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PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 2
Lorri Arnold: Lorri Lynn Arnold produced the Pulse cover for Issue #16 from a
photograph provided by the Mount Dora Historical Society using Photo Shop techniques
and her own freehand skills. Originally from Minnesota, Lorri lives in Mount Dora with
her husband Calvin and their daughter Brandi. She has been working in the printing field
for over thirty years and enjoys the creativity of graphic design.
Jeanne Fluegge: Jeanne Fluegge loves to write and participates, when time permits,
in the writing groups in Mount Dora. Primarily a fiction writer, she has turned to magazine
articles as one of her creative outlets. Since retiring from teaching, portraying historical
characters has kept her involved in education. She splits her time between Mount Dora
and twenty-four acres, devoted to wildlife, in Michigan.
Ellen Green: Ellen Green lives on Lake Joanna where she’s always ready to photograph
the shorebirds, songbirds, and birds of prey who visit her lakefront. Her professional
career featured twenty-seven years teaching at Eustis Middle School. She now works
actively supporting her favorite candidates, the Golden Triangle Democratic Club, and
enjoys traveling and boating with her husband Sam.
Jennifer Cahill Harper: Jennifer Cahill Harper is a native of Mount Dora. After
many years in New York illustrating for book publishing, she now resides in Eustis, enjoys
her family and making art. This is her second contribution to Pulse.
Mari Henninger: Mari Henninger is the President of ProActLLC, a strategic
marketing and research company working with Fortune 100 companies and large
arts organizations across the country. Originally torn between English literature and
psychology, Mari chose to complete her doctorate in psychology and statistics. Working
with Pulse has allowed her to reconnect with her love of writing, use her marketing skills
to support the local community…and have a whole lot more fun in the process.
R achelle Lucas: Rachelle is an innkeeper at Tremain Street Cottages, the 1st
Certified Green Lodging in Lake County. In addition, she is a spokesperson and writer
obsessed with social media. For more information, visit www.RachelleLucas.com. Find
her on Twitter.com@TravelBlggr.
Pam Myers: Pam Myers is a local Realtor and lives on Lake Nettie in Eustis with her
husband Eric and black lab Jessy. They retreat to their wilderness log cabin in the Upper
Peninsula in Michigan in the spring and fall. Reach her by email at pam@davelowerealty.
com and enter BIRD in the subject line.
Ella Paets: Now living in Mount Dora, Ella Paets, EdD, moved from Miami, Florida
where she received her doctorate in Education from the University of Miami. She taught
at the elementary and college levels, was a school administrator, and for one semester
drove a school bus to the school where she taught reading to students with severe
reading disabilities.
Michael Suib: Michael Suib is a published author, poet and former Miami Herald
columnist who has appeared on Warner Cable (New York) and NPR Florida. He divides
his time between Mount Dora and Woodstock, New York. While in Mount Dora, he is
active in writers groups locally and in central Florida.
Pulse Contributors:
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 4
Issue 16 | Summer 2010
Copyright © Pulse the Magazine, Inc.
PO Box 1896 • Tavares, FL 32778
Publisher
Calvin Arnold
Managing Editor
Richard Huss
Marketing & Development
Mari Henninger
Graphic Design
Kimberly Smith
Ditto’s Digital Print Shop
Advertising Design
Lorri Arnold
Photography
Bill Casey
Marc Vaughn
Illustration
Jennifer Cahill Harper
Contributing Writers
Jeanne Flugge Pam Myers
Mari Henninger Ella Paets
Rachelle Lucas Michael Suib
Copy Editors
Susie Jaillet
Nancy Butler-Ross
Advertising Sales
Calvin Arnold
407.421.6686
Don Thibodeau
352.552.2655
table of contents
about the
Lorri Lynn Arnold originally from Minnesota lives
in Mount Dora with her husband Calvin and their
daughter, Brandi. She has been working in the
printing field for over thirty years and enjoys the
creativity of graphic designing.
cover
Pulse the Magazine is published quarterly. We are advertiser–
supported and available without charge at participating businesses
in the Mount Dora, Eustis and Tavares area. Mail subscription
information is available upon request. All opinions expressed in these
pages are those of the writers. Letters to the Editor are welcome.
Please type or print clearly. Letters must carry the writer’s name and
city of residence, a signature if sent through hard mail, and at least
one type of contact information: e-mail address, phone number, or
physical address. Only the writer’s name and city will be published.
All letters sent to Pulse the Magazine may be published in print
and/or at our Web site. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy,
brevity, clarity, legality, and taste. Letters should be e-mailed to
pulsethemagazine@gmail.com or hard mailed to Publisher at Pulse
the Magazine, PO Box 1896, Tavares, FL, 32778.
Ramblin’ with Richard 6
Change
Bird Watching with Pam 8
To list or not to list, that is the question.
Writers One Flight Up 10
And the winners are...
Brew Pub Dreams 12
Mount Dora Brewing
Mount Dora Bar-B-Que Co. 16
Where food, passion and community meet
Passion for the Arts 24
Local teens are awarded scholarships.
The Artist’s Way 28
On the road again.
View 14
Spenser
Visit 18
Honky Tonk Freeway
Consider 22
Going Green for Pets
5 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
“Pink City,” who would have thought? I was not
living in the Tri-cities when Honky Tonk Freeway
came riding through Mount Dora. Many of you
were. July 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of
this event. When the Pulse crew decided they
were going to do a piece on this historic time,
we set out first to find photos. I received nine
– 35mm slides – from a Mount Dora gentleman
and scanned them trying to figure out which
ones would fit with our story.
As I studied each photo, I found myself going
back in time – 30 years ago. I could feel the
excitement in the air and appreciate the hard work
that was involved in putting this project together.
But then it hit me. What was I doing 30 years ago?
A flood of great memories of loved ones and
great times poured into my mind. I discovered
that when I look at a picture, I put myself in it
and the scene comes to life. Try it – you will be
surprised.
Some great work went into this article.
The story is captivating and will answer some
questions and raise others like; I wonder what
happened to…?
I would like to thank Al Wittnebert at Uncle Al’s
Time Capsule, the Mount Dora Historical Society
and Stephanie Haimes at the WT Bland Library for
supplying the research materials and photos that
made the article possible. Read and enjoy.
