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Whether underfoot as her mother played hymns and gospel piano, making a beeline towards the music anytime her rock-nroll father picked up a guitar, or sitting in on the bluegrass picking and singing of her grandad and his band of eight brothers – Van Plating has always been ‘home’ within a song. “My mom would say that I sang before I used coherent sentences,” Plating said. “It was just in my DNA, I think.” Plating has been touring on the heels of the release of her second solo album last fall. The Lakeland-based artist is already writing her third solo album, working toward completing three albums in three years. Radiant and effortless in a flowy white dress and black boots, Plating sat in her living room, overlooking her home studio as she discussed her roots, her favorite novelists, and her own storytelling. VAN’S MUSICAL DNA The indie-Americana solo artist has been a classically trained violinist and singer since childhood. Her instrumental repertoire now includes violin, viola, piano, keyboards, and electric guitar. In a 2021 interview during AmericanaFest in Nashville, Plating likened instruments to different colors on a song. Her favorite ‘color’ is her voice. “The voice is my obsession because that’s your vehicle for storytelling,” Plating said. Consumed with practicing, she focuses on technique and how her tone may emphasize the lyric. “If I let the vocal fall apart, I’m doing it on purpose. If I’m in falsetto, I’m doing it on purpose.” Storytelling is chief in Plating’s music. “My lyric writing is very inspired by contemporary American writers and novelists,” she noted. Plating ‘fills her well’ with writers like Wendell Berry, a Kentucky-based novelist, poet, conservationist, and farmer. “He has that very rooted-in-location and generational language to his work, but he’s also very profound,” she said of Berry. The works of Annie Dillard and Patti Smith also fill her bookshelves. “I’m re-reading [Smith’s] memoirs right now because I just love her. She’s gifted at taking what you would consider a mundane, everyday moment and making a book out of it.” Though Plating’s indie-Americana sound fits her like a good pair of jeans, her musical identity has been a journey. The path there wasn’t the same beeline she’d make for the sound of her dad’s guitar or her grandad’s bluegrass. At first, she hightailed away from that. “When I was younger, and I feel like a lot of us do this when you’re in your teens and twenties, you’re trying to do anything but what you grew up with. You want to get as far away from that as you can,” she said. “I wanted to run as far away as I could from bluegrass and folk music and anything my parents listened to.” She dug her heels into indie rock for a time, even playing bass for an emo band in the 90s and spending a few years of her twenties listening only to Scandinavian rock. It’s funny to think about now, she says. A relatable sentiment, Plating said her earlier music felt a bit like “forcing an identity.” That experimentation sticks with her. Plating’s current music forgoes rigidly following the traditional chord structure many Americana artists hold as gospel – not afraid to veer into a sound all hers. She’s made her way home. “That’s how I feel about Americana – I feel like I’ve come home. It makes sense for me to be here,” she said. “There’s so much beauty in taking a step back, examining your roots, and standing on that and pulling in other influences, but not trying to get rid of your DNA.” ON VULNERABILITY AND FINDING YOUR DANCE Her last record may be titled “The Way Down,” but it feels like an ascension. Plating’s vocals have an ethereal quality that makes her sound like a sort of Americana angel. Her second full solo album, “The Way Down,” was released last fall and co-produced with Bryan Elijah Smith, who played drums, electric guitar, bass and sang background vocals for the record. Plating wrote 50 songs that were paired down into a nine-track album. She and Smith recorded at his Shenandoah Valley studio over the course of a year. “He threw his heart into it,” Plating said of her co-producer, whom she called one of her dearest friends. “It’s an album about learning how to be okay with not being okay, learning how to find your dance while you’re in a low moment, learning to celebrate through hard times,” said Plating. Her favorite lyrics on “The Way Down” belong to the bridge in the song “Dirty Frame.” “It captures that arc of being a child and then being a mother, and there’s a vulnerability to that,” she said. A walk along the beach with her then 10-year-old daughter inspired the bridge. “She was just starting to explore those feelings […] of expectation, vulnerability, insecurity, ‘who am I?’ ‘what does it mean?’ And I was having a low day that day. She grabbed my hand while we were walking. We were having this moment of both not being okay but being together in it. That’s the whole feeling in that song.” I called my daughter She held my hand white like sugar On burning sand started singing through crooked teeth Found our fire On shaky knees “That’s my favorite lyric in the whole record because it means the most to me. You can’t grow up untouched by the world. You can’t grow up and avoid insecurity and hard things – you have to push into those things,” Plating said. “Me and my daughter, in that moment, that day, were pushing in together, both broken, both weak (her teeth aren’t as crooked as mine, but I thought it was a cool lyric), and just singing our song. I think that’s what my whole trajectory is about, just learning to sing your song because it’ll resonate if you’re being yourself. You don’t have to listen to only Norwegian metal.” JAMMING IN THE HOME STUDIO Plating now works out of her rose-red home studio, where she’s also begun producing for other artists. She recently wrapped up tracking on New York-based singer/songwriter liv.’s debut LP, which releases November 4, 2022, with singles preceding. The pair met through Plating’s “The Way Down” co-producer, Bryan Elijah Smith. Plating played at liv.’s outdoor COVID-safe musical festival in May of 2021. “I went up there and really hit it off with liv.,” she said. Although Plating’s home studio wasn’t entirely set up yet, she had liv. down from New York in January to collaborate. Plating laughed and said, “I had equipment showing up days before she got here. […] It was chaotic but so good.” Liv. traveled to Plating’s Lakeland studio twice, tracking sessions in January and May, with the producer even co-writing on the LP. “I love to co-write with people, so that was fulfilling and fun to be in it from when it was a skeleton, not even a full song. She comes in with lyrics and a melody, and then we create this whole architecture around it,” Plating said. Plating described it as different from anything on which you’ve yet heard her. Instead of starting “from the bottom up,” Plating said, “For her record, I wanted to try something different and start with her vocals. I would give her a little scratch guitar track, start with the vocal, and then base the whole interpretation of the song around her voice. What’s resulted is something very raw and organic. It’s not stripped-down at all, it’s fully produced, but it’s certainly a little edgier and a little less polished than things I’ve done before – very intentionally.” Lakeland’s Americana angel has been touring with stops around the south including the Gasparilla Music Festival, Gainesville, Nashville, and Austin. She’ll be playing at Seven C Music in St. Petersburg on June 8 – her last scheduled Florida performance until the fall, with dates to be announced. Toiling away on her third solo album, which will be entirely selfproduced, Plating hopes to have it tracked before AmericanaFest in September and release it next spring. “It’ll sound kind of live, a little grittier than what I’ve done before. It’ll be me, so it’ll be raw and colorful, and hopefully people will get it – we’ll see,” she said. Photograph by Amy Sexson Van Plating vanplating.com FB: Van Plating IG @vanplating Twitter @vanplating

