The second annual photo contest developed into quite the picture-perfect conundrum. We received an incredible 142 photo submissions, and choosing which ones to feature inside this issue was no easy decision. We got silly photos, so much nature, kids, architecture, and the iconic landmarks we all love. Thank you to everyone who shared their talent with us and helped make this year’s contest better than ever! Thanks to the Central Florida Photo Club for helping to organize. You’re invited! Meet the photographers and see the photos up close June 5, 5-8 pm Destroyer Media 326 Ave C SW, Winter Haven On the Cover of LKLD Magazine: LITTLE SPEED RIDER By Sarah Lindley Farnsworth On the Cover of HAVEN Magazine: GOLDEN EAGLES By James Vanvakas ALONG THE ESPLANADE By J. Chris BEACH PRINCESS By Natalie Stover BLUE IF IT’S TRUE By WhiskeyRoller CAR WASH By Keith McCullough CIRCLE B WILDLIFE AT BEAK PERFORMANCE By Garrison Christian COUNTLESS STORIES By Elaine Santibanez DANCING GIRL By Chris Elrod FOREST SENTINEL By Melissa Gilmore HONEY WE’RE HOME By Patricia Arvizu GIRL WITH HER DALMATION By Isabella Franz ECHOES OF JOY AT LAKE MIRROR By Cassidy Lovato HOT CHICKEN By April Toole Framing Florida Photography GLASS CIRCUIT REVERIE By Echoes of Motion A MOCCASIN ON THE MOVE By Gregory Corbo IN LINE FOR CAKE By Keith McCullough JAC’S CORNER By Tyler Meadows JUST KIDS By Lynn Hemp KID MC TWIST By Lavonte Vickers GOLDEN TREE By Julian Torres LAST CALL ON KENTUCKY AVE By Ruben Colon Velazquez REFLECTIONS OF POLYTECHNIC By Jennifer Mitchell EVERYDAY UNSUNG HERO By Kevin Pagan SHOW AND TELL DAY AT SCHOOL By Sally Del Castillo STILL STANDING By Wild Grace Photography THE GARDEN STEPS By Jenni Gregory SWIFT’S ON S FLORIDA AVE By Ruben Colon Velazquez THE GIFT OF LIGHT By Alexander McLendon TAX COLLECTOR By Rebecca Juliano

The Storyteller Strikes Back: The Return of the Great Storyteller to Polk County Local Author, Dwight L. Macpherson It all started with a Show and Tell session gone spectacularly off script. Five-year-old Dwight L. MacPherson marched to the front of his elementary school classroom ready to share his latest outdoor adventure—and share he did. But when his tale took a sudden left turn involving “a gorilla coming over to talk to his sisters and tell them how to get back home,” his teacher froze, blinked twice, and promptly scheduled a parentteacher conference. Several conferences later, the verdict was unanimous: Dwight wasn’t troubled—he was imaginative to a fault. “I was born to entertain!” he told me the first time we met. And honestly, he hasn’t stopped entertaining me since. Dwight is pure Michigan. Born in Traverse City (TC to locals), he spent his early years in Rapid City, Applegate, St. Louis, and Kalkaska. But it was the summers at his grandparents’ modest home on Clam Lake that truly shaped him. There’s something unique about growing up around lakes. The sound of water lapping against the shore, the rich earthy scent of the woods, the stillness, and the endless horizon all work their way into your bones. Those places never really leave you. They become part of your creative DNA. For Dwight, those northern waters, quiet roads, and small-town rhythms became the emotional and atmospheric blueprint for so much of the storytelling he would one day create. He is the son of a preacher, whose father was also a preacher, and like J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, we are all sub-creators, designed by God to create reflections of truth through story. That sacred drive has always been alive in Dwight. Though he has spent most of his life in the South, he remains a Michigander through and through—right down to the University of Michigan “Block M” tattoo on his right arm, honoring the Fab Five, those legendary freshmen who forever changed college basketball culture and left a permanent mark on an entire generation. His storytelling extends far beyond books. I hate seeing dead animals by the side of the road, and Dwight never misses an opportunity to soften the sadness with humor. “Now how did Mr. Racoonski not make it home last night? I told him to go straight home and not stop for milk. Nothing good happens after 11 PM.” That’s Dwight. Equal parts humorist, storyteller, and eternal observer of the strange little narratives hidden inside everyday life. His imagination works on frequencies most people don’t even realize exist. Someone once described his writing as “what would happen if Rod Serling and Shirley Jackson collaborated,” and honestly, that may be one of the most accurate descriptions I’ve ever heard. His mind moves in different dimensions, but he never loses sight of what matters most: unforgettable characters, compelling mysteries, and meaningful truths. He has never been interested in hollow spectacle. For him, the heart of every story lies in what it reveals about humanity, morality, fear, and redemption. Fast forward to Clearwater-Largo Christian School in Clearwater, Florida. There, Dwight and his friend Jeff Earls created a comic called “MECHAEGIS.“ They printed copies locally and approached Geppi’s Comic World—a comic shop owned by Steve Geppi, who would later found Diamond Comic Distributors. Steve bought every copy and placed them on the shelves. They sold out. And just like that, Dwight knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life: become a comic book writer. The 1980s fueled that dream perfectly—”Star Wars”, MTV, “The Goonies”, Michael Jackson, “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” It was an era overflowing with imagination, practical effects, larger-than-life adventures, and stories that weren’t afraid to be bold. Every corner of pop culture seemed to whisper the same thing: create something unforgettable. Dwight listened. But life, as it often does, took him on a different journey first. Dwight served 14 years in the U.S. Army as a Combat Medic, with assignments across the United States, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. Military life gave him discipline, resilience, and a deeper understanding of humanity under pressure. It exposed him to hardship, sacrifice, and the realities of life and death in ways that profoundly shaped his perspective. Those experiences didn’t diminish his imagination, they sharpened it. It was near the DMZ in Korea where the seeds for “Dead Men Tell No Tales” began to grow—a historical pirate epic bringing together Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, and Black Bart Roberts. The scope was ambitious, requiring intense historical research and narrative precision. Years of artistic and publishing challenges delayed the project, but thankfully it was published… because that graphic novel is what ultimately brought us together. In 2007, while I was working on various studio lots in Los Angeles by day and at Meltdown Comics by night, I stumbled upon “Dead Men Tell No Tales” in the pirate section. I bought it. Read it. Loved it. Then I contacted the publisher to ask whether the rights were available. Instead, they connected me directly to the writer. Two years—and roughly a million Google chats—later, we were married. In one extraordinary day, I became a wife and mother to three incredible boys. Our partnership has always been rooted in creativity, faith, resilience, and a shared belief that stories matter. Dwight would go on to create the award-winning series “SIDEWISE” for DC Comics, write for publishers across the U.S. and UK, and earn both Harvey and Eisner nominations. But perhaps his most cherished recognition is the Saturday Visiter Award from the Poe Society of Baltimore for “The Imaginary Voyages of Edgar Allan Poe”—a deeply personal love letter to one of his greatest literary inspirations. To receive the same award once won by Edgar Allan Poe himself was something truly extraordinary. For a writer whose work so often explores shadow, mystery, and the fragile line between reality and nightmare, it felt less like an award and more like a fullcircle moment. In 2014, we relocated to Lakeland, Florida, a place that, fittingly enough, was filled with lakes. In 2017, we co-founded Hocus Pocus Comics, creating a home for stories told on our terms, free from the suffocating constraints of traditional