a ginger, but a member of the Spiderwort family. The electricblue 10-inch spikes make a beautiful show of color atop 5-foot stalks. They will grow in partial shade but bloom better with a few hours of sun. New plants can easily be started by cuttings. Roots will form at each node. • Crinum lilies are old-fashioned plants that love the heat and moisture of the South. They have few problems with pests and diseases and may live forever. Many times I have seen them at abandoned home sites and cemeteries. Be sure to place them where you want them because the bulbs just keep getting bigger and are difficult to move. They’ll thrive in sun or light shade, but won’t bloom in deep shade. New bulbs will form around the mother plant and can be shared and this is best done in winter. Two of the most common crinums are the milk-and-wine colored blooms and the deep rose pink. My favorCurrents | September/October, 2015 | 41
ite is Crinum jagus or St. Christopher lily, a beautiful creamy white flowering plant. There are about 130 species of crinums. Other heat loving bloomers that will continue until the first frost kills them back include the perennials: angelonia, jacobinia (partial shade), pentas, gerbera daisies, caladiums, torenia, salvias. Annuals such as marigolds, zinnias, ‘Sun Patiens’, ageratum, wax begonia, sun flower and coleus will bloom till it freezes. Perennial dianthus is worth planting in every garden. They actually bloom all year long, but heaviest in spring and they slowly spread to make a great ground cover. Some even have fragrance and no pests I’m aware of. They are available in many different heights and colors, as are snapdragons.
in October: Viola, pansy, petunias, sweet alyssum, nasturtium, lobelia, diascia, nemesia, calendula, larkspur, sweet pea, california poppies, calibrachoa, dusty miller, verbena and ornamental cabbage and kale. Cool weather herbs to plant in the fall include cilantro (seeds are coriander), dill, fennel, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, horsemint, and parsley. Be sure to plant enough parsley for you and the black swallowtail larvae. Dotted horsemint is much easier to grow than thyme and has the same chemical as thyme and oregano. It is a native and really unusual and a pretty addition to the garden. I thank Rosemary Coleman for introducing me to this plant. Cilantro, chives and parsley are easily started from seed. Cooler weather is just around the corner, hallelujah!
Crinum lilies, like these milk-and-wine blossoms, are old-fashioned plants that love the heat and moisture of the South. They’ll thrive in sun or light shade, but won’t bloom in deep shade.
Working with the Weather In North Florida, most annuals last one season, and they should planted at the right time, and as we know sometimes annuals are sold out of season and don’t last long in the wrong temperatures. So know which annuals are cool or warm season plants.
It is best to plant cool weather plants in fall, rather than waiting until January when it actually gets cold. The plants will be bigger, stronger and will have established a good root system by bloom time. Cool weather annuals that are cold hardy to plant
|
CAR 3
$
Martha Ann is an avid gardener who lives in Lake City. She is the author of “Gardening in the Deep South and Other Hot Pursuits.”
WASH
Tuesday Wednesday Sunday EVERY WEEK On Express Wash Only $5.00 Value
Free Vacuum with Every Wash! Cascading Hot Wax
4
$
3 B $
UG
SPRAY
CAR WASH 4114 W. US Hwy 90 (next to Royals Mobile Homes) 42 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 43
and even manatees. It’s one of the prettiest places I’ve ever seen. How did Sam’s path bring him to a career at Ichetucknee?
The Road to Ichetucknee
Outdoors WITH SAM
SERVED ICHETUCKNEE SPRINGS SINCE 1995 By BOB DENNY | Courtesy Photos The Ichetucknee is known far and wide for its beauty, and folks come from around the country for the experience of floating down the river in a tube for a couple of miles, swimming in the springs, snorkeling, kayaking or canoeing. The Ichetucknee Springs State Park Nature Center has fascinating hands-on displays, a tour, and a short movie about the park’s native plants, animals and natural history. Sam Cole, director of the park’s volunteer program, introduces visitors to a few resident snakes and turtles. In the river, you might see river otters, snakes,
44 | Currents | September/October, 2015
His dad’s career with the Florida Park Service moved the family between several state parks, and gave him many fond memories of nature. At age 9, Sam made the decision to become a park naturalist, and one day he decided to become a serious bird watcher. Knowing so little about birds, he went hiking in the Everglades, where he lived at the time. As luck had it, he met a couple who were real live bird watchers. They took him under their wing, and encouraged his interest. When his family vacationed at the Ichetucknee when he was 11, he was awestruck by its beauty and its ecology. He says that the image of the springs was burned permanently into his brain. While attending high school on the Gulf Coast, he did a lot of beachcombing at St. George Island State Park, where his dad worked. Intrigued by beach ecology and the massive bird migration, Sam went on to study biology at Florida State University. During his college years, he began his career with the Florida Park Service, as an interpretive park ranger at Wakulla Springs State Park. In his free time, he frequented the nearby St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and its thousands of birds and alligators. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Sam worked for a couple of years as a park biologist in southwestern Florida. But he was lured by his memories of the Ichetucknee River, and was thrilled when he was hired as the park biologist for Ichetucknee Springs in 1995. Through the years, Sam has grown in his knowledge and love of nature. His favorite part of working in the park? “Working with people and with nature.”
