Health_Sept16

FREE 

FALL 2016 

healthsourcemag.com 1

YOUR KNEES & HIPS 

DESERVE 

R. DAVID HEEKIN, MD 

Only Heekin Clinic can offer you a 

one-on-one relationship with Florida’s top 

orthopedic surgeon, Dr. R. David Heekin. 

Fellowship-trained and board-certified, 

Dr. Heekin specializes in total joint replacement of 

the hip and knee. 

Medical Director of St. Vincent’s Orthopedic Center 

of Excellence, Dr. Heekin consistently performs 

more total joint replacement surgeries than 

any other Florida surgeon. 

Dr. Heekin’s patients enjoy the very best orthopedic 

care available. Shouldn’t you? 

Ranked #1 in combined volume for knee and hip replacements 

at www.floridahealthfinder.gov 

2 First Coast Health Source Fall 2016 

call 904.328.5979 or visit HeekinClinic.com 

2 Shircliff Way, Suite 605 DePaul Building | Jacksonville, FL 32204

First Coast Health Source 

HEALTHY CALENDAR 

SEPTEMBER 10 

Delicious Destinations 

Southern inspired farm to fork fare 

is on the menu at this wonderful 

dining event to benefit St. Vincent’s 

Community Health Outreach Programs 

Where: Ponte Vedra Inn & Club 

When: 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. 

Info: jaxhealth.com 

SEPTEMBER 17 

First Coast Heart Walk 

There isn’t a person in town who has 

not been touched by family or friends 

suffering from heart disease. Get out 

and support the fight against America’s 

No. 1 health crisis. 

Where: Metropolitan Park 

When: 8:00 a.m. 

Info: firstcoastheartwalk.org 

SEPTEMBER 24 

Fashion For A Cause 

Bubbles, cocktails and brunch will all be 

served with a big dose of style at this 

fashion show fundraiser for First Coast 

YMCA. 

Where: Stonewood Grill & Tavern 

When: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Info: firstcoastymca.org 

OCTOBER 8 

JU River House Run/Walk 5k 

Celebrate Jacksonville University’s 

Homecoming and raise money for the 

Kinesiology Running Research program. 

This family-friendly event is sure to 

be a blast! 

Where: Jacksonville University 

When: 7:00 a.m. 

Info: ju.edu 

OCTOBER 22 

Esser Health Seminar 

Curious about how diet and exercise 

can reverse illness? This seminar with 

Dr. Stephen Esser and Certified Personal 

Trainer, Tiffany Esser will get you on 

the road to wellness 

Where: Fresh Jax, 

11526 Lake Mead Ave., Unit 103 

When: 11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

Info: freshjax.com 

OCTOBER 25 

Stroke Sense Education Series 

This support group is designed to help 

provide community for stroke survivors 

and their families, every Tuesday. 

Where: Mayo Clinic, Cannaday Building, 

Room 116 

When: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

Info: mayoclinic.org 

NOVEMBER 4 

Tobacco-Free Jacksonville 

Coalition Meeting 

Every first Friday, join in the fight to 

reduce tobacco addiction and learn what 

resources are available in our community 

Where: 6852 Belfort Oaks Pl. 

When: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 

Info: tobaccofreejacksonville.org 

NOVEMBER 12 

Bailey’s Health &Fitness Mandarin Run 

Burn those calories before holiday 

feasting begins at the 10k and 5k run 

sponsored by Bailey’s Health and Fitness. 

Where: Bailey’s Gym, 11740 San Jose Blvd. 

When: 8:00 a.m. 

Info: 1stplacesports.com 

NOVEMBER 19 

First Coast Walk for Children 

with Apraxia 

Apraxia is a rare disorder that causes 

children to struggle with speech 

development. This walk is to raise 

awareness and funding to about this 

disorder to support the children and 

families who live with it daily. 

Where: The Bolles School, 

7400 San Jose Blvd. 

When: 8:30 a.m. 

Info: casana.apraxia-kids.org 

NOVEMBER 22 

22 Too Many 

Twenty-two veterans commit suicide 

every day in America. On the 22nd of 

every month, organizations gather to 

discuss how to better support our local 

veterans and advocate for their mental 

health needs. 

Where: BREW Five Points, 

1024 Park St., Jacksonville 

When: 11:30 a.m. 

Info: 22toomany.com 

/ healthsourcemagazine 

/ healthsourcemag 



LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 

Editor 

Nan Kavanaugh 

Creative Director / Designer 

Christine Tarantino 

Sales Manager 

Sean Scullion 

Director of Business Development 

Stephanie Calugar 

Senior Marketing Consultant 

Anna Marie Burke 

Marketing Consultants 

Fallon Mayer 

Nikki Schonert 

Events Manager / Social Media 

Erin Colatrella 

Copy Editor 

Roxie Lute 

Contributors 

Caren Burmeister 

Bob Fernee 

Maggie FitzRoy 

Woody Huband 

Bruce Lipsky 

Bob Mack 

Allie Olsen 

Craig O’Neal 

John Vredenburg 

Roosevelt Watson III 

Production Coordinator 

Melanie Turner 

Stock photography provided by 

Thinkstock 

HealthSourceMag.com 

The health community of the First Coast 

is diverse, cutting-edge and growing by 

the minute. 

We have some of the best doctors in 

the world working and living here. We 

have an extraordinary network of organizations 

working to raise awareness 

and support funding for research for a rainbow of health initiatives. 

We have a bounty of resources that lend themselves to building a 

healthy lifestlye around fitness and outdoor activities. Holistic health 

is trending in every region of our area with new yoga studios and 

practitioners popping up. We have fantastic organizations providing 

us access to fresh, local food. In other words, we have it all. 

But how do you cram all that into one publication? The team here at 

Health Source has been asking itself that question over the past two 

years. The magazine has undergone a series of evolutions in the past 

24 months on a quest to figure out what it is that our readers want 

out of a health magazine. The process has led us to the decision to 

take a break and re-evaluate. This issue of Health Source will be the 

last of 2016, as we begin to dig deep into research and development 

to understand how to better bring you stories that will hopefully 

lead to a happier, healthier life. 

In 2017, we will hit the ground running with a new magazine that 

spans across a variety of media platforms to bring stories from our 

flourishing health community to you. That being said, what do you 

want out of a health magazine? We want to know. Email me with 

your ideas. 

Health Source Magazine is the longest running health magazine in 

Jacksonville. Our city has seen a lot of change over the past decade, 

and as a media organization it is our job to change with the times. We 

will see you in 2017 with a bold new venture for the Bold New City. 

Best, 

First Coast Health Source Magazine is published 12 times per 

year by Times-Union Media. Reprints are available – 1 Riverside 

Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32202. ©2016 First Coast Health Source 

Magazine. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication, 

including articles, may not be reproduced in any form without 

written permission from the publisher. Content of the contributing 

advertisers do not reflect the opinions of Times Union 

Media. Advertisers have proofed respective articles and content 

is assumed true and correct. First Coast Health Source is not 

responsible for the care given by its advertisers. First Coast Health 

Source is for informational purposes only and is not meant as 

medical advice. First Coast Health Source believes that choosing a 

medical professional is a serious decision and should not be based 

solely on an advertisement. 