publishing. Over eight years, we produced nine graphic novels, each one bending genres and expectations while proving that independent creators could still build something meaningful and lasting. But I always knew there was something even larger waiting. Comics are wonderful, but they are also, as I often describe them, like herding cats. Coordinating artists, deadlines, layouts, and production pipelines can sometimes overshadow pure storytelling. And deep down, I knew Dwight had novels inside him. Bigger worlds. Deeper mysteries. Stories that needed room to breathe without limitation. I told him to write what he knew. And from that simple truth, “Welcome to Waadizi, Michigan!” was born. A small Northern Michigan town. A lake with secrets. A place where charm and menace exist side by side. The idea of hidden darkness beneath idyllic places isn’t new—but Dwight has always had a gift for taking familiar concepts and making them feel wholly original, unsettling, and unforgettable. Waadizi is more than a setting. It feels alive. It breathes. It watches. For me, Waadizi also evokes memories of my own time in Plymouth, New Hampshire, a quintessential small town with lakes, rivers, and postcard-perfect beauty. Small towns are comforting. Until they aren’t. Because sometimes what you don’t see can be the most dangerous thing of all. That duality is where Dwight thrives creatively: the beautiful and the terrifying, the nostalgic and the sinister, the sacred and the corrupted. He understands that true horror often works best not when it shouts, but when it quietly unsettles something deep inside us. Dwight is already hard at work on the next chapter of “The Waadizi Cycle.” And if there is one thing I know for certain, it’s this: You may think you know where Dwight’s stories are going … but he will always surprise you. He doesn’t simply tell stories. He builds worlds, invites readers inside, and then quietly locks the door behind them. As Jack Black said while portraying R.L. Stine: “Every story ever told can be broken down into three parts: The beginning, the middle, and the twist.” Dwight has mastered the twist. Whether through comics, novels, or the ever-expanding creative ventures we continue building together, his work has always been driven by one simple goal: tell unforgettable stories that matter. And trust me—he’s only getting started. “Welcome to Waadizi, Michigan!” is available now in paperback, hardcover, and eBook on Amazon, with the eBook also available through Kindle Unlimited. Go Blue! madscot.net Instagram @dwight.macpherson TikTok: @dwightmacphersonauthor

In 2026, the world moves faster than ever. We order food from our phones, work remotely, and spend much of our lives communicating through screens. Yet somehow, coffee shops still matter, maybe now more than ever. As we celebrate 30 years of this little coffee shop being part of the community, I’ve found myself reflecting on what a place like this truly means today. Yes, people come in for coffee, breakfast, or a quick stop before work. But after spending the last two and a half years carrying the torch, I’ve realized it becomes so much more than that. It becomes part of people’s routines and lives. Some stop in every single morning before work. Some meet friends here every week. Students study for exams at the same tables year after year. Families gather after church. Business meetings happen over lattes. And sometimes people simply come in because they need a quiet place to sit, think, and breathe for a moment. Coffee may bring people through the door, but connection is what keeps them coming back. Continuing a legacy such as this came with a unique kind of pressure. This place already mattered deeply to the community long before I arrived. I wasn’t building something from scratch - I was stepping into something that already carried memories, traditions, and meaning within so many. That responsibility shaped me quickly. There’s a balance between honoring what people have always loved about a place while also helping it grow and evolve. Over the last couple of years, I’ve worked hard to preserve the warmth and familiarity people expect when they walk through the doors while also modernizing parts of the business and creating new experiences for customers. Owning a coffee shop in 2026 is very different than it was even a decade ago. Rising costs, staffing challenges, changing customer habits, social media, online ordering, and constant ‘like minded businesses’ create an environment where small businesses have to adapt continuously. Customers want more than just a good drink now. They want atmosphere, consistency, personality, and authenticity - places that feel real. And honestly, I think people are craving that more than ever. In a world that often feels disconnected, local coffee shops still create spaces where people can slow down and interact face-to-face. That’s something incredibly valuable, and it’s something I never fully understood until I became responsible for maintaining it every day. This journey has challenged me in ways I never expected. There have been early mornings, long nights, difficult decisions, stressful moments, and plenty of lessons learned along the way. This business is not just about serving coffee. It’s about learning how to lead people, solve problems quickly, adapt constantly, and continue showing up even on hard days. There were moments where growth felt impossible and moments where success felt overwhelming. But every challenge shaped me not only as a business owner, but also as a person. One thing I’ve learned is that success is not always measured in numbers. Success can look like customers walking through the doors and immediately feeling comfortable. It’s hearing someone say this place helped them through a hard season of life. It’s watching employees gain confidence and grow. It’s seeing friendships, conversations, and relationships form inside these walls. That’s what makes places like this special. One of the most rewarding parts of these last couple of years has been witnessing how much this community supports local businesses. Small businesses survive because people choose them intentionally. Every purchase made locally supports families, jobs, and relationships right here in our city. That support is something I never take for granted. As we celebrate 30 years, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for everyone who has helped shape this place over the years from the previous owner, employees, customers, families, and community members alike. Every person who has walked through the doors has contributed to the story in some way. Looking ahead, I honestly don’t know exactly what the next 30 years will look like, and I think that’s okay. What I do know is that I want this place to continue feeling welcoming, personal, and communitycentered. I want people to walk in and feel at home. I want to continue creating experiences that bring people together and preserve the sense of connection that has always made this place special. The world will continue changing, technology will continue evolving, and businesses will continue adapting. But I believe there will always be something important about having a place where people can gather, slow down, and simply connect with one another. After 30 years, that still means everything. Richard’s Fine Coffees 330 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven

