Another Day in Paradise

Did you see that piece that 60 Minutes did on homeless kids in Seminole County? (If you didn’t, click the link above for the video.) It did a great job of telling the story of kids and their families who live in cars and of showcasing Families in Transition, an organization that works with homeless students to make sure they get their education – and have a childhood. Updates here and here.

Our December-January issue of Lake Mary Health and Wellness also looks at the issue of homelessness here in Seminole County. We’re not talking bums on park benches. You can’t just look at someone and say with any certainty, “Oh, he’s homeless.” Or, “She lives in her car.”

People without a space to call their own are in line with you at Walmart. Their kids go to school with your kids. And the problem is growing, especially here in Florida, home – ironically speaking – to one-third of the homeless families in the nation.

Our fantastic writer, Kristin Harmel, introduces us a family that lives in a budget motel in Sanford.

Kristin also spoke in-depth with Beth Davalos of Families in Transition. FIT works with families of more than 1,200 homeless kids – 30 percent more than this time last year.

Read this story. It’s an eye-opener. The magazine will be out in a couple of days and posted online as well -- check our website for updates.

Healthy and Delicious

Congratulations to Dr. Lawrence Vallario, winner – for the second year running! – of the Iron Heart Cookoff.

The friendly culinary competition, which pitted a quartet of heart docs and their helpers against each other, was held at the Westin Lake Mary. The task before the cardiologically inclined chefs was to create a heart-healthy meal of either chicken or salmon in half an hour or less.

While they slaved over a hot skillet, guests enjoyed appetizers and drinks delivered by local celeb “waiters,” including Dr. Todd Husty, shown below with Kathryn Breazeale and Seminole County Commission Chair Brenda Carey.

Judges included “Biggest Loser” finalist Hannah Curlee (that’s her in the middle in the photo below) and Shula’s 347 Grill Exec Chef Isaiah Simon Jr.

The finished dishes were both attractive and tasty, if the “yum” noises coming from the judges’ table were any indication. With that kind of competition, what put Vallario’s dish over the top?

“He had a very fantastic aioli,” said Curlee, who still eats right and works out to keep off the 120-plus pounds she lost on the TV show. “And he blanched the almonds.”

And the plate was pretty (above), courtesy of Dr. Vallario's wife and sous chef, Daria. (Though some say she's the real boss in the kitchen.)

Watch for more photos on our website.

Wild party, arty party

Clarissa the llama -- that's her on the right in the top photo -- was the most popular girl at the Central Florida Zoo’s Safari Soiree last weekend. Everyone wanted their picture taken with her – including Sanford Commissioner Patty Mahany (above) and her husband Sean. Thanks to Commissioner Mahany for returning the favor and snapping the little photo on the right. Cute Clarissa is the one with the hat.

The annual fundraiser is generally a sellout, attracting local movers, shakers and ...board members in gorilla costumes. That was Bob O'Keefe in the mask -- you can see his picture on our website, along with guys in safari hats and women in animal prints. Oh, and there was an American bald eagle and a baby gator there too.

Next up at the zoo: breakfast or brunch with Santa on Dec. 10

Just down the road (and during daylight hours) was the Lake Mary-Heathrow Festival of the Arts. We caught up with some of the organizers -- Steve Nelson, busy out and about, and Lesli Riggan and Greg May taking care of business in the VIP tent. (below). We’ll have more shots from that event on our site too.