Nan Kavanaugh 

Editor, First Coast Health Source 

Send story ideas to nan.kavanaugh@morris.com 

4 First Coast Health Source Fall 2016

DISSOLVING HEART STENTS 

Available Only at St. Vincent’s 

St. Vincent’s is one of only three hospitals in Florida to offer dissolvable stents. Our interventional 

cardiologists are the only physicians in the region to offer this cutting edge, life-saving treatment. 

Learn more at www.jaxhealth.com/heartleaders 



CONTENTS 

Fall 2016 

14 

12 

30 

20 

Features: 

12 

14 

20 

30 

The Family Minute 

Soccer for family fun and fitness 

Kayak Fly Fishing 

Get a little zen on the water 

Living with Congenital Heart Disease 

Living longer and better lives 

Farm to Family Food Truck 

Delivering fresh food to those most in need 

DAILY THRIVE 

10 Workplace Wellness 

11 Your Pet 

BODY WORKS 

18 Shape It Up 

19 Thrive Outside 

SOUND MIND 

24 Survive & Thrive 

26 Brain Games 

FRESH EATS 

28 Delish Dish 

34 Calorie Count 

OUTSIDE THE SECTIONS 

3 Healthy Happenings 

8 Ask the Expert 


The highest level 

of recognition 

Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital recently achieved 

Magnet designation as a reflection of its nursing 

professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient 

care. The Magnet Recognition Program is the gold 

standard in nursing excellence. Brooks is one of only 

four freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the 

country to achieve this designation! 


ASK THE EXPERT 


A Look at Prostate Health with Dr. Ali Kasraeian 

As told to Nan Kavanaugh I Illustration by Roosevelt Watson III 

The prostate is one of the organs that we are familiar with, but may not know much about how it serves the 

body. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month, and we asked Dr. Ali Kasraeian of Kasraeian Urology 

to share with us some information about the prostate and how to keep it healthy. 

shows that diets that are high in red meats and fats contribute 

to a rise in certain cancers, and prostate cancer is a 

part of that group. 

3. Is there an age where men need to begin to think 

more about their prostate health? Why? 

You should start screening in your 40s. Your first PSA test 

in your 40s is most predictive of your prostate cancer risk. 

Men don’t like to talk about this stuff. We are the worst. 

It is tough to do, but the problem with prostate cancer is 

that there are no symptoms. It is out of sight out of mind. 

One of the most important things to do is to get appropriate 

and timely screening for prostate cancer. 

4. Are there any early warning signs that your prostate 

may be unhealthy or cancerous? 

There is nothing. Ninety percent or more of prostate cancers 

have no symptoms. It is difficult because a patient 

feels great and is living their life, and then they are diagnosed 

with prostate cancer. It is different than if you had a 

heart attack or an intestinal blockage, and you feel terrible 

and treatment makes you feel better. You feel great, and 

then all of a sudden you have all of these things to do for 

treatment that are very daunting. 

1. What is the prostate and how does it serve the body? 

The prostate is an organ that lives at the bottom of the 

pelvis under the bladder, and the urine channel runs 

through it. Basically, it serves as an outflow track for 

semen, and it secrets fluid that nourishes and protects 

sperm on its quest to fertilize the egg. 

2. What can men do to keep their prostate in 

good health? 

Maintaining a healthy balanced diet of fruits, vegetables 

and grains, which seems like a generic recommendation, 

but it really serves our bodies well. Study after study 

5. If there was one thing you wish every man knew 

about his prostate, what would it be? 

Get screened. It can really save your life. Getting screened 

earlier in your 40s can give us a better idea of where you 

lie. If you have an abnormal screening, and a biopsy is 

suggested, see an urologist that has expertise in some of 

the more cutting-edge diagnostic techniques out there. 

If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, you have time 

to take in the information about your cancer and make an 

informed decision. Prostate cancer is not a rapidly progressing 

disease. The world of prostate cancer therapy is 

changing at a rapid pace. You may be a candidate for certain 

treatments and you want to find an expert who deals 

with prostate cancer, specifically. 

To hear more about prostate health from expert Dr. Ali Kasraeian, visit us 

online at healthsourcemag.com 


Ryleigh 

is why. 

Join or start a Heart Walk team to help those affected by heart disease, like 

Ryleigh and her family, experience more of life’s precious moments. 

NATIONALLY SPONSORED BY 

FIRST COAST LIFE IS WHY SPONSORS 

2016 First Coast Heart Walk 

Saturday, September 17 th 

METROPOLITAN PARK 

DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE 

FIRST COAST CAUSE SPONSORS 

Register today! www.FirstCoastHeartWalk.org or call 904-256-5732 

Come in and get our FREE 5 Step Fit Process, which includes a foot pressure 

test, GAIT Analysis, and running test! Or come to one of our FREE weekly 

group runs from our stores! Visit: www.1stplacesports.com for details! 

SIX 

STORE 

LOCATIONS 

Baymeadows: 3931 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville | (904) 731-3676 

San Marco: 2018 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville | (904) 399-8880 

Town Center: 4870 Big Island Dr., Jacksonville | (904) 620-9991 

Jax Beach: 424 South 3rd St, Jacksonville Beach | (904) 270-2221 

Orange Park: 2186 Park Avenue, Orange Park | (904) 264-3767 

St. Augustine: 1000 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St Augustine | (904) 679-4237 


Daily Thrive 

WORKPLACE WELLNESS 

Don’t Work Yourself to Death 

How to deal with workplace stress 

By Caren Burmeister 

Sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they turn their lives 

around. Jacksonville Cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Constantin sees this 

frequently when it comes to high blood pressure. 

DON’T LET THE 

PRESSURE BUILD 

Blood pressure is considered high 

if it’s greater than 140 over 90 on 

two separate occasions. Here are 

some ways to manage high blood 

pressure and the stress that 

can provoke it: 

• When stress is building at work, 

take a walk on your lunch break 

and schedule time to get away, 

even if it means a stay-at-home 

vacation. 

• Cognitive therapy, which 

challenges negative thought 

patterns about the self 

and the world, can help you see 

a stressful situation in a different 

light. 

• Find the type of exercise, 

walking, yoga or workout, 

that fits your personality so 

you’ll do it consistently. 

• Avoid smoking, drinking and 

over eating. Their comfort is 

short lived and only exaggerates 

stress. 

One patient, a morbidly obese alcoholic 

in his fifties who often skipped 

his medications, had been in and out 

of the hospital four or five times due 

to heart failure. 

“He was his own worst enemy,” 

says Constantin of the First Coast 

Cardiovascular Institute. 

He believes that a patient’s understanding 

and participation in their health is key 

to their success. But as a doctor, all he 

can do is point out the risks and benefits 

of their lifestyle choices. 

“I’m not scolding them,” he says. “I’m 

a teacher who provides resources. I 

wasn’t giving him advice for my sake, it 

was for him. You have to take responsibility 

for yourself.” 

