tallahassee magazine - january/february 2012

138 J a n u a r y F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 2

You Only Think You Know the Truth About FoodOld Stuff Gets a New Life When You Decorate With RepurposeTeam Unity Creates Beautiful Jewelry and Jobs1020 Lafayette: Where Art Meets WorkplaceThe Pain of Pospartum Depression

The Toll of Roads

When We Build Streets and

Highways, Animals Often Pay the Price

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2011

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No, but switching to natural gas will.Why does Tallahassees natural gas utility lead Florida in new customer growth? One reason is AFFORDABILITY: Natural gas is about one-third the cost of electricity and propane would have to be priced at $1.01 a gallon to compare to our rates. Another reason is SAVINGS: Reduced energy cost equals lower utility bills and cost savings.

Natural gas is an investment in your home that will provide you with years of clean, affordable, reliable energy while increasing your homes market value. To add to your savings, we offer generous appliance rebates of up to $2000 or more. Install a natural gas water heater or furnace and well provide the natural gas connection for free!

Switch today start saving tomorrow. Call us today at 891.4YOU (4968) to fi nd out more about saving money and energy with natural gas, or visit our website at www.Talgov.com/YOU.

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20TH ANNUAL NORTH FLORIDA HOME SHOWMarch 2-4, 2012

Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center

Come see the latest in alternative fueled vehicles from Proctor Honda the 2012 Honda Civic GX CNG voted Top Greenest Vehicle for 2012 by the American Council for an Energy Effi cient Economy. Plus visit with your friends from Big Bend Habitat for Humanity building green with natural gas.

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January/February 2012

82IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADan explanation why animals cross the road, and what us humans can do to minimize fatal encounters with area wildlife.

90PUTTIN ON THE GLITZclip-on teeth, thousand-dollar dresses and spray tans a tallahassee take on the world of kiddy beauty pageants.

ON THE COVERrose, a little screech owl being cared for by st. Francis Wildlife, lost one of her eyes after an encounter with a car. Photo by scott holstein.

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contents

3648

In Every Issue 19 From the Publisher 21 From the editor 23 Letters to the editor 138 the Last World

Quick Reads25 ONE TO WATCHhotel duvals Marc Bauer has changed the way we view tallahassee. 26 FIRST PERSONafter a medical career, its back to blacksmithing for charlton Prather.

28 FYIin 2012, its possible to be 4 going on 16. 30 GEN NEXTFloridas capitol becomes a classroom during childrens Week.

32 LIFESTYLEred, pink and romantic gift ideas for Valentines day.

34 HOW TOWhats the deal when youre selling or buying gold.

Departments36 ARTS & CULTUREits an office building! its an art gallery! 1020 Lafayette is both! 40 GIVING BACKteam unity creates jobs by teaching the craft of jewelry making.

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60 SOCIAL STUDIEStwas the season, and here are the festive photos.

Home & Garden101 CHECK IT OUTdig pit. Make fire.

102 HABITATcreativity and inspiration can turn castoffs into home dcor. 109 MS. GROW-IT-ALLPrune in February for beautiful roses in the spring.

Mind & Body115 IN FOCUSWant better vision? We suggest you sleep on it.

116 HEALTHWhen post-partum depression goes beyond the baby blues, the results can be tragic.

Dining123 FIRST COURSEPrunes every day can keep the osteoporosis away.

124 FLAVOReverything you thought you knew about nutrition debunked.

131 DINING GUIDEduring the cold winter months, find something warm and yummy for your tummy.

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44 PERSONALITYthe rev. r.B. holmes seeks to minister to the body, mind, spirit and soul. 48 ON THE MOVEopponents become friends after rough-and-tumble rugby games.

52 EDITORS CHOICEKnowing when its time to hang up the landline.

Events57 SPOTLIGHTits sure to be a sweet night at covenant hospices chocolate affair.

58 BEST BETSBargain shoppin, face stuffin, horse ridin, out-of-townin good times.

59 CALENDARnothing to do? We beg to differ.


There will be treats, demonstrations, giveaways and more from the following vendors:

giving away gifts and prizes

performing K-9 demonstrations

with proceeds going to the Leon County Humane Society

serving cupcakes

vendors:

holding on-site pet adoptions

All Pets (and their people) are invited to Proctor Subaru to have their photo taken by Tallahassee Magazine with an opportunity to be featured in the May/June issue!

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THE BEST LITTLE STEAKHOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE

Join us for lunch and dinner at our beautifulnew location on Apalachee Parkway.

Our steaks are not only the best in Tallahassee, but USDA choice midwestern corn-fed beef, specially selected, aged to our speci cations and cut daily. We also serve fresh jumbo shrimp and sh grilled, blackened or fried. So please join us for lunch and dinner or just meet up for drinks at our fully-stocked bar.

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XEROX and XEROX and Design are trademarks of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

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PROGRESSIVEWESTERN FASHION

(850) 727-84601212 North Monroe Streetfacebook.com/wowtally

Wishing you all the best in 2012.

PuBlIsHER Brian E. Rowland

EDItoR Rosanne Dunkelberger

DEsIGnER Saige Roberts

staff WRItER Jason Dehart

ContRIButInG WRItERs Amanda Broadfoot, Lis King, Ralna Pearson, Erika Peterman, Audrey Post, Desiree Stennett, Janice Wade-Miller

staff PHotoGRaPHER Scott Holstein

EDItoRIal IntERns Laura Bradley, Madison Carryl, Kimberly Dantica, Karl Etters

tRaffIC CooRDInatoR Lisa Sostre

salEs ExECutIvEs Lori Magee, Linda Powell, Chuck Simpson

onlInE tallahasseemagazine.com twitter.com/tallahasseemag facebook.com/tallahasseemag

PREsIDEnt Brian E. Rowland

CREatIvE DIRECtoR Lawrence Davidson

DIRECtoR of Linda Kleindienst EDItoRIal sERvICEs

PRoDuCtIon ManaGER Daniel Vitter

ManaGER of fInanCE Angela Cundiff HR/aDMInIstRatIon

DIRECtoR of nEW Daniel Parisi BusInEss DEvEloPMEnt

MaRkEtInG anD MEDIa McKenzie Burleigh DEvEloPMEnt ManaGER

aDMInIstRatoR of Marjorie Stone salEs anD EvEnts

ClIEnt sERvICE Caroline Conway REPREsEntatIvE

assIstant Saige Roberts CREatIvE DIRECtoR

GRaPHIC DEsIGnERs Jennifer Ekrut, Laura Patrick, Shruti Shah

PRoDuCtIon sPECIalIst Melinda Lanigan

tRaffIC CooRDInatoR Lisa Sostre

RECEPtIonIst Amy Lewis

nEtWoRk aDMInIstRatoR Daniel Vitter

WEB sItE rowlandpublishing.com

JanuaryFebruary 2012 Vol. 34, no. 1

Tallahassee Magazine is published bimonthly by Rowland Publishing, Inc. 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. 850/878-0554. Tallahassee Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not respon-sible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. Tallahassee Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor. Copyright January 2012 Tallahassee Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Partners of Visit Tallahassee and Member, Greater Tallahas-see Chamber of Commerce and Florida Magazine Association.

Subscribe online at tallahasseemagazine.com or purchase Tallahassee Magazine at Barnes & Noble, Costco, Books-A-Million, Walgreens

and at our Miccosukee Road office.Proud member Florida Magazine Association

one-year SubScription $30 (Six iSSueS) (850) 878-0554

XEROX PLATINUM AUTHORIZED SALES AGENT FOR THE FULL LINE OF DIGITAL PRESSES, MFPS, COPIERS, PRINTERS & MORE. BUY AMERICAN, BUY LOCAL.