ABOVE: Ichetucknee Springs State Park director of volunteer programs Sam Cole has had a love of the outdoors since he was a young boy. That love carried him to a career in the beautiful environs of Columbia County.
Dealing with hand pain shouldn’t be a chore. Our specialty physicians can help you catch up on your to-do list.
Chores are part of life, but they don’t have to be a pain. So whether you have muscle, bone or joint pain, our experienced physicians can get you back on task. From prevention and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation, we offer patient-centered solutions to help you achieve your personal wellness goals.
Same or Next Day Appointments: Call 352-336-6000 or visit www.toi-health.com. We are Improving Lives - Everyday.
TOI-Health.com
Gainesville | Ocala | Lake City | Alachua Currents | September/October, 2015 | 45
SAM COLE
outside THE
PARK
Makeila Reis holds Serabi, a yellow rat snake, as Ichetucknee Springs State Park Services specialist Sam Cole holds Moufasa, a gray rat snake, during the Alligator Lake Spring Festival last April. Cole used the snakes to educate the public about area wildlife. He says his dad was somewhat of a “humorist,” and that’s where his enjoyment and liking of people probably comes from. Sam is fired up by young folks that want to learn about nature.
Days in the Outdoor Classroom What does he do now? He enjoys leading field trips of students, with “outdoor classrooms,” brought mainly from Fort White Middle School and Fort White High. He enjoys presenting interpretive programs, and takes a few reptiles “on the road” to classrooms when he visits Lake City schools. He is always busy developing programs like his current nesting program for kestrels (sparrow hawks, also called falcons or tilly hawks) and continuously improving the interpretive programs. Sam and I sat at a picnic table with a view of the forest and the beautiful Ichetucknee Head Spring below. I noticed a big, scary bug crawling on his shoulder. Afraid that it might be poisonous or dangerous, I gasped. He reached over and placed it carefully in the palm of his hand, and explained to me that it’s a “leaf-footed bug”— a dangerous predator for tiny creatures, but harmless to humans. I took a relaxing 46 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Outside the border of the Ichetucknee Spring State Park, Sam Cole enjoys spending time with his family. His wife, Lori, helps and encourages him, and she ran the volunteer program for a long time. He wishes he could have spent more time with his busy father, but makes up for it by spending lots of time with his family now. His kids are in high school and college, and are involved in activities and interests that include accounting, singing, music, and fine art. Sam and Lori conducted a puppet ministry for their church for many years, and now she works with kids with special needs at Fort White High School.
Connie Bersok presents the Florida Springs Stewardship Award to Sam Cole in February 2009. The award was given to Cole by the Florida Springs Task Force for his “steadfast dedication to protecting the ecological health of the Ichetucknee Springs and Ichetucknee River.” Cole has worked at Ichetucknee Springs State Park since 1995.
FLORIDA State Parks
... the Real Florida For more information about Ichetucknee Springs State Park or any of the Florida State Parks, visit:
www.floridastateparks.org
breath. Sam says he enjoys occasionally capturing caterpillars, and feeding them until they become beautiful butterflies or moths. He enjoys nurturing things, and wonders at what they become. He also loves to see kids who want to learn about nature, and gets joy from watching his own children as they grow up. He looks forward to their becoming families of their own. In addition to his love of outdoors, Sam has a lifelong interest in writing, and received a creative writing scholarship. A lifelong ambition is to complete a science fiction novel. Another thing Sam would like to do: a lot of traveling — someday, when he retires! He’s very active in his church, and believes that variety is the spice of life. Sam says he enjoys looking back over his life and remembering special lessons he’s learned from life’s experiences. Sam has a real love for the great outdoors. “I’ve found that you can learn so much from the forest,” he says.
| Bob Denny is a columnist for the Lake City Reporter.