Indy - Best Dressed “I will wear whatever anyone wants to put on me! I will also eat anything crunchy. My favorite thing to do is to be around my people, I love them. Christian Slater will play me when Hollywood decides to make a film about my life.” Phineas - Best Alternative Pet “I’m named after Phineas from the cartoon Phineas and Ferb! And probably just like you, I love to eat algae pellets. They’re my fave. In fact, I like to suction upside down under the plants in my tank and eat ALL the algae I can find. The answer to the last question, who would play me in a movie? Tom Holland. Fins down, he’s the best choice.” Zara Jolene - Best Hair “I may have the best hair, but I also have a really great bunny slipper that I take every- where with me. I love, love, LOVE to play fetch, and when I have chicken for dinner, I’m so happy. If I had to guess, I’d say Jackie Chan would play me in a movie about my life.” Erin - Face Only a Mother Could Love “This is what I won? I was born this way. My face always looks angry. I’m actually very sweet! Trust me! I’m pretty easy to take care of. I’ll eat anything my humans give me, and my favorite activity is sleeping! Don’t laugh, but if they made a movie about my life, Bea Arthur would play me.” Ferdinand - Best Farm Animal MOO. Moo mooo mooooo. Moo moooooo moo, moo mer mer moo. Moo moo moooo. Moooooooo, and moo. MOO! Stormi - Best Dog “Interesting fact about me: my breed was bred to hunt small animals, but I get scared when lizards chase me. My favorite treat to eat is blueberries, and I really love to play with my other doggie friends, they make me so happy. If I had to guess who would play me in a movie, it would be Kevin Hart - big personality in a small package.” Peppermint Pattie Gonia III aka Lois - Best Cat “I will yell at you for belly rubs. All. The. Time. Every time I see you, belly rubs will be demanded ... unless there are churus around. I need more churus! You know what makes me happy? Attacking that darn TV. Even when it’s not turned on, I want to at- tack it. When they make a movie about me, Winnie Harlow will play me.” Teddy - Doodle Haven Pick “I love to take my bed everywhere, I love to hide under curtains, and I live for tummy rubs. I’m also a mommy’s boy, a little bit of a troublemaker, and I take my cozy naps very seriously. If you have chicken, I want it. My most favorite activity is running. I just love it, I’ll run anywhere, anytime. Adam Sandler would be the best choice to play me in a movie. Did I mention that I love running? I love to run.”

The widow swan had followed him. Tinker was sure of it. Forget the fact that birds didn’t do that. Stalk people. Hold grudges. Seek vengeance. They couldn’t do that. Birds had little gumball brains. It was an absurd idea to even consider, and yet, there it was. Waiting for him at the end of the little dock that swayed in the chop of the lake like a huge loose tooth. Three hundred miles from where he’d left it, honking and flapping around the lifeless pile of its partner. Tink had been a hero once. He hit four homeruns and plowed straight through the right field wall to clinch a state championship when he was seventeen. He’d been dining out on that catch for a decade. He loved the attention, always had. On her deathbed, his mother had said to him, “Tink, baby, I love you, but if you woke up alone in the desert tomorrow, you’d die from lack of attention before you died of thirst.” “Yeah, well, if you woke up in the desert tomorrow, you’d die of bone cancer before you died of thirst.” He wished he could take it back. Three days later she did just that. After his playing career stalled out in single-A ball, he crawled back home and took a job at his family’s sprawling auto mart. He made commercials where he smashed high prices with his baseball bat. He knocked hidden fees “out of the park.” His nose still looked like a garlic bulb. His blood-stained jersey still hung in a big shadowbox in the halls of Barlow High. At least it did before the thing with the swan. It all happened so fast. The way most things did when he was shitfaced. He had sniffed out a party and crashed it. High school kids. There were keg stands and whisky shots and bong rips and at some point, someone handed him a baseball bat. It felt good in his hands. A security blanket. In the backyard, on the edge of a pond, there was a swan. He crept down to the shoreline, giggling. No one thought he would actually do it. When he swung, it sounded like a rock hitting a windshield. Stupid bird never even moved. Its little round head just sat there on its long white neck in the moonlight like a brand new ball on a tee. He hadn’t seen the second swan, sleeping in the reeds, until it started shrieking. Everyone gasped and screamed and some hotshot varsity football asshole hauled off and socked him in the face. Broke his nose like a fortune cookie. At the Car Farm the next day someone had written in blood across the windshields of four showcase cars on the edge of the lot, SWANS. MATE. FOR. LIFE. The letters were all stuck through with feathers. There was a video from the party. It was getting around. When his brother told him he couldn’t be associated with the business anymore, at least not for a while, Tinker grabbed a set of the showcase keys and tore out of the lot in the MATE car. Everybody knew where he was going. Nobody stopped him. Years earlier, Tinker’s father went missing during a weekend fishing trip to his little cabin on Lake Misty. The night of his disappearance he made three phone calls, starting at one in the morning, one after the other, to each of his kids. All three went unanswered. Shortly thereafter, depending on who you asked, Big Zud had either made his way to the Hotdish Diner and run off with the waitress or caught a ride out of town with a long haul trucker like some goddamned hippy drifter, or; he got drunk, pulled a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and went fishin’ in the dark and drowned. There was, of course, a third theory: That the things that had always haunted the lake, that chirped and chittered in the woods at night and flooded the windows of the cabin with strange pulsing lights suggesting a code he couldn’t crack; and that compelled the disconnected phone and the unplugged stereo and TV to ring and whine and buzz with static, had actually, finally, taken him. This was, predictably, a scenario to which no one afforded any real weight or consideration. The squat, stupid local cops laughed at the suggestion. Their ruddy cheeks flapping like fat, slapped asses. The yokels whispered and rolled their eyes and shook their heads. Tinker, however, knew it to be true to the marrow in his bones. His father would never just disappear. He wasn’t stupid enough to fall off his boat, nor had he ever been too drunk to kick his feet if he did. Zud wasn’t in the lake. And until he fished his skeleton up off the bottom or out of the cattails with his own two hands, or cut him out of the guts of a gator with his own damned knife, Tinker would swear to it, on his dead dad’s grave, that his dad wasn’t actually dead. It was the reason he had come to the cabin in the first place. To find proof. Certainly not because he’d been run out of Barlow for killing some stupid bird. For three days at the cabin the swan tormented him. It followed him around the property, close enough to pester him, but a safe enough distance away to alight any time Tinker charged after it. It honked incessantly, day and night. It roosted on the eaves of the cabin and shit on his head when he stepped outside in the morning. It seemed to be getting bigger, too. On the fourth day, he was sure of it. He awoke to a cannonade on the aluminum jetty. The swan was stomping up and down the length of it. The size of a mastiff. Tinker screamed at it. Bluff-charged it with his baseball bat. It stormed up the hill toward him and he ducked inside. At night, he rifled through his father’s things, looking for clues. Big Zud had more stuffed fish on the walls than pictures of his kids. Tinker drank his dad’s whisky, finished the chess game he’d abandoned halfway. Somehow, he lost. Outside, the bird sounded like a storm siren. By day five the swan was the size of a horse. The dock was sunk. There were feathers everywhere as big as Chinese hand fans. Tinker threw rocks at it from the porch. He still had a hell of an arm. Just after midnight he’d had to barricade the front door with a chest of drawers and the living room couch. The swan seemed to be outside every window at once, sounding its trumpet like Gabriel. Windows shattered, hinges creaked. Then the phone rang. The old one on the wall with curly cord. It wasn’t plugged in. It rang again. Tinker answered. He listened as his father told him he never should have come here. That there was a reason he always called it Lake Mistake. They followed you up here, and they got bigger and bigger, until they were big enough to eat you alive. Just then, an orange beak the size of a car hood peeled the roof off the cabin and plucked him up like a worm from the wet earth.