Serving the Florida Panhandle & Southwest Georgia1949 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite B(850) 385-1772 // (877) 350-4605 // t lhtech.com

WE GO THE

Extra Milefor You

LOCAL salesLOCAL serviceLOCAL people

XEROX and XEROX and Design are trademarks of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

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From the PublisherPh

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At an earlier time, Tallahassee Mag-azine was produced within the walls of the Homes and Land Publishing Corp., a firm that employed about 300 people. Of those, 175 to 200 were in the production department, work-ing two and three shifts a day to keep up with the demands of the expanding real estate industry and the growth of the Homes and Land franchise.

Back then, before the birth of the graphics and computer design industry, it took physical equipment (cut and paste for those who may remember) and a sheer volume of human resources to produce magazines. I recall anywhere from five to eight graphic artists were working on Tallahassee Magazine as it moved through the critical design and production cycle.

In late 1989, Homes and Land ordered a slew of first-generation Apple computers developed and designed for the publishing industry. It was about that time that I acquired Tallahassee Magazine. Part of the deal was continuing the payments on one of these computers $750 for 18 months. Thats $13,500 for a computer with a fraction of the ability of todays systems. However, I also got to drive away with one production employee not eight for the newly formed Rowland Publishing, Inc. Now, the math was working.

RPI has been using and upgrading its Apple lineup throughout the ensuing years. Ive tried pretty much all of the Apple laptops, including the slim and lightweight MacBook Air. Once, I tore apart my office looking for that little computer, only to discover hours later that I had closed it inside a folder.

At a meeting, I handed my business card to a client, who held it in front of his iPhone and used one of Apples hundreds of thousands of apps. I watched in amazement as it scanned my card and, within seconds, uploaded the information to his contact list. He then returned the card to me, saying Here, I

dont need this anymore. I am now the proud owner of an iPhone 4 and trying to select and master the apps that work for me.

Steve Jobs with his passion and intellect was decades ahead of most everyone, driving Apple to be the most recognizable brand and the sec-ond largest company on Earth today. He was intimately involved with every Apple product and guided the com-pany to a position today of having an enviable $76 billion in cash reserves. But Apple is not just a successful mon-eymaker, the development and success of its products has changed the lives of consumers and corporations world-wide. Rowland Publishing would not be the business it is today without the technology of Apple.

Over the past two-plus decades, I estimate just over 100 people have earned their living at this company. Hundreds of nonprofits have ben-efited from our media coverage. Em-erald Coast and 850 magazines were developed during this time, serving

other markets much like Tallahassee Magazine does here. RPI has made a tremendous, eight-figure economic injection into the regional economy over these two decades. Yes, it has taken a lot of hard work on many peoples part, but none of this could have come to fruition without the vision of Jobs and the products of Apple.

Jobs, who died Oct. 5, and his company were an integral part in the development of the 21st century in general and the success and longevity of Rowland Publishing in particular. I, for one, will miss his visionary ways and his creation of some very cool and smart product lines.

Brian Rowland, Publisher

He Made a Huge Difference in our Corporate Journey


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3 4 1 1 C a p i t a l M e d i c a l B l v d . Ta l l a h a s s e e , F L | 2 2 2 . 0 2 2 9 | www. e l e c t r o n e t . n e t

R E A L C U S T O M E R S . R E A L I S S U E S . R E A L S O L U T I O N S .

We have been strategic partners with Electronet Broadband Communications for a number of years. Electronet provided our of ce with Internet access rst, and we later added voice and other services that were offered as part of their business bundle solution. We have a very busy practice and our phones and Internet are mission critical to us and our patients. We have been very pleased with not only the performance of Electronet services but the attentiveness and professionalism of their staff. Its also great to deal with local people instead of 800 numbers and auto attendants. If your business is looking to improve their communications platform, while saving money, Electronet is the answer.

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Paul Watts, COO Electronet Broadband Communications and William Hambsh, COO North Florida Womens Care

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From the Editor

Pretty. ugly.Once people figure out Im the editor of Tallahassee

Magazine, they usually ask something along the lines of, Who thinks up the ideas for your stories? or Who decides what stories get in the magazine?

Generally, the answer is me. And me.Some stories are obvious because of the time of

year (Christmas, Valentines Day, back to school,) while others are perennial (Best of Tallahassee, Top Singles, Great Getaways, Springtime Tallahassee). But once you schedule all those in, theres still plenty of room for other topics, and its up to me to fill in the blanks.

Sometimes Publisher Brian Rowland and other staff members here make suggestions. I get great ideas from readers who contact me via email or social media or who I just run into when Im out and about.

But some ideas percolate and then spring out of my head. (Although having what my life adviser generously calls focus issues, Im afraid some very good ideas have fallen into the abyss.)

Usually, they come to me in one of two ways. First, there will be some issue Im wrestling with. I figure, if its something that piques my interest, other people might be curious too.

This issues feature on pageant culture is an example. Many of us got our first glimpse into the world of child beauty pageants 15 years ago when, in the wake of her murder, we saw photos and videos of JonBenet Ramsey vamping it up in heavy makeup and elaborate costumes. Then, in 2009, the TLC network created a sensation with its behind-the-scenes series about glitz pageants, Toddlers & Tiaras.

Both events evoked commentary usually ranging from tut-tutting about the costs to accusations of sexualizing children. Its hard for me to believe any 2-year-old enjoys getting a spray tan or pinning on a wiglet, but is it really all that bad? Are pageant moms ruining their childrens lives or giving them poise and confidence? Is this any better or worse than people who immerse themselves and spend small fortunes in other subcultures, such as historical reenacting or motorcycle riding or travel sports teams?

My second idea generator is when I become aware of a subject and want to know more. It was the genesis of the road kill feature. My daily commute from my Killearn home takes me down a long stretch of Centerville Road. Invariably, I see one or more dead critters in the road during my drive, usually low-to-the-ground species such as opossums, raccoons, squirrels and armadillos. Theyre usually there one day and gone the next and it makes me wonder: Where do they go? Why do some stretches seem to have more dead things than others? And, of course, why do they cross the road?

Also, it seems like I was forever hearing the so-called turtle tunnel on U.S. 27 vilified as a waste of $2.5 million in government dollars. Somebody mustve thought it was a good idea, and I wanted to know why.

Writers Jason Dehart and Amanda Broadfoot have done a very good job of answering my questions. I hope you enjoy their work and that, like me, youve learned something along the way.

And if you have a story idea please, send it my way.

Rosanne G. [email protected]

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R E A L C U S T O M E R S . R E A L I S S U E S . R E A L S O L U T I O N S .

We have been strategic partners with Electronet Broadband Communications for a number of years. Electronet provided our of ce with Internet access rst, and we later added voice and other services that were offered as part of their business bundle solution. We have a very busy practice and our phones and Internet are mission critical to us and our patients. We have been very pleased with not only the performance of Electronet services but the attentiveness and professionalism of their staff. Its also great to deal with local people instead of 800 numbers and auto attendants. If your business is looking to improve their communications platform, while saving money, Electronet is the answer.

W i l l i a m R . H a m b s h

Paul Watts, COO Electronet Broadband Communications and William Hambsh, COO North Florida Womens Care

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Changing the way people view and manage health, from the inside out.

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Mr. Rowland, I enjoy your publication and wanted to make a quick comment about your observation concerning our troops in the Atlanta airport (From the Publisher, November/December issue). I realize you are much too young to recall the very strong anti-military/Vietnam War sentiment that existed in the late 60s and early 70s in our country.