“Aging in Place” Because there is no place like home. Ask us how.
Serving as your trusted advisors since 1951. • Income Tax Preparation • Planning for Businesses, Individuals, Estates & Trusts
• Financial Goal Planning • Asset Management • Retirement Planning • Advisors with Over 75 Years Combined Experience
386-755-2260 | www.RaymondJames.com/ffsb 386-752-4621 | www.OdomMoses.com 4424 NW AMERICAN LANE | LAKE CITY, FLORIDA 32055 SECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., MEMBER FINRA/SIPC* AN INDEPENDENT BROKER/DEALER SECURITIES ARE NOT INSURED BY FDIC OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, NOT A DEPOSIT. SUBJECT TO RISK AND MAY LOSE VALUE. NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK. THE TAX ADVICE AND SERVICES OF ODOM, MOSES & COMPANY, LLP ARE INDEPENDENT OF RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL SERVICES.
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 47
ADVERTISEMENT
Helping You Make the Transition CARETENDERS LAKE CITY HAS A VARIETY OFof SERVICES cAretenderS ofOF gAineSville hAS A vAriety ServiceS THAT AID SENIORS IN MAKING A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. thAt Aid SeniorS in mAking A lifeStyle chAnge
T
he life changes that come with age can be at once mystifying and frightening. Whether it’s something as minor as new glasses or as major as a move to assisted living, Seniors are often concerned that lifestyle adjustments can lead to lack of independence. Thankfully, Mederi Caretenders of Gainesville has a variety of programs aimed at answering questions and easing the transitions that Seniors face. “As with anyone, when a senior is faced with one or more major life changes - such as a move to an assisted living community where they’re changing their lifestyle to accommodate some limitation, or they lose a loved one - this can be very scary and overwhelming and can possibly lead to decline in physical and/or mental health,” said Susan Swirbul, a patient care liason at Caretenders. Caretenders has a variety of services specifically designed for clients undergoing a stressful period of change. These Seniors might be experiencing new limitations on mobility, cognitive deficits, effects of medication or other challenges that necessitate a change in lifestyle. When combined with declining overall health and other factors, clients can easily become depressed and feel as if they are losing control of their lives. One such service, the Transitional Care Program, assists in a Senior’s transition to an assisted living facility. A physician’s order is placed for a comprehensive geriatric needs assessment, which is conducted by a nurse who
is thoroughly trained to identify the imminent needs of the patient. Once the client is settled in, the program professionals help manage medical needs and communicate with families, assisted living staff and other people involved with the client’s care. The program includes a team of psychiatric and medical nurses, therapists and social workers, all of whom have extensive experience and training in working with Seniors in transition. For patients dealing with loss of mobility or cognitive abilities, Caretenders provides occupational therapists to help them re-learn and perform everyday tasks. They can also ensure that Seniors are using medical equipment correctly – for example, they can demonstrate proper positioning in a wheelchair. All of these changes can take their toll on a Senior’s morale. Psychiatric nurses provide emotional support and teach clients how to deal with their feelings of frustration and helplessness. They also partner with other Caretenders professionals to provide education and moral support to caregivers, as they play a crucial role in a Senior’s outlook on life. “Having an expert team of Caretenders clinicians that specialize in working with senior adults needing transitional support can help seniors sustain good health by incorporating proven techniques, like thorough mental/physical assessments, support counseling and engagement in meaningful activity,” said Swirbul.
“I wondered if my family could manage all the care I needed after leaving the hospital.”