In his 2000 memoir, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” Stephen King calls books a “uniquely portable magic.” It seems only fitting to purchase such ‘portable magic’ in a bookshop of the same vein – perhaps we’ll call it ‘uniquely mobile magic.’ Little Bus Books is a mobile bookshop offering new and used books for middle grades, young adults, and adults. The family-owned and operated shop aims to provide “curated book selections based on broadening cultural perspectives through customers’ existing interests.” Michael and Lynsey Pippen met in college at Louisiana Tech University. After college, the two married and settled in Ruston, Louisiana. Five years ago, Michael’s job brought them to Florida, where he is now Director of Business Development for a global irrigation manufacturer. Lynsey is a speech therapist and special educator. She earned her doctorate in special education and taught at the college level before moving to the Sunshine State. When the Pippens adopted their sons, Nolan, age 12, and Luke, 13, ten years ago, she took her speech therapy online, where she continued to teach until last January. Moving to Lakeland, the Pippens liked the electricity crackling within the local small business scene and had in mind to be further immersed in it. “We had this idea of how we wanted to be a part of the community but didn’t really have a good business to do it with,” Michael said. The Pippens have always loved going to bookstores, especially on vacation when they could spend hours perusing the shelves. Each year, the couple travels to a different state to celebrate their anniversary – a tradition they’ve dubbed “50 states in 50 years.” During a 2020 trip to Kansas, their mobile bookshop dream began to take shape. A bookstore seemed a communitycentered endeavor that could forge the connections they were looking to make. “On the way home and over the next six months, we would just write down ideas, but never thinking, ‘this year,’” Lynsey said. As fate (and a call to the farmers market) would have it, Little Bus Books would indeed start within a year. BROADENING CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES Little Bus Books debuted on May 1, 2021, at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market. “We started with a tent and a table and some of our favorite books,” Lynsey said. Friends and family donated books and came to shop to support Little Bus Books. “We said, ‘It’ll be a success when the first stranger buys a book,’” said Lynsey, who remains friends with that ‘first stranger.’ The mobile bookshop didn’t go on wheels until last October. They began looking for the perfect ‘bus’ to house Little Bus Books last summer when they stumbled upon a 1953 VaKaShunette camper trailer. “We were glad we did tent to table so we could figure out what fit best in the market spot,” said Lynsey. Michael agreed that they now had proof of concept and described selling out of the bus as “almost like a light switch came on.” Lynsey credits Michael, who has his M.B.A., with helping to get Little Bus Books off the ground, or rather, on the road. “His knowledge was the reason we were able to set up the business so quickly,” she said. Inside, the vintage camper gives way to a cozy book nook with a selection of reads curated by Lynsey Pippen. Though they love books, the Pippens wouldn’t describe themselves as voracious readers. “I think that helped to build our brand,” Lynsey said. “Everyone assumes that every bookseller reads every book they have in their bookstore.” That’s a lot of pressure for a wouldbe reader to ask some all-knowing word-wizard for a book recommendation. Little Bus Books makes the experience less intimidating with its smaller, tightly-curated offerings. Lynsey notes Little Bus Books isn’t for the “avid reader who knows exactly what they want to read.” She said, “We like to think of ourselves as helping you find the book you didn’t know you needed.” “I don’t know how she does it,” Michael said in awe of his wife. “Lynsey has a great style and a great eye.” Though he knew her vision for the bus would be a hit – both the style and substance – he wondered how and where they would find the right books for their selection, thinking a vast knowledge of books and literature was a must. “I don’t think that’s the case anymore,” he said. Curation soon revealed itself to be another of Lynsey’s gifts. Michael described Lynsey as a creative who enjoys being around people. “We’re not artists by any stretch of the imagination, but she has a very good eye for it,” he said. “That’s translated to the books, one hundred percent. She knows what people like.” “One of the biggest challenges is determining our audience before we get to the market,” said Lynsey. By frequenting markets like the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, Bandit Market, Winter Haven Farmers Market, and Buena Market, the Pippens are learning what their customers like to read. Lynsey notes that determining eye-catching covers and riveting reads suited to her local customer base is ‘a fun challenge.’ Vacation was the only time the pair could spend hours browsing bookshelves for the perfect read. Everyday life didn’t afford them that. “That’s how we developed the Little Bus on a smaller scale, being more intentional about what we put in the bus rather than just having lots of books for people to dig through,” Lynsey said. Little Bus Books was developed with farmers markets and community events in mind. The Pippens aim not to overwhelm their customers with a daunting selection of books but to curate some 40-60 books and help steer customers toward texts most suited to their reading tastes. And for those who do like to dig through books, Lynsey welcomes them to rifle through the Little Bus Books cabinets and crannies, where they house inventory. Upon first inspection of Little Bus Books, one will notice the variety – new and used, fiction and nonfiction, genre, author, origin, and publication date. “That’s an intentional piece of the business, too,” Michael said. “We want to have everybody represented there. […] We’re trying to broaden cultural perspectives.” Michael used a book on hiking as an example of how they may help someone select a title within their tastes but perhaps outside of what they’re used to reading. “What is like that, but maybe the characters are a little different, or the author has a little different background, so she writes with a different perspective?” That doesn’t mean they don’t have a few good lazy beach reads or cozy mysteries on hand – because sometimes you just need a little brain candy. “We put stuff in there that we really love,” Michael said. “I like a lot of memoirs from famous people. I find that super entertaining. […] I probably try to get Lynsey to put too many memoirs in,” he smiled at his wife. “People have a lot of choice fatigue, and they like being able to go in there and grab anything off the shelf, and you’ll like all of it,” said Michael. “People don’t come in there and buy certain authors or certain books. The experience is what they’re buying, and we hope that everything in there, we’ve vetted enough that it’s all good.” BOOK CRAWL Some of the community connections the Pippens have made are with other local booksellers. “We like that there are numerous booksellers [in the area],” said Lynsey. The Little Bus Book cofounder likened it