Less than a decade after the end of the Second World War, the men and women who had trained at Bartow Air Base and encountered Florida for the first time in uniform were coming back — this time with families, furniture, and the intention to stay. Housing couldn’t keep up. Developers who could read a map and a moment were platting groves as fast as the surveyors could work. One of those groves was on the north side of Havendale Boulevard, in the city’s northwest quadrant adjacent to Inwood. Bounded by Lake Jessie to the north, Havendale to the south, 29th Street to the east, and Jersey Road to the west, it became Biltmore Shores — and the families arrived quickly enough that it felt, to those who were there, less like a subdivision being built than a neighborhood being born. Bryan Owen was among the first ten to purchase a lot, paying $3,400 in 1954 for a parcel fronting Lake Jessie. Ray Leis sold him the land; he and George Leis appear to have been the developers. Chester and Wallace Tucker built the Owen home, as they did several others in the neighborhood, and the family moved in in 1955. Patti Rulli White’s family paid $5,300 for their home the same year. The names filling in around them — Terry, Bray, Varner, Steinmetz, Stotz, Boucher, Pierce, Schoonover, Duncanson, Wing, Wulff, Nelson, McDowell, Williams, Wright, Ortagus, Irby — were almost all young parents with children of similar ages, which gave the neighborhood, from its earliest days, the character of a place where everyone was in the same moment of life at the same time. A new Garner Elementary School had just been constructed nearby, which was a significant selling point. So was the fact that each new home came with grapefruit trees in the yard. The children of Biltmore Shores grew up in the particular freedom that the 1950s and early 1960s allowed. Bikes left in the morning and returned at dinner. Doors went unlocked. Sandra Wing Hudson remembers riding her bicycle downtown to the Ritz Theatre, “something I wouldn’t think of letting my grandchildren do today.” Heavy summer rains would flood the intersection of Hickory Street and 29th Street with three or four inches of water, and a number of children would arrive with skimboards to hydroplane across the asphalt underneath. The main problem, as Wynn Ostrander recalls, was falling. Raw knees were a summer constant. Popular destinations included the Dog and Suds Drive-In — now Dino’s — for hot dogs and root beer, where some residents recall buying their first experimental pack of cigarettes. A trampoline center called Jumpin’ Gymany operated at the corner of 29th Street NW and Havendale during the early 1960s craze for such things. The Jiffy Food Store, now Trader’s Pawn, served the neighborhood’s immediate needs. Patti White and friend Melissa McDowell played Yankees and Rebels in the carport. Melissa also remembers a family somewhere on the street that was said to keep a puma in their backyard. When asked for the family’s name, she was direct: “I didn’t know the adult. I was a young girl walking down the far side of the street.” Popular 1960s Dog n’ Suds Drive In on Havendale adjacent to Biltmore Shores. Now Dino’s Drive In and a favorite still. One neighbor watered his lawn before each outing, then drove his airboat from Lake Jessie directly to the house to save steps — a detail that requires no embellishment. Ronnie Owen’s family was among the first to build. Their house overlooked Lake Jessie, and before long aunts, uncles, and grandparents had also moved into the neighborhood, which was either the definition of community or the end of privacy, depending on your perspective. Owen learned to water ski by age eight. He had a private fort in the bay tree in the vacant lot next door. He remembers being awakened, before the house had air conditioning, by the sound of loud piston-driven Air Force planes flying from Bartow to Winter Haven’s Gilbert Field. By twelve he was using the family boat to travel the Chain of Lakes visiting friends — Mary Helyn Begley, Richard Parks, Steve Vines, Bo James — to ski. A five-gallon tank of fuel cost $1.50. He earned spending money mowing lawns, selling greeting cards to neighbors who, he suspects, bought them out of pity, and selling Grit newspapers at the Winn Dixie near Auburndale. Lake Jessie was the neighborhood’s front yard. About a third of the shoreline was airport property and left undeveloped. Owen’s father bought a sailboat from the Jaycees and Ronnie spent hours on the water with his transistor radio, a jug of iced tea, and his dog Nicky — returning home when his mother rang a farm bell that had come down from his father’s family in Kentucky. After Christmas each year, he and his brother Steve would rope discarded Christmas trees to their bikes and drag them to the vacant side lot, where they would eventually ignite the accumulated pile into a bonfire that, by Owen’s account, lit up the night sky. Steve’s son is Jake Owen, the country music singer. The bonfires may have been formative. The neighborhood had its business people too. The Wright family opened Wright’s Cleaners, first on Havendale and later on Avenue G NW. The Varner family operated the first KFC franchise on Sixth Street NW downtown. Shannon Steinmetz ran Standard TV electronic repair on Central Park, and Jane Pierce was a popular local radio host. Mrs. Schoonover, a seamstress, opened Schoonover’s Costume Shop, which outlasted the neighborhood’s earliest era and moved to Havendale. Helen Patton used to make the neighborhood children biscuits with chocolate gravy. Red Sox star Rico Petrocelli rented the house next to the Barnes family during spring training and would bring his children over to swim in their pool after games. The Brian Owen home on Lake Jessie was one of the first homes built in the emerging Biltmore Shores subdivision. Mayberry, as Owen put it. That is exactly what it was. Biltmore Shores also knew grief. Officer Gordon Stotz of the Winter Haven Police Department was killed in the line of duty in March 1956 — the first WHPD officer to die in service. He left behind his wife, Hazel, and two young children, Gary and Cheryl. A neighborhood that close-knit does not absorb a loss like that without carrying it. Father Ron Owen — the boy who sailed Lake Jessie with his dog and his transistor radio, who dragged Christmas trees home with a rope and a bicycle — is now an Episcopal priest living in Orlando. He offered the summary that no amount of descriptive writing could improve upon: “Growing up then was an idyllic experience that cannot today be replicated. All in all, the folks in the neighborhood were Mayberry folks. They cared about each other and were genuinely nice.” Sources: Biltmore Shores Facebook group recollections of Biltmore Shores alumni including Patti Rulli White, Bob Bray, Tom Patton, Wynn Ostrander, and Ron Owen.