One day, as the patient was going 

through a divorce, he just kind of woke 

up, Constantin says. He stopped drinking, 

changed his diet and lost 145 pounds. 

Eventually, he was able to stop taking 

four or five of his medications. 

“He has started walking and his heart 

function has normalized,” Constantin says. 

“He looks like a new person. He can’t 

believe how good he feels.” 

High blood pressure is a growing 

problem due to obesity, diabetes and 

unresolved stress. It affects roughly 76 

million Americans over the age of 20. 

Over time, and without treatment, high 

blood pressure can not only damage 

the heart, but also the kidneys and 

brain, Constantin says. 

Stress, which can aggravate high blood 

pressure, occurs when there is a perceived 

threat, whether it’s real or not. The 

time we spend at work can be the most 

stressful part of our days and that stress 

can act as a trigger. 

“It’s the fight or flight response that 

activates the sympathetic nervous system 

and releases chemicals that increases 

the heart rate and blood pressure,” 

Constantin says. 

It’s one of the conditions that patients 

can make a conscious choice to control. 

While the sympathetic nervous system 

revs you up, its counterpart — the parasympathetic 

nervous system — slows you 

down and lowers the heart rate. It kicks 

in when you are resting, meditating or 

doing yoga for example. 

While it’s not always practical to quit a 

stressful job, you can change the way you 

view it and deal with it, Constantin says. 

Here’s where exercise really shines. It 

trains your heart rate and blood pressure 

to more effectively restore to normal and 

deal with stress, he says. 

For more information visit firstcoastcardio.com or the American Heart Association at heart.org 


Daily Thrive 

YOUR PET 

Eastern Medicine for Man’s Best Friend 

A look at acupuncture for pets 

By Caren Burmeister I Photography by Craig O’Neal 

Pets plagued with allergies, arthritis and hot spots often don’t respond well to conventional veterinarian 

medicine. But holistic medicine, well, that just might be the cat’s meow. 

Some pet medical 

conditions that respond 

well to holistic care are: 

• Seizures 

• Fecal incontinence 

and feline cystitis 

• Cancer and post 

cancer treatment 

following 

chemotherapy or 

surgery 

• Allergies, autoimmune 

diseases and hot spots 

• Arthritis, hip dysplasia 

and degenerative 

diseases 

• Weight control 

and gastrointestinal 

ailments 

Acupuncture, laser therapy, chiropractic, massage and nutritional 

care can be very successful for chronic, degenerative diseases 

and overall wellness, say Jenna Castner Hauck, who practices 

holistic therapies at her Jacksonville Beach clinic, Veterinary 

Acupuncture and Wellness. 

While some conditions respond best to traditional Western 

medicine, others do better with acupuncture and nontraditional 

therapies. 

“The dogs and cats really respond to it,” she says. “They 

realize what we’re doing for them and it really makes them 

feel better.” 

Just ask Pooker. The 10-year-old dachshund could barely 

walk when she was brought to the wellness clinic in April. Two 

months earlier she had jumped off a sofa, causing a slipped 

disk. Soon after, she began to drag both feet on her right side 

and fall down. When Pooker’s condition didn’t improve, her 

veterinarian suggested a neurological 

evaluation and surgery. She was 

brought to the wellness clinic for 

less invasive treatment. For the next 

seven weeks, Castner Hauck treated 

Pooker with Chinese herbs and 

electroacupuncture, a procedure in 

which a small electric current is passed 

between pairs of acupuncture needles. 

With each visit Pooker’s condition 

improved, Castner Hauck says. After 

seven visits, Pooker walked out the 

clinic on her own. Castner Hauck 

recently checked to see how she was 

doing. 

“She’s truly 100 percent normal,” 

Castner Hauck says. “She did awesome.” 

A veterinarian, Castner Hauck 

became a certified animal acupuncturist 

a decade ago after noticing that 

pets with allergies and chronic degenerative 

issues weren’t improving with 

steroids and antibiotics. 

“I was feeling that I wanted other options,” she says. 

“Conventional medicine wasn’t really helping them heal. I felt 

like I was putting Band-Aids on things, and now I really feel like 

I’m helping animals heal.” 

Acupuncture recognizes an imbalance before it becomes a 

disease, Castner Hauck says. An ancient form of Chinese medicine, 

it works on the premise that chi, the vital force that flows 

through the body, travels along energy channels called meridians. 

Acupuncture opens these meridians and stimulates the blood 

supply. Performing acupuncture on animals is nothing new. 

Hundreds of years ago it was practiced on horses in China to 

keep them healthy and ready for battle, she says. 

Dr. Jenna treating Dexter, a 10-year-old Airedale Terrier for general 

wellness and he was also treated for being a little lethargic. 

For more information, visit Veterinary Acupuncture and Wellness at 

vetacuwellness.com 



Daily Thrive 

FAMILY MINUTE 

SOCCER 

For family fun and fitness 

By Bob Fernee I Photography by Bob Mack 

The world’s most popular sport has exploded in popularity in the 

United States throughout the past few decades. There was a time 

when soccer was rarely seen on television. Now, it’s shown all the 

time. Locally, Jacksonville Armada FC, a professional team in the 

North American Soccer League (NASL), and many recreational clubs 

serve kids and adults all over the First Coast. 

According to 2014 U.S. Youth Soccer 

statistics the number of registered players 

has gone from more than 100,000 

in 1974 to more than 3 million, with 52 

percent boys and 48 percent girls playing 

respectively. Florida has the sixth 

highest number of players nationwide 

with more than 113,000. 

Why is soccer catching on? Surely 

it’s more than David Beckham and 

neon-colored cleats. 

Parents are looking for a sport that 

not only encourages commitment, teamwork 

and good sportsmanship, but also 

promotes a high level of physical fitness. 

The cross-cultural sport also requires little 

equipment. 

Amy Haney is a working mother of 

three and coach of a kids’ recreational 

team at the Westside Soccer Club. Haney 

started playing at an early age herself 

and went on to play intermural soccer at 

the University of Florida. When Westside 

Soccer Club was looking for coaches, 

she figured with her experience it was 

a natural fit to coach her 6-year old 

daughter’s team. 

For her, it is a privilege to coach. “The 

parents are entrusting their children to me. 

I want them to fall in love with the game, 

learn the fundamentals and to grow as 

players,” she says. 

Soccer is a sport that requires skill, 

intelligence and fitness. As a cardiovascular 

exercise, it is one of the most 

vigorous. It’s rated sixth behind hockey, 

rowing, racquetball, cycling and running. 

A 90-minute game of soccer is considered 

equivalent to a four-mile run. 

Haney believes that soccer is the 

perfect kids’ sport. “It is so active; they 

are always running around with a ball 

at their feet. It is a wonderful way for 

them to exercise.” 

Working in groups is a fundamental 

part of the sport. “It is also a great team 

game. Individually each child plays a 

part, but they learn that teamwork is 

required to be successful collectively,” 

she says. 