Cordially,
Calvin Arnold, Publisher
from the
publisher
Pulse seeks nominations from our readers for people or
groups that “do good” for, or in the Tri-cities. See page 34
for our first Kudos recognition. Send your nominations to
pulsethemagazine@gmail.com. Please include name(s)
and contact information as well as a short statement
describing why you are nominating the person or group.
Thank you.
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 6
“I put a dollar in one of
those change machines.
Nothing changed.”
– George Carlin.
I loved George, but that’s
a very sad observation he
made. Humorous – but sad.
So let’s try to get a handle on this “change” stuff.
My learning about change started when dad said,
“Son...” I cringed when I heard statements from him
that started with “Son.” They never led to fun, like,
“Son, let’s go to a ballgame.” They most likely were,
“Son, you’d better change your ways or…” There it
was, the eight-hundred-pound parental threat in
the room. And since dad presented change as an
option, it was only natural for me to think, “Or what?”
As a result, I learned to negotiate the consequences
of change, or even not to change. I didn’t have to
change because dad’s consequences often didn’t
outweigh the request for change. How bad was it to
be grounded for a weekend?
It shouldn’t be a surprise that I progressed to
adulthood with the notion that change was an
enemy. A negative. Something that could be
negotiated away. I had the proof – my life seemed
to be working just fine without making major
adjustments to my behavior, lifestyle, attitude, or
approach to relationships.
With so little motivation and practice, it’s a no
brainer that it’s been hard for me to change. My
route to change takes more ocean space than the
old Queen Mary with two tugboats trying to navigate
a turn! My wife and I laugh (fortunately) when we
start negotiating with each other about change.
She’s like Muhammed Ali. Not the stinging part, but
the floating butterfly and the quick, direct bee part.
She seizes the opportunity to change, whereas I
approach change like the lumbering ocean liner.
But I recently learned that life has a way of leveling
things out. If you decide not to change on your own,
events/disasters/circumstances/life all converge,
creating compelling reasons to reconsider your
stance on change. And guess what? As an adult,
the consequences of not changing are far worse
than the parental threats of being grounded. That’s
when your “Duh Factor” kicks in – you know, when
the light bulb in your otherwise vacuous skull clicks
on and you say to yourself (usually because you’re
too embarrassed to say it out loud), “OMG, I’ve got
to ch-ch-change or…”
My “Duh Moment” occurred about a year ago
when I encountered complications, pulmonary
blood clots, after hip surgery. What was the change
life brought to me? Teams of doctors, threats of
more surgeries, and a lifetime of prescription drugs.
What a future. Now, here comes the “or” – or
change my lifestyle.
This time I did not negotiate. Gone were the Fritos
and beer; I said goodbye to beef and most other
meat; I became one with veggies, put down my TV
remote, got out of my lounge chair and reintroduced
myself to my rowing machine.
Was it easy? Hell no! Remember my motto had
been: The best change is no change. And the
change I now faced was like jamming a stick in a
hornets’ nest with nowhere to run. A change that
was sure to produce a lot of pain and complaining.
SPO
NSORED BY:
7 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
But a funny thing happened on my way to the
change forum. In three months, I was able to ditch
the pills. In six months I said goodbye to my medical
team. I felt better, was more mobile, was living
without pain for the first time in 10 years, and folks
said I looked better. Change has become my new
friend. I’m now learning to give change a chance.
Who says you can’t teach an old dawg new tricks?
So here’s my bottom line regarding change. If we’re
honest, even when asked by our loved ones or when
change is in our best interest, we fight it. But change
happens. We can either ride the wave of change
or get lost in it. Dumped. Swamped. So let’s not
get caught like George Carlin staring at the change
machine wondering why nothing’s happened. Let’s
ride the wave of change and make it happen.
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PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 8
People occasionally ask me if I keep a “life list”
of all of the birds I have seen over the years. To
be honest, I haven’t been very disciplined about
recording my sightings. I have been more interested
in learning the habits and songs of individual birds
than listing the numbers of species I have seen.
There is a beautiful poem that exemplifies my
philosophy…
“To see a wren in a bush call it a wren and
go on walking is to have seen nothing.
To see a bird and stop, watch, feel, forget
yourself for a moment, to be in the bushy
shadows, maybe then feel wren—that is to
have joined in a larger moment with the
world.” –Gary Snyder
The bragging rights of claiming to have 850
species checked off on a list have never been a
priority…until now!
Eric and I have started splitting our year on two
peninsulas that extend into vast bodies of water.
Most of the year we live on the peninsula of Florida
that separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic
Ocean. Every May and September we travel north
to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that stretches
out between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan,
providing a gateway into Canada. Both of these
peninsulas offer spectacular viewing of migrating
birds!
There are hundreds of species of birds found in
North America and many of them migrate down
to Central and South America for the winter. To
see them making the flight back to their breeding
grounds, we love to visit Florida’s Fort Desoto Park
of Pinellas County in March and April. There are
times when rough weather forces the birds to drop
down from the long flight across the gulf and “re-
fuel” on the food sources available in the park. It
is a great opportunity to see unusual species like
Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings and numerous
warblers passing through.
In May, we like to head up to Whitefish Point
Bird Observatory at the far eastern point of the
Upper Peninsula. It is the narrowest point to cross
Lake Superior and the preferred route for the birds
heading into Canada for their summer breeding.
It is amazing to stand on the shore and watch
hundreds of loons fly by with legs and necks
outstretched! It is also a great place to observe
large “kettles” of hawks rise along the thermals of
warm air to continue their trip north.
Because I have an opportunity to do great birding
in two distant states, I am starting a list for each
location this year. We saw 51 species in Michigan
in May. Many of these are the same species that
winter in Florida, like the Yellow-Rumped Warbler
and the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. The real
I’m a Bird Watcherby Pam Myers
“To List or Not To List, that is the Question.”
Limpkin photo by Ellen Green
9 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
thrill is seeing those birds that are found only in
the northern region, such as the Gray Jay, the
Black-Backed Woodpecker and the Rose-Breasted
Grosbeak.
Now that we are back in Florida, we are the envy
of the Michigan birders as we add to our list here
the Swallow-Tailed Kite and the Limpkin, which are
found only in Florida and along the gulf coast.