As a young Army captain returning from a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam in September 1968, we were briefed upon our arrival at Fort Lewis Washington to dress in civilian clothes as we continued our journey home on civilian aircraft. I guess I had seen too many John Wayne movies and chose to ignore the advice and traveled home in uniform to Sara-toga Springs, N.Y. My recollection of my trip home was receiving some nega-tive looks but wasnt confronted. I never heard a Welcome Home or thanks for your service.

Fast forward 30-plus years to the At-lanta airport: As a group of Army troops were walking to their gate, onlookers stood and clapped as the troops passed by. Oh, I was one of the ones who stood and gave them a Whoooahh!

Thanks for letting me share. Nick Nichols

LTC(RET), US Army

FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

HaPPy abOuT COTOn COLOrS

I just so enjoy reading Tallahassee Magazine and to my delight while

reading this months copy I was so happy to find you are featuring Coton Colors. My family and I just adore all their stuff it is so fun and festive. The kids just love to change out the attachments. I give Coton Colors as gifts to all the members of my family. When I heard about the cookbook I got so excited. I already have my copy and just love it. I have really enjoyed that, although a cookbook, it is a really enjoyable and interesting read. All of the stories and side notes are just great. I think my favorite part is when Laura talks about her mother, and each granddaughter added their own little tid-bits. I know what my family will be get-ting for Christmas this year.

Kelly DiMinno

Do you have something to say? If you have a comment about or correction to Tallahassee Magazine, send a message to [email protected] or1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

Letters to the Editor


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t a l l a h a s s e e 25t a l l a h a s s e e 25

Community involvement is in Marc Bauers business plan.

Its something the 45-year-old general manager of Hotel Duval has taken seriously since he first came to Tallahassee three years ago to guide the development of the wildly popular downtown boutique hotel.

I think its important to both give back to the community, but also to ingratiate and incorporate the community into what youre doing, he said.

Bauer has enthusiastically jumped on the Tallahassee bandwagon since his arrival. He has leadership positions in the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Associations state

and local organizations, the Leon County Tourist Development Council, Visit Tallahassee, the Florida State Seminole Boosters and the Council on Culture and Arts.

We are on the cusp of greatness, and I think from an economic and tourism development standpoint weve had some great momentum over the past three years, he said. I certainly see us gaining even more forward momentum in the coming years, particularly when the economy improves. Tallahassee is a great environment to do business in, but youve got to figure out what works. Community involvement and immersing yourself in the community so that there is buy-in to your

project and you personally is very important. This is a town where you reap what you sow.

Is there a Hotel Duval franchise in the works? Im embarking on a new business venture

along with the owners of Hotel Duval to grow the portfolio of hotels, he said. While there probably wont be another Hotel Duval, there will indeed be other hotels in other markets that will share synergies with Hotel Duval. The boutique hotel is our sweet spot, but I wouldnt rule out any opportunity that made sense from both a geographic and financial perspective. Jason Dehart

One tO watch MARC BAUER

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QUICK READS people | items | places


A round Mission San luis, hes known as Skeeter, the vol-unteer blacksmith. the average visitor probably doesnt know that the affable and highly skilled craftsman is also one of the states most respected physi-cians and the man for whom the Florida Department of healths e. charlton Prather building is named.

but long before he wore a doctors coat or served as Floridas State health officer, Dr. charlton Prather, 81, was fascinated by fire and iron.

in the 1930s, the blacksmith shop in his hometown of Jasper, Fla., was one of Prathers favorite childhood haunts. one afternoon, the shop owner asked if young charlton and his best friend, Jake, wanted a job putting the tools away.

he promised a nickel a week if we did satisfactory work, and we did, Prather said. Many of the afternoons i did the work by myself, but Jake still got his nickel.

the shop was the heart of the small commu-nity during the Great Depression, and Prather continued to learn at the feet of the owner and the other blacksmiths employed there. by the time he reached high school, he was trusted to take the company pickup truck on house calls. on occasion, a farmer hooked his plow onto a tractor, drove into a hidden stump and, as Prather put it, bent the situation.

Wed take a portable forge and the necessary tools, then go to the field, literally, in the truck, he recalled.

When Prather left for the University of Florida to study microbiology in the 1940s, commer-cially prepared tools had taken a toll on the blacksmithing business. the local shop closed and the physician-to-be didnt raise a hammer again until he was a medical student at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, n.c.

interestingly enough, it was a medical school course that reunited Prather with the forge.

During a physiology lecture, a professor drew a diagram of a surgical retractor, lamenting that the school didnt have the instrument. no machinist in the Winston-Salem area seemed to know how to make one, so Prather volunteered.

i told him i had some experience in bending iron, and i thought i could make that for him.

i said, Draw me an exact scale, and let me see what i can do.

he located a horse farrier in town and asked if he could use his forge. Prather finished the precisely scaled retractor in two hours and the professor was delighted.

the upshot of it was that the next day, he gave me a check for 50 bucks, Prather recalled. that supplied us food for more than a month.

Prather went on to have a long, distinguished career in public health in Florida, and in 1974 he was appointed State health officer. the appointment came at a tumultuous time. A 1975 legislative mandate decentralized Floridas division of health, Rehabilitative and Social Services, and many state public health employees were reassigned or relocated from Jacksonville to tallahassee. Prather and his wife, lou, moved from orange Park to tallahassee in 1976, and he brought his forge and

blacksmithing tools with him.he held that state position until 1979 and

was appointed to a second term in 1986. After 35 years, six months, 27 days and one and a quarter hours in the Florida public health system, he retired in 1987.

it was a fun career, he said.Shortly after retiring, Prather became an

active volunteer at tallahassees Mission San luis. hes become one of the historic landmarks biggest supporters and is now on the Friends of Mission San luis board of Directors. While the mission employs a staff blacksmith, Prathers period-accurate handiwork is visible throughout the property. he made all the missions hinges, latches, locks, candle sconces and candelabras, plus many pounds of nails and the 3,200 rivets that hold the doors and shutters together. he installed the rivets himself.

Prather also came up with the idea to relocate the blacksmith shop from its formerly off-the-beaten -path spot and have it rebuilt with donated materials and labor.

he said, ill supervise the project and well make it first class. My job was just to get out of his way, said Dave Ramsay, who chairs the Friends of Mission San luis board.

even during tallahassees sweltering sum-mer months, the good doctor takes fire to metal and practices the craft that became part of his life more than 70 years ago.

if its forged iron, i love doing it, Prather said.

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FORGING ON After a career in public medicine, Dr. Charlton Prather returned to the practice of blacksmithing which he learned as a boy in rural Florida as part of the living history at Mission San Luis.

Doctor BlacksmithCharlton Prather Bookends a Medical Career With Stints at the Forge By Erika D. PEtErman

QUICK READS first person


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Fifteen Going on Four

L incoln high School sophomore Marisa thomas will be celebrating her fourth birthday this year. no, shes not a child prodigy. Marisa is actually turning 16 in 2012, but her birthday, like more than 200,000 other Americans, comes once every four years on Feb. 29.

My little brother picks on me, saying hes older than me even though i am almost 4 years older than him, she says. i feel more special because not many people have the same birthday, and when i meet new people they think its cool.

the earths trip around the sun takes exactly 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. Adding Feb. 29 every four years keeps the calendar days and months in their proper season.

