By Randy Moore, Publisher – Congratulations to our newest award recipients. Real Bikes Englewood, owned by Gary and Melody Vasbinder, and Marie Bronson, the owner of Shear Sailing Salon & Tanning, Swirls N Curls Ice Cream, and Sunnybrook Realty. Both are receiving our Englewood Spirit Award for their positive impact on the health and happiness of our community.

We honored two other local businesses in South County Healthy Living. Congratulations Restorative Medical Center owned by Christina Parker, MSN, NP, and Caddy Carts. Christina is receiving our Venice Spirit Award and Caddy Carts is receiving our North Port Spirit Award. A complete list of our prior award winners is posted on the home page of our two websites. It’s an honor to acknowledge so many good people that live and work in our community.

We’ll announce new awards in the fall including our second Wildlife Champion Award and our second Inspiring Artist Award. Our inaugural recipients were Mary Lundeberg, a wildlife photographer and author, and Clare Harvey and Barry Thorne, the art-loving couple that expanded the children’s art program at the North Port Art Center.

Here are some the books I enjoyed reading recently: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby, Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene, and The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. My favorite books have interesting plots and characters. I enjoy reading mostly historical fiction, magical realism and classic novels.

I’m reading about 9 books each month for pleasure, cognitive health and creative development. Reading is one of the ways to become a more well-rounded person and a better writer. I’ve started  writing a series of short stories. That includes Puppy Love narrated by a smitten puppy named Max. He’ll do anything to win the affection of Penny. Not easy given he’s a dachshund and she’s a greyhound, but everything is possible with love, right?

Speaking of reading, even 9-year-olds are dismayed when adults that value their own free speech discredit authors and ideas they dislike. We are a smarter nation when we go beyond platitudes and fear to learn about social trends and the nuances of our nation’s history. That includes alternative lifestyles and the legacy of slavery and its correlation with economic and social injustice. Our children and grandchildren deserve candor and trust over fear in the name of political theater. The so called culture wars may be great for fundraising, but they’re also divisive, destructive and degrading.

Wishing you the best for a healthy and meaningful summer season.

Randy Moore is the publisher of Englewood Healthy Living and South County Healthy Living.