Listing all of the species you identify with
certainty can become a passion. It can motivate
you to get out and seek new birds in habitats that
you don’t normally visit. There are around 10,000
species of birds on the planet. The book, Life
List, by Olivia Gentile covers the adventures of a
woman who saw and listed 8,000 of those birds
by taking hundreds of trips to seven continents.
Her passion grew to an obsession to hold the title
of the longest life list.
I don’t think I will go quite this crazy, because
for me the real pleasure comes in truly watching
the birds, learning their songs and observing their
behavior.
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 10
By Sharon Dwyer
From the penthouse
windows, the lights
of the city below
sparkled like stars on a
crisp clear night. Kam
Yuen barely glanced
at the magical scene
below as she crossed
the room touching
priceless artwork. She
placed the champagne
filled crystal flute
on the table and studied a tiny, dark green jade
monkey shot through with veins of pale green and
white. When she first saw it in her grandfather’s
office, she knew one day it would be hers, as
would everything else he owned. The years of
kowtowing to the miserable old man had rewarded
her handsomely.
She looked over the pieces once more, then
reluctantly moved away from her treasures and
crossed the room. She stood before a large
painting. Her hand reached to the lower portion of
the frame and applied slight pressure behind the
corner. A wall panel opened to reveal the hidden
office.
By John WhiteWhat little waves
there were lapped
against the body,
rocking it a few inches
higher up the beach.
Moonlight reflected
off the stringy hair, but
it was still difficult to
tell whether she was
a blonde or a light-
haired brunette. Wet
hair always seemed darker.
Sheriff Bode Keller waited patiently for the
technician to finish her photo session. The
evidence tech took her job seriously, ordering this
part or that part of the body lifted or pushed aside
as the bright flash lit up the otherwise dark beach.
“Deputy Ennis?” Keller nudged the tech’s
shoulder with his stub. She turned and flinched at
his touch. Sometimes he did it on purpose to get
a reaction. He knew from her expression that the
touch of his amputated right arm grossed her out
more than her bloated model.
“Yes, sir—I’m sorry, sir. What is it?”
She still looked flustered.
photos by Bill Casey
The winners of this WOFU contest, the first 150 words of your mystery novel are:
11 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
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sputtering, scattering scented bubbles, and saw
Frank sitting on the edge of the tub. The big
gray cat was flicking his tail furiously back and
forth. Anya could hear the insistent ringing of the
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telephone in the distance.
Fishing ice cubes from the water, she gave the
feline her sternest look. “Dammit Frank, I should
shove you overboard for ruining my bath.” Frank
rowrrred and hopped off the edge of the tub,
disappearing into the bedroom beyond. A dark swirl
of ice tea stained the water; Anya sighed and pulled
the plug.
Sheila Mortimer
tcsheila@hotmail.com
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PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 12
Most guys are happy to have a few cold beers on hand to share with a friend; some even stock beer by the case in an old refrigerator next to their dart board or pool table. But one Mount Dora man has created the ultimate guy dream, converting his furniture refinishing shop into a brewpub called the Rocking Rabbit Brewery.
Thirty years ago Jeff Herbst followed his heart when he started his refinishing business with a bicycle, $800 in cash, and his Uncle Virgil’s tools. With his second business, Jeff is still following his heart, but he now lives in a comfortable house instead of camping out with the rats in a shop without a bathroom or kitchen. His giant sized brewing equipment cost a heck of a lot more than the old woodworking tools did, and he’s convinced that learning how to use the “tools of his new trade” is every bit as tricky. “I’ve always liked to figure things out as I go along,” Jeff says with a grin on his face. It’s clear that taming the machines is part of his fun.
Inside the rustic brewery, reminders of his woodworking days are everywhere. Rough sawn wood covers most surfaces with a manly patina, sprouting saws, drill braces, and planers from the ceiling like tools gone wild. “This is all my stuff you see in here. People know it’s real. It’s not something someone can just go out and buy.” Behind every black and white photograph and faded tin sign lurks a story Jeff tells with a bit of historic reverence spiced with salty anecdotes.
A large eared rabbit the size of a carousel horse, sculpted by Jeff in his woodworking days, rocks to and fro underneath copper cauldrons hissing steam from boiling water laced with organic wheat mash. After the brew cools down, it slides though tubes snaking across the dance floor, past the bar, around the corner
into one of four stainless steel tanks to begin a three week fermentation process. The pub shuts down Tuesday through Thursday to accommodate the journey from brew kettle to fermentation tanks. There is enough capacity, with the brewing equipment on hand, to harvest three different batches of crafted beer a week. For now, though, not having enough tanks to store the finished beer limits the production to one batch a week.
Would a beer by another name taste as good? Perhaps, but naming is taken very seriously at Rocking
Rabbit Brewery and much discussion goes into the final choices. Three small
glass cylinders filled with different gem tone
l i q u i d s
were placed on the wooden bar for me to sample. The pungent blond ale, strong and insistent, lived up to the slightly risqué B words bantered about for its name. Jeff’s wife, Peggy convinced him that crude wasn’t necessarily a good thing when naming a beer. They settled on Beauclair Blond Ale.
Jeff’s son, Zach likes the name Red Rake Ale for the Irish red ale infused with orange blossom honey. He thinks the name is more fitting than Jack Rabbit Jug or Rocking Rabbit Red (the final choice) because, while making his first batch, his dad lost the end of the enormous hops rake in the mash where it stayed until the brewing finished.
My favorite name is “First Shot” at Pistolville Porter. It’s the perfect name for a dark beer that hints of ancient campfires and can grow hair on your chest. The story goes that Pistolville was a 1920s rough and tumble shantytown not too far up the road from where the brewery sits. If you check out the men in the old picture behind the bar on the right side, you’ll see what I mean.
by Jeanne Flugge
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 12
13 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
Feeding beer drinkers good food has always been part of the mix for savvy pub owners and the brewpub is no exception. Rocking Rabbit Brewery offers savory eclectic bar food provided by its next door neighbor, Saucy Spoon Catering. Yet…it’s the music that draws the late night Friday and Saturday crowds to hang out at the local brewpub.
The beat of a drum bounces off the pub’s twin copper pillars; a guitar rift weaves a net of sound around the listeners while they drink blond and red ale from glass mugs and sip red and white wine from thin stemmed glasses. Members of the resident band called the Brewery Boys like to think of themselves as the “Studs of Suds.” Layers of jazz, rock, and familiar standards spanning several generations make their music richer and more sophisticated than the name
implies. On opening night the band had so much fun playing, they called Jeff the next morning to thank him. Local singers often join the band for a special song or two whenever Jeff can tear himself away from the microphone.