The Haney family, that also includes 

9-year-old Joel and 5-year-old Micah, 

often play and run together. Husband, 

Stephen, has grown to enjoy the game his 

wife and children love. The entire family 

can be found on the fields of Ringhaver 

Park during practice and game days, 

which can be tiring with two working 

parents; but a family that plays together, 

stays together. 

Above top to bottom: Amy Haney 

works one-on-one with son Joel, 9, 

as they practice ball handling skills; 

Krista Haney practices dribbling 

the ball around cones. 

Right: Amy Haney is a former 

collegiate soccer player who 

coaches for the Westside Soccer 

Club. Amy, her husband Stephen, 

and kids (from left) Joel, 9, Krista, 

6, and Micah, 5, posed for a 

portrait in Ringhaver Park and then 

went through a few skill drills. 

FITNESS FACT 

According to Diet & Fitness 

Today, competitive soccer burns 

431 calories in 30 minutes. While 

casual play burns 302 calories 

and coaching soccer burns 172 

calories. No matter how you 

play the sport, soccer is going to 

be a great workout. 



Body Works 

By Maggie FitzRoy I Photography by Woody Huband 

A bright peach sun rises above the horizon as we launch our kayaks 

from Cedar Point Preserve. The brightening sky is robin’s egg blue, 

dotted with gray and white clouds, and not a sound can be heard except 

the soft swish, swish of our paddles. Then a fish jumps out of the water 

ahead of me, breaking the stillness. And another. 

It’s a good sign. We’ve come 

to this gorgeous spot in the 

Timucuan Ecological and 

Historic Preserve to fish. But not 

to do just any type of fishing. 

We’ve come to kayak fly fish, a 

sporting activity that is growing in popularity 

with people of all ages. 

It’s a sport that requires skill and 

patience, and when mastered is “a very, 

very rewarding way of catching fish,” our 

guide, Captain Rich Santos, tells me, a complete 

novice. 

“You can pretty much pat yourself on 

the back when you do catch a fish,” he 

says. “Because you’ve earned it. It takes 

practice.” 

The First Coast is an ideal environment for 

kayak fly fishing due to all our many waterways, 

Blackfly Outfitter fly fishing expert 

Andrew Mizell told me after I returned from 

my excursion. “We have the largest population 

of kayak fly fishing enthusiasts anywhere 

in the world.” 

“It does take practice, it does take finesse 

and there is some skill involved,” Mizell says. 

But is also an enjoyable minimalist sport, 

because “it’s just you and the fish and the 

kayak. It’s more than just catching a fish. It’s 

getting out there and exploring what the back 

country and marsh have to offer.” 

I was game, open to learning what I could 

out on the water with Santos, photographer 

and expert angler Woody Huband, co-worker 

Roxie Lute and Santos’ fishing buddy 

Kevin Eastman. Santos, who teaches many 

newbies the sport, was a clear and patient 

teacher and provided everything we needed 

— Wilderness System open top kayaks, rods, 

lines, anchors and flies. 

The first thing I learned was that the poles 

don’t have reels. Instead, one of your hands 

acts as the reel, making the line, and the fly 

attached to it, move, which is called “stripping.” 


Writer Maggie FitzRoy practices “stripping” the line in order to move the fly across the water as guide and instructor Captain Rich Santos watches. 

CAPTAIN RICH SANTOS 

A U.S. Coast Guard captain, Santos is an 

expert in all types of fly fishing, including 

kayak. 

For information about guided trips visit 

flyfishjax.com 

Captain Rich Santos stands up in his kayak to 

sight fish in shallow water lined with oyster 

beds, and birds, including a Roseatte Spoonbill 

in the background. 

The flies come in various shapes, 

sizes and colors, and to an untrained 

novice like me, look kind of like 

fuzzy lures. But in the water, to the 

fish, they look like something the fish 

would like to eat, such as a bait fish, 

shrimp or crab. It takes skill as well to 

know what type of fly to use to catch 

a particular type of fish in a particular 

type of water. 

“With the fly, you are trying to make 

it come alive, by stripping it with your 

line hand. It’s making the fly swim and 

move,” Santos told me as he demonstrated, 

and then let me try. 

Since I am right handed, I cast the 

rod with my right hand and stripped the 

line with my left. It took coordination 

and patience, and like anything new, 

was awkward at first. 

“It’s a very technical way of fishing,” 

and casting a fly is more difficult from 

a kayak than from land, he explained 

as I tried again and again. But there 

are advantages of being in a kayak, 

and you have a much higher chance 

of catching a fish in one, he said. “It’s 

a much quieter and stealthier way to 

sneak up on a fish in shallow water. 

Fish are very skittish and spooky in 

shallow water.” 

We were fishing for spotted sea trout 

in the salt water tidal marsh around 

Cedar Point, as well as for Red Fish and 

Southern Flounder. 

A breeze blew across the water as 

Santos demonstrated how to “false cast,” 

which is flicking the line out a few 

times first without letting the fly land in 

the water, like a warm up. False casting 

loads, or bends, the rod, storing energy 

in it, he said. 

“Now, let the fly drop, rod tip 

down,” he said. “Then you start stripping 

to move the fly.” 

We’d paddled near oyster beds, 

and positioned ourselves near them, 

because oyster beds “are like restaurants” 

to fish, Santos said. Bait fish 

live between the oysters, using them 

for cover, as do crabs. 

After we’d fished an area for a while, 

we pulled up our anchors, which kept 

us in place against the eddies and cur- 


ents, and paddled on to a new spot. 

Around us red winged black birds flitted 

and landed on marsh bushes, calling to 

each other with their signature “pee jee, 

pee jee” sound. In the distance I could 

see the Dames Point Bridge against the 

by-then totally blue sky. 

“This is an adventure,” Santos said. “It’s 

about the beauty, and being in the marsh. 

It’s an incredible place to see birds.” 

Since we were on an outgoing tide, 

Santos explained that everything in the 

“shrinking” water was becoming more 

concentrated, including the fish. 

Off in the distance, his buddy Eastman 

shouted that he’d caught a flounder. 

About five minutes later, Santos also 

caught a foot long flounder. 

Then we moved on, passing several 

egrets standing in the mud, hunting fish 

along a shore lined with grand cedar, 

oak and palm trees. 

Santos explained that a lot of kayak 

fly fishing involves “sight fishing,” looking 

for a fish, like the egrets do, and 

then dropping a fly right in front of it. 

It’s like hunting. “You get to know the 

water and allow the fish to show themselves,” 

he said. “Fly and kayak is a 

deadly combination.” 

THERMIva ® treatments 

use radiofrequency energy 

to gently heat tissue to 

rejuvenate collagen, without 

discomfort or downtime. 

A recent study documented 

multiple benefits for patients 

who complained about 

vaginal laxity and other issues 

associated with vulvo-vaginal 

youthfulness and well-being.* 

* Alinsod, Red “Temperature Controlled 

Radiofrequency for Vulvovaginal Laxity.” 