Ancient egyptians were the first to figure out the earths rotation around the sun, and a quadrennial calendar day has existed since the time of Julius caesar. todays Gregorian calendar came into existence in 1582, as an effort by Pope Gregory Xiii to maintain the easter season.

its an honor to be born on the day that makes the seasons come every year, says Peter brouwer, a co-founder of the honor Society of leap year Day babies website. every year wed lose a quarter of a day if it wasnt for the leap year day every four years.

An old irish tradition from 1288 allowed women to propose to men during a leap year.

leap year balls used to be all the rage, says Raenell Dawn, another co-founder of the honor Society, which has more than 10,000 leap Day honorees on its website. they provided a safe, romantic setting for a woman to propose to her man, if that indeed was her intention.

in some places, the tradition was only allowed on the leap Day, also known as bachelors Day. if the man refused the proposal, he paid a penalty in cash or gift.

everyone doesnt celebrate columbus or Valentines Day, but they are recognized on calendars. leap Day, a vital day in everyones life, isnt.

on Feb. 2, youll find the words Groundhog Day; the 14, Valentines Day; the 29, when its there of course, nothing blank, Dawn says. And, its the day that makes sure all those holidays land in the same season every year. its the day that celebrates the calendars accuracy.

Filling out forms on the internet and getting a drivers license can be problematic with a birthday thats not annual.

She has discovered that sometimes that date is not even an option when filling out forms and such slightly frustrating, but

creates an awareness, says Marisas mother, Shannon thomas. on non-leap years, Marisa thomas celebrates her birthday on Feb. 28.

brouwer is celebrating his 14th leap year birthday on the beach in clearwater this year.

i like to travel, brouwer says. last leap year, i was in San Francisco, and the year before that i was in china.

leap Day babies throw extravagant parties in Spain, Australia and texas, and they even have a capital, Anthony, n.M./texas, where they throw a four-day leap year Festival.

youthfulness thats a theme because we dont have as many birthdays; we dont feel that were getting as old as everybody else. it makes us feel special, brouwer says.

Shannon thomas concurs. i think being a leap year baby has only helped (Marisa) embrace her individuality and uniqueness among her friends, she says.

For Leap Year Babies, the Most Special Day of the Year Isnt on the Calendar By kimBErly Dantica

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birthday for the fourth time.

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T he 17th Annual childrens Week will turn the capitol into a liv-ing, breathing classroom for kids, parents and lawmakers alike. the goal of this annual event held during the leg-islative session is twofold: raise awareness among lawmakers about issues that concern children and families, and promote civic edu-cation among Floridas youth.

Were really wanting to educate young people about how they can make a difference how they can get involved with community outreach projects and make a difference in the lives of others, explains Jason Zaborske, who coordinates the special event. this year childrens Week provides many events to pro-mote that education and involvement.

childrens Week kicks off Sunday, Jan. 29, from 12:30 to 4 p.m., with the hanging of the hands, where more than 100,000 paper cutouts of childrens hands collected from childcare cen-ters, schools and organizations across the state stream down through the capitol rotunda.

the colorful paper handprints are deco-rated by children and their teachers and remain in the rotunda throughout the week as a stunning artistic display and reminder to lawmakers and advocates of the impor-tance of representing and protecting children. locally, children and families are invited to participate and hang their own hand cutouts.

on tuesday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the capitol rotunda and courtyard will be transformed into a lively center for fun, in-teractive civic education. Guided tours of the new and historic state capitols will provide information about their history and the legis-lative process, as well as offer opportunities to meet local legislators. At the legislative Reading corner, policymakers and legislators will be reading to young children and giving away free books. A press conference and the hanging of the hands Dedication ceremony at noon will dedicate the art display to the 2012 Florida legislature.

there will also be a teens only town hall Meeting where youth can ask important ques-tions to members of Floridas children and youth cabinet. this year, a dozen students will ask questions for broadcast. these 12 students will work with the cabinet in the fol-lowing year to address policy issues relating to youth, children and families. After the stu-dents finish asking questions, the event will

function like a town hall meeting where any young person in the audience may approach the cabinet with questions and concerns.

in addition to these activities, a wealth of free materials and information will be available for attendees. crispers will provide 3,500 free lunches to visiting children and families. there will also be free childrens Week t-shirts and informational materials from more than 90 different booths inside the capitol rotunda and courtyard. Given the large expected attendance, groups wishing to participate in childrens capitol for a Day should RSVP for free lunches and guided tours at [email protected].

beyond celebrating children and families throughout the state, there is another rea-son for tallahassee natives to celebrate at childrens Week: appreciation of the privilege we share as residents of a capital city.

Were lucky that folks in tallahassee here can experience this opportunity once a year, Zaborske points out. that they can be re-minded that we have a state capitol right here in our backyard its like a living class-room of information.

A Cascade of Colorful Handprints and Other Activities Put the Needs of Youngsters Before the Legislature By laura BraDlEy

A Week for the Children

LIVING CLASSROOM Young Tallahasseeans are invited to participate in Childrens Week activities, including a Town Hall Meeting for teens and a Capitol tour, where they can see 100,000 hanging handprints.

tallahassee native Illustrates her First Childrens bookTallahassee artist Pam Talley recently illustrated a new childrens book, Two Foals, a Dash of Sprinkles and a Cherry on Top! Brittany Bevis, Talleys niece and a multiple world champion equestrian, wrote the sweet story about how horses get their spots. The delightful illustrations, family-friendly mes-sage and surprise twist make this an engaging story and one of those child-hood favorites youll always remember, says Lisa Kemp, of No Biz Like Horsebiz and kempequine.com, in a pre-release review. $18.47 hardback edition, $14.47 paperback edition, caballopress.com

QUICK READS generation next

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With its red leather band and topstitching, this bold Tokyo Bay watch can be his or hers ($82).

Red Hot GiftsShellLove

Sure, you can send red roses, but shes sure to be dazzled

by this impressive arrangement of white calla lilies paired with long-lived dendrobian

orchids Blossoms Flowers.

The oh-so-soft Cordy Roy Bear by Jellycat ($24) wears this shiny bauble a CZ set in sterling ($64) to perfection.

This table setting is red, white and fabulous. It includes a

quilted cotton placemat ($9.99) and two-sided napkin ($6.99), a Tag dinner plate ($11.50) and an enameled metal napkin ring by Table Art (four for $62).

Put a little heat in your sweet with Cranberry, Chili & Pecan Preserves from The Great San Saba River Pecan Company ($8.99).


We believe Valentines Day should be celebrated every day. Top her love chart by presenting a thoughtful gift and your romance will surely stay in the pink during the season of love. Heres some inspiration to get you started.

Except for the flower arrangement, all items pictured can be found at the At Home shop, located in Betton Place.


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Let the Seller BewareWhen Selling Gold, it Pays to Play it Smart By Jason DEhart

T he economy is still in the tank, and folks are robbing Peter to Paypal. So whats one to do when funds are limited and theres too much month at the end of the money? one solution is to scrounge through all that old jewelry Aunt bessie bequeathed you, cull the gold pieces, find a reputable dealer and sell them for cash.

With gold prices topping more than $1,700 an ounce, it may be worth it to sacrifice some gold rings or earrings. but to assure you get the best and fairest price, you have to do your homework.

you need to find someone you are comfortable with and trust to get advice from, said Mike bennett, owner of the Gold Mine in tallahassee. For me, the first step would be to find someone who has been in business for a good period of time and has a good reputation. Visit them and show them what you have and let them explain the process.

not every dealer can be trusted. in 2011, the better business bureau received more than 500 complaints against gold, silver and platinum dealers. So you have to not only appraise your gold items, but the people you want to do business with.