“When I’m on stage I love looking out at the people with their eyes closed as they sing along to the music,” he says with a boyish look on his face. It’s plain to see Jeff’s mission is to make the brewery a happy place. But then, what else would you expect from a man who follows his heart? “All of this is me,” he says with a wave of his hand from one wall to the other, from ceiling to floor. “I love to make people smile.” And so he does.
Mount Dora Brewing, 405 South Highland Street, Mount Dora www.mountdorabrewing.com
illustration by Jennifer Cahill Harper
photo by Marc Vaughn
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PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 14
Spenser
A close friend of mine passed away recently. I
met him late in life even though he resided in every
library and bookstore I drove by. You might have
known him, too. His name was Spenser; that’s it, just
Spenser. He was Everyman, Superman. The perfect
blend: confident, brutal, moral and violent. A one-
woman man often tempted and teased but never,
well, almost never, led down the primrose path of
carnal delights. Spenser never walked away from
a problem, never let a friend down, never broke a
promise and never lied to himself. The man could
be as tough as nails or soft as a chamois. I had
never read Spenser novels, having been turned off
by the 1980s television show, Spenser for Hire that
starred Robert Urich, but was reintroduced to the
detective by a mutual Mount Dora friend several
years ago.
Spenser was birthed in the cranial gray matter
of novelist Robert B. Parker and kicked out of the
nest in 1973 between the covers of The GodWulf
Manuscript, the first of 37 Spenser stories. Since
then most other fictional detectives have been
playing catch-up.
Spenser began his literary life as a wisecracking,
talkative guy, prone to quoting Shakespeare “…the
course of true love…”; Lewis Carroll “Curiouser and
curiouser…” and Wallace Stevens’s “... death is the
mother of beauty…” (He used this quote 7 times in
various novels.) He became less chatty with age,
trimming much of his dialogue to shorter phrases
including the very unliterary “Yikes!”
Spenser’s confidence came from his father and
uncles who raised him to be self-sufficient. They
taught him how to beat the stitches out of a boxing
bag (and most bad guys too), how to handle a
hammer and nails, and to respect firearms, women
and a glass of good beer. They also taught him
how to sew, enjoy fine champagne and, God bless
them, cook like a gourmet.
Here’s a sampling of some of Spenser’s favorite
dishes he prepared when he wasn’t saving a damsel
in a dungeon or displaying his love for his one and
only, psychiatrist Susan Silverman:
German sausage with green apple rings dipped in flour, fried and served with coarse rye bread and wild strawberry jam
Spaghetti and steamed broccoli topped with spiced pistachio oil
Hot pumpkin soup, with cold asparagus and green herb mayonnaise atop a bed of red lettuce
Pheasant with raspberry vinaigrette, and a saffron pilaf with white and wild rice and sprinkled with pignolis
Sour Cherry Cobbler topped with Vermont cheddar cheese
Stir-fried bell peppers and mushrooms tossed with olive oil and raspberry vinaigrette, served on top of spinach fettuccini with walnuts
Spenser’s cookbook was always planned but
never written and the dishes that hint of a recipe
will stay a mystery, just as Spenser’s first name
always eluded his readers.
viewby Michael Suib
15 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
In an April 2000 interview with www.TheBookReporter.com, Robert B. Parker said, “I plan to keep writing until I die.”
Parker, and Spenser, did just that. They both died
on January 18, 2010, from a heart attack while at
home working on a manuscript. Beautiful.
“… death is the mother of beauty...”
From “Sunday” by Wallace Stevens
Editor’s Note: The Re:view in this issue is more
of an “author good-bye” than a book review. You
may know the man we’re saying good-bye to
through his major characters: Spenser, Jesse
Stone, Sunny Randall and Virgil Cole. Or maybe his
movies and television series: Jesse Stone portrayed
by Tom Selleck, the recent feature length western,
Appaloosa with Ed Harris as Virgil Cole, or the
Spenser TV series starring Robert Urich earlier and
Joe Montagena later. Robert B. Parker was a prolific
writer who used simple conversation between his
characters to describe scenes, establish rapport,
or setup action. Sparsity of words … action thriller
mysteries … tough folks tackling sensitive situations
… all Parker and all gone.
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 16
If you’ve ever watched TLC’s new reality show, “BBQ
Pitmasters,” you know competitive barbequing isn’t just
a bunch of “rednecks” throwing meat on the grill. This
high stakes competition, which has been compared
to all-star poker tournaments and championship car
races, requires a unique set of skills that include the
culinary techniques of a chef, the unwavering focus of
a Zen master and the intense passion of a professional
athlete. While Mount Dora’s nationally ranked Mount
Dora Bar-B-Que Company has all three, it also has a
passion for Mount Dora.
Mount Dora Bar-B-Que is the brain child of long-
time Mount Dora resident, builder/contractor and
former city council member, Larry Baker. Together with
his teammates and fellow Mount Dora residents Merry
Hadden, local Montessori school head and teacher
and Debi Harbin, a well- known Orlando-based food
photographer, Mount Dora Bar-B-Que has put Mount
Dora on the competitive barbequing map. The team,
which is ranked #5 nationally, is also a two-time Florida
State Champion (2008, 2009), Georgia state champion
(2009) and the winner of numerous major competitions.
In 2009, Mount Dora Bar-B-Que competed in 21
competitions throughout the South and in Kansas City,
one of the nation’s two barbeque capitals. (Memphis
is the other.) As the team travels to each event, they
not only showcase their skills, but serve as
ambassadors for Mount Dora. As Disney
Executive Chef, Bob Getchell, a new team
member from Eustis noted, “Larry could
have named the company anything, but
he named it after Mount Dora because
Larry’s all about community.”
A love of food and competition come naturally
to Larry. To this day his family has “blood and guts”
pie contests and chili cook-offs. But Larry has taken
his interest in food to a higher level, training at the
prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park,
New York. While his first love was French cooking,
Larry argues that barbeque is the only true American
cuisine. He believes that the task of any great chef is to
“Take the best ingredients you can and enhance them,
but a green bean should still be a green bean – just the
best one you’ve ever eaten.”