PRIME, International Journal of Aestheic 

and Anti-Ageing Medicine (July 2015) 

16-21, Print 

After several relaxing and invigorating 

hours kayak fly fishing in the beautiful 

environs of Cedar Point, I still had not 

caught any fish. Twice, I snagged an oyster 

and thought it was a fish. 

“An oyster fish,” Santos said, laughing. 

But it didn’t matter. By then I was 

feeling more confident with my casting, 

and realized that with practice, I could 

do this. 

“A lot of ladies are catching onto 

kayak fly fishing, Mizell told me. 

“Because of the finesse and elegance of 

casting a fly rod.” 

“It’s zen,” he says. “For me, it’s my 

way of getting away from everything. If I 

do happen to catch a fish, it just makes it 

that more rewarding.” 


Body Works 

SHAPE IT UP 

Build a BETTER You 

A look at Roc Fitness Training 

By Bob Fernee I Photography by Bob Mack 

Ever since its invention, Americans have loved the automobile. Unfortunately, that love has undone 

us. We began driving more and walking less resulting in a number of health ailments brought on by a 

decline in fitness. 

Personal trainer, Maynard Taylor, has a favorite exercise that he 

pushes to all his clients. The one we left behind: walking. 

He also likes the outdoors. “I have a gym, but I don’t use it that 

much, I prefer to use all this,” he says gesturing toward an open 

grassy field, “I like to do cardio and body weight exercises. The 

only equipment a person needs is their legs.” 

Walking helps maintain a healthy weight and prevents heart 

disease, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. It also 

strengthens bones and muscles in addition to improving balance 

and coordination, and can even lift your mood. 

The 36-year-old Philadelphia native discovered the benefits of 

exercise while in the Navy. Stuck aboard a ship, with little else 

to think about except a painful divorce, he found relief by lifting 

weights and exercising. He continued with his newfound love 

once his naval stint was over and it wasn’t long before others 

were asking his advice. Next thing he knew, him and his pal, 

Roscoe “Roc” Casey, began Roc Fitness Training. 

“Get moving, get active,” Taylor says, “that is our training 

philosophy.” 

“We have a slogan, ‘Let’s Go BABY,’ and B-A-B-Y means, Build 

A Better You,” he says with enthusiasm. 

Taylor is a man on a mission; he wants people to be fit and 

active. At the moment, he isn’t making it a full-time career, but it is 

an all-consuming passion. 

“I just want to help people change their lives and achieve their 

goals,” Taylor says. 

He has learned that clients are all different. “When someone 

comes to me I ask them: ‘What are you trying to change?’ Then, 

I find out what motivates them,” he says. “I had one girl who 

needed to pass a fireman’s physical exam. One day she said she 

didn’t feel like training, and I said, ‘there is somebody else who 

wants that spot and they are working out right now and they are 

going to take it away from you.’ That got her going.” 

Taylor admits that many people have trouble staying motivated. 

He helps them look for higher goals and urges them forward. 

Some just need a training partner, and he is happy to be that 

person. He is constantly giving advice and is as much a mentor as 

he is a motivator. 


Body Works 

THRIVE OUTSIDE 

Little Talbot & Big Talbot Island 

Adventure away from civilization 

Written and Photographed by Maggie FitzRoy 

The dunes framing the beach at Little Talbot Island State Park are as 

natural and undisturbed as they were in the days of the Timucuan Indians. 

Big Talbot Island has a rustic picnic area near the entrance and several walking trails that 

meander through the nature preserve and Boneyard Beach. 

Big Talbot is a unique sea island and 

a magnet for photographers who are 

attracted to its wild, other-worldly beach 

landscape. Due to steep bluffs between 

the forest and shoreline, visitors need to 

hike Blackrock Trail to get down onto the 

beach. A sign at the beginning of the trail 

says that it is a quarter-mile long, but I 

was up for it. Walking along the wooded 

winding pathway, I see no other people, 

and have the beach to myself. 

Strolling Big Talbot beach isn’t an option, 

because of all the skeletal trees. They form 

a natural obstacle course which you need 

to climb over, under, or find a way around 

— depending on the tide. 

Other trails on the island lead to other 

habitats. Big Pine Trail leads to marsh, and 

Old Kings Highway and Jones Cut lead 

through maritime forest. 

I’ve been to the Talbot islands before, in 

the summer, when there are more people, 

but they are great places to get away any 

time of the year — whenever you want to 

escape the clutches of civilization. 

As I walk along a boardwalk toward the 

beach, I am alone amid a vast expanse of 

shrubs, wild flowers and sea oats. Stepping 

out onto the beach, I see only sand, ocean 

and sky. The hazy far-off silhouettes of US 

Navy ships to the south at Naval Station 

Mayport are the only signs of civilization. 

After a relaxing stroll, I hike back to my 

car and drive a few miles north to Big Talbot 

Island State Park. The adjacent islands 

are a beautiful study of contrasts. 

On Big Talbot, soaring majestic live 

oak trees grow all the way to the shoreline. 

And the beach is littered with the 

salt-washed silver-white skeletal remains 

of oak and palm trees. The beach is famously 

known as Boneyard Beach. 

Big Talbot and Little Talbot are part of 

a collection of seven state parks known as 

The Talbot Island State Parks, which also 

includes Amelia Island, Fort George Island, 

Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve, Yellow Fort 

Bluff and George Crady Bridge Fishing 

Pier. They’re First Coast treasures, and great 

places to spend a day beachcombing, viewing 

and photographing wildlife, fishing, 

kayaking, surfing and picnicking. 

Little Talbot has five miles of white 

sandy beaches, and is one of the few 

remaining undeveloped barrier islands in 

Northeast Florida. Its western side is filled 

with maritime forest and salt marshes, 

home to river otters, marsh rabbits, bobcats 

and many migratory birds. This particular 

day, I meet a few photographers 

looking for a snowy owl that temporarily 

made the beach-side dunes its home. 

A full facility campground is also located 

on the island, where kayak rentals 

and guided paddle tours are available. 

Little Talbot Island has five miles of undeveloped 

beach, a full facility campground and a two and 

half mile paved bicycle path. 



Sound Mind 

LIVING WITH 

CONGENITAL 

HEART 

DISEASE 

Living longer and better lives 

By Maggie FitzRoy I Photography courtesy of the American Heart Association 

Lee Ann Walker was 22 weeks pregnant with her daughter Ryleigh when she learned 

during an ultrasound that her baby had a serious heart defect. The diagnosis was truncus 

arteriosis, a rare type of heart disease in which the aorta does not develop. 

Left: Ryleigh Walker 

is this year’s Heart 

Walk Ambassador at 

the First Coast Heart 

Walk on Sept. 17. 

She was advised 

to terminate the 

pregnancy, but she 

and her husband, 

Craig, refused. 

Instead, she 

researched the 

condition and went 

to see pediatric cardiologists at Wolfsons 

Children’s Hospital, who knew how to 

fix it. 

