BY Jill Cousins Physical fitness and competition have always intrigued Lake Mary resident Ryan Badran. So when he noticed a martial arts studio had opened up next to the gym where he lifted weights, Ryan couldn’t resist taking a peek inside. Ryan liked what he saw. He signed up that day, back in 2005, and [...]

By Michelle Schwartz If you’re not careful while running on the Cross Seminole Trail in Lake Mary most mornings, you might get recruited by a pair of running veterans – Frank French and Bill Braceland. The two have been known to find would-be runners out there struggling to get through two miles, transforming them to [...]

By Jill Cousins Sanford resident Janet Nelson was 19 years old when a friend brought her into a free-weight gym for the first time. In her own words, she was “overweight and soft,” and when she attempted to do a bench press, she couldn’t even lift the bar. But something about weightlifting appealed to Janet, [...]

By Cherylann Taramykin “I think you need to read this,” Stan Pickens said to his daughter-in-law, Deetra, handing her the latest issue of Lake Mary Life in November 2008. He pointed out an article about Emma Lester, a three-year-old girl who has juvenile arthritis. Deetra read the article, chilled by the similarities between Emma and [...]

Area seniors compete and connect at Sanford’s Golden Age Games. By Peter Reilly For all the athletes over age 50 who competed in the 37th annual Golden Age Games in Sanford, it wasn’t whether they won or lost, but that they played the games. The recent weeklong event was all about connecting with their youth, [...]

Using only private funds, LMHS hopes to make artificial turf a reality. By Chip Colandreo It’s an ambitious undertaking no matter how you slice it, but supporters contend those are usually the projects worth doing. Under the leadership of Booster Club President Angie Toole, Principal Michael Kotkin and Athletic Director Doug Peters, Lake Mary High [...]

Ten years ago, when Lake Mary Life was a mere twinkle in her eye, Sheila Kramer fully understood that before she even considered publishing a community-oriented magazine, there was one person she had to meet first -City Manager John Litton. “John represents the essence of Lake Mary,” says Sheila. “After talking with him for an [...]

Moving into her childhood home brought back a lot of memories for Melissa Squillante. “There is so much history in this house,” Melissa says. “My parents brought my brothers home here, I came here when I got married, and now my own children call it home. This house shaped who I am today.” Melissa’s mother, [...]

FIVE GENERATIONS PROSPER ON VIHLEN ROAD By Diana Purutcuoglu It happens all the time to presidents and celebrities. Their names are spelled out on street signs, the reflective lettering honoring their accomplishments. But for Sidney L. Vihlen III, a Sanford resident with roots neither political nor famous, seeing his own last name on a street [...]

Chloe Zulcosky, a senior at Seminole High School, was diagnosed with GBM (glioblastoma) earlier this year. This rare form of brain cancer shocked Chloe and her family. She quickly underwent surgery and treatment. Meanwhile, her parents’ friends at Heathrow Country Club (where the Zulcoskys are members) got busy planning a golf tournament − Prayers for [...]