When you meet Larry, he seems laid-back, but
the intense focus reflected in his eyes gives away his
competitive spirit. Or as he puts it, his passion. When
he has a passion for something, he strives for a level
of perfection that he sometimes meets, and sometimes
doesn’t. But more often than not, he succeeds through
his unique talents, ingenuity, and unrelenting pursuit of
mastery, whatever the passion might be.
A case in point is competitive pistol shooting, which
became Larry’s passion in 2002. By 2004, he was
Florida’s Pistol Shooting state champion. When asked
how he achieved his goal so quickly, he said that he
shot 18,000 rounds in the months before the state
competition. But it probably also has something to
do with his unique ability to focus which, along with
talent and practice, separates the champions from the
. . . Where Food, Passionand Community Meet
ph
oto
: D
eb
i H
arb
inMerry Hadden, Larry Baker and Debi Harbin
by Mari Henninger
17 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
“also rans.” He says pistol shooting is Zen-like. “You
become the bullet and the bullet’s only destiny is to
hit the center of the target.” He finds the intensity of
competition relaxing. And the bottom line is, “It’s fun.”
Larry doesn’t consider himself unique. He says
Mount Dora is filled with folks who pursue their
passions. But what separates it from other places is
people’s willingness to use their passions to support
the community. As he says, “Everyone takes their turn.”
The last time I ran into the Mount Dora Bar-B-Que
Company, the team was at the Taste in Mount Dora.
They’d all gotten up at 2:30 that morning to begin
preparing free samples of their barbeque. (They
weren’t competing because they’re not a restaurant.)
Debi Harbin, one of the team members, said, “Larry
did this all for free. He knew people in the community
had heard about us and since they can’t buy our food
anywhere, he thought this was a good opportunity to
let everyone try it. Larry’s truly a kind and community-
minded person!”
Which pretty much summarizes what The Mount
Dora Bar-B-Que Company is all about: It’s where food,
passion and community meet.
Visit the Mount Dora Bar-B-Que web site at
www.mountdorabbq.com.
In the heart of beautiful downtown Mount Dora,the Palm Tree Grille invites you for casual fi ne dining
in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
351 N. Donnelly Street • Downtown Mount Dora
352-735-1936FAX 352-735-0715
Friday Night Fish Fry $8.99
OPEN 7 DAYS
www.palmtreegrille.com
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 18
visit Honky Tonk Freeway:When Mount Dora “Went Hollywood”
by Mari Henninger
If you'd driven into downtown Mount Dora
in July of 1980, you might have thought you'd
entered an alien universe. Everything was painted
pink. And not just any pink, but Pepto-Bismol
pink. No, the natives hadn't gone crazy, they'd just
gone temporarily “Hollywood” during the filming
of the big budget, Tinseltown movie, Honky Tonk
Freeway.
Honky Tonk Freeway, directed by John
Schlesinger of Midnight Cowboy and Marathon
Man fame, is based on a complicated plot with
two distinct story lines: A small town's antics
(think of an elephant on water-skis) designed to
attract tourists, and the adventures of a set of
wacky characters on road trips gone awry. Mount
Dora starred in the first, playing the role of Ticlaw,
a fictional Florida town desperate to get its own
freeway exit. Led by William Devane as Ticlaw's
mayor, the town tried increasingly zany marketing
tactics, including painting the town pink, to attract
business.
It was pretty heady stuff for a sleepy little town
like Mount Dora to be chosen as the location for
a major motion picture. People living here then
described downtown Mount Dora as a place
that was so dead, "You could shoot a cannon
down Donnelly Street and not hit anyone." Then,
suddenly the town was filled with new "movie
people" and daily sightings of Bubbles the Elephant
learning how to water-ski on Lake Dora.
And there was the enticing possibility of playing
a small part in the movie. While the casting
19 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
director knew he needed a small army of extras
for crowd scenes, he was overwhelmed by the
response to his first casting call. Thousands of
local people and Hollywood hopefuls from across
the state answered the call, waiting for hours in
a line that snaked its way around the perimeter
of the Ice House Theatre's parking lot. The line
was four-deep, traffic was backed up to Highland
Street, police were brought in to help manage
the mayhem, and the local newspaper declared,
"Movie mania sets in."
But the actual filming of the movie didn't match
locals' Hollywood fantasies. Due to delays in
shooting other parts of the movie, the Mount Dora
portion was filmed during the summer of 1980
rather than during the cooler spring, as originally
planned. Schlesinger, a Brit used to cooler
climates, was challenged by the heat, but true to
his reputation as the ultimate perfectionist, re-
shot scene after scene until they met his exacting
standards. While William Devane waited in the air-
conditioned barbershop between takes, the extras
waited patiently, wilting in the sweltering heat.
Though a few residents feared that Mount Dora
would never be the same again, and would be
forever overrun by "...weirdoes, hippies and rip-
off artists,” for the most part Honky Tonk Freeway
appears to have been a love fest between the town
and the movie people. Most felt the actors and
production staff were polite and thoughtful.
Sam Sadler, whose family hosted William
Devane during the filming in Mount Dora, says
Devane was a regular guy with no pretensions.
Sadler’s dad, Buck, bonded with Devane during
his stay and they remained lifelong friends. During
his promotion of Honky Tonk Freeway on ABC's
Good Morning America, Devane credited Buck
Sadler as his inspiration for his character, Kirby T.
Calo, Ticlaw's mayor.
And the movie brought a much needed infusion
of cash to Mount Dora. Merchants on Donnelly
Street between 4th and 5th were paid $100 a
day to allow shooting in front of their shops, two
thousand extras were paid $35 dollars a day to
play a part in movie history, and the film brought
in additional business to local establishments, as
visitors came from miles around to witness the
shooting of "a real live Hollywood movie."
Many say the filming of Honky Tonk Freeway
helped put Mount Dora back on the radar. Not that
everyone wanted the town on the radar. Former
Mayor Jeff Ray once said he wished "…the town
could build a wall and lock the gates."
Before Honky Tonk Freeway, people described
the town as "a little worn" or a "bit bedraggled."
Many of the Mount Dora shop owners were
hobbyist merchants, retirees who closed their
shops on a whim, particularly during the summer
months. The downtown area was filled with empty
storefronts. Many of the merchants offering basic
services had moved to the outskirts of town or
had been forced out of business by the more
abundant parking, greater selection and lower
prices of Kmart and supermarkets in the Golden
Triangle Shopping Center on old Highway 441.