Many of the complaints we receive stem from false advertising and delivery issues where the consumer ends up being appraised far less than what they thought their gold was worth, said Stephen A. cox, president and

ceo of the council of better business bureaus. once youve found the right firm, the actual

transaction isnt exactly rocket science, bennett said. the metal prices are out there in the paper and online. that information is readily available, he said.

Sellers need to be aware the true price of gold may not be what they actually receive. An ounce quote is for pure, 24 karat gold only. the lower the karat, the less gold there is, and subsequently the lower your price. bennett said each dealer or firm will determine the purity of your gold. but if there is a stone in it, you may just want to keep that. there isnt much of a market for rocks because they eat up a lot of capital for buyers, he said.

the bbb advises not to let jewelry of different karat values be weighed together. A dealer may weigh all your jewelry together and then pay you for the lowest karat value. you should also separate your jewelry by karat value before going to a gold-selling party. (bennett said he generally likes the idea of gold parties, but uninvited guests could be tipped off and show up to rob everybody. he suggests gold parties should be invitation-only events held in safe and secure environments.)

once you find a trusted dealer and determine just how much pure gold you have, the amount you receive will, naturally, be lessened by cuts for the dealer and the refinery that extracts the gold.

Although people are buying gold as a safe investment, selling can be a good idea too, bennett said. especially if you own castoff jewelry pieces you have no real use for.

ive been in the business 32 years, and this is the highest gold has been in my entire career, he said. People have always had broken stuff or stuff they dont use or wear, and this is the best time in the last 30 years to turn those items into useable cash money.

Tips for Selling Gold If youre mailing gold to a dealer, insure the items and get appraisals, so if lost you have proof of their value. Make a list of whats in the package and keep a copy for yourself. Take pictures of your things, especially any identifying marks.

Gold coins might be more valuable to a collector than a typical gold dealer; the same goes for antique or unusual items made by well-known designers.

When looking for a jewelry appraiser, look for an active, accredited member of a nationally recognized organization like the American Society of Appraisers.

Get an appraisal done for a set fee, not one based on a percentage of the items value.

QUICK READS how to


Calling All Pets ! and Their People

All Pets (and their people) are invited to Tallahassee Magazines ninth annual Pets and Their People event. Stop by Proctor Subaru to have a photo taken by Tallahassee Magazine with an opportunity to be featured in the May/June issue!

But thats not allThere will be treats, demonstrations, giveaways and more from these vendors and others:

Holding on-site pet adoptions

Giving away gifts and prizes

Performing K-9 demonstrations

Serving cupcakes

With proceeds going to the Leon County

Humane Society

Proctor Subaru 1707 Capital Circle NE Tallahassee

Saturday, March 3 9a.m. - 3p.m.

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When a nondescript office building at 1020 Lafayette St. was gutted, renovated and remodeled, Majken

Peterzen, a friend of the owner and a lo-cal artist, made a passing comment during the final touches of the renovation. Asked by the owner, David Barrett, what she thought of the newly finished building, she laughed. Gee, it looks nice. But it would look better with my art on the walls.

That simple joke was the start of a unique and successful collaboration.

Peterzen (whose first name is pronounced Micken) and Barrett began discussing the possibilities of artist-inspired decor and over many nights of brainstorming, fully realized the potential of the arrangement. The office park would double as an art gal-lery. It was a place where lots of traffic would see the art every day, she says.

Now, the gallery is both an inspiring place for those who work there and a

Arts & Culture

art Meets businessThis Gallery Brings Art to the Office Building By Madison Carryl

AT WORKS OF ART The hallways of the 1020 Lafayette building are filled with artwork created by artists from near and far.


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wonderful opportunity for local and in-ternational artists to be seen by art afi-cionados as well as visitors who might never visit a traditional gallery. The space, open weekdays during business hours and Saturday afternoons, is expansive and airy, leaving endless possibilities for dis-playing pieces.

The work presented at 1020 Art repre-sents a variety of local, regional, national and international artists working in every medium imaginable from sculptures and botanical pieces to woven arts and portraits and always, something unique. The gallery also carries art-inspired gifts by many artists in the gift shop, including fine jewelry, enamel and glasswork, carved boxes and occasionally even clothing.

At any given time, more than 75 artists are displayed throughout the buildings two floors. Sometimes, artists seeking a place to show their work call Peterzen; other times the gallery will put out a gener-al call. This diversity and openness brings loads of new artists and ideas to the North Florida region from all over the globe.

Overall, about 50 percent of the art shown in the gallery is made by artists within 200 miles of Tallahassee. The other half is national and international work. The choice to split things evenly was simple, says Peterzen. The goal is to have half of the gallery be filled with the kind of art that Tallahassee has always loved, and the other half to be something edgier. Less traditional work, less conservative. Something to keep the art community here on its toes.

The space itself is a work of art, with beautifully tiled floors, elegant furnishings and sleek stairways. The constant change of decor keeps the hallways feeling fresh, and creates an atmosphere in the work-place both comfortable and inspiring. The building provides much more space to hang artwork for significantly less money than a traditional gallery. Nationwide, a third of private galleries have closed within the last five years, but with this sweet setup comes the opportunity to showcase even more art in a way thats not so costly.

On the walls by the staircase you may find an ethnic tapestry or a sculpture of faces with gears and cogs sticking out of them. There are cases full of creative and eclectic jewelry and odd bits of clothing, and botanical pieces with abstract repre-sentations of the human form growing up from the greenery. You may find collec-tions of Chinese calligraphy and portraits


Arts & Culture

of Tallahassee landmarks, or mannequins covered in chips of mosaic tile. The art not only varies in medium, but in subject mat-ter, genre and stance as well.

1020 itself is a consignment gallery, meaning the items will hang in the gallery for a previously agreed on amount of time. When a piece sells, the artist pays a commis-sion to the gallery. This works particularly well for artists who call 1020 their home gallery, who enjoy the benefits of sales from people who work in the office every day, as well as local Tallahassee art fans who attend their showcases and events.

Peterzen insists that artists talk with her before their work is displayed. Together, they will discuss the art, what it stands for and how to best market and present it in the space. A contract is then drawn up, usually a yearlong agreement. For that year, the creator and curator continuously collaborate to produce results beneficial to the artist and the gallery.

As much as I can, I try to spend time working with the artist, says Peterzen. Meaning that we will meet and brain-storm a new direction of their work, talk about making prints, doing things to make their art more sellable. She also says she tries to help artists understand the business side of art. Its not just about creating something worthwhile. Its about market-ing that idea properly. A lot of students who study art are never taught to market themselves, and thats just as important to the survival of your art.

While some artists come and go, about 25 to 30 percent of the artists displayed in the gallery are locals like Dennis How-land who consider it their home base for sales and displays. Currently on display, his art is modern and clever but practical and interactive as well. He creates pieces using functioning QR codes (the square bar codes you can photograph using a smart phone that will redirect you to a photo or website).

One of his large pieces in the gallery is a collage of overlapping and variously sized codes that direct you to a horoscope for every sign, with links that update daily. Another piece is intended as a working gift of art: a bowl of dog biscuits covered with QR codes linking to dog care, training and fun pet activities. This type of innovation is expected from all the artists that 1020 takes in, and they rarely disappoint.

The building is fluid; almost weekly art is being taken down, sold and put up. The gallery hosts several smaller collections

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and artist showcases throughout the year, and holds three to four larger shows. This November hosted one of their largest shows yet, Fire and Fiber, showcasing artists who specialize in clay and weaving. Artists were challenged to collaborate on designs, resulting in wildly unique pieces in both mediums.