“Dear Art, had to fax when I heard other time travelers calling in from any time past the year 2500 AD. Please let me explain. Time travel was invented in 2034. Off-shoots of certain successful fusion reactor research allowed scientists at CERN to produce the world’s first contained singularity engine. The basic design involves rotating singularities inside a magnetic field. By altering the speed and direction of rotation, you can travel both forward and backward in time. Time itself can be understood in terms of connected lines. When you go back in time, you travel on your original timeline. When you turn your singularity engine off, a new timeline is created due to the fact that you and your time machine are now there. In other words, a new universe is created. To get back to your original line, you must travel a split second farther back and immediately throw the engine into forward without turning it off.” — The first fax attributed to John Titor, sent to Art Bell on Coast to Coast AM, July 29, 1998 This month, the strange behind our sunshine will take us into the events of a more recent past and toward the possible future described by a soldier based in Tampa, Florida, from the year 2036 — or the fictional future featured within a fantastic Florida-based hoax. Let me urge you, dear reader, to employ the view which I believe provides the best framework for enjoying this variety of unbelievable. In the unraveling of an outrageous claim to reality, a new picture emerges: a work of fantasy, a story living in both the real and fictional worlds. Even as we begin to see the strings, as the truth emerges and the curtain slips back to reveal the creators, we are still left with the strange story of someone telling a strange story. A hoax is a creative work, the best leaving behind a loophole to challenge the eventual debunking. The story of John Titor arrived during a moment already in the midst of a time-centric phenomenon characterized by uncertainty about the future. In the years approaching the Year 2000 — Y2K — widespread anxiety developed around the possibility of technological collapse. Many feared that older computer systems, which often stored years using only the final two digits, would interpret “00” as 1900 rather than 2000. Predictions ranged from harmless software glitches to catastrophic infrastructure failure. Some believed airplanes could fall from the sky, banks could lose financial records, power grids could shut down, or nuclear defense systems could malfunction. At the same time, night creatures all over the country spent their evenings listening to a late-night talk radio show, one that has provided me with my own treasured method of time travel. Broadcast to listeners across the country during the quiet hours after midnight, Coast to Coast AM, hosted by Art Bell, blended paranormal speculation, conspiracy theories, UFO encounters, fringe science, prophecy, ghost stories, government secrecy, and open-line callers who claimed firsthand experience with the unexplained, including, but not limited to, callers who suspected they’d married an alien, those who’d experienced visitation by shadow people, vampires and vampire hunters, those who’d worked at Area 51, and, as the subject was one of Art’s favorites, many nights featured “time lines,” accepting only callers who’d traveled in time. It was on one of these nights in July of 1998 that a fax was sent to Art Bell’s studio and read aloud on-air to listeners across the country. The sender claimed to be a time traveler from the year 2036, stating that time travel would be developed in 2034 as a result of research conducted at CERN, and described a machine using controlled singularities contained within magnetic fields. The message also warned of severe consequences stemming from Y2K, including infrastructure collapse and the eventual breakdown of the United States government. Between 1998 and 2001, an unidentified individual using the names John Titor and TimeTravel_0 posted messages online claiming to be a U.S. military time traveler from the year 2036. In October 2000, TimeTravel_0 appeared in an IRC chat — a form of real-time internet communication popular in the 1990s, in which users joined shared text channels to converse live — claiming to be a 38-year-old American soldier stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. He stated that his mission was to travel to 1975 to retrieve an IBM 5100 computer and warned of future civil unrest and nuclear conflict. Later, lengthy explanations of time travel mechanics were posted, reaffirming prior claims that time travel had been invented in 2034. During this period, he revised the target computer from the IBM 5110 to the IBM 5100, even mailing a fragment of an IBM 5110 label to a fellow Time Travel Institute forum member named Pamela, postmarked from Orlando, Florida. Titor claimed the IBM 5100 was required because of its little-known ability to emulate IBM System/370 mainframes and debug legacy systems in 2036 — a capability later confirmed by engineers familiar with the machine. He further stated that his grandfather had worked on the IBM 5100 project, making him a natural choice for the mission. He claimed he remained temporarily in the year 2000 for personal reasons, including visiting family, as well as spending time with his younger self, a toddler at the time. Throughout his posts, he warned readers about disease outbreaks, internal conflict, and social fragmentation. In January 2001, he began using the name John Titor and posting on the Coast to Coast AM Post-to-Post forums. Titor described his time machine as operating through dual microsingularities, magnetic containment systems, gravity sensors, cesium clocks, and onboard computer systems. According to his posts, the device was first installed in a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette for travel to 1975 and later mounted within a 1987 four-wheeldrive truck during his stay in 2000. To explain inconsistencies between his predictions and observable reality, Titor invoked the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, arguing that traveling through time created divergent timelines in which events unfolded differently from his own history. After his farewell post in 2001, the chat logs were archived and circulated widely online. By 2003, they had been compiled into books and dedicated websites. Researchers identified the existence of the John Titor Foundation, a Florida-based entity created by entertainment lawyer Larry Haber, who represented John Titor’s mother living in the “00’s timeline.” While other theories about the authorship were entertained, most point back to Larry Haber and his brother Morey Haber, who are said to have collaborated on the project. Many of John Titor’s predictions never truly came to pass. Y2K did not unfold the way he described, but perfect outcomes are rarely the point of prophecy. The words of a time traveler mattered less for their accuracy than for the thoughts they inspired in those following along. Born from one of the internet’s earliest mysteries, shared among late-night radio listeners, or traced — in both fantasy and reality — with red string between Florida pushpins, the story of John Titor belongs alongside all those tales of travelers who journeyed far in the hope that they might remind us our moment matters and, as the final message attributed to John Titor reads: “Bring a gas can with you when the car dies on the side of the road. Farewell. John.”