Young people, so few they were rapidly becoming
an endangered species, spent their entertainment
dollars elsewhere.
Of the million dollars estimated to have been
spent by the filmmakers while on location in Mount
Dora, a third was actually spent in Apopka where
there were restaurants and hotels. If you wanted
to have dinner and drinks in Mount Dora, your only
choice was the Lamp Post on 5th and Donnelly.
The final night of the filming, locals flocked to
the Lamp Post, hoping to meet William Devane.
Women, dressed to kill, anxiously awaited his
arrival. He, along with actors still dressed in full
highway patrolman regalia, showed up later in the
evening. Devane, dressed down in a white t-shirt
and jeans, charmed the entire group, promising to
return to celebrate the release of the movie.
When the movie was released a year later,
hundred's of hours of film had been cut to 107
minutes, leaving the performances of many
townspeople on the cutting room floor. While the
producers, Don Boyd and Howard Koch, returned
as promised to celebrate the film's world premier,
William Devane had to cancel at
the last moment due to illness.
After a year's anticipation, the
audience’s reaction after attending
the screening in Leesburg was
subdued. Few found their faces
continued on page 20
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 20
in Schlesinger's obituary of July 2003, "His later
film career was mostly disappointing. The decline
set in with Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), a messy
attempt at zany comedy - and a spectacular flop
- which ensured that it was four years before he
made another film."
But for many, it remains a magical time. The
mention of Honky Tonk Freeway to long-time
Mount Dora residents evokes nostalgic smiles,
giggles and often the recounting of fond memories
of the time when Mount Dora "went Hollywood."
Local officials said the film played a role in Mount
Dora's renaissance. As the town was returned
to its prior non-pink existence, its appearance
began to move from shabby to chic. Serious
retailers replaced the hobbyists, and developers
invested in the renovation of historic downtown
buildings. Few current residents understand how
far downtown Mount Dora has come since 1980.
But in some ways the town faces similar
challenges today. Empty storefronts line the
streets, as legions of chain stores continue to
open on Highway 441. But today we can make
wiser choices, spending a little extra time and
money to shop, drink and eat in downtown
Mount Dora. Because, while all of the movie
people are gone and Honky Tonk Freeway
is just a faint memory, Mount Dora is still a
magical place.
in the highly edited film; many were left puzzled
by the movie they'd helped make. As Al Liveright,
then editor of the local newspaper, The Mount
Dora Topic, mused, "The town spent a whole year
focused on the movie and then there was nothing."
While the movie opened to mixed reviews
among critics, its British director’s satire of
American life failed to strike a chord with most
moviegoers. Many found it depressing. It was
so memorably depressing that the New Yorker
magazine ran a cartoon in October 1981 with a
caption saying, "While we were in Westchester –
on a whim, mind you – Harold and I turned in to
a drive-in movie and saw Honky Tonk Freeway. It
ruined our August."
The film had been fraught with problems, from
a disjointed script to its title –- and marketing that
implied it was just "…another car crash comedy
romp." This was compounded by the producers'
decision to sell the video rights before Universal
Pictures agreed to release the film. Angered by
this, Universal minimized their marketing support
and limited the number of theaters in which the
film was shown. Withdrawn from theaters just a
week after its release, the movie disappeared.
Honky Tonk Freeway is now remembered as
one of the greatest commercial flops of all time,
costing $24 million to produce while grossing only
$2 million domestically. The London Times noted Director John Schlesinger on location in Mount Dora.
21 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
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PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 22
considerby Rachelle Lucas
photo by Bill Casey
With all of the fun pet stuff evolving and
increasingly gaining pup-ularity around town –
doggie parks, PAWS for Mount Dora, and Yappy
Hour – we thought it would be a great time for
“The Green Scene” to look into some eco-friendly
and all natural solutions for your pets.
Thankfully, we have several options in the Tri-
cities for organic and natural food and pet supplies:
Hobscot on 5th Avenue, Piglet’s Pantry on Donnelly
& 4th, and the new Green K9 on Main Street
in Tavares. All three are owned and staffed by
knowledgeable and helpful pet lovers.
So, if you’re looking to green up your pet’s life,
here are three topics to consider:
#1 – Food & SnacksDid you know that most processed snacks are
equivalent to giving your dog a candy bar? Recently
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Ernie, veterinarian
and author of the book, Chow Hounds. In his book
he explodes the myth that our pets are just a little
more “fluffy” and “snuggly” with those few extra
added pounds.
When we met, he had a table set up with several
common single-serving dog snacks resting on top
of serving platters, hiding the content information.
They looked harmless enough. You’ve seen them
– the bone shaped beef, chicken or bacon flavored
treats. Some proclaimed to offer excellent dental
benefits for your dog. When he uncovered the
contents, they revealed an alarming truth: the
human caloric equivalent to the innocent looking
snacks resting on top of the covers. Some plates
had as many calories as a whole packet of cookies
and one showed eight Hershey chocolate bars…
visually indicating the amount of calories (and junk)
we’re feeding our pets in this one single snack. And
how many times have you given your dog more
than one treat a day? Alarming, isn’t it?
I read his book and it deals more with pet
obesity than organic foods, but there seems to be
a connection between your pet’s health and eating
organically. Dr. Ernie’s suggestion is to reward your
dog with healthy treats that include organic baby
carrots and chopped apples. Now that’s a healthy
snack even I would eat!
#2 – ToyMost of us pet owners think of our dogs and cats
like extended family and spoil them with toys as if
they were our children. The fact is, toys are actually
not frivolous at all, but are important for your pet
as they provide exercise, entertainment and mental
stimulation.
Thankfully, playthings made from recycled
materials and organic textiles are becoming more
readily available and easy to find. But one thing I
didn’t expect to learn was that my dog’s favorite
tennis ball is actually harmful!
A study linked on www.dogwise.com revealed
that the coating on tennis balls that gives them their
endurance to take a pounding on the court during
a game is very abrasive to a dog’s tooth enamel.
For an occasional game of fetch, it’s probably not
an issue. But knowing that it is chemically treated ,
would you want to take this chance?