Ryleigh was born full term, at 6 

pounds, 7 ounces, with a team of 

specialists there to greet her. At a 

week old, she underwent an 11 hour 

operation during which surgeons gave 

her an aorta created from donated 

human tissue. Since her pulmonary 

arteries were also very small, at three 

months a balloon was inserted into 

them to expand them, but with minimal 

success. She also has defective heart 

valves which will need to be repaired 

when she gets older. 

The Walkers were warned that 

children living with conditions like 

Ryleigh’s usually have low energy, “but 

that’s never been the case with her,” Lee 

Ann says. 

Now 4, she is a bundle of energy, and 

always has been. 

“She’s always been a happy girl and 

she’s a really smart girl,” her 9-year old 

brother, Cael, says one recent day as his 


GIVE A LITTLE LOVE 

TO ALL HEARTS 

JOIN THE 2016 FIRST COAST 

HEART WALK 

Robert Hill, President and Chief Executive Officer 

at Acosta, and this year’s volunteer First Coast 

Heart Walk Chairman, says Ryleigh Walker’s 

story is one that resonates with all of us. 

“Ryleigh’s story shows that the work of the 

American Heart Association is so critical in 

our community, and why the education and 

resources the association provides to our local 

community is important. Heart health affects 

everyone from children of very young ages such 

as Ryleigh, to our aging parents. Ryleigh’s story 

helps to remind us with the proper awareness, 

education and resources that good outcomes 

can happen.” 

Visit firstcoastheartwalk.org to register for the 

2016 Heart Walk on September 17. 

Ryleigh and her parents Craig and Lee Ann with her brother Cael. 

sister zooms around the family’s living 

room, jumping on and off the furniture. 

“She’s fun to play with and she’s really 

hyper — in many ways,” he says. “She 

has ten times as much energy as me.” 

“She likes to pretend she can fly,” Lee 

Ann says. She is also in an advanced 

class in her preschool. And she is at a 

normal weight and height because she 

has always had a healthy appetite. At 

this point she is being monitored until 

she is old enough for another open heart 

surgery to repair her ongoing issues. 

Ryleigh is also this year’s Ambassador 

for the American Heart Association’s 

Heart Walk on September 17 at 

Jacksonville’s Metropolitan Park. Last 

year, she and her family participated 

in the event that raises awareness and 

funds for heart disease research. This 

year, she is literally its poster child, and 

proudly so. 

As a child living with heart disease 

and thriving despite it, “she’s the face of 

the campaign this year,” Lee Ann says. 

She’ll lead the walk, wearing a cape just 

like all the other children in the “zipper 

club,” those who have had open heart 

surgery and have the scars to prove it. 

“I’ve always been an advocate for 

social change, so when Ryleigh was 

born, I got involved with support 

groups,” Lee Ann says. She’s still an 

advocate, for congenital heart disease, 

which is a major way she copes with her 

daughter’s condition. 

According to the AHA website, about 

40,000 children are born with a heart 

Ryleigh Walker is now 4 years old and a 

bundle of energy. 

Seventy years ago, only 15 percent of babies 

with congenital heart defects made it to 

adulthood. Now, more than 90 percent do. 


defect each year. There are many types, 

and the impacts of the defects vary 

widely. 

In many cases, the condition goes 

undiagnosed until the child is older 

and in some cases not until adulthood, 

says Dr. Naser Ammash, a professor 

of medicine in the cardiovascular 

department at Mayo Clinic. 

Symptoms depend on the type and 

severity of the condition and some 

people just assume feeling fatigued is 

normal, he says. 

All of Dr. Ammash’s patients are 16 

and older, and as part of their treatment 

he encourages them to live as normal 

as possible. “They tend to have a higher 

risk of depression and a higher risk of 

anxiety,” he says. “They have many 

concerns about their futures.” He refers 

them for psychological counseling if 

necessary and also encourages them to 

exercise to the extent they can. 

Seventy years ago, only 15 percent 

of babies with congenital heart defects 

made it to adulthood, he says. Now, 

more than 90 percent do. “The feeling 

of normalcy is very important,” he says. 

“With adequate care, many can have 

children and careers.” 

Mayo patient Joe Meyer, 19, 

didn’t learn he had hypertrophic 

cardiomyopathy, thickening of the heart 

muscle, until he was 14, when it was 

discovered during a sports physical. He 

was lucky. A common cause of sudden 

death in young athletes, it is usually 

diagnosed during autopsies. 

He was upset about it initially, but 

after open heart surgery he was able 

to begin exercising, which helped 

physically and emotionally. He also 

copes by sharing his story. He has been 

Heart Walk Ambassador and a speaker 

at the Heart Ball. 

“By drawing attention to all the forms 

of heart disease,” he says, “I feel like I 

am making a difference.” 

Ryleigh’s brother, Cael, also aims to 

make a difference. He has been his 

sister’s biggest supporter since the day 

she was born. 

“I was happy that I had a really cool 

heart sister. She inspired me to become 

a doctor that fixes hearts,” he says. “I 

just want her to be fixed. I just want her 

to be fine.” 

805 Wells Road, Orange Park, FL 32073 

In-Demand Career Programs: 

• Medical Assistant 

• Medical Administrative Assistant 

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding 

• Pharmacy Technician 

For more information about graduation rates, the 

median debt of students who completed the program 

and other important information, please visit our 

website at www.everest.edu/disclosures. 

See what sets us apart: 

• Scholarships and grants available for 

those who qualify 

• Short-term programs with flexible 

schedules 

• Nonprofit status, meaning we can do 

more for our students 

Call or visit us today. 

(904) 264-9122 


Sound Mind 

SURVIVE AND THRIVE 

Beating Heart Disease 

Made Her Stronger 

Now Annie Ward wants to offer hope to others 

By Maggie FitzRoy I Photography courtesy of the American Heart Association 

For most of her life, Annie Ward’s motto has been: “I decide the odds.” 

And time and time again, she has beaten them. When she was seven, 

she was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an enlarged 

heart muscle. After suddenly collapsing while walking the family dog, 

her shocked parents were told she had almost no chance of survival. 

But she lived. 

She was air lifted to Wolfson Children’s Hospital where she 

laid in a comatose state for days. Doctors warned her parents 

that she’d likely be mentally incapacitated if and when she woke 

up. But she emerged from the coma mentally fine. Implanted 

with a defibrillator, she was given a cocktail of medications, and 

warned to never do anything physically exerting. For the young 

girl, simple tasks like walking up the stairs were exhausting. 

Constantly lethargic, she attended school with her new reality, 

and did well. 

At age 17, cardiac tests indicated that her heart was so weak 

that a transplant was her only hope. Placed on a waiting list, she 

graduated from high school. She was off to college, but with a 

beeper to alert her when a suitable donor had been found. One 

day during freshman year, she passed out as she walked to class. 

Her situation became dire. 

“I told my professors that I might be late to class because I 

had to walk slow,” Ward, now 23, recalls. “But I was very upset 

because my heart condition had robbed me of so much. I felt 

alone, worthless and constantly tired.” 

She didn’t know if a heart would be found for her in time. A 

donor between the ages of 13 and 30 was needed due to her 

age. She felt depressed and defeated. Then she realized she had a 

decision to make: “I could either let this heart condition take over 

my life,” she says. “Or I could be joyful in spite of it.” She chose 

joy and focused on what she could do in life, not on what she 

couldn’t accomplish. 