A Special Kind of Caring... That’s The Caretenders Tradition A dedicated team of compassionate, highly skilled healthcare professionals who treat their patients like family is our hallmark. • SkIlled NurSINg • PHySICAl THerAPy • OCCuPATIONAl THerAPy • CerTIFIed HOMe HeAlTH AId • CArdIAC CAre • dIAbeTIC CAre • OrTHOPedIC reHAb • urOlOgy CAre • SPeeCH THerAPy • OuTPATIeNT reCOvery
Committed To The Highest Quality Home Care Services. Serving AlAchuA county And Surrounding AreAS
4923 NW 43rd Street, Suite A Gainesville, Florida 32606
352-379-6217 Call For More Information About How Caretenders Can Help You. Lic# HHA299991306
48 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Audrey Sikes
Bette J. Carlson
City of Lake City
Avalon Healthcare
City Clerk
Administrator
205 N. Marion Ave, Lake City • (386) 719-5756
1270 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 752-7900
15 years with City 10 years as City Clerk Awards/Special Achievements:
• Lake City Police Department Civilian Employee of the Year Award- 2000 & 2001 • Lake City Police Department Chiefs Award- 2003 • Certified Municipal Clerk Certification-July 2008 • Master Municipal Clerk Certification- October 2011 • City of Lake City Achievement Award-2012 • Florida Association of City Clerks- City Clerk of the Year- 2012 • Florida Association of City Clerks- President Award- 2013-2014 • Currently serving as President for the Florida Association of City Clerks, June 2014-June 2015
Public Service Involvement:
Over 26 years experience Awards/Special Achievements:
• Leadership Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators • Bachelors & Masters Degrees from Syracuse University • Registered Dietitian • Licensed Nursing Home Administrator
Public Service Involvement:
• Rotary Club- on Board of Directors • FHCA- District VIII- Board Member
• Parent involvement in Columbia County Schools • VA- Veterans Christmas donation drive
Michelle Morris, ARNP
Olivia Steltenpohl Pharmacist/Pharm D
Baya Urgent Care
Baya Pharmacy Long Term Care
2 years
1 year
Administrator
1465 US Hwy. 90 West, Lake City • (386) 243-8358
1465 US Hwy. 90 West, Lake City • 755-2268 Awards/Special Achievements:
Awards/Special Achievements:
• Best of the Best 2014, 2015
• Doctor of Pharmacy degree South University School of Pharmacy, Savannah, GA.
Public Service Involvement:
Public Service Involvement:
• Community Wellness Fairs • Charity Walks
Deanna Morrison, ARNP Baya Urgent Care
1465 US Hwy. 90 West, Lake City • 755-2268
2 years
Awards/Special Achievements: • Best of the Best 2014, 2015
Public Service Involvement: • Community Wellness Fairs • Charity Walks
• Immunization Certified
Patti Taylor Realtor
Coldwell Banker Bishop Realty, Inc.
839 SW SR 247, Lake City • (386) 623-6896
10 years Awards/Special Achievements:
• Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society • Cartus Network Affinity Specialist • USAA Movers Advanatage Agent • Served on Multiple Listing Service Board • Served on Realtors Political Action Committee
Public Service Involvement:
• Member of Florida & National Association of Realtors • Supporter of Youth Activities & Sports • Donates to local charities • Attends First United Methodist Church • 10 years of meeting the needs of people searching for homes and selling properties. Currents | September/October, 2015 | 49
Elaine K. Tolar
Diana Parker
Coldwell Banker Bishop Realty, Inc.
Campus USA Credit Union
Broker/Owner
Service Center Manager
1658 West US Highway 90, Lake City
33 years in this career
839 SW SR 247, Lake City • (386) 365-1548
Established 60 years Awards/Special Achievements: • Certified Real Estate Specialist • Graduate Real Estate Institute • Real Estate Broker for 20 Years
Public Service Involvement:
• Blood Donor Since 1985 • School Volunteer • 20 years of meeting the needs of people who need to sell a home and/or find a new home.