The gallery is also an active participant in the First Friday Art Trolley. The trol-ley makes its stop at 1020 and several other destinations, scattered throughout Midtown, the Parkway District, Railroad Square and downtown. The destinations include galleries like 1020 as well as other locations offering free wine tasting and live music for an evening of art and good com-pany. Were very involved in making this gallery a community gem, says Peterzen.

1020s next big showcase runs through the month of March, starting with First Friday on March 2. Entitled Body of Art, the show will be all about, by, for and even on the body literally! There will be live tattooing, body art and physical pieces inspired by or based on the human body. The show is planned to be raw and unique, with several pieces of performance art as well as more traditional styles. The show will display art from the entire southeast-ern region, and Peterzen says it will be, as usual, new, exciting and edgy.

The gallery is open to the public Mon-day through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. The gallery also offers private showings after hours, for a romantic night out or with a few friends as well as single tours, to really experience the art in solitude. n

BUSINESS MINDED Gallery manager Majken Peterzen helps artists at 1020 not only display their art, but also doing things to make their art more sellable.

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Traveling the world to supply their Havana shop, Wander-ings, with jewelry and other eclectic items, Tony Lombar-

do and Terri Paul purchased items from many co-ops groups of women who united to learn a unique artistic skill in order to support their families. Working with these groups from impoverished na-tions inspired the father/daughter team to ask themselves a question: If artisans in countries around the globe can craft jew-elry to make ends meet, why cant people here in the United States?

The answer was Team Unity.We figured that we had some of the

same problems here that they were facing in Third World countries, Gadsden County be-ing the second-poorest county in Florida,

Paul explains. Whats normal for poor people in their stores community is not what most of us could consider normal. Many live in houses in disrepair, crowded with family members. Forget having your own bedroom; forget having your own bed, she says. It seemed logical to create a co-op where their business is located.

Becoming familiar with wholesale mar-kets while buying jewelry, one of Wander-ings biggest sellers in recent years, Lom-bardo and Paul realized the manufacturers and products, as well as the wholesalers themselves, were predominately foreign. Americans play only a small role in that market but Team Unity is seeking to change that.

Over the last 18 years, weve hired a lot of people on a temporary basis to

come in and work for us, Lombardo explains. Theyre primarily people who dont have jobs or are very under-em-ployed. And a lot of them have been very good people and I said, Weve got this thing going with jewelry. Why dont we try to train some local people who are un-employed to make jewelry?

Lombardo and Paul worked with The Havana Learning Center, a nonprofit or-ganization that helps at-risk, low-income people in the community find employment and develop skills, to recruit Team Unitys first jewelers. Once the team was selected, they were trained with the help of Lizette Kelly, a local jewelry designer and owner of Lizettes Beadginnings jewelry store.

The project kicked off in November 2010 with John Anderson Jr., 26, Nicole

Giving Back

think Globally, bead locallyHavanas Team Unity Creates Jobs By Creating Jewelry By laura Bradley

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www.amandarobertsphoto.com 850-933-1700 [email protected]

ARTISANS IN TRAINING Wanderings co-owner Terri Paul (second from left) along with crafters (left to right) Nicole Johnson, John Anderson Jr. and Tishana Perry, work on developing new jewelry designs that can be produced for the wholesale market. A dainty little jingly necklace (this page) designed by Johnson.

Johnson, 26 and Tishana Perry, 36. The three received instruction and followed designs created by Kelly and Paul, mak-ing necklaces, bracelets and earrings from semiprecious stones, including amethyst, onyx, turquoise and tigers eye.

In the beginning, all three team members were unemployed or didnt have enough work to earn a living. Now they are skilled jewelers with supplemental income, allow-ing them to seek further employment with far less financial worry. Two have found additional work and continue to make jewelry from home.

The jewelers have become so skilled they are beginning to create their own de-signs. Paul notes that an unexpected bonus of Team Unitys work has been seeing each team member develop a designing style over time. As weve evolved, their talents have come out, she says.

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of stuff. Anderson focuses on more mas-culine styles, using leather and cords that would appeal to teenagers. He has also developed an FSU-themed line. As the jew-elers skill increases, so does the jewelrys quality and value.

Its not just the members of Team Unity who benefit from the work, either. Mem-bers are required to repay each hour of training with an hour-long commitment to community service within Havana. In the beginning, Team Unity painted local park equipment, and there will be more projects when more employees train. Lombardo stresses that Team Unity is far from a handout or social program.

Were trying to create a business that is profitable. Theres no charitable work here, he insists. We pay them for what they do and how well they do it. And if they dont do well, they hit the streets like anybody else. But Ive been blessed with three exceptionally good people.

Beyond the additional financial security, Team Unity members are given something else: a skill doing something they have grown to love. As he beaded a bright red and white necklace, Anderson, who comes to work five days a week, noted with a laugh and a shake of his head that Team Unity has turned him into a jewelry freak, explaining, Its like its all I want to do in my spare time.

In the future, Lombardo hopes the op-eration will grow to house more fulltime employees who can handcraft a lot more jewelry. Team Unity has already made steps in that direction. The jewelrys re-tail debut in Wanderings last May was a resounding success, and sales continue to look promising.

Team Unity has also begun breaking into the wholesale market, offering its wares at wholesale shows in Orlando and Fort Lau-derdale. Late last year, Team Unity had its first wholesale debut outside of Florida at a show in Sevierville, Tenn.

Beyond its wholesale repertoire, Team Unity has also been garnering local atten-tion. In September 2011, they were the primary exhibitor at the Tallahassee Mary Brogan Museums Titanic Gala, displaying Team Unity jewelry for sale in vintage suit-cases. The displayed collections held to the Titanic theme: the Lady Astor set was glitzy and sparkly, while The Unsinkable Molly Brown carried a bold, Art Deco theme. The Titanic group captured the essence of the arctic, with iceberg-like crys-tals and pearls.

Giving Back

Will You Be MyEye Doctor?

86% of children in the U.S. under six

have never had an eye exam. About 1 in every 20 suffers from

vision problems.What a shame.

Remember The Last Time You Got A Bargain on Glasses?When someone promises to give you a bargain on a pair of glasses, you can usually count on a hitch. When you come to us for your glasses, youll get quality care and an honest value on the finest quality frames and lenses. Our prices include a full years protection against broken frames, unlimited comfort adjustments for the life of your glasses, and a complete satisfaction guarantee.

Look! Anyone can offer you a low price on a cheap pair of glasses. Well keep on giving you the very best value for the money you spend.

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Gala attendees showed lots of inter-est, noted Paul. Everybody was excited to see us there.

Something else that sets the Team Unity operation apart is the fact that customers who venture to Wanderings in Havana can have jewelry custom-made for them by coming into the store and selecting stones, or even by simply showing clothing that the jewelry should match. With stones of almost every color, the artists are able to create a design to match almost any outfit. The pieces can incorporate slimmer bead strings or have larger, bolder designs. Ear-rings, bracelets, anklets and necklaces are all available for those who want a full set. Prices range from $12$20 for earrings to $20$60 for necklaces.

Regardless of its past, present or future plans and accomplishments, the under-pinning of Team Unity is an ideology: Given the chance, the American people will seize opportunities and work to the best of their abilities to produce outstand-ing results. Lombardo contends this can make us competitive anywhere, even in wholesale markets.

This little community (Havana) was built around the tobacco industry, and it was a cottage industry that everybody in this community worked at. It died be-cause eventually the tobacco industry as they knew it moved to foreign countries. We need things to replace that. I would love to replace that with jewelry. Weve gotta get other people to embrace that: Made in the USA. n

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Gift and Bridal RegistryCooking DemonstrationsPersonal Gift Service

206 NW 1st Street | Havana FL(850) 364-1602 | misstssets.com

A unique experience as you shop fordinnerware, atware, stemware and cookware.