With summer approaching, it’s a good time to talk about palms. Planting palms in the summer months allows them time to develop a solid root system and take advantage of summer rainfall. Palms are different than many plants in your landscape and require special care. Proper selection, planting, watering, and fertilization are key to healthy palms in central Florida yards. RIGHT PALM, RIGHT PLACE Your Central Florida yard falls within USDA Zones 9b–10a, meaning palms must tolerate occasional cold temperatures and winter cold snaps. Many tropical palms that thrive in south Florida may struggle during and after cold weather, as we found out in 2025. Cold-hardy palms for Central Florida landscapes include: • Sabal Palm • Needle Palm • Carnaday Wax Palm • Pindo Palm • European Fan Palm • Seashore Palm • Chinese Fan Palm These palms are all featured in the Florida-Friendly demonstration garden at the UF/IFAS Extension Service in Bartow in the Water Wise Garden. They are labeled and we encourage you to visit to see these palms, how they grow, and what they look like after a cold winter. PROPER PALM PLANTING TIPS Now is the time to plant palms! Planting palms is recommended during the summer months when the soil is warm, and roots can establish quickly. Proper palm planting includes: • Dig a hole only as deep, or slightly shallower than the root ball. The hole should be twice as wide. • Water frequently after planting until the palm becomes established. • Apply mulch (2-3 inches deep) around the base but keep mulch away from direct contact with the trunk. • Do not apply fertilizer when planting. • Stake the palm as needed. Staking palms is different than staking trees. Palms generally prefer well-drained soil. In poorly drained sites, roots may decline, leading to nutrient deficiency symptoms and reduced growth. PALM NUTRITION IS IMPORTANT One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is using turf fertilizer on palms. Palms have very different nutritional needs from lawns and shrubs. Additionally, palms in Florida are often nutrient deficient when grown in, or near, a fertilized lawn, which can lead to an unsightly appearance such as yellow fronds, brown and abnormal frond tips, streaking, spotting and other presentations. Use a specialized palm fertilizer with a fertilizer analysis of 8-0-12+4Mg. The first three numbers represent the percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and the fourth number is for magnesium (Mg). The fertilizer should also contain micronutrients. It is also important to look for a palm fertilizer that has nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium in slow-release form and that most of the micronutrients are in water soluble form. Correcting nutrient deficiencies can take up to 2 to 3 years. The application and timing method are also important. Palm fertilizer should be applied evenly under the canopy of the palm. Bands of fertilizer or spikes are not recommended since these concentrations may burn the palm roots. In Central Florida, you can fertilize palms three times during the year, skipping a winter fertilizer application. It is also important to remember that if you are correcting existing nutrient deficiencies, the affected palm fronds will not recover to their preferred appearance. The new fronds will emerge with no symptoms. And, while it is tempting to cut off the unsightly fronds, it is not recommended. These fronds (until fully brown) continue to provide nutrients to the palm. Visually, it can be months to see recovery from a nutrient deficiency once corrected. PRUNING PALMS Palms should not be over-pruned, only remove completely dead fronds. Over-pruning weakens palms and may make nutrient deficiencies worse. Avoid “hurricane pruning,” where too many green fronds are removed. This practice stresses the palm and can reduce its health over time. Avoid injuring palm trunks with nails, climbing spikes, or lawn equipment, as damage can open the door to disease and insect issues. Palms do not heal like our hardwood trees. PALM PROBLEMS Some palm issues resemble nutrient deficiencies but may actually be caused by disease, insects, poor drainage, improper maintenance, or improper planting depth. Symptoms such as spear leaf collapse, trunk rot, or severe decline should be evaluated carefully. Our Plant Clinic is always here to help with palm questions. If you have any questions about growing palms in your central Florida yard, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at 863-519-1041 or visit us online at: sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. If you are not in Polk County, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic. To learn more about gardening and landscaping in central Florida, listen to the “Your Central Florida Yard” podcast. You can find it wherever you listen or visit our Substack: substack. com/@yourcentralfloridayard for more information. Episode 3 is on palm fertilizer and is helpful to anyone growing palms in Florida. An Equal Opportunity Institution. Anne Yasalonis is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator for UF/ IFAS Extension Polk County. Please contact her at anneanne@ ufl.edu

In Florida, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a plant that simply grows aggressively and one that truly threatens local ecosystems. But for land managers, conservation groups, and scientists across Central Florida, invasive species are one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the region today. In April 2026, residents and biologists across the five-county Heartland Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (Heartland CISMA) recognized a major milestone: more than 25,000 observations of introduced species had been documented through iNaturalist. The project, which includes Polk County and surrounding areas, highlights just how widespread nonnative species have become and how valuable public participation can be in tracking them. UF IFAS Photo by Shannon Carnevale This milestone is important because tracking all introduced species, also known as nonnative species, is our best early warning system. There is an important distinction to make here: an invasive species is more than simply a species from somewhere else. While a species is considered nonnative simply because it was brought here from another part of the world, to be considered “invasive,” the following must be true. • The species must be nonnative to the area of consideration. • The species must have been introduced, intentionally or unintentionally. • The species causes, or is likely to cause, environmental harm, economic harm, and/or harm to humans. Florida’s warm climate, abundant rainfall, and extensive trade and travel networks make the state especially vulnerable to invasive plants and animals. By logging nonnative species, community scientists help professionals catch the disruptive species before they get out of hand. WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF INVASIVE SPECIES FOUND HERE Invasive species can be plants, animals, viruses, bacteria, or any other kind of living thing. Two invasive species familiar to many Central Florida residents are cogongrass and the Cuban treefrog. While one spreads silently through fields, roadsides, and yards, the other frequently pops up around our homes, clinging to porches and outdoor lights. Both can disrupt native ecosystems in significant ways. COGONGRASS Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is one of the Southeast’s most aggressive invasive plants, and it is practically everywhere in Florida. Spotting it is easy once you know what to look for. Unmanaged, it covers fields, roadsides, pastures, and more. It’s 2-4 ft tall spring-green grass with fluffy white seed heads. In fall, it can get a bronzed look. Up