to a choice of coffee shop or lunch spot – each bringing a different experience to the table. Little Bus Books linked up with fellow Lakeland booksellers a few months ago for the first of what looks to be an annual book crawl. The 2022 Lakeland Book Crawl was held during the week leading up to Independent Bookstore Day (always the last Saturday in April) and involved Little Bus Books, Pressed, Inklings, Bookends Used Books, Crash Bookshop, and Unbound Bookery. According to Michael and Lynsey, the book crawl was a success. “Every bookstore, all week long, had above average across the board – in terms of response, activity on social media, and people coming in buying books,” said Michael. “Everybody did a really nice job focusing on what they did differently.” For their part in the weeklong event, Little Bus Books partnered with PACE Center for Girls. The mobile book shop had its highest sales ever – half of which went to help with the PACE Center for Girls’ library this summer – a nod to their nonprofit efforts. A FAMILY AFFAIR Little Bus Books is a family operation, and every co-founding member has a title. Chief content officer Lynsey “serves as the head organizer and reading researcher.” President Michael is more of a “behind the scenes guy.” Son Luke serves as operations manager, helping out with heavy lifting, but says his main job with the book shop “is to make sure all employees are happy and fed!” Communications director Nolan is described as a “social butterfly” and says his job is to “make sure that our customers get the attention they deserve!” Both Luke and Nolan have special needs. “One thing we wanted this business to be from the very beginning is something they could be a part of,” said Michael. Being market merchants provides the boys with variety in their perspective roles. From interacting with customers to cashing out purchases, the Pippens feel learning these skills is important and can translate into other opportunities for the boys. “I think we’re finding that there are two sets of people learning here,” said Lynsey of her sons and society at large. She notes that tending to the Little Bus at markets has “helped [her sons] with real-world experience.” The boys are paid for their work and choose how to spend (or save) their money. Foodie Nolan loves to buy treats from the market food vendors. Luke recently saved up for a ‘space jacket’ from the Kennedy Space Center. Both Nolan and Luke have high-functioning autism and interact with and experience the world differently. The social environment at the market has been to their benefit, said their parents. Extrovert Nolan has been able to experience independence, like going to the food truck by himself. The more reserved of the two, Luke has started greeting people at the markets, whereas he wouldn’t talk to strangers before. “I also think having our boys out there is teaching our society around us as well,” said Lynsey. “Having the boys out there shows people that they are human too. Someone may say something ‘weird,’ or you may not understand exactly what they said because they have some speech difficulties, but guess what – they live in your world too, and they’re right here in your community and your farmers market. [...] I think it not only helps our boys, it not only brings together our family, […] but it’s also helping our community to see that we include everybody.” NO COVERS “We really wanted to be part of the community,” said Michael. “Being mobile helped us move in the community to different demographics.” Not only did Little Bus Books want to pop up in hip and happening downtown spots, but they also wanted to serve a different audience. So, they began setting up shop at nonprofits like Talbot House, Gospel Village, and the Mission of Winter Haven. “You couldn’t really do that and have a brick and mortar in my mind,” Michael said of their mobile concept. The future of Little Bus Books will focus on its nonprofit initiatives. “We found how to connect within the community that we would typically connect with because we like that. We like going to the markets. And we’ve met a lot of diverse people there. […] We’ve had to work harder to get outside of those circles a little bit with some of our nonprofit initiatives.” The Pippens felt the demand for their services was higher outside their circle and asked themselves how they could bring the two together. The bridge between these two sides of the community is through their nonprofit initiative, No Covers. The name is apt and intentional – a play on the idiom “Don’t judge a book by its cover” and on ‘no cover’ as in ‘free of charge.’ Little Bus Books has partnered with six area nonprofits, including VISTE, Talbot House, Mission of Winter Haven, Gospel Inc., PACE Center for Girls, and Trinity Apartments of Lakeland, to give away books and make connections with people. “We feel like there’s a larger demand there and probably a larger calling,” Michael said. The Pippens would love to see their No Covers initiative blossom into a full-time nonprofit organization supported by revenues from Little Bus Books’ for-profit market pop-ups. “That’s the highest goal we have. We’re not trying to push across some initiative. We’re not trying to make everybody read anything,” Michael said. “We are using the books as our platform to get to know people that otherwise we’d have no real interaction with [and] making that very intentional with the hopes that it connects the other part of the community we are already in.” Check out their website and social media pages to find out more about Little Bus Books, No Covers, or what market they’ll attend next. You’ll want to ‘book’ it over there to find your next favorite read! Little Bus Books littlebusbooks.com info@littlebusbooks.com FB @littlebusbooks IG @littlebusbooks

The Lady on the Wall has stood sentinel over Third Street for almost seven years, watching with piercing eyes and windswept locks of ivy hair; chic, silent, and compelling. She has born witness to a massive revitalization and an artistic revival in this southwest sector of Downtown Winter Haven, the likes of which are only just the beginning. She has watched as businesses like Grove Roots Brewing, The Bike Shop and N+1 Coffee, Barrel 239, Haven Coffee Roasters, and Lucille’s have opened their doors to the community. Maybe you’ve noticed her while driving through town? Or you’ve stopped to have your photo taken in front of her iconic image. Perhaps you’ve wondered about her origin. Why is she here? Where did she come from? Who does her hair? The truth is, The Lady on the Wall has quite the story to tell. Hers is a story of beauty, transformation, art, and collaboration, and it is finally ready to be told. It begins with the meeting of two artists: Kenneth Treister, an accomplished Master with a career that spans decades, and William Larence, a young man only beginning to make his way in the art world. Their fateful introduction and ongoing friendship would lead to the first “living mural” in Winter Haven and pave a path for the renaissance to come. TWO ARTISTS Kenneth Treister is well known in the art scene; a quick Google search of his name reveals a plethora of his works and achievements. On March 5, 1930, the artist was born in Flushing, Queens, and his parents moved to Miami Beach, Florida, shortly after his birth. While he is best known for the Holocaust Memorial he designed, sculpted, and constructed in Miami, his portfolio is vast and extensive. He is an architect, architectural historian, painter, sculptor, horticulturist, photographer, author, lecturer, and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. This prolific artist spent most of his life in Coconut Grove and moved to Central Florida with his