Awards/Special Achievements: • University of Lending Management • Essentials of Supervision School • Certified Financial Professional • Cuna Branch Management Institute • Husband: Jimmy • Daughter: Jenifer • Granddaughters: Hilary, Alison & Emma
Public Service Involvement: • Christian Heritage Church • United Way • Pregnancy Care Center
Debra Lynn Parrish
Esta Eberhardt
Owner/Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Photographer/Owner
Dees-Parrish Family Funeral Home
Captured Memories by Esta
152 SE Hernando Ave., Lake City • (386) 623-0111
(386) 752-1234
4.5 years
Awards/Special Achievements: • Co-owner HKE Transport • Self taught photographer • Mom to Kaitlin and Kyle • Married to Hank 18 years • Member of Professional Photographers of America • Steering committee chair Branford Camera Club • Best of the Best Photographer 2015
Public Service Involvement:
• 2nd VP Altrusa International of Lake City • Magic Hour Foundation Photographer for cancer patients • Member of Lake City Chamber of Commerce
Etablished in 2004 • 28 years in funeral business
Awards/Special Achievements: • 2015 Best of the Best Funneral Home • 1988 CHS Graduate • AS Degree Mortuary Science John A. Gupton, 2000
Public Service Involvement:
Childhood Cancer Awareness • Suwannee River Breast Cancer Awareness • Autism Speaks- for my nephew Carter- Sponsor • March of Dimes • Rotary • Support local youth in sports & other activities
Gloria Markham
Reneé Faulkner
First Federal Bank of Florida
First Federal Bank of Florida
Vice President, Senior Financial Center Manager
Vice President, Financial Center Manager
707 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 755-0600 29 years
4705 US Hwy. 90W, Lake City • (386) 755-0600 13 years
Awards/Special Achievements:
Awards/Special Achievements:
Public Service Involvement:
Public Service Involvement:
• Real Estate License
• Chamber Board Member and Ambassador • Lake City Leads Club Member • Lake City Police Academy member • United Way Campaign member • Columbia County Builders Association
50 | Currents | September/October, 2015
• Leadership Lake City
• United Way • Women in Business • Another Way
Judy Leavins
Karen Green
Vice President, Financial Center Manager
Owner, Skin Care Specialist & Stylist
Gegee’s Studio
First Federal Bank of Florida
440 E. Duval St., Lake City, FL • (386) 758-2008
2571 US Hwy. 90 W., Lake City • (386) 755-0600 15 years
15+ years Awards/Special Achievements:
Public Service Involvement:
• Downtown Rotary • Board member for March of Dimes
• Best of Best Esthetician 2015 • Micro Needling • Derma Planing • Medical-grade Skin Care • “The Skin Make-Up”
Public Service Involvement: • Altrusa International Member • Pregnancy Care Center • Supporter of Catholic Charities
Peggy Kent
Debra K. Griffin
Owner/Redken Artist
Owner & Doctor of Audiology
Hair Graphics Salon
Hearing Solution, Inc.
948 SW Baya Dr., Lake City • (386) 755-2325
183 NW Veterans St., Lake City • (386) 269-1778
30 years Salon Owner 35+ Years Lic. Cosmetologist
Awards/Special Achievements: • Best of the Best Hair Salon 2008 through 2012 • Ceertified Redken Colorist • Redken Educator
27 years providing hearing health care and 17 years as owner of Hearing Solutions, Inc.
Awards/Special Achievements: • Fellow Ceritfication as a Tinnitus Practioner • Audiology Group “Provider of Distinction 2013 & 2014” • Member of Academy of Doctors of Audiology
Public Service Involvement: Public Service Involvement:
• Compassion International Missions • Breast Cancer Awareness • Support of local charities
• Covenant Pet Trust, President • Altrusa Member • Chamber of Commerce Columbia & Suwannee Counties • Habitat for Humanity volunteer • A.C.T.I.O.N. Active Citizens To Improve Our Neighborhood
Amy Francis
Holly Frazier Holly Frazier Photography
Event Designer & Coordinator/Owner
2011/3 years
181 SE Hernando Ave. Lake City, FL • 352-316-2815
Owner
Imperial Productions
181 SE Hernando Ave., Lake City • (386) 623-3024
