A $50 dare led to worldwide adventure as cruise ship dance host. Photo: Nicole Hamel It happened on a dare to be a volunteer dance host on cruise ships. A bunch of us were out on a five-day Western Caribbean…
Inspired by growing up in South Lake, author recalls foray into publishing. Photo: Nicole Hamel Since childhood I’d always wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t know anyone who was; it was sort of like wanting to be a…
Long-time jokester conquers COVID-19 with comedy. Photos: Nicole Hamel I am in my 40th year in professional comedy and have performed probably 5,000 times, telling stories as I have aged about my wife Sharon, our lives, and embellished it all. I…
A big, roly-poly ball of fur turned his world upside down. Photo: Anthony Rao In Tennessee, German Shepherds are not a very popular breed and it took us several months until we finally found a breeder that had two puppies…
Safe danger at 40 mph 100 feet off the ground. Photo: Nicole Hamel I wanted to do something that’s not necessarily jumping out of a plane, but still getting my feet off the ground to an extent. The safest route was…
Survival expert recalls experience appearing “Alone” on reality TV Photo: Nicole Hamel I started into survival skills in 1990 with primitive skills and medicinal, wildlife trapping and foraging, all that stuff, and just kinda kept moving up through that skill…
Sorrento breeder will never forget night she delivered 14 puppies. Photos: Nicole Hamel My first litter of golden retriever puppies was the largest litter I have ever had. The mom, Katie, whom I’d bred, was 2-3 years old. I knew…
Photo: Nicole Hamel Life and death decisions at 9,000 feet: The unforgettable firsts of a flight paramedic. Losing a child I flew to the scene where an ATV had flipped over on a child who was riding it. The child…
Eustis fireman fights his first fire. Photo: Nicole Hamel The fire happened on Mother’s Day. We were just pulling back into the station from breakfast and I overheard on the radio for one of the Lake County stations near us…
Fish & Wildlife Commission trapper recalls landing his first alligator. Photos: Nicole Hamel Going to trap my first nuisance alligator was exciting. I was confident going into it because I spent 10 years in the Marine Corps and served during…