JoEllen Stranger-Thorsen, Lake County, FL

Have you ever had one of those days when dinner time rolls around and cooking is the last thing you feel like doing? Or maybe you want to meet a friend or client for a quick bite somewhere you can count on quality without breaking the bank. The answer to your dilemma is Tony's Pizza and Subs Italian Restaurant.

I live less than a mile from the Eustis location and yet I had continually passed it up until last year when I wanted to pick up a couple pizzas and some wings to take to a friend's house for a gathering. Never again will I pass this place up.

The menu includes pizza, calzones (the specialty), pasta dishes, salads, subs and a variety of side dishes. You can enjoy wine or beer with your meal and top off your meal with a decadent dessert like tiramisu, cannoli or cheesecake.

Tony's also offers Party Fare, trays of pasta and salads that can be ordered with 24 hour advance notice.

The Eustis location is always jammed pack during the weekday lunch hour and every Friday and Saturday evening. The restaurant is now open Sundays. Eat in or take out, your meal is always custom prepared for you.

Buon Appetito

Interested in buying or selling a home in northeast Lake County Florida, including Eustis, Mount Dora, Howey-in-the-Hills, Tavares and Sorrento contact JoEllen E. Stranger-Thorsen, REALTOR® for all your real estate needs. Visit my website.

I don't know about you but one of the things I don't like about moving to a new community is finding new service businesses. One of these businesses is the dry cleaner.

In Eustis and Mount Dora I have found a dry cleaner I can highly recommend. I have taken my dry cleaning to Pugh's Dry Cleaners for 8 years now starting with the archiving of my wedding gown. Pugh's has two locations; one in Eustis and one in Mount Dora. I used the Mount Dora location for several years until I discovered the Eustis location was a better fit into my regular travels.

Both locations have an excellent staff and I have always received good service. I recommend Pugh's for all your dry cleaning needs. Pugh's also offers alteration services, wedding gown preservation, and rug and comforter cleaning.

Interested in buying or selling a home in northeast Lake County Florida, including Eustis, Mount Dora, Howey-in-the-Hills, Tavares and Sorrento contact JoEllen E. Stranger-Thorsen, REALTOR® for all your real estate needs. Visit my website.

Offered by Coach Steven Storey the following schedule begins September 2008 and runs through May 2009. Call Coach Storey for further information: 352-483-6337.

Coach Steve Storey has been a certified USPTA PRO since 1983 and has an extensive background with both juniors and adults. Steve came with his wife and three daughters to Florida in 1992 and worked at a junior tennis academy in Orlando with top nationally and world ranked juniors, many who received college scholarships as well as his three daughters who were ranked as high as #1 in Florida Juniors. Steve was the Director of Tennis at a local country club from 1993-2003. Steve has also worked with the USTA Florida Division running local tournaments and coaching the Florida Tournament Training Camps.

Coach Storey offers tennis lessons in cooperation with the City of Eustis. The lessons are given at Bennett Park (at the corner of Grove Street and Old Mount Dora Road across from Faith Lutheran Church and School) and Sunset Park (off Ward Avenue next to the Senior Services Center in Eustis.)

Coach Storey offers one hour group lessons to juniors as follows:

Level I - Starters (ages 6-12) Tuesdays 4:00PM

Level II - Mid-School Starters Tuesdays 6:00PM

Level III - Intermediate Mid-School Tuesdays 5:00PM Thursday 5:00PM

Level IV - Tournament High School (1 1/2 hour) Monday & Friday 4:30PM Wednesday 3:30PM

Adult Group Lessons: ($18/per day)

Mixed Clinic 3.5 Level Monday 6:30-8:00PM

Ladies Clinic 3.0 Level Wednesday 9:30 - 11:00AM

Coach Storey also offers private and semi-private lessons as schedules allow.