You will be sure to impress your guests!

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LESSONS LEARNED After buying from crafting cooperatives abroad, Tony Lombardo and his daughter Terri Paul decided to create a similar program in the Havana community.

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In times gone by, the church was often the cornerstone of every community, the place where people went to find healing, comfort and security. Today,

the Rev. R. B. Holmes is reclaiming that holistic approach and transforming Talla-hassees Bethel Missionary Baptist Church into an all-purpose corporation designed to meet all the needs of its community.

You cant love your neighbor when your neighbor is unemployed or hungry, Holmes says. I think the church must have holistic ministry. That means we want to minister to the total body, mind, spirit and soul.

While the historic church building at the corner of Tennessee Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard is unprepossessing, the Bethel name can be found on buildings and businesses throughout Frenchtown.

Theres hardly a segment of his church community that isnt touched by the en-trepreneurial endeavors of Holmes himself or the church he leads. Theres a nursing home, a mental health clinic, a counseling service, a radio station, a new paper, until recently a restaurant and soon, perhaps, a credit union.

Dr. Holmes is a visionary leader, says Linda Fortenberry, the director of education and institutional development of Bethel. The Bible says we shall be the owners, not the borrowers. This is an ex-ample of that.

When Holmes left First Timothy Bap-tist Church in his hometown of Jackson-ville 25 years ago to become the pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, he came with a plan and an unwavering en-trepreneurial spirit.

Holmes approach to business and leadership was inspired by former Gen-eral Electric CEO Jack Welchs 4 Es of Leadership energy, energizers, edge and execute. Holmes, however, has six Es of his own that are a little more church-centered evangelism, educa-tion, entrepreneurship, encouragement, ethics and excellence.

We strive to make sure that whatever we do, we do it ethically and evangeli-cally, he says of his approach to business.

One of Holmes greatest accomplish-ments, of course, is the Bethel church. Since he became pastor, the congregation has grown to 5,000 members who support his vision, even though the road has not always been easy.

The plan that Holmes and the other church leaders developed when he arrived

The Rev. R. B. Holmes Ministers to All the Needs of His Congregation By desiree stennett

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in the late 1980s was called Vision 2000. It was a project designed to help revitalize the historic Frenchtown area that at the time was ridden with drugs and crime. With his new congregation behind him, Holmes took the church that already had a rich history dating back to the 1800s and created a central location for hope in a community in desperate need of it.

As a historic church, we had to de-cide: Do we leave the downtown area and build the church up in the suburbs or do we work in the area that needed our strong presence, Holmes remembers. We decid-ed to stay and transform the community.

The ideas behind Vision 2000 led to the creation of the Bethel Christian Acad-emy, an elementary school, and the C.K. Steele Charter Middle School. Then came The Bethel Family Life Center, the Bethel Counseling Center, Bethel Towers, a nurs-ing home for the elderly who have limited income but still require assisted living, and a mental health clinic that sees more than 200 patients a month.

The Bethel Family Restaurant opened in 1995 but was recently leased out to be-come a Roly Poly franchise.

In addition to his church-related work, Holmes is also the president and CEO of Live Communications, the parent media and broadcast company that heads up Cap-ital Outlook, a minority-owned community newspaper that has taken on the mission of delivering positive news, and Christian ra-dio station WTAL-AM 1450.

And despite doing all that, this entrepre-neur has found time to serve on the board of trustees for three historically black col-leges and universities: Florida A&M Uni-versity, Edward Waters College in Jack-sonville and Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens.

Holmes most recent endeavor is the es-tablishment of the National Save the Fam-ily Now Movement, Inc. The groups mis-sion is to recognize issues that plague the structure of the family unit, the black fam-ily in particular, and find ways to strength-en those weaknesses.

Fortenberry has worked alongside Holmes for eight years with the National Baptist Congress of Education and the ph

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HOLISTIC MINISTER The Rev. R. B. Holmes leads a ministry dedicated to meeting more down-to-earth needs of his community, as well as the spiritual ones.


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Nation Baptist Convention. She relocated to Tallahassee after Hurricane Katrina and has been with Bethel ever since, serv-ing as a chief of staff and filling in wher-ever help is need.

Too often, she says, someone will cre-ate a new ministry in a church and be the leader of it until they leave and the ministry dies. Dr. Holmes doesnt let that happen, she says. He has a way of find-ing peoples talent and keeping each min-istry fresh.

Most likely it is the flow of new ideas into Bethel that has kept the churchs min-istries current and encouraged innovation.

One example is Carolina Oaks, which was completed in 2006. Part of a French-town revitalization project, the church purchased land and created a small sub-division of 24 homes to help first-time homebuyers find affordable houses they could be proud of.

We have all kinds of people living out there, Holmes says. This project wasnt about making money for the church. It was about helping people.

It has long been the mission of the church to bring relief to the crime, pov-erty, homelessness and hunger that plague the Frenchtown community. And every Saturday, church members head into the Frenchtown area to feed the homeless, physically and spiritually.

This is not something that we do just for Christmas and Thanksgiving, Forten-berry says. We do it every week. This community knows the church cares about them. Thats why we are able to do so much, because the community cares about our vision too.

And she is right. Everyone from the homeless who the church feeds every week all the way up to the mayor can see the im-pact Holmes and Bethel Missionary Bap-tist Church have on the community.

Rev. Holmes dedication and service to the people of our community is evident in all that he does, says Mayor John Marks. Tallahassee is truly blessed to be home to a man of such tremendous faith and character.

With the success of Vision 2000, the church was able to move on to a 2010 plan that allowed them to purchase the property that can now house all of the churchs enterprises. The next step in the churchs vision the 2020 and beyond plan is to establish the Bethel French-town Credit Union and to strengthen the Economic Development Ministry.


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Through the Economic Development Ministry, we want to somehow empower people to become entrepreneurs and we want the church to somehow lead the way through evangelism and strong moral and ethical standards, Holmes says.

The establishment of a credit union to serve all of Tallahassee is in its final stages and is awaiting approval before construc-tion can begin. When it gets the green light from regulators, the building will be locat-ed across from the church in the shopping plaza on West Tennessee Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Humbly speaking, all that God has given us to do, weve been able to do and hopefully, well be able to do more, Holmes says. Tallahassee needs strong ministry and as people of faith and people of color, we need to lead that.

The next item on the agenda for Holmes will be to establish an operational Save the Family Now chapter to develop a posi-tive and proactive agenda for holistic pro-grams, events and activities designed to re-build, reenergize and stimulate the family structure in 25 cities by 2012. Holmes and a host of churches he has inspired across the country are banding together to recre-ate the holistic ministry that he has man-aged to create here.

As minorities, we should own some things, Holmes says. But its not about profit, its about prophesy. This movement will teach people that we can have results and the church can quietly change America.

Were trying to transform lives for the glory of God and the goodness of the people. n

As a historic church, we had to decide: Do we leave the downtown area and build the church up in the suburbs or do we work in the area that needed our strong presence. Rev. R. B. Holmes


On The Move

When it comes to sports, Tal-lahassee is all about foot-ball. But what came before the yellow goal posts and

shoulder pads is making a comeback in the community. Thirty years ago, Talla-hassee was home to a thriving rugby team and now its back in action.

Started at the end of the 18th century at the Rugby co-ed boarding school in the central United Kingdom, the classic sport has become one of the worlds most loved games.