Awards/Special Achievements: • Published Photographer • Work Featured on The Knot • Cover Winner for North Central Florida Bride Magazine • Member of Professional Photographers of America (PPA) • 2013 & 2014 Best of the Best Photographer
Public Service Involvement:
• Chamber Member • Altrusa Member • Supporter of Imperial Proiductions Charity Ball
6 years
Awards/Special Achievements: • Best of the Best Event Planner 2013 • Best of the Best Event Planner 2014 • Best of the Best Event Planner 2015 • Featured in national publications • Self taught event designer
Public Service Involvement: • Member of Altrusa International of Lake City • Founder of the Imperial Productions Charity Ball • Supporter of Tough Enough to Wear Pink
• Supporter of Take Stock in Children • Supporter of March of Dimes • Supporter of Another Way • Member of Lake City Chamber of Commerce
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 51
Jessica Rendon Owner
Jessica’s Bistro
426 SW Commerce Dr., #115, Lake City, FL 32025 (386) 438-5098
8 months Awards/Special Achievements:
• Miguel and Jessica have a combined 18 years of culinary food profession. • Previously worked at Bernie Kosar Steak House • Best of the Best 2015, Best Lunch Special
Public Service Involvement: • Married to Miguel Rendon • Daughters Emma and Ellie
Jill Adams
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Lake City Medical Center Established 1956 Awards/Special Achievements:
• Finalist for 2015 Lake City / Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of Year • CPA • Financial Peace University Coordinator (Financial Counselor by Dave Ramsey Organization) • Dale Carnegie Course graduate
Public Service Involvement:
• President, Altrusa International, Lake City, FL, Inc. • Chairperson, Florida Gateway College Foundation • Allocations Board Member, United Way (Former Executive Board Member and Treasurer) • Community Advisor Board, Haven Hospice • Florida Gateway College Presidential Search Committee • Friend of Columbia County Senior Services • The Orchard Community Church Member, Sunday School Teacher
Dawn Layton
Emily Lawson
Lake City Reporter
Lake City Reporter
Account Executive
180 East Duval St., Lake City • 754-0416
10 years in advertising
Graphic Designer
180 East Duval Street, Lake City, FL 32055
2 years
Awards/Special Achievements:
Awards/Special Achievements:
• Mother of Jerry Wayne Courson and Jada Wainwright • Grandmother of Blaine & Jara Courson; Clay & Clint Wainwright • Love my job and the people I work with • Salesperson of the Month of July
• Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Northwestern • Started freelance graphic design business for wedding and party invitations, book layout, posters, fliers and more • Designed logo/branding and website for EFCA Regional Conference • Married to Brad, ‘mom’ to Wafer (2-year-old Shepherd mix)
Public Service Involvement:
Public Service Involvement:
• Past hobbies: Rodeo Team Roping
• International volunteer at Door of Hope Children’s Mission in Johannesburg, South Africa
Eleanor Ransburg
Charlotte Hill
Lake City Reporter
Martin Kids
Associate Editor
180 E. Duval St., Lake City, FL
Joined staff in May 2015 Awards/Special Achievements: • Bachelor of arts in journalism from LSU (cum laude) • Former assistant managing editor at the Shreveport Times • Former copy desk chief at the Miami Herald, Montgomery Advertiser and Rockland Journal News in West Nyack, N.Y. • Former special sections editor at the Mobile Press Register • Copy editor at the Tuscaloosa News
Public Service Involvement:
• Former Girl Scout leader • Two stints as volunteer missionary in Brazil (in the cities of Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre) 52 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Dentist
Hwy. 47 S., Lake City • (386) 752-8200
Awards/Special Achievements: • Academy of General Dentistry Members • Periodontal Therapy Award from UFCD • Worked in Barrow, Alaska, the northern most US city
Public Service Involvement:
• Mission trips to Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Ecuador • Volunteer at Florida Mission of Mercy • Volunteer at local public dental clinic
Celia Martin
Julie Owen, O.D.