wife, Helyne, about twenty years ago, where he continues working at the age of 92. It was Helyne that introduced Treister and Larence by booking an appointment for the artist at Spectrum Studio, a salon owned and designed by Larence. It was an introduction that would eventually become a catalyst for Larence to comprehend his creative potential fully. William Larence was born on February 19, 1979, in Winter Haven, Florida. Due to his father’s military career, he spent his youth traveling the globe, living in Las Vegas, Shreveport, and Athens, Greece. Larence visited many historical sites and museums and credits his view of the Parthenon as a young child with igniting an artistic spark in his heart. “I’m completely convinced that these experiences in those formative years have most certainly played a major role in my artistic development and passions,” Larence said. This development and passion would continue throughout his life. Larence’s family returned to Central Florida during his junior year of high school. He graduated from Haines City High School in 1997 and moved to Winter Haven shortly after where he has lived for the past 24 years. He intended on enlisting in the military but ended up meeting someone in the cosmetology field and his life took a very different turn. “Hair was certainly not at all on my radar,” Larence continued, “but I was taken with the energy and artistry involved. A large part of the hair industry is definitely a visual art form based around geometry and angles and, of course, color theory.” Larence felt it was a great opportunity and decided to earn his cosmetology license. It was a decision that would quickly lead to owning Spectrum Studio and designing not one, but two locations for the salon. “When we settled on the [first] location in the arcade on Central across from the Ritz, I was in creative bliss,” said Larence. “The Waddell’s owned the building at the time and asked me to present my plans.” Once the plans were approved, Larence began working on his first large-scale redesign. “I was very into modern and contemporary design, so the direction was already predetermined and natural,” he explained. “In that time there was a blend of inspiration for me: certainly Gene Leedy’s work, and of course Frank Lloyd Wright, also Paul Rudolph, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier.” There was an element of simplicity in his design with a concentration on contrast and details. It was minimalistic and modern and the first of its kind in the area. Larence exposed the original brick bones of the building, used metal and birch wood on the ceiling, smooth and rough-textured concrete throughout, and added pops of color along with his signature greenery arrangements. He created a space that would captivate everyone who entered, including the wife of a renowned artist. THE MEETING Larence first met Treister 17 years ago. “His beautiful wife, Helyne, started coming into the studio from a referral when we were on Central,” Larence said. “She raved about the design of the studio and insisted I meet Ken and booked him an appointment.” Larence was unfamiliar with Treister’s work but looked forward to meeting him as he knew he was an artist and architect. He felt an instant connection. “It wasn’t until after our first interaction and conversation and truly connecting with Ken that I really researched him and was amazed,” he said. From that point on, the two would discuss art every four to six weeks while Larence cut Treister’s hair. “I always had my sketchbook at my station waiting,” recalled Larence. “We would have great conversations about architecture and design, and Ken would always ask for a pencil and a piece of paper to sketch an idea or concept for me based on those conversations.” The two discussed Larence’s plans and ideas for Spectrum Studio’s growth and design moving forward. “He was a great inspiration that I cherished and felt I needed in that moment of my artistic development,” said Larence. NEW BEGINNINGS The studio would end up undergoing an expansion and three more remodels before eventually moving to its current location on Third Street; a move that would begin to infuse new life into what was, at the time, a somewhat desolate part of town. Larence had done all the remodels himself, learning and developing as he went. When the decision was made to relocate, Larence said, “It really fell into place with the new location,” and noted the building’s address is the same number as the month and day of his birth, 219. “The Ulches, who were already clients at the time, owned the building,” Larence said. “It had been used for storage but, most recently, a CrossFit gym, so it was pretty open and raw.” It would be his biggest project yet and, in his mind, made way for a greater opportunity. “I felt as Third Street was to become a very hip, energetic street off Central,” he continues. “I presented my plans to the Ulches and again, jumped into action.” The renovation took a solid year while Larence maintained his full-time schedule as a stylist, devoting his nights and weekends to the rebuild. The doors opened in December of 2015 to reveal a refined and polished version of Larence’s original vision. “My style and process has definitely evolved over time with my art,” he said, “but I have stayed true to my underlying philosophies with integrating simple materials composed in an organic flow approach, inspired by geometry and even numerology.” Ultimately, Larence created a beautiful salon that also has the feel of an art gallery, with many of Treister’s works on exhibit. “When we moved to Third, I knew that I wanted to display some of Ken’s paintings in the salon as they seem to mesh perfectly into my visions and designs, especially the largest piece, ‘Rainbow in the Clouds.’ It is made up of nineteen panels of color, showing a blend of the full spectrum. “He’s never displayed that anywhere else,” added Larence, “as if it was meant for the space. Full alignment.” In total, there are nine large, permanent pieces that are now one with the studio, as Treister has donated them to Spectrum for all who walk through to enjoy. THE LADY With everything well on its way inside the studio, Larence turned his attention outdoors. An exterior wall, hiding a unique courtyard space behind it and perfectly inset between Spectrum and the building next to it, called to him. “I envisioned it to be something very special but didn’t know exactly how it was going to go,” he said. Larence shared this with Treister during one of his visits, and right away, Treister had an idea. “A very unique concept that was created specifically for the salon and our downtown setting,” said Larence, “as Ken always said, ‘inspired by beauty and everything surrounding it.’” Treister brought in a drawing of a woman’s face with living ivy for hair, and Larence was taken with it, instantly knowing it was the right choice. “We planned a day and met at the site to lay it out,” said Larence. They used a graphing method to transfer the image onto the wall, and Larence painted as Treister oversaw the whole process. “I was very nervous that day,” Larence recalled, “rightfully so as a master was sitting at times, watching me paint.” Then, with Treister’s instruction, Larence planted two Creeping Fig plants on either side of the face. For three years, Larence hand-watered them every night. “No one really knew the magic that was to come,” explained Larence. “As the vines ascended, I sculpted.” Her tousled tendrils now reach the surrounding walls, creating a dynamic, ever-evolving living mural. Larence has nurtured and maintained her organic tresses from the beginning, trimming them every few months like Winter Haven’s own Edward Scissorhands. Since her creation, The