Author Archives

Theresa Campbell

Originally from Anderson, Ind., Theresa worked for The Herald-Bulletin for many years. After experiencing a winter with 53 inches of snow, her late husband asked her to get a job in Florida, and they headed south. Well known in the area, Theresa worked with The Daily Sun and The Daily Commercial prior to joining Akers. “I finally have my dream job. I’ve wanted to work for a magazine since I was a teenager, and I’m very excited to be here,” Theresa says. “There is such positive energy at Akers that it’s infectious.” Theresa has three grown daughters—Julia lives in San Francisco, Emily is in Seattle, and Maria in Orlando.

Clermont author wins national award with first book ‘My Personal Desert Storm’

Marcus Johnson, 51, of Clermont never expected readers to be moved to tears by his first book, “My Personal Desert Storm” or that it would go on to win the prestigious Author Elite Award for 2020 for Best Memoir, a…

Hard-fought Struggle

Sisters of Suffrage (SOS) coalition celebrates 100 years of women winning the right to vote. Photos: Nicole Hamel Illustrations: Megan Mericle Villager Jill Moss Greenberg, the leader of Sisters of Suffrage (SOS) coalition, marvels that the deciding vote to…

Nailing it

Habitat Lake-Sumter Villagers Club members put construction skills to good use for people in need. Villager Sally Read felt a strong desire to do something productive and meaningful after her husband died two years ago. She found her calling with…

Meet a Villager: Carol Greenfield

“Tree” grows, branches out in The Villages. Photos: Nicole Hamel The Villages Musical Theater Company co-founder Carol Greenfield was directing “The Producers” when the show came to a halt—right before the curtain opened. “The first show went beautifully, the second…

Healthy Inspiration: Sister for Bailey

Abbotts open hearts & home to another girl with Turner syndrome. Photo: Nicole Hamel Ashley Abbott and her husband Chet talked about expanding their family through adoption, and once the Oxford mother saw a little orphan girl online with Turner…

In the Kitchen: Breaking bread

Chef Gary Appelsies: ‘Cooking for people makes my heart sing. I love how it encourages conversation among strangers, helps people become friends.’ Photos: Nicole Hamel There’s something heavenly about savoring a delicious meal to the last crumb, and for Gary…

Fork on the Road: Summertime on a bun

Let’s Do a Maine Lobster Roll brings tasty New England coastal food classics to Lake County. Photos: Nicole Hamel Sweet, delicate, chilled chunks of lobster—the delicious delicasy from Maine—lightly tossed with mayonnaise is the star of the Maine lobster roll,…

Final Thought: A special mentor

Remembering my late friend, who survived the Spanish flu and lived to 108. When COVID-19 broke out, I immediately recalled stories I heard from the late Leonard McCracken, a survivor of the 1918-20 Spanish flu pandemic who lived to age…

Healthy Inspiration: Positive attitude

Teen confronts polyarticular juvenile arthritis with an autoimmune disorder head on by living a healthy lifestyle. Photo: Nicole Hamel Olivia Howard, 16, of Grand Island, is upfront sharing what it feels like to have polyarticular juvenile arthritis with an autoimmune disorder,…