The team re-formed in the summer of 2009, with the help of Eric Neiberger, a 27-year-old assistant attorney general.

The club that originally started in the 70s, was given a new life by former members of the collegiate Florida State rugby team. These men had graduated but werent ready to part ways with the sport theyd spent so much time playing. One of the others who helped bring the team to life in 2009, Aaron Eckerd, now plays profes-sionally in Holland for the Rugby League European Federation.

Starting the club back up was not easy. For starters, so many athletic teams exist in Tallahassee already, it was difficult to find a place to practice. For the first sea-son back in action, the team squatted at Tom Brown Park, playing when they could

and getting as much practice as possible. As a new club, Neiberger says, its hard to have a following. Its also hard to get a field because youth soccer is so large here. After a successful first season, one of the teams original members was able to secure a consistent practice field an empty lot at Fairview Middle School.

Although the field has no overhead light-ing, players are glad to have a home field. The teams diverse membership has a vari-ety of day jobs and the age range runs from 17 to 60. While the club is centered around the sport, not all members play the game. We like to hold ourselves out as more than just a bunch of guys playing rugby,

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says Neiberger. Were open to anyone who wants to join us, men and women. They can play, come to the matches or just join in after for drinks.

Twenty-four-year-old Brandon Clark works with autistic children and has played on the team for almost two years. He feels its good to have such an eclectic group of people playing together, adding more vari-ety to the mix. If I had to describe rugby to someone who was interested, Id call it controlled chaos. Its energetic, its aggres-sive, its competitive. While respectful of traditional football, he says it just doesnt offer the same level of excitement for him as rugby. The game never stops, not like downs and tackles in football. The ball never stops moving. Football was derived from rugby, but there are some key differ-ences between the sports.

Unlike football, where a tackle ends the play, rugby keeps the ball in play for two 40-minute periods. When the game starts, its with a scrum rather than a kickoff. Members of both teams bind together as one force and push against each other, try-ing to force the other team away from the ball so their runner can pick it up. Its ba-sically two masses colliding, and only one will end up with the ball, says Clark. Its very intense, feeling that opposing force physically against you. Once a team has possession, the game begins. The players may run toward their goal, but are only allowed to pass the ball to someone be-hind them. That means no interceptions, but it also means the ball is always in someones hand.

The game doesnt stop when someone gets tackled, explains Mike Rosana, who anchors the teams wing position. We have a ruck, which is basically when some-one is tackled, and the other team will form sort of a blockade over them with their bodies, trying to keep them down and retrieve the ball at the same time. When a goal is scored, the opportunity to score two more points by kicking through the goalpost is called a try. Different from football, rugby players arent equipped ph

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GETTING PHYSICAL Rugby players say the sport is energetic, aggressive and physical, but friendships are cultivated once the game is over.


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with pads and helmets. The game is raw energy, and there are a lot of emotions pumping throughout the game.

Rugby also includes penalty punish-ments more similar to hockey than to football. If a player is yellow carded for breaking a rule, they earn themselves time in the penalty box, or the sin bin. In this way, the viewers become more attached to their players. The rule-breaking directly affects the offender, rather than the whole team, which keeps the players aware of their integrity. No one wants to sit in the penalty box when they could be out on the field helping the team.

Being part of this club is more than just a pastime for its members. Its kind of a counterculture, in a way, says Clark, the teams No. 8 man. Its not a main-stream sport yet, but we hope it will be, one day. The team has ambitious goals, and members are dedicated to the sport and each other.

Playing club rugby is really something unique. Once youve been involved in it, immediately you have friends wherever you go, says Neiberger, and thats why the team is important. We try to offer ourselves as an alternative for people in Tallahassee who need recreational activi-ties. The tight-knit club is welcoming, and always eager to turn someone elses attention to the sport.

Rugby is a social game, more so than many others. One of the biggest draws to being involved in the sport is the net-working, says Rosana. If you play on any rugby team anywhere, and you meet some-one out of town, and you mention rugby, theyd invite you to play along. There arent enough rugby teams for a league in most cities in the U.S., so committing to a team means more than just a few hours once a week. Club members travel togeth-er, usually on weekends, to play matches against other rugby clubs but say they dont have any real rivals, only friends. The teams they play include Gainesville, Pensacola, Panama City and New Orleans. Most trips, the team will carpool to the neighboring city and spend the weekend there. Its a bonding experience thats just part of being a team player.

After the game has finished, its tradition for the home team to take the visiting club out for dinner and drinks at their home bar. The event is called a social, and its just as much a part of the experience as playing the game. Rosana explains that the bond goes beyond ones own team.


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Youd never imagine getting dinner and a drink with the team you just played against, but thats what makes rugby such a social sport. Its different than anything else. The Tallahassee teams home bars are St. Mikes and Pug Mahones, and the club throws a social for every team that travels to play here.

Its an atmosphere modeled after an old European aspirational set of values, says Neiberger. You play because you represent the city of Tallahassee and your neighbors and your friends. Its not about winning; its about excelling and push-ing yourself toward the best possible re-sult. And you can beat the crap out of the

guys on the other team, but after you fin-ish, youre going to go out for drinks and network, and youre going to make some great friends. Theres no other sport in the U.S. with this kind of atmosphere.

The team is welcoming, and if you ask any of them, theyd gladly invite you to try out. We want to turn peoples heads, because its an awesome sport, Clark says. Its a great bonding experience. I didnt know anybody before I came out, and now these guys are some of my best friends. I play with them; I travel with them. Rosana agrees: It really is like a brotherhood. Id be there for all of these guys, if a situation arose, and theyd be there for me too. n

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You can beat the crap out of the guys on the other team, but after you finish, youre going to go out for drinks and network, and youre going to make some great friends. Mike Rosana


Before there was a ring tone, there was a dial tone.

But the number of homes where the old landline delivers that dial

tone is shrinking.The 80s introduced U.S. markets to

the Motorola DynaTac mobile phone that weighed in at a hefty two pounds and had an even heftier price tag $3,995. Three decades later, anyone across the world can keep up with the Joneses with cell phones that are often given away for free with a service contract.

There are now more than 3 billion cell phone users globally. More than a billion landline users havent yet cut the cord but many are thinking about it.

Many Gen Xers and Millenials have segued into their adult lives without ever having a phone installed in their home. Its their parents who are now considering go-ing to a cellular-only lifestyle.

After weighing the pros and cons, one busy 58-year-old Tallahassee woman lets call her Susie and her 66-year-old husband took the plunge last year, and the couple has no regrets.

Before cutting off the home phone, we would forget to check our messag-es, and the only thing we got off it was robo-calls. We got nine out of 10 calls on our mobiles, she said. She prefers to remain anonymous because there was one thing she didnt consider when they dropped the landline, it also cut off their security alarm, which required a phone line to function. For now, theyre

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going alarm-less while saving about $150 a month for the phone and secu-rity services.

Susie and her husband are not alone. She recalls a recent conversation between six friends: Two of us had cut off and four were really thinking about it.

BlackBerrys, Androids and iPhones have introduced a new generation of multifunc-tional cellular technology that includes computer capabilities you cant find on a traditional phone.

Cell phones are now everything; you can access the Internet, says 24-year-old Florida A&M University student Mike Jones. Its information at your hand; its a computer in your pocket.

The UPS pre-loader from Chicago goes on to say, The disadvantage of a house phone is people know where you were af-ter talking to them.

Despite all the oohs! and ahhs! about a cell phone, some members of the older generation would rather stay loyal to their landlines.

My dad doesnt really like cell phones at all, says Regina Calhoun, a

tallahassee magazine - january/february 2012

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