Sharing her story during a special event at her college, 

Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., she was afterwards 

showered with 

prayers and 

support. Three 

days later, she 

received a heart 

from a 14-year-old 

female accident 

victim at UF 

Health Shands 

Hospital in 

Gainesville. 

But her 

challenges were 

Annie Ward at the 2016 Go Red for Women 

Luncheon. 

far from over. After all she’d already been through; she says life 

was suddenly “a different kind of difficult.” 

She had to learn how to walk again. She had to fight to get 

stronger, one step at a time. She came to accept and embrace the 

scars on her chest and abdomen as evidence of her strength. 

Then she graduated from college, and next year plans to get 

an advanced degree in social work. She dreams of working 

with cardiac patients, so she can share her story and bring 

them hope. 

“At the end of the day, it all comes down to your 

perspective,” she says. “You can’t let the disease defeat 

you; you’ve got to defeat it. That’s what I ended up doing. I 

defeated it and I won.” 


“At the end of the 

day, it all comes 

down to your 

perspective. You 

can’t let the disease 

defeat you; you’ve 

got to defeat it. 

That’s what I ended 

up doing. I defeated 

it and I won.” 

— Annie Ward 


Sound Mind 

BRAIN GAMES 

Brain Games I Sudoku 

There is nothing better for the brain than a little exercise. Keep your brain in shape with 

our monthly brain games. 

Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. 

© 2016 Satori Publishing 

(answers on page 34) 


Trust your legs to the vascular experts! 

Coastal Vein Aesthetic Institute was founded 

by MBB Radiology to help promote vascular 

health in the Jacksonville community. 

Our doctors have spent their careers treating 

patients with extensive vascular disease who missed 

the early warning signs. By extending our outreach 

into the community, we hope to help bridge the gap 

between hospitals and your family doctor to help 

promote comprehensive vascular wellness. 

Douglas Gesner, M.D. | Andrew McBride, M.D., RPVI 

Natalie Bernhart, MSPAS, PA-C 

Visit coastalvein.com for 

more info or to schedule a 

Vascular Health Screening. 

904.660.2330 | 7741 Point Meadows Dr. Unit 104, Jacksonville, FL 32256 

Our body is our temple. 

The NEW First Coast Health Source features stories that dive into how we can 

best support our physical health. Providing expert advice on exercise, outdoor 

active lifestyle and celebrating new advancements in medicine, this department 

showcases stories that speak to how best to keep in shape. 

healthsourcemag.com 

For advertising information or where to get a copy of 

the NEW Health Source Magazine call 904.359.4179 


Miso Marinated Tofu 

& Soba Noodle Salad 

from HOBNOB 

By Jon Vredenburg, MBA, RD, CDE, CSSD, LD/N I Photography by Bruce Lipsky 

Since openings its doors earlier this year, HOBNOB has quickly become a prime urban core dining destination, located at Unity 

Plaza within the Brooklyn neighborhood of Jacksonville. The wide-ranging menu reflects Chef Roger Regulacion’s desire to bring 

together a world of flavorful cuisines under one roof. “We just try to take these classic dishes people love from different cuisines, 

like the pancit [noodles] from the Philippines or the shakshuka [eggs poached in tomato sauce] from North Africa, and elevate it to 

fit our style of dining here,” Chef Regulacion says. 


Fresh Eats 

DELISH DISH 

This month’s featured recipe, a Miso Marinated Tofu & Soba Noodle Salad, was originally developed to appeal to the vegetarian diner but 

has quickly become a customer favorite at HOBNOB. “There was always this forgotten crowd of people, who were vegetarians, and there 

was never anything on the menu that was intentionally made for them,” Regulacion says. The marinated tofu provides a good source of 

protein, while the soba noodles provide a tasty alternative to white flour pasta, with about half of the calories. 

INGREDIENTS: 

Miso Marinade: 

1 lb. white miso paste 

1 lb. granulated sugar 

2 cups mirin (rice wine) 

2 cups sake (rice wine) 

Spicy Soy Vinaigrette: 

1 cup teriyaki sauce 

1 roasted and seeded jalapeno 

1 tsp. sambal oelek (chile sauce) 

1 tsp. Rayu (chili oil) 

Quick Pickling Liquid: 

1 cup distilled vinegar 

1/2 cup sugar cane vinegar 

1 cup granulated sugar 

6 black peppercorns 

2 bay leaves 

Buckwheat Soba Noodles: 

1 lb. Korean or Japanese buckwheat 

soba noodles 

1 tbsp. sesame oil 

1 tbsp. canola oil 

Salad: 

12-16 oz. firm tofu 

1 lb. cooked soba noodles 

2 cups Napa cabbage 

1/2 cup grape tomatoes 

1/2 cup julienned jalapeños 

1/2 cup fresh cilantro (or less, to taste) 

1/2 cup julienned carrots (marinated in 

quick pickling liquid for 1 hour) 

1/2 cup julienned red onions (marinated in 


1/2 cup radish, thinly sliced (marinated in 


DIRECTIONS: 

1. Place all miso marinade ingredients in a heavy gauge sauce pot over medium heat and whisk thoroughly. 

2. Slowly simmer until mixture reaches the color of caramel. Remove from heat, transfer liquid to a bowl, and let 

cool completely in the refrigerator. Once the marinade has completely cooled, divide equally into two bowls. 

Add tofu to one bowl and marinate for two hours. Reserve the other bowl for salad assembly. 

3. While tofu is marinating, prepare the quick pickling liquid. Place all pickling liquid ingredients in a heavy gauge 

saucepot and bring to a boil, or just until all the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool completely in 

a bowl. Add carrots, red onions, and radishes, and marinate for one hour in a refrigerator. 

4. Next, make the spicy soy vinaigrette. Blend all vinaigrette ingredients until the jalapeño is completely puréed. 

Set aside. 

5. Prepare the buckwheat soba noodles according to package instructions. Once noodles are cooked to al dente, 

remove from heat and place in an ice bath. Drain and toss in the sesame and canola oil until well coated and 

no noodles stick together. Chill in a refrigerator. 

SALAD ASSEMBLY: 

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees and warm a sauté pan over medium heat. 

2. Grill or pan-sear the marinated tofu until it develops a light brown. Flip tofu, remove pan from heat, and finish 

in the oven for 4-5 minutes or until just heated through. 

3. Toss soba noodles in a small bowl with just enough spicy soy vinaigrette to coat the noodles. 

4. Drain the pickling liquid off carrots, red onions, and radish. 

5. Transfer noodles to two serving plates. 

6. Arrange pickled and raw vegetables around the noodles. 

7. Place tofu on top of noodles and vegetables. Garnish with a drizzle of spicy soy vinaigrette on the noodles, 

and leftover miso marinade on the tofu. 