Martin Orthodontics
North Florida Eye Care
Doctor (Orthodontist) 701 SW State Road 47, Lake City (386) 755-1001
Optometrist
763 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 752-1722
15 years
27 years in business Awards/Special Achievements:
• National Advisory Committee for 3-M Unitek • Academy of Women Dentist and Operative Dentistry Award • Past Faculty of the University of Florida Dental School • Member of Great Aspirations 1999 an 11-person team that trekked to the North Pole • Climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro 1999 & went to Antarctica with National Geographic 2007
Public Service Involvement:
• Altrusa Member • Supporter of Youth Activities and Sports
Awards/Special Achievements: • Graduated with Honors from University of Florida • Luxottica Pediatric Optometry Award to graduating senior (Nova Southeastern University 2000) • Northeast Florida Optometric Society Board Member (served as) 5 yrs. • Member of the Florida Optometric Association & the American Optometric Association
Public Service Involvement:
• Columbia County School Volunteer (former) • Served on Columbia City Elementary’s Family Involvement Council
Dentist/Owner
Dr. Lorrie Cason Wheeler
272 SW Bentley Pl., Lake City • (386) 752-3043
Oak Hill Dental Group
Dr. Terri M. Andrews Oak Hill Dental Group
Dentist/Owner
24 years in practice
272 SW Bentley Pl., Lake City • (386) 752-3043
Awards/Special Achievements:
23 years in practice Awards/Special Achievements:
• Wife & Mom (my other 2 favorite jobs) • Married to Michael 30 years. • Graduated from University of Florida College of Dentistry
• Altrusa Board Member • Married to Brad 25 years • Children: Holly, Haley, BJ, Hanna
Public Service Involvement:
Public Service Involvement:
• Past president of Altrusa of Lake City • Volunteer dentist-Baptist Association dental bus. • Santa Fe College Dental Guest Lecturer
• Florida Baptist, Beulah Association • Dental Van Volunteer 11+ years • Parent involvement in Columbia County Schools
Patricia B. Stuart
Cammy Scott
Odom, Moses & Co., LLP, CPAs
Odom, Moses & Co., LLP, CPAs
Certified Public Accountant/Partner 4424 NW American Lane, Lake City, Fl 32055
19 years
Certified Public Accountant/Partner 4424 NW American Lane, Lake City, Fl 32055
22 years
Awards/Special Achievements:
Awards/Special Achievements:
• Graduated with Honors from University of Florida 1986 • Received Elijah Watt Sells certificate for performance on CPA exam • Series 7 securities license • 2015 “Best of the Best” Tax Service / Accounting & Payroll
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of Texas/ Permian Basin • Series 7 securities license • Insurance Licensed • 2015 “Best of the Best” Tax Service / Accounting & Payroll
Public Service Involvement:
Public Service Involvement:
• Local Habitat for Humanity Treasurer, 2 yrs. • First Presbyterian Church finance committee member, 4 yrs.
• Board Member of Sea of Change Foundation • CPA for Friends of Heritage Park
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 53
Deserrai Davis
Certified Public Accountant/Partner
Becky Holloway
4424 NW American Lane, Lake City, Fl 32055
Pet Spot
Odom, Moses & Co., LLP, CPAs
Pet Spot / Owner
15 years
872 SW Main Blvd., Lake City • (386) 754-5553 9 years
Awards/Special Achievements:
Awards/Special Achievements:
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, University of Florida • Master of Accounting, University of Florida • Series 7 securities license • Member, Parkview Baptist Church • 2015 “Best of the Best” Tax Service / Accounting & Payroll • Proud mother of US Navy Hospital Corpsman
• Scores Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee • Best of the Best 9 years • Mother of 2 sons • 4 grandchildren • Member of American Pet Association
Public Service Involvement:
• Partner with Hospice of Nature Coast • Sponsor for CHS Sports • Relay for Life involvement • 5 Star Approved by American Pet Association
• Supporter of various local charities
Mary Goddeyne ARNP, FNP-BC
Primary Care Medicine
404 NW Hall of Fame Dr., Lake City • (386) 754-3627
Family ARNP since 1997 • 18 years as ARNP • RN since 1986 • 29 years as RN • Licensed Health Care Risk Manager Since 2007 Awards/Special Achievements:
Public Service Involvement:
Elizabeth “Kathy” Newman ARNP
Primary Care Medicine
404 NW Hall of Fame Dr., Lake City • (386) 754-3627
14 years
Awards/Special Achievements:
• Masters in Nursing from University of Florida • Board certified Family Nurse Practitioner • Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses • Honored for service to spinal cord injured veterans by Paralyzed Veterans of America
• Attended and Graduated Florida State University Graduate School, Honors • Member Phi Theta Kappa Honorian Association.