close, the leaves feature a prominent, off-center white mid-vein and serrated edges reminiscent of native sawgrass. Polk County land managers actively treat it across the county, but you are just as likely to find it in yards, along lakes, and on fencelines. It can withstand routine mowing for years, slowly expanding outward in a circular pattern until it covers a property. The real giveaway happens if you go out of town for a week or two during the summer. Without constant maintenance, cogongrass shoots up so fast and grows so densely that standard residential lawnmowers can’t easily cut through it … turning a manicured lawn into an exceptionally difficult weed-control battle. If you think you have cogongrass growing in your yard or on your lakefront, call us at the extension office for recommendations. Treatment is complex and becomes more challenging the larger the patch gets, so don’t wait. Call us at 863-519-1051. CUBAN TREEFROGS Another species many Floridians encounter and are usually more familiar with is the Cuban treefrog. Larger than most native treefrogs, Cuban treefrogs are often found around porch lights, garages, outdoor plumbing fixtures, and hiding inside patio umbrellas. Unlike native treefrogs, Cuban treefrogs prey heavily on smaller frogs and lizards. They also compete with native species for shelter and food. In some cases, they can even clog plumbing or cause failure to electrical equipment. Because they thrive around developed areas, they provide an example of how urban and suburban environments can unintentionally support invasive species. Many communities in Polk County are overrun with this species, and it may be the only treefrog species residents are seeing in their area. UF IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones You can recognize Cuban treefrog adults by the color and immense size. These frogs can be over 4 inches in length and are often a light tan or cement grey color with a textured skin. They have very large eyes and toepads. As young frogs, they have reddish eyes and may have an eye band or mask. For information on identifying and removing Cuban treefrogs from your community, visit: ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW259 WHY IS IT SO COMPLICATED? One reason invasive species is confusing is that not all nonnative species are harmful. In fact, biologists often point to a general “Tens Rule”: it is estimated that only 10% of introduced species successfully establish themselves in the wild, and only 10% of those become invasive. Ultimately, that means only about 1% of all newly introduced species ever cause problems. When speaking of landscaping plants, this leaves homeowners with a massive variety of safe, beautiful landscaping options that will never threaten our ecosystems. But for land managers, finding that disruptive 1% requires keeping an eye on the other 99%. That is exactly why the Heartland CISMA project tracks all introduced species, rather than just known invaders. Through iNaturalist and other community science platforms like EDDMapS, Central Florida residents photograph and upload observations from places like Tiger Creek Preserve, Colt Creek State Park, Circle B Bar Preserve, or the Van Fleet Trail. Experts then help identify the species reported which builds a database that supports local management decisions. Residents can help protect our native species and ecosystems in three major ways: • Report unusual species sightings through platforms like iNaturalist. • Remove invasive species from your yard, if found • Prevent their spread by choosing native or Florida-Friendly landscaping. As Central Florida grows, public participation is more important than ever. Those 25,000 logged observations are proof that local residents are paying attention and helping protect Polk County’s ecosystems for the future. For more information about nonnative and invasive species, including recommendations for management, visit my article notes page at https://go.ufl.edu/havenlkld

AMERICAN VICTORY SHIP & MUSEUM One of only three fully-operational Victory Class WWII ships remaining. Visitors can come aboard a fullyfunctioning 1940s era steamship and relive history by visiting cavernous three-level cargo holds, radio and gyro rooms, hospital, galley, weaponry, steering stations, flying bridge, mess halls, engine room, crew cabins, and more. This boat served in WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam War. americanvictory.org JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL June 15 – 20 at the Raymond James Stadium. This week-long festival creates inclusive spaces that educate, entertain, and uplift. There is a Youth Summit, Health & Wellness Conference, Community Symposium, Cultural Couture Ball, Family Fun Day, and the Juneteenth Festival Day. Find a complete schedule at roctheblockinc.com. SUMMER NIGHTS Throughout June at Busch Gardens. Enjoy world-class coasters, entertainment and more during extended summer hours. Stick around for nightly excitement at the Boom Box Dance Party in Stanleyville, and rock out with Beach Bash in Gwazi Plaza. Try delicious seasonal bites all night long. This event is included with park admission. buschgardens.com COME FROM AWAY June 11 – 28 at The Straz. The Tony Award–winning musical that turns an extraordinary true story into an unforgettable celebration of hope and humanity. Set in the days after 9/11, this vibrant, fast-paced show follows the surprising friendships and heartfelt moments that unfold when 7,000 stranded passengers are welcomed into the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. strazcenter.org MINI-POWERBOAT RENTAL Experience Tampa’s waterways with a 9.9HP mini powerboat from the Riverwalk Boating Company. The user-friendly mini-powerboats make it easy for everyone to navigate the scenic Hillsborough River and beyond, no prior boating experience necessary. Sail past Davis Islands mansions, or see Tampa’s skyline from a fresh perspective. Details at riverwalkboating.com. CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES June 5 & 6 on the St. Pete Pier. For the first time, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series comes to Florida. This is one of six stops for these world-class divers competing for the championship title. Fans can watch from various vantage points across the pier’s expansive public spaces, elevated walkways, and open decks, or from boats anchored in the bay for a front-row view from the water. redbull.com SUMMER SALSA CLASS June 4, 7 – 9 p.m. at Armature Works. Step into the rhythm for one unforgettable evening of salsa dancing. The night begins with a guided lesson to get you moving with confidence, followed by a live DJ and an open dance floor to keep the energy going. All levels welcome, no partner needed. Register in advance at armatureworks.com. WATERMELON WEEKEND June 27 & 28, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Keel Farms in Plant City. Enjoy a full weekend of watermelon-themed fun, including: kids fun zones, bounce houses & water slides, watermelon eating contests, seasonal wines & ciders, food trucks, vendor market, and all things watermelon! Free admission, $10 parking. More info on FB @keelfarmsfl. THE DALI DOZEN June 5, 6:30 p.m. at The Dali. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Dalí at an exclusive one-night art event featuring 12 local artists selected by the Zodiac Membership Committee, who will share their talents. Guests will have the opportunity to explore a variety of works by featured artists, light hors d’oeuvres, and cash bars. Purchase tickets in advance. thedali.org HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (2006) June 28, 6:30 p.m. at Sparkman Wharf. This is a free outdoor singalong screening for the whole family. Join Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, and Ryan for a nostalgic night of sweet teenage angst. The first 100 guests will also receive a free LED fan and a free bag of Tampa Theatre’s famous popcorn. No ticket required, limited seating. tampatheatre.org