8. Top the dish with fresh cilantro and serve immediately. 

HOBNOB is located at 220 Riverside Ave. For more info visit: hobnobwithus.com 


Delivering fresh food to those most in need 

Written and Photographed by Allie Olsen 

The Farm to Family food truck is a 

tale of resourceful ingenuity, piein-the-sky 

ideals and the American 

Dream. 


Fresh Eats 

For more information, visit 

facebook.com/FarmtoFamilyFlorida 

It’s also a tale of overcoming economic mountains 

to provide for families in need. Farm to 

Family is changing the way the First Coast views 

food, and is giving the term “food truck” a 

whole new meaning. 

The Food Truck 

A massive truck is the heart of Farm to Family. 

Outfitted with refrigerated cargo bays and filled 

with local produce, this food truck aims to sell $7,000 

worth of retail products in three days of sales each weekat 

competitive prices. 

Farmers price their ripe-from-the-field-produce based on 

the market, and the food truck is a popular stop with residents 

in communities all over St. Johns County who want 

to support their local economy and farmers. It has been so 

popular that its route expanded to more than 13 stops each 

week during its first two months on the road. 

Scheduled market stops include Christ Episcopal Church 

in Ponte Vedra Beach, library parking lots, and Serenata 

Beach Club, where a group of moms there are so excited 

to have access to farm-fresh food that they’ve decided to 

make it a weekly moms group stop before play dates. 

Farm to Family aims to be a self-sustaining program, to 

sell at a certain volume in many communities in order to 

offset lower sales in “food desert areas.” 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes a food desert 

as “urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready 

access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.” While Farm 

to Family serves communities with ready access to farmers 

markets, the USDA reports that St. Johns County has 

seven food desert regions, including much of downtown 

St. Augustine and rural Hastings. Farm to Family stops in 

these areas, and accepts all forms of payment, including 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, 

to bring healthy options to all residents of all economic levels 

of St. Johns County. 

Community Collaboration 

“Every cucumber you’re buying today helps pay a farmer’s 

mortgage,” says Executive Director Malea Guiriba. 

“Every $1.50 for a tomato goes back into the community. 

The impact is so far reaching.” 

Guiriba has big dreams and an even bigger heart for the 

community. Her desire for sustainable change in underserved 

areas is unquenchable and contributes to the success 

of this program. 

“Ideally, in a pie-in-the-sky world, this food truck is 

making nutritional and educational changes for all ages,” 

Guiriba says, citing its regular stops in impoverished and 

food desert areas. 

Her vision is not limited to making healthy food more 

accessible. “We affect childhood obesity now,” she says. 

“Sixty years from now, this reduces the number of adults 

with hypertension. That child we’re getting produce to 

now…well, we’ve affected her whole life span. The truck 

is not just about food. It’s about access to nutrition, education, 

supporting the farmers we buy from - everything we 

do is about so much more.” 

During a stop one day, Guiriba gestured for a market 

ambassador to help a customer grab a second watermelon. 

“You can have an extra one free,” she says. “We have plenty.” 

“At the end of the day, we don’t waste any of it,” she 

says. “We sell it discounted to feed the homeless, help 

farm workers and feed 20 homebound senior citizens in 

Hastings.” 

Food Desert: urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready 

access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. 


Left clockwise: Afternoon showers 

don’t keep Farm to Family shoppers 

from filling their baskets; Some 

produce, such as apples, pineapples 

and bananas are added to the truck 

for variety but the vast majority 

is grown here on the First Coast; 

George constantly restocks the Farm 

to Table truck as customers fill their 

baskets. 

Meet The Farmers 

Always quick to share credit, Guiriba 

points out that Farm to Family is the 

brainchild of two hard-working farmers, 

Chris Barnes and Ben Wells. “Chris even 

pulls from other smaller farms,” she says. 

“All the farmers try to help each other 

out,” says Wells. 

Barnes is a fifth generation farmer who 

longed to bring this new food truck concept 

to the First Coast. “Hey, you need 

food, we’re here to get it to you. This 

is the best, cheapest way possible and 

we’re gonna get it to you,” he says. 

A third generation farmer, Ben Wells 

works alongside family and hired hands 

planting 1,400 acres in St. Johns County. 

Farming is what he’s good at and 

what he loves, Wells says. Teaming up 

with Guiriba to develop Farm to Family 

allowed him to diversify his crops and 

also raise community awareness about 

local farms by going straight to the customer. 

Keyword = LOCAL 

Farm to Family sources from several 

local, mid-sized family farms. The truck 

sells local produce to people who want 

to buy fresh food for taste and nutritional 

benefits. This, in turn, provides 

enough revenue for the truck to go to 

lower income areas to offer nutritious 

food where there was no way to access 

it before. 

Farm-fresh produce is accessible to 

thousands of St. Johns County families 

who needed better access to fresh food. 

Unlike shopping at a traditional grocery 

store, with this model every dollar is 

earned and spent in the county, and the 

local economy is strengthened. Farm to 

Family is a food truck trend that’s changing 

the community one produce basket 

at a time. 



Fresh Eats 

CALORIES COUNT 

END OF SUMMER COOKOUT 

HAMBURGER 

Can be delicious and nutritious 

Calorie Counts is a new section focused on providing information about the foods 

we eat, to act as a guide for healthier diet choices. 

BUTTER TOASTED BUN 

ONION RINGS 

Forget the onion rings: 

Putting fried onion rings 

on your hamburger increases 

the calorie count 

by about 140 calories 

(4 rings). 

Healthier choice: 

Go with sliced raw onion 

instead. There is only 6 

calories per slice. 

Loose the bread: 

A butter toasted bun is 220 calories and 

packed with carbs. 


Sandwich your burger between two 

pieces of iceberg lettuce. It adds a great 

crunch and is virtually calorie free. 

EXTRA MEAT 

Don’t Pile on the Meat: 

Sliced bacon or a double 

patty just doubles down on 

your fat and calorie count. 


Add a thick slice of tomato, 

sprinkled with salt and pepper. 

It will add flavor and heft to your 

burger, without the extra fat and 

calories of meat. 

BEEF HAMBURGER PATTY 

(answers to puzzle on page 26) 

Keep it Lean: 

There are different types of ground beef, and 

ground chuck is the most fatty. Stay away from it. 

Healthier Choice: 

Look for 95% lean ground sirloin for 

your patties to drop the fat count, 

while maintaining protein. 


Saturday, November 5 | Noon – 5:00 p.m. 

The Glass Factory 

601 Myrtle Avenue North, Jacksonville 

Join us for our annual Go Local Marketplace celebrating the best of the First Coast in one place. 

The Go Local Marketplace will be a dynamic mix of shopping, food and live entertainment. 

We look forward to sharing some of our favorite local boutiques and entrepreneurs 

as we celebrate the great things that our region has to offer! Free admission. 

BUICK 

GMC 

Sponsored By: 

ST. VINCENT’S 

H E A L T H C A R E 

S A 

I 

L O R 

S 

S 

I R 

E N 

S A 

L T 

A 

I R G O O D S 

Visit us online for more information! 

firstcoastmag.com/golocal

Health_Sept16

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