Private Lessons: $50 per hour/ $25 per half hour

Semi-Private: $60 per hour/ $30 per half hour

Interested in buying or selling a home in northeast Lake County Florida, including Eustis, Mount Dora, Howey-in-the-Hills, Tavares and Sorrento contact JoEllen E. Stranger-Thorsen, REALTOR® for all your real estate needs. Visit my website.

Located at 12335 County Road 448 just on the shores of Lake Idamere sits a boundless playground and dog park. The 43-acre lakeside park was officially opened in December 2006.

I only discovered this park during the summer of 2007 when a friend set up a play date for our children. I have to say I was impressed the first time I went and we have been back often. Last year when we first went there was an issue that the only restroom facilities were port-a-potties. I am happy to report I discovered restroom facilities had been added when we visited recently.

The park equipment is on a rubber foundation and the equipment is constructed to allow children of all abilities to play. The playground sits under a canopy of trees so the slides are kept cool. There are also several misting stations where the kids can cool off.

In addition to playground equipment there are picnic pavilions, biking and walking trails, a pier, and a dog park.

The dog park is 50,000 square feet divided into three areas; one for large dogs, one for smaller dogs and one for an obstacle course. The ground is sand. The dog park is fenced with benches, water stations, disposable bags, night lighting, and trash cans. The restroom facilities are across the parking lot at the playground area.

The Children's Foundation of Lake County, a major contributor to the park, continues to collect donations to add additional features to the park.

Interested in buying or selling a home in northeast Lake County Florida, including Eustis, Mount Dora, Howey-in-the-Hills, Tavares and Sorrento contact JoEllen E. Stranger-Thorsen, REALTOR® for all your real estate needs. Visit my website.

Today I want to share someone who doesn't always get the recognition he deserves. Here is to Dr. Beau (Delaporte) our family veterinarian.

When I moved to Eustis about ten years ago I had three cats;

Abigail

Paisley

and Lost Kitty.

I had never found a vet I was completely comfortable with in Orlando so I was definitely in the market for a vet I could trust. (Abigail was 19, Paisley was 9 and Lost Kitty was of unknown age but she had been with me for 4 years.)

My first encounter with a Lake County vet was not good. I came home from work one day and Abigail was obviously ill. I took her to the only vet I could find open that night. That vet was not forthcoming and honest with a prognosis. I left his office that night with a very sick baby and no answers. I ended up waiting until the following morning to call my former vet in Lakeland to discuss the prognosis with him. As always he gave me sound advice and comforting words. Unfortunately Abigail died two days later.

I was determined to find a quality veterinarian immediately. I drove around and looked at offices and the people and animals coming and going. I decided to set up an appointment at Mount Dora Veterinary Clinic for the rest of the family.

I immediately knew I made the right choice when I met Dr. Beau. He had a great "bed-side manner." The last time Lost Kitty had been to the vet it had taken 45 minutes, 3 techs and those huge leather gloves to capture and give her shots. (I had been told by that vet I would need to sedate her prior to ever bringing her back.) With Dr. Beau she was an angel, not as much as a glare.

I like Dr. Beau so much that when my daughter was born and I didn't like the pediatrician I had initially selected I asked who he used for a pediatrician. My logic was Dr. Beau takes really good care of my four legged children and I am pretty sure he would demand just as much if not more for his own child. I was right, the pediatrician he recommended is top-notch but that is for another post.

Dr. Beau has seen my family through the unexpected death of Paisley, Lost Kitty's battle and death of tongue cancer and the new additions to our family of

Bart

Nicholas

Sidney

And last but not least, Rommel

Most recently he has helped our family adjust to Rommel losing his sight and the subsequent diagnosis of SARDs (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration.)

Here's to you Dr. Beau and the entire staff of Mount Dora Veterinary Clinic. Thank you for caring for our family.

Interested in buying or selling a home in northeast Lake County Florida, including Eustis, Mount Dora, Howey-in-the-Hills, Tavares and Sorrento contact JoEllen E. Stranger-Thorsen, REALTOR® for all your real estate needs. Visit my website.