VOLCANO BAY UNDER THE STARS June 5, 12, 18, & 25 at Volcano Bay at Universal. Get exclusive access to all attractions from 7 - 11 p.m. This event includes the Beach Bash with live DJ, games and activities for the whole family, specialty-themed island treats and beverages, DreamWorks character meet and greets, and more. Reservations required, limited ticket sales. universalorlando.com ZOODIO 50 DISCO PARTY June 13, 6 p.m. at the Central Florida Zoo. Step back into 1975 for a night celebrating 50 years of the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens at its current location. Join for an evening of disco, dinner, and dancing, where guests are invited to dress in their best ‘70s style for a one-night-only celebration at the Zoo! Purchase tickets in advance. centralfloridazoo.org ONE MAGICAL WEEKEND June 4 – 8 at Disney World. One of the most anticipated LGBTQ+ multi-day events in the U.S. Held during the first weekend of June each year, it brings together thousands of guests from around the world for curated night events, parties, and after-hours. This celebration of pride has evolved into a beloved tradition that continues to expand with world-class DJ lineups and immersive entertainment. mw2026.com APOLLO 13 (1995) June 11, 8 p.m. at Central Park in Winter Park. “Popcorn Flicks in the Park” is a free event, just bring a blanket or chairs to sit on. “Houston, we have a problem.” An oxygen tank explosion turns what was expected to be a routine lunar mission in 1970 into a race for survival in this real-life drama starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton. enzian.org FLY THROUGH THE TREES Throughout June at Orlando Tree Trek. Ticket includes the giant 425’ zipline, 97 aerial challenges, 2 kids courses with 21 challenges, climbing and safety instruction, and all necessary safety equipment. Kids ages 6+ (at least 47 inches) can swing on Tarzan ropes, climb ladders 50-feet up, leap into hanging nets, cross wobbly suspended bridges, navigate swinging logs, and more. Reservations required. orlandotreetrek.com SUMMER SAFARI June 6, 6:30 – 10 p.m. at the Central Florida Zoo. This is for kids only, ages 5-12. The evening will be full of hands-on activities, games, and animal encounters, as they explore the zoo after dark. They’ll discover how animals survive in the night and learn what glows in the dark. Then they’ll make a cool craft and enjoy a snack, all before the grownups come back! Ticket required. centralfloridazoo.org COMMUNITY RAINBOW RUN June 6, 7 a.m. at City Hall Plaza in Orlando. This 4.9k race was started by UCF graduate students in 2017 to mark the one-year anniversary of the Pulse tragedy. Their vision was to help the community navigate the healing process, recognizing that running, walking, and spending time with others can foster connection and collective strength. Register at pulseorlando.org. ANIME FESTIVAL June 19 – 21 at Rosen Plaza. Guests from across the anime and gaming industries will be there to meet fans, present panels, sign autographs, & give performances. Visit the allweekend-long Game Show Theater to test your anime knowledge and game show skills. The cosplay contest will show the best in Central Florida, plus there will be the most fun vendors to shop from. animefestivalorlando.com REALLY REALLY FREE MARKET June 6, 8 a.m. - noon at Orlando Festival Park. This is a community gathering where participants give away usable items, skills, food, entertainment, games, and many other things that a community can share. This is a 100 percent free and non-commercial event (no bartering or advertising), created by all the participants that show up each month. More info on Instagram @reallyfreeorlando. PAUL CORNISH TRIO June 23, 7 p.m. at Judson’s Live at the Dr. Phillips Center. LA-based pianist Paul Cornish and his trio blend piano jazz with the rhythms of soul, R&B and hip-hop influences. A prolific and sought-after jazz prodigy, Paul placed as a finalist in the prestigious Herbie Hancock International Jazz Competition. drphillipscenter.org

PEOPLE & PLACES OF POLK COUNTY June 5, 5 – 8 p.m. at Destroyer Media at 326 Ave C SW, Winter Haven at Bowen Yard. Let’s get together at our office during First Friday! At this art exhibition, you can meet the photographers and view the photos chosen for the June issues of Haven & LKLD Magazines. Support local artists and drop by to visit. Some photos available for purchase. SUMMER SUNRISE WATERMELON 5K June 13, 7 a.m. at Lake Hollingsworth Park in Lakeland. Proceeds go towards scholarships for Polk County graduates administered through the Polk Education Foundation. Certified course, chip timed. Cumulative results from the three races are used to determine official results. lakelandrunnersclub.org MEAN GIRLS, JR. June 4 – 6 at the Bartow Civic Center. Cady Heron is the new girl at North Shore High School in Chicago. Janis and Damian befriend the new girl and convince naive Cady to be their “friend” in order to bring down Queen Bee Regina George’s reign. This musical is based on the 2004 film. centralfloridatix.com SHAWN MULLINS June 12, 7 p.m. at Gram Parsons Derry Down with special guest, Cat Ridgeway. Shawn Mullins’ critical and commercial breakthrough came when 1998 “Soul’s Core” shot him to fame on the strength of Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit, “Lullaby.” His song, “Shimmer” was used to promote the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and was included on the Dawson’s Creek soundtrack. gpderrydown.com HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS June 1! It’s recommended that you have a seven-day supply of food and water at the ready for everyone in your household. Do it now before a storm comes and you’re waiting in line to buy the last bottles of water. Learn more about emergency preparedness (alerts), including how to plan and prepare for a disaster at polkfl.gov/public-safety/hurricanepreparedness. LEGALLY BLONDE, JR June 12 – 21 at Lakeland Community Theatre. This musical chronicles the journey of the famously perky Elle Woods, a fashion-savvy UCLA sorority girl who finds her life turned upside down when she is dumped by her boyfriend Warner. lakelandcommunitytheatre.com AN AFTERNOON WITH JIM STAFFORD June 6, 2 p.m. at The Ritz Theatre. Known for his masterful guitar work and quick-witted charm, Jim brings audiences behind the scenes of his career, sharing personal anecdotes from his rise to fame, his time in television, and his decades performing for fans across the country. Purchase tickets at theatrewinterhaven.com. POLK PRIDE WEEK June 13 – 20 at various locations. It begins with the Pride Kick Off Party, and then Pride for Youth, Pride in Faith, Friday Night Pride, Pride in the Park, and finally the Pride After Dark Party. For a full schedule of events please visit polkpridefl.org. DRINKS WITH THE DIRECTOR June 11, 6 p.m. at The AGB. Dr. Daryl Ward offers guests a sneak peek into the upcoming season. Be one of the first to find out about the newest exhibits, programs, and community events the Museum has planned for ‘26 - ‘27! This is a free event, but space is limited, so please reserve your seat today at agbmuseum.org. PITBULLS & PEARLS June 13, 6 p.m. at Adams Estate in Lake Alfred. Help raise needed funds for the Polk County Bully Project. Masquerade masks are highly encouraged! Dance (or fakegamble) the night away. Includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music, silent auctions, and a few casino tables to try your luck on. Cash bar. More info on FB @polkcountybullyproject.