When shopping for toys look for durable, non-
toxic materials and toys made with organic and
natural dyes. At The Green K9, owners Paul and
Marni Lewis are pleased to offer a full array of doggie
Going Green for Pets
Paul and Marni
Lewis, owners
of The Green K9
with Layla, their
rescue Italian
greyhound.
23 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
toys and beds that are all eco-friendly; organic,
cotton, plant materials or re-cycled materials.
#3 – Bugs & BathsFleas and ticks are the one area where pet owners
may assume that chemicals are a necessary evil.
But the The Humane Society www.humanesociety.
org had some pretty scary facts and links to studies
about the effects of some flea control treatments.
A study by the NRDC (National Recourse Defense
Council) found “residue levels produced by some
flea collars are so high – up to 1,000 times higher
than the EPA's acceptable levels – that they pose
a risk of cancer and damage to the neurological
systems of children.”
The NRDC has put together a resourceful list on
their site called Green Paws, which is an informative
flea and tick products directory. You can find it at
www.nrdc.org.
One natural way to combat fleas before they get
onto your pet and into your home is by treating
your yard. There is a great all natural lawn and
garden spray recipe from www.naturespet.com
that includes some of their Critter Oil (Pennyroyal,
Eucalyptus, Cedar wood, Sage and other essential
oils) that you can spray on your lawn and landscaping
to help solve a summer flea problem before it starts.
Another way to help with bugs is to make your
pets less tasty to them. At Hobscot, I found a great
supplement to give my dog that includes garlic
and brewer’s yeast. Hobscot also recommended
products containing Neem for flea and tick
prevention.
Bathing is another solution for preventing fleas
and ticks, but the frequency of bathing depends
on your breed’s coat and lifestyle. Over bathing
can cause dry skin, so between baths, consider
a freshening spray with Neem. Beware of added
fragrances, colors and dyes and look for ingredients
that include some or all of the following: Pro Vitamin
B5 which helps to thicken your dog’s coat; Vitamin
E and oatmeal which are great for their skin; and
tea tree oil, eucalyptus and Neem that are excellent
bug repellents.
These are just some of the ways you can go
green with your pets and have safe and all-natural
summer with your “best friends!”
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 24
Sixteen exuberant teens arrived for lunch,
armed with talent and eager to share it with an
adoring audience delighted to experience it.
Each high school student had demonstrated
his/her ability in either the performing or visual
arts, and in one case a young man had won a
scholarship for both.
The Women’s Committee for Fine Arts
of Mount Dora awarded each winning
teen a portion of the $16,500 that
the organization raised for the 2010
scholarship awards. The money comes
almost totally from ticket sales to
the Christmas Tour of Homes, an
annual event held the first weekend
in December featuring wonderful
Mount Dora homes. Since the
inception of the scholarship program
in 1987, the women have raised over
$185,000 in scholarship funds for
talented students who attend
Mount Dora High School,
Tavares High School, Eustis
High School, Umatilla High
School or Christian Home
and Bible High School.
Each year students compete for
scholarships showcasing their ability in either
the visual or performing arts. This year 60
teens painted, photographed, sang, danced,
played musical instruments and formed three
dimensional art hoping for a share of the cash.
Choosing winners was difficult for Visual Arts
jury chairperson Nan Reinking who, along
with two additional jury members, viewed 33
pieces of artwork before picking nine winners
and acknowledging the talents of all the
applicants. The three judges of performing
arts chose eight winners from 27 applicants.
Among this year’s winners was Caroline
Martins of Tavares High School whose
portraits in graphite and dry pastel greatly
impressed the judges. Her close-
up, detailed and realistic art was a
pleasure to view. Caroline also won
money in 2009, using it to visit all the
art museums in Washington D.C. and to
take a figure drawing course. What she
learned in that seminar so impressed her
that she changed her entire approach
to drawing.
In the fall, Caroline enters the
University of Central Florida as a
Bright Futures Scholar majoring
in photography. Due to State
funding cuts, new Bright Futures
recipients will not receive sufficient
funds to cover all their college
expenses. Caroline plans to
use her Fine Arts funding to
defray the costs of textbooks
and art supplies.
Another repeat winner, JoAnna
Schmidt, a graduating senior from
Christian Home and Bible School,
demonstrated her skill in ballet. She used
her winnings last summer to spend six
weeks studying with the Bolshoi Ballet
Academy in New York. The Bolshoi
Academy picks talented dance students
for the program, and Joanna expects to
be chosen again this summer. Her new
funding will help pay for the 2010 program.
JoAnna is inspired by all art forms, but
favors ballet. “Ballet is so amazing. You
can express all your emotions without
opening your mouth.” This delightful
young woman advises others to pursue
their passions “with all your heart.” She
by Ella Paets, EdD
JoAnna Schmidt photo by Bill Casey
Local Teens Awarded Scholarships
25 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
began dancing at age 4, started taking lessons at
age 7 and sees no end to her dancing. She chose
to attend Butler University this fall because of their
outstanding dance program.
During her luncheon performance, Joanna’s
classical training was quickly recognized. With light
movements she captured the music of the lovely
song from Les Miserables, “On My Own,” enhanced
by her own creative choreography.
Forrest Etter, a 12th grader from Mount Dora
High School, is a winner in both the performing and
visual arts. Last year he won for his ability to play the
piano. This year, once again, his piano skills were
apparent, as was his ability in three dimensional art,
his second area of expertise.
Forrest began taking piano lessons at age six and has continued for twelve years. He is now taking Advanced Placement art in three dimensions. His teacher required him to produce one three
dimensional piece every week of the semester,
keeping him very busy. Forrest used his 2009
funds to pay for piano lessons and purchase
music equipment including mikes and computer
software, something today’s modern musicians
need. Etter played the Prelude in G Minor, Op 23 No. 5 by Rachmaninoff, adding his own dramatic edge to the piece.
Etter practices an hour a day to prepare for competition performances. Like JoAnna, he advises others to “follow your creative passion where it goes. That really pays off.” His interest in art was kindled when he worked as a volunteer assistant in a summer program at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts. For the 2010 competition, Etter also submitted some innovative three dimensional art for judging and displayed it at the luncheon. As an artist, he finds the process of creating art calming, watching the piece evolve into something unique and beautiful.