Lady on the Wall has watched Third Street transform. What was once quiet and deserted has become energized and bustling. Businesses continue to spring up and thrive, new murals have appeared, and there is even a flourishing weekly farmers market. With all of this bringing more and more foot traffic, countless people have stopped to take photos with her and admire her beauty. Larence plans to attach a QR code to the mural that will link to his website, which he is developing with a local company, where people can share their photos, both recent and past. Larence said, “I have been deeply inspired and greatly humbled by witnessing the effect she’s had on our downtown community.” THE FUTURE Over the past year, Larence has undergone some significant life changes and been inspired to devote more of his time and energy to new artistic ventures. He is announcing a partnership with Spectrum Studio and the Ulches to bring exciting things and new retail. This will allow the artist more time to pursue his passion. Larence is currently working on a “magical,” one-of-a-kind project at Mountain Lake, and simultaneously designing an art installation that will act as a backdrop for Spirit and the Cosmic Heart’s performance at The Ritz Theatre this August. Larence is also planning his first solo exhibition, Project Kaleidoscope, to be held at Spectrum Studio in early 2023. An epic evening is promised. In addition, Larence is working with local companies to develop ideas for the community moving forward. Bud Strang, President of Six/Ten, said, “We’re big fans of The Lady on the Wall. We are in discussions at Six/Ten with Bill [Larence] about some additional art installations Downtown. We are big believers in public art and believe it’s an important component in any downtown development project.” Strang added, “We like what Bill’s doing.” The feeling is certainly mutual as Larence said of Six/Ten, “They are passionately committed to the awesome growth of Downtown and adding every detail to heighten the experience for everyone visiting to enjoy.” While it is still too soon to give any concrete details, there are undoubtedly some exciting projects on the way; synergy like this will continue to add allure and culture to our city. “I have learned a lot about synergy over the last several years from Ken,” Larence said. “It’s powerful.” Synergy is the concept of two or more forces working together so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. “I have felt that on a deep level with The Lady on the Wall and my relationship with Ken,” said Larence, “and my mind has been very much expanded by this experience.” Through this experience and connection, Larence found the ability to fully spread his wings, and now, the sky is the limit. The Lady on the Wall will surely be watching for the beauty to come. 219 3rd St. SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880

It’s 8 am on a weekday morning, and a puppy in Lakeland is waiting patiently by the front door. He makes a few trips padding back and forth to the front window overlooking the driveway. Joyful barks and tail wags can only mean one thing – the Aussie Bus is here! The good boy can hardly contain his excitement for the day ahead – fetch, playing with his friends, and belly rubs from his favorite doggy daycare moms. What does your dog do while you’re at work all day? Owners of Aussie Mom Pet Sitting, Ashley and Nancy Lee, live in Bartow with their four dogs, three cats, and a tortoise. Ashley has degrees in graphic design and information technology and is currently pursuing a marketing and business degree. She began pet sitting while working full-time as a graphic designer and office manager for two aeronautics companies in Sarasota. “I’m a veterinary technician, but I prefer not to work in the clinic because usually, that deals with the sad parts,” Ashley said. In 2016, she moved back to Polk County to care for her grandmother, whose health was declining, and Nancy’s mother had been diagnosed with cancer. Both Ashley and Nancy were in jobs that didn’t afford them the time with family they needed. So Ashley started pet sitting. She could use her education to care for animals without the emotionally challenging moments of working in a veterinary clinic and have freedom of schedule. Nancy has ten years of certified dental technician experience and has also worked as a licensed cosmetologist. She wanted to be there for her mother’s chemotherapy treatments when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. “In the corporate world, your hours are set. And of course, I was a manager at the salon, so nobody could take my place,” Nancy said. She thought, “Let’s do this so we can both have opportunities to leave whenever we want and visit our family and be there for them.” She joined Ashley as a co-owner in Aussie Mom Pet Sitting. Though Nancy’s mom passed away in 2017, the career change allowed her to be there for her mom’s chemo each week. Nancy said that she has found her passion in pet care and, after having animals all her life, finds comfort in caring for them every day. Another reason the Lee’s started a pet sitting business? “I also don’t trust anyone to watch my pet,” Ashley said. “There’s a need for somebody to provide a home environment where when I’m gone, they can take my dog, and they can still feel like they’re at home.” DOGGY DAYCARE When Aussie Mom first started, they offered home visits and overnight services. Their clientele has grown so much in the last six years that they no longer offer home visits but have plenty of services to keep tails wagging. In that time, they’ve taken care of kangaroos, cats, lizards, chinchillas, and bearded dragons, though now they focus their services on dogs (and the occasional bird). The Aussie Mom owners pride themselves on providing a professional and personalized pet care experience in an in-home environment serving Lakeland and Winter Haven. Services include doggy daycare/ play dates, boarding, and even transportation for pets on their Aussie Bus. The latter service is a hit with pets and their humans alike. “As soon as [the dogs] see the leash, they know they’re going to Aussie Mom,” Nancy said. It eliminates the stress of adding another stop on the morning commute for clients. “I come between 7 am and 9 am,” said Nancy. “I pick them up, they come all day, and I drop them off between 4 pm and 6 pm. So, when you come back home from work, they’re tired.” Clients fill out a form allowing Nancy to enter their homes so when she drops them off, she can fill their water and make sure they potty one more time. The Aussie Moms often have clients send pictures of their tuckered-out dog passed out on the couch with a big ‘Thank you!’ For any potential overnight guests, they set up a meet and greet for an assessment of the dog and always have them come over for a play date before boarding to make sure they get along with other pups. Nancy said, “It all depends on the dynamic – what their temperament is and what behaviors they have.” The number of dogs they’ll accept for boarding depends on the circumstance. They take the health and temperament of each precious pup into account. According to Ashley, “We’ve had dogs with heart failure where they can’t be overstimulated. We have to check on them every two hours to make sure they’re still breathing. They could go at any moment. If we have our pups and that guest, we wouldn’t take anybody else.” If there isn’t a high-maintenance pet coming in, the Aussie Moms limit boarding to four to five dogs. The daycare has become the pet sitters’ most sought-after service. “It’s really good for people to take that effort and sign up for a day of daycare here and there for socialization,” said Ashley. The Bartow-based pet sitting company is currently fully booked for doggy daycare through the summer. The ‘Aussie’ in Aussie Mom Pet Sitting is an homage to two of their pets, Aussies Roxy and Hurley. Roxy is the Aussie Mom mascot and a house mom of sorts amongst the dogs. The mellow rescue doggie, adopted at just four and a half weeks old, is now 13. Known to involve all the dogs in playtime, Roxy is helpful with dogs of all ages and dispositions. According to Ashley, “She’s really good if we have senior pups that need to be socialized but not overwhelmed.” Roxy will even comfort anxious dogs by snuggling with them. PET CARE PROFESSIONALS Aussie Mom Pet Sitting is a licensed LLC, insured through Business Insurers of the Carolinas and Certified through NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters). They also hold certifications in Fear Free and Pet Behavior/Psychology. “The industry as a whole saw that anxiety was becoming a bigger issue,” said Ashley. “We network with other companies in Lakeland and Winter Haven. We have meetings every couple of months. Everybody was saying we’ve got to figure something out.” Ashley said of their Fear Free Certification, “It’s a lot about reading the body language of the pets. With COVID, a lot of people were home 24/7, and now their dogs have increased anxiety [because people are leaving home more and the dogs aren’t used to their absence].” Nancy noted that this could lead to some dogs becoming destructive when left alone. Many of their clients have expressed that they haven’t been able to go out to dinner after the pandemic without their dog tearing up the house or becoming distressed when they go into the kennel. “That was part of the certification. It taught us how to read them and implement different ways to get them back into being a normal dog again,” Nancy said. “When we started the business, we found there was a need for professional pet care,” Ashley said. “A lot of people will use Rover or Wag! or family members or neighbors and they find out that they never came, or they came for five minutes and left and didn’t feed them, or they went all weekend and the person came one time.” The neighborhood kid may be cheaper, but there is peace of mind with hiring a professional (especially one who is NAPPS certified) to care for your pet. The Aussie Moms encourage pet parents to do their research before entrusting their dogs into someone’s care. They work with the pet industry software, Time To Pet which gives an extra bit of assurance to their clients through tools like clock-in and clock-out if they were to visit someone’s home, photos, GPS when walking a dog, and report cards noting if the pet ate, drank water, or used the bathroom. “That software is a lifesaver because we used to do everything by hand,” said Nancy. Ashley called pet sitting a 24/7, 365 job that is “different every day.” The pair hope to one day expand their labor of puppy love into a larger facility, perhaps a ‘barndominium’ property offering an in-home environment, and eventually grow their staff. THE AUSSIE MOM FAMILY For Ashley Lee, the best part of her job is seeing clients they’ve not seen for a while. “We’ll show up, and the dog just comes running to us like ‘Oh my God, where have you been?!’” she said. Though that is on occasion mixed with sad moments like when a senior dog they’ve grown to love passes away. She said, “We call them our ‘Aussie Mom Family’ because it’s like having a bunch of little nieces and nephews. We get attached, and it’s hard when they pass.” Nancy said, “It’s probably the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had. They’re therapy. When my mom passed away, this is what got me through it. [...] You can go to your 9-5 job every day, but the happiness you see and when the clients tell you how much they appreciate you because it’s like their child – to feel like you’re a part of their family as much as they’re a part of yours – it’s just so fulfilling.” Aussie Mom Pet Sitting aussiemompetsitting.com FB @AussieMomPetSittingLLC IG @aussiemompetsitting 863-701-3137 Photography by Amy Sexson

At a downtown Auburndale thrift boutique, purchases benefit adoptable pups. It really is Goin’ to the Dogs! This charming thrift store on Auburndale’s Main Street sells donated items to benefit Crossed Paws Pet Rescue. The rescue, started by Stephanie Badillo, takes in homeless and abandoned dogs and finds them a forever home. Stephanie Badillo had been rescuing dogs at her home for ten years before starting Crossed Paws Pet Rescue in 2017. “My dogs aren’t dogs that come from people. Some do, but most of my dogs are from the ditches, the woods, some really late nights in some really scary places, and most of my dogs come in pregnant. I’ve had eleven litters at one time,” she said. When she rescues dogs, Badillo gets them veterinary care, has them microchipped, spayed or neutered, and has them treated for any injuries or illnesses. No matter how many thousands of dollars she spends rehabilitating an animal, the adoption fee is always $300. A PAW-SOME IDEA Dog lover and owner of Goin’ to the Dogs Thrift Shoppe, Mariann Motola, met Badillo about five years ago. “I started following another rescue in Bakersfield, California called Marley’s Mutts,” said Motola. Appreciative of their work from afar, she wanted to do the same good in her community, so she Googled ‘pet rescue Auburndale’ and Crossed Paws was the first result. “I liked what she was doing. She was the only rescue in this whole area. I got to know her, and one of the things that she constantly needed was funding,” said Motola. Funding was essential to cover vet bills and the expenses of running a kennel with 70 dogs. Motola suggested they open a thrift shop selling donated items to help meet that financial need. It just so happened that her husband had a space in downtown Auburndale that would make a great thrift store. Shortly after announcing the opening of Goin’ to the Dogs Thrift Shoppe on social media, supporters of Crossed Paws Pet Rescue showered them with enough donations to fill two storage units. According to Motola, “All the money that comes in goes directly to Crossed Paws Pet Rescue. [...] My ideal plan was to always pay the rent over at the kennel.” Since opening in August of 2019, they’ve been able to do that almost every month, with a surplus to cover utilities, food, and veterinary expenses some months as well. “Everything in the store has been donated,” said Motola. “I don’t purchase anything.” The Goin’ to the Dogs owner says her aim for the store is to be a thrift boutique for lightly used items from adult clothing, home décor, and jewelry to books, DVDs, CDs, and an entire back wall of dog products. She says the store’s demographic tends to be women aged 20-60 – all dog lovers, of course. The volunteer-run store is open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. FINDING FUR-EVER HOMES “I just picked up a mother dog and four puppies dumped off 80 Foot Road,” shared Badillo. Unfortunately, tragic situations like this aren’t infrequent. “The laws have to change,” said the Crossed Paws Pet Rescue owner. “They need to require spay and neuter and require people to take control of their actions with their dogs.” Motola added, “And they all need to be microchipped. That way, we can locate the owner, and then if the dogs are dumped, they have to take responsibility for them.” Adopting a dog through Crossed Paws is a purposefully stringent process. “We have an adoption application that must be filled out, and we do not adopt until we know everything about those people,” said Motola. This includes finding out what kind of dog a person or family is looking for, verifying their address, and speaking to the landlord if they have