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My First Time: Ed Augustyn
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…
My First Time: Doris Bloodsworth
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…
My First Time: Norm Stulz
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…
My First Time: Don Landy
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…
My First Time: Phil Stokes
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…
My First Time: Chris Weatherman
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…
My First Time: Anne Rowe
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…
My First Time: Shawn Flohre
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…
My First Time: Tanner Long
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…
My First Time: Raymond York
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…