Sixteen young people striving to achieve their goals brightened the day for an audience composed of encouraging strangers, members of the Women’s Committee of Fine Arts of Mount Dora and supportive family members, all eager to join the Women’s Committee in their efforts to make a difference. Today was a milestone in the creative path each teen will take.
To see a complete list of the 16 Scholarship Winners and
more information, go to www.pulsethemagazine.com.
Specializing in antiquarian,
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PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 26
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27 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
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PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 28
Art is about the artists who create it. This probably sounds obvious, but was easy to forget when surrounded by exquisite art, beautifully displayed at this year’s Mount Dora Arts Festival. Pulse went behind the scenes to discover what it’s like to be an artist exhibiting at one of Florida’s top juried arts festivals.
We took a stroll down the streets of downtown Mount Dora the Friday evening before the arts festival. Our first impression was a dauntingly long line of vans filled with artists waiting patiently and not so patiently to set up - in the rain. Once at their sites, we discovered that art involves a lot of heavy lifting. Many, often petite, artists were dragging massive bags filled with the innards of their booths. As one rain drenched artist told us, “This is the life of an artist, not what you’ll see tomorrow.”
We chatted with a number of artists over the next two days of the festival, “under cover,” of course, to discover what motivated them to create their art and brave the challenges of the art festival circuit. We discovered a common theme - their art is a way of sharing a piece of themselves – a piece of what they value most – a piece of their hearts.
Beth Carver, a well-known, classically trained portrait artist from Melbourne, FL, told us about an epiphany she experienced while meditating on
the beach toward the end of her father’s struggle
with cancer. She became aware of a large,
older woman playing in the surf like a child. Her
exuberant joy lifted Beth’s spirits, inspiring her to
focus her painting on the precious, simple joys
of living. Many of her subjects are large, older
women enjoying life at the beach. Beth celebrates
their strength and the beauty of their bodies and
spirits as they lose themselves in play. Her mission
is to inspire the same joy in everyone who views
her art. She says, “The purpose of art and artists
is to take from life and give it back, through their
talents, to as many people as they can.”
Tom Barnes, an artist from Virginia, was also inspired by older women. He developed his love of art during childhood visits with “The Twins,” who were two of Savannah’s Grand Dames. In addition to inspiring his interest in art, “The Twins” inspired Tom’s “long neck ladies” paintings which have become his signature works. Unlike Beth, he is self-trained, coming to art after retiring from a corporate career. Through experimentation and “breaking the rules,” he’s developed a unique
by Mari Henninger
photo by Bill Casey
continued on page 31
Beth Carver and her painting titled, “Symphony in Lavender with Polka Dots.”
29 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
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PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 30
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The IceHouse Theatre
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31 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
technique that creates vibrant, intense watercolors that radiate rich, luscious colors. Whether he’s painting the “long neck ladies” or florals and landscapes, he says, “When people buy my art, they buy a little of me.” His most coveted response to his work is, “This stuff makes me happy!”
Nolan Prohaska, a young glass artist from Minnesota, was inspired by yet another older woman -- Mother Nature. While studying for a degree in horticulture, he enrolled in an art class, hoping to hone his skills as a landscape architect. The class was an introduction to art glass and he’s been blowing glass since. His work blends his love of nature with the unpredictable, organic character of glass. As he fashions his exotic glass flowers, he says he likes to think he’s “sharing a piece of himself” that harkens back to his first love - Mother Nature.
Three different artists from three different areas, working in three different media, sharing one common goal - putting the heart in art.
These are not the best of times for many of the artists we talked with at the Mount Dora Arts Festival. While that’s true for most of us, artists are the canaries of our times. The health of the arts community is a gauge of the health of the community as a whole. And while artists live to share their work, it takes some sharing from the rest of us to keep them alive and healthy. Give it a try. If it’s at all possible, even if it’s a stretch, buy some art. Help save the canaries, and we’ll all breathe a little easier.
The annual Mount Dora Arts Festival is held on the first weekend in February.
For more information visit www.mountdoracenterforthearts.org
For more information about the artists interviewed: Beth Ann Carver – www.bethcarverart.com Tom Barnes – www.tombarnesfineart.com Nolan Prohaska – dancewither@yahoo.com
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 32
English American Pubwith Traditional English Fare
Featuring Outstanding Fish & Chips and Great American Burgers
Weekend EntertainmentDaily Happy Hour 4-6pm
Winter HoursSun - Thurs 11am-9pmFri & Sat 11am-11pm
The Renaissance Building, 411 N. Donnelly St. Mount Dora
352.383.1936
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Featuring Outstanding Fish & ChipsFeaturing Outstanding Fish & Chips and Great American Burgersand Great American Burgers
Weekend EntertainmentWeekend EntertainmentDaily Happy Hour 4-6pmDaily Happy Hour 4-6pm
Summer HoursSummer HoursFriday - Monday 11am - 10pmFriday - Monday 11am - 10pm
Tuesday - Thursday 5pm - 9pmTuesday - Thursday 5pm - 9pm
The Renaissance BuildingThe Renaissance Building, , 411 N. Donnelly St.411 N. Donnelly St. Mount DoraMount Dora
352.383.1936352.383.1936PRESENT AD FOR 10% DISCOUNTPRESENT AD FOR 10% DISCOUNT
PULSE • SUMMER 2010 • 34
12 Volt Bolt: An Update
In fall 2008, Pulse reported on a group of Lake County high schoolers – 12 Volt Bolt – highly skilled math/science oriented students who fill their time designing, assembling, driving, and performing timed competitive tasks with robots. The 2010 Florida FIRST Regional Competition held at UCF Arena March 11-13 attracted several thousand spectators and high school teams from 11 states and Puerto Rico. Two days, 53 teams and nine qualifying rounds later, 12 Volt Bolt, along with an alliance with teams from Merritt Island and Tarpon Springs, bolted from 23rd place to the semi-finals where they squared off against four other alliance's including the favorites comprised of high scoring Riviera Beach, Cocoa and Tampa. 12 Volt buzzed through the semi-finals and earned the Silver Medal for the 2010 competition. They also took home the Judges' Award for having the smallest robot in the field with the functionality of a full-sized bot.
Lake County high school students interested in joining 12 Volt Bolt should contact lakerobotics@gmail.com. For more about 12 Volt Bolt, visit www.12voltbolt.com. For information about FIRST, contact www.usfirst.org.
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35 • PULSE • SUMMER 2010
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