one. “Some people get upset by this. Some people don’t want to adopt from us because of the process that we have, but it’s pretty strict,” said Badillo. Badillo wants to ensure that each of her dogs ends up with the right family, even going as far as Maine to get them there. She’s driven 90 dogs up north already, where she partners with another rescue. “I get them adopted first. Then I drive them to the other rescue, and the people that are adopting are there waiting for their pups,” she said. The rescue also attends community events like Bark in the Park in Winter Haven and Touch a Truck in Auburndale to drum up support for the cause and hopefully find homes for their dogs. “Auburndale Parks and Recreation are very good to us. They always include us in whatever they do over at the park,” said Motola. Crossed Paws recently held their own event in Auburndale, where they did 14 adoptions in one day. According to Badillo, the rescue plans to hold monthly adoption events at the K-Ville Community Center. Interested in adopting a fourlegged friend through Crossed Paws? Folks are asked to fill out an application online. Once an application has been accepted, “We do meet and greet by appointment,” said Motola. HOW TO HELP To support the dogs at Crossed Paws Pet Rescue, the community can make financial donations, donate cleaning supplies like garbage bags, paper towels, dog shampoo, and puppy pads, or shop at Goin’ to the Dogs Thrift Shoppe. “We’re always looking for new volunteers who want to come in and work the store,” said Motola. Good items to donate to the store include lightly used clothing and home décor in good condition (clean, no tears, no missing zippers or buttons). Anything they don’t plan to sell is donated to another thrift store or nonprofit. Motola looked around Goin’ to the Dogs Thrift Shoppe and said, “This is from all the people who support Crossed Paws. It’s just really cool.” Keep up with Goin’ to the Dogs on social media to learn about sales and new inventory. They often bring dogs to the store so guests can shop and get a little pooch smooch from a sweet pup like five-year-old wired-haired terrier, Loki, and 6 to 7-yearold longhair dachshund, Willie, who at the time of print, are available for adoption! Goin’ to the Dogs Thrift Shoppe 106B Main St, Auburndale FB @gointothedogsthriftshoppe (407) 414-5651 Crossed Paws Pet Rescue Crossedpawspetrescue.org FB @crossedpawspetrescue Photography by Amy Sexson

Put on your finest Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops – Cabana Boy Ice Cream is open for business, baby! Well, they’ve actually been open for two months and have quickly become a sweet tooth fixture in Winter Haven. A bright spot of manicured landscaping, tiki décor, and Hawaiian music on Avenue G NW, Cabana Boy Ice Cream is the brain (freeze) child of self-described “ice cream addicts” Gina and Chuck Erickson. Chuck is in the business of skateboard manufacturing and started Sabotage Skate Shop in Winter Haven, and Gina is an accountant. They moved to Auburndale from California. The ice cream shop may have opened two months ago, but renovations on the building have been gradually ongoing for three years. “When we bought it, it was a disaster. It needed everything,” Chuck said. Gina agreed, “It needed so much love.” “Since 1974, from what we understand, it was the Banana Boat. There was a couple that owned it for years and years,” Chuck said. Eventually, the building would change hands before sitting vacant for some time. Looking online at local real estate, Chuck said, “We saw it pop up, and I thought, ‘Let’s go check it out. It looks interesting.’” So the couple came to the vacant spot and sat at an old fiberglass table to check the place out. “All of the sudden, this car pulls up, and this lady and two kids get out to get ice cream,” Chuck said. The Erickson’s relayed that the business was closed. Shortly after, another truck pulled up with a couple also looking for a cold treat. Chuck said, “This is interesting. Let’s make an offer on it just for fun.” The Erickson’s bought 2610 Avenue G NW ‘as is’ and started the three-year-long renovation project. Little by little, they worked to replace the septic, install new three-phase electricity, flooring, new walls, fix the air conditioning – the list goes on. The Erickson’s gave their future ice cream shop a total tiki makeover. “I think where it really started was this restaurant and bar called the Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach, California. I started going there as a little kid with my family. I actually proposed to [Gina] there,” Chuck said. “It’s like my favorite restaurant. It was super old-school, dirty nasty tiki, and the bar was super awesome and fun. It was just one of my favorite places, and I always loved the whole tiki scene and look.” For their ice cream shop, at which pineapple Dole whip would be a staple (now their most popular flavor), a Hawaiian backyard paradise in Winter Haven just made sense for the theme. “We want people to be able to escape here. Come get an ice cream and relax for ten minutes, not think about the rest of the world,” Chuck said. Cabana Boy Ice Cream currently offers 13 shaved ice flavors and 16 flavors of Yoder’s Southern Creamery ice cream. “We could come here and buy Hershey’s or some less quality brand and make more profit for sure, but we are ice-creamaholics, 100%. We’re buying what we love,” Chuck said. “There’s nothing that competes with Yoder’s, in our opinion. It’s our favorite – the chocolate peanut butter, the mudslide. It’s legit.” And Cabana Boy ice cream comes with a souvenir spoon that changes color when it gets cold – something to remember them by. “Gina runs the kitchen, and I’m just the idea guy,” Erickson said. Gina’s favorite aspect of the business is being creative. “I love cooking. I love the kitchen, making new stuff, trying new flavors,” she said. Cabana Boy’s social media is an ode to Gina’s colorful creations with treats like Orange Dole with Chamoy and Tajin topped off with an orange slice and colorful cocktail umbrella. One bite of that, and I bet you could almost hear the waves. The couple is working on adding classic and teriyaki burgers to the menu in the next few months. “We love that kind of food, and besides, it goes with the theme. We haven’t found anything like that around here,” Gina said of the teriyaki burger. Chuck enjoys meeting cool people and sharing stories with them. Especially since everyone’s happy. It’s hard not to smile after a bite of ice cream – all your worries melt away (pun intended). “You come here, and you eat ice cream. How could you not be happy? [...] For less than $5, you’re happy, and you escape reality for a minute.” Don’t forget to squeeze Cabana Boy’s tiki statue butt on the way out – it’s tradition. And maybe good luck? Cabana Boy Ice Cream 2610 Avenue G NW, Winter Haven (863) 268-6008 www.cabanaboyicecream.com FB: Cabana Boy Ice Cream IG @cabanaboyicecream Photography by Amy Sexson