Public Service Involvement:
• Sunday School Teacher and Active Member at Beulah Baptist Church
• Courtesy Professor University of Florida College of Nursing; Preceptor for ARNP students since 2000; Columbia High School Soccer Booster Member
Tammy D. Hall
Co-Branch Manager/Partner
Raymond James
4424 NW American Lane, Lake City, Fl 32055
20 years Awards/Special Achievements:
• Honors graduate, University of North Florida • LLP CPA/Partner, Odom, Moses & Co. CPAs • Personal Financial Specialist • IIMC Investment Management Consultant • Holds Series 7, 9, 10, 31 and 65 securities licenses • Licensed Life, Health and Annuity agent
Public Service Involvement:
• Altrusa International-District 3 Program Coordinator • Serves on Board of Columbia Senior Services • Foundation for Florida Gateway College- Finance Committee • Supports local charities and community events • Serves on Board of Columbia County Senior Services 54 | Currents | September/October, 2015
Public Service Involvement:
Missy Zecher
Realtor Associate CDPE
Remax Professionals, Inc. 4255 SW Cambridge Glen, Lake City (386) 623-0237
20+ years Housing Industry 9 years as a Realtor Awards/Special Achievements:
• 2009 Remax Executive Club • No. 5 Real Estate Agent in Satte • 2010-2015 Remax 100% Club of Florida for Sales • 2013 Inducted into Remax Hall • 2012-2015 Remax Platinum Club of Fame • 2013 Realtor of the Year • 2013-2014 Remax High Honor of • Certified Distress Property Expert Chairmans’ Club • Best of the Best Realtor Lake City Reporter 2011, 2012, 2014 & 2015
Public Service Involvement:
• 2010-2015 CHS Tiger Football Corporate Sponsor • LCMS Anti-Bullying Corporate Sponsor • Children’s’ Miracle Network • President Elect MLS Board of Directors 2015
Debi Bennefield Realtor
Rockford Realty Stewart Real Estate Team 333 Rosemary Drive, Lake City
4 years
Awards/Special Achievements: Licensed Realtor with Rockford Realty Group. Work with residential & commercial clients in Lake City & surrounding North Florida areas. She began in industry in 2004 specializing in houses, land & farms. As part of the Stewart Real Estate Tema, Debi has met the sales & learning needs of hundreds of clients.
Public Service Involvement:
Debi is the Sales Director for The Preserve at Laurel Lake, Lake City’s premier lifestyle community. She is constantly promoting and sharing all of the exciting things The Preserve has to offer. She believes in The Preserve at Laurel Lake so much, she is building her family’s dream home there.
Rhonda K. Sherrod, RN, MSN Chief Executive Officer
Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center The hospital was established in 1911
Awards/Special Achievements:
• University of Florida • Bachelor of Science in Nursing • Valdosta State University • Master of Science in Nursing with a Clinical Specialty in Adult Health and a Functional Specialty in Administration • CEO In the Shands Market for 21 years
Public Service Involvement:
• 2013 Florida Gateway College Distinguished Alumni of the Year • Member of Altrusa International; United Way; March of Dimes; and various Health Advisory Boards
Carrie Cason
Debbie Christie
Swift Creek Realty
The Cozy Country Porch
Broker Associate, GRI
1211 SW Basom Norris Dr., Lake City, Suite 201 (386) 623-2806
14 years
Owner
2779 SW Main Blvd., Lake city 32025
1 years
Awards/Special Achievements:
Awards/Special Achievements:
• Husband Matt and 3 children. • University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration • Top Producer with Over $50 Million in Completed Sales Volume. • Assisted in site acquisitions for National and local tenants. • Work experience in all fields of Real Estate including residential, commercial, industrial and acreage.
• Married to Marty 6 years • 3 children: Robbie, Michael and Daniel (GM of The Cozy Country Porch)
Public Service Involvement:
• Member of National & Florida Association of Realtors, Chamber of Commerce Member • Board of Directors March of Dimes • Very involved in our church and the community • I’m also serving on the North Florida MLS Board of Directors
Public Service Involvement:
• Sponsor- Davis Racing, Macclenny, FL • Donates to local charities • March of Dimes
Malina Nemesh
Tracy Spears
The Rocking N
Thomas T. Demas, Attorney at Law
Owner
1268 SW SR 47 Suite 161, Lake City
3 months
Paralegal
153 NE Madison St., Lake City
17 years (8 years with firm)
Awards/Special Achievements:
Awards/Special Achievements:
• Owner / operator of The Rocking N • Member of Chamber of Commerce • Children: Kevin, Brandon, Chelsea, Rodney • Grandkids: Braxton, Sara May
• National Federation of Paralegal Associations • National Association of Legal Assistants
Public Service Involvement:
• Military Order of Purple Heart Chapter 772 • UCHS • JROTC
Public Service Involvement:
• Donates to local charities, Charity Walks • Supports Leukemia research charities • Elementary School volunteer • Mother to one wonderful daughter
Currents | September/October, 2015 | 55
56 | Currents | September/October, 2015