Since starting the Polk County Bully Project (PCBP), Co-directors Shannon Medina and Angie Lorio and their now 30 active volunteers have saved over 1,200 dogs. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit is a foster-based rescue organization dedicated to finding homes for the often misunderstood breed of pups that fall into the ‘Pit Bull’ category and reducing euthanasia rates in Polk County. Haven first interviewed the Polk County Bully Project in 2019 and wanted to catch up with the group to learn about their progress and find out how the community can help PCBP reach its goals. HAVEN: What is the mission of the PCBP? PCBP: We save those dogs most at risk at Animal Control which typically are the bully breeds that makeup 75% of the dogs in the shelter. Dogs labeled ‘pit bull’ are rescueonly and are not allowed to be adopted out at Polk County Animal Control. We pull those dogs also that are in need of medical treatment and/or hospice care or are heartworm positive. HAVEN: What is a bully breed, and why does your organization aim to help bully breeds specifically? PCBP: Bully breeds are a category of dog that have a blocky head. It is a category made up of about ten different breeds of dogs that include the American bulldog, Staffordshire terrier, and Pitbull, to name a few. HAVEN: Bully breeds have a bad reputation. What would you say to someone who thinks of them as dangerous or illtempered to change that perception? PCBP: I would equivocate that to any other prejudice. Any dog can be trained to be protective of their owners. This breed is extremely loyal and smart. They are factually the most abused breed than any other. They score 87% on the temperament test as being excellent, loving, and gentle family dogs. HAVEN: How do you go about accomplishing your goal to save dogs? PCBP: We fundraise to pay for vetting and housing and have the support of our community. We are currently working on a spay and neuter voucher program to assist those unable to alter their pets. HAVEN: What are the problems in the community or with irresponsible pet ownership that make what you do necessary? PCBP: • Spay/neuter affordability • Heartworm positive dogs • Backyard breeders • Dog dumping • Lost dogs with no chip, tag, or license • Tethering – especially without a cover • Insurance companies’ breed restrictions • Landlord breed restrictions HAVEN: When we last spoke, the PCBP had a goal of making Polk County NO KILL by 2025. Is that goal on track? How can the community help to make that happen? PCBP: We will never stop trying. Dogs must be spayed and neutered. Unlicensed breeding must be stopped. People breeding dogs in their backyards must be fined and held accountable. HAVEN: Another dream you mentioned when we last spoke was to one day have a facility of your own to expand what you were doing and be a resource and partner to other animal organizations. Has that dream been realized? PCBP: Since we last spoke, we did get a facility to hold up to 25 homeless dogs. However, we quickly outgrew that facility and are currently looking for a larger space. HAVEN: How can folks get involved with PCBP? Are there volunteer, sponsorship, adoption, education, or donation opportunities? What is your organization’s biggest need? PCBP: We absolutely love our volunteers, and we have a coordinator that takes care of processing applications, setting up introductions to our facility, and the scheduling of them. It’s always helpful to have people share our dogs and social media and talk about the work that we are doing as well. Of course, monetary donations are fundamental to keeping our project running. Probably the easiest and quickest way to reach us is by emailing us at polkcountybullyproject.gmail.com. HAVEN: Are there any PCBP rescue stories that stand out in your mind over the last few years? PCBP: Everyone seems to know Aspen’s story. He came into the rescue just over a year ago. He was confiscated by Polk County Animal Control from a home that had him tied in the backyard with his jaw bound closed and a nylon cord wrapped around his head. When we rescued him, he had open holes in his sinuses on his face and required reconstructive surgery to close them and to get his mouth to properly close. We have fundraised and performed eight reconstructive facial surgeries. He was just adopted two weeks ago. For more information on Polk County Bully Project, to follow rescue stories like that of Aspen, and support the cause, visit www.polkcountybullyproject.org, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @polkcountybullyproject.

A love of cats (and plants), a trip to an Orlando cat café, and a passion for helping animals led Lakeland native Janette Nettler to her dream job – one she created for herself. Florida’s first cat adoption lounge and plant nursery, Botany Cats, opened earlier this year and has introduced 12 cats to their new pet parents. “There are so many cats out on the streets and in shelters. All the shelters are completely full, and I want to help as many as I can,” Nettler said. Janette Nettler has loved animals since childhood. She got her first cat at age four, followed by another several years later. As an adult, she got two Corgis and found that she adored dogs too. Now she has three cats at home, “Plus these guys, of course,” she said of her Botany Cats brood. Born in Lakeland, Nettler lived in North Carolina from age four to 14 before moving back to the Swan City. After another move, she’s been back in Lakeland for two years. “I keep coming back, and it gets better every time,” she said. “I consider Lakeland my home.” She went to college to study elementary education but gravitated toward veterinary medicine. Nettler changed career paths and became a veterinary technician for about five years. “I loved helping the animals,” she said. “I just wanted to do something a little more – to have something of my own and be able to plan my work schedule around my family.” Familiar with the cat café concept, Nettler had the fleeting thought that she, too, could create an atmosphere around cappuccinos and cats. “I thought the idea of a cat café was so unique. There are so many cats out there that need homes. The boutique experience of a cat café was so different from a shelter,” she said. She took a trip to an Orlando cat café in 2021. “It was so relaxing, and it was fun, and the cats didn’t seem stressed. […] I fell in love and decided to make it a reality for Lakeland, but a little different – I put my own spin on it.” BOTANY CATS HITS THE ROAD The original idea was to have a brick-and-mortar cat lounge. Finding space within budget proved difficult. Nettler didn’t have any experience working in coffee shops either, and Lakeland already has some great ones. Why not bring Botany Cats to them? Nettler rethought her business plan and decided to make it mobile. She first thought of renovating a school bus, but the concept soon evolved. “I thought, ‘I already have a truck. Why don’t I get something I can pull?’ I started looking at campers, and I found this one,” she said. Her cat adoption lounge and plant nursery took the form of a 2009 Dutchmen Freedom Spirit travel trailer. “The layout was pretty much what I wanted anyway. I didn’t have to do too much as far as renovations go,” said Nettler. “Everything started working out, and it was like, ‘Well, this is what it’s supposed to be then.’” She bought the trailer last November. “I took it camping to break it in before I did any renovations,” she said. The kitty camper took only a few months to renovate with minor cosmetic upgrades like removing the dinette and building a bench for more seating. Nettler dubbed the trailer Demeter. The Greek goddess of harvest and agriculture and a character in the Broadway musical “Cats,” Demeter was a fitting name to marry Nettler’s two concepts. Botany Cats’ first day open was February 9, with a grand opening on March 5 at The Green House Garden Store – a locally owned plant shop where Nettler sources her plants. Now Nettler brings Botany Cats to local establishments like Quinteassence Kava Bar – where we met with her – Hillcrest Coffee, the Polk Museum of Art, and the Lakeland Public Library. “I can bring the kitties to the people. They don’t have to come to me, which is great,” she said. Nettler says she plans to work with other Lakeland businesses, including Cob & Pen, Swan Brewing, and The Joinery. Those on the east side of Polk County won’t have to travel far for kitten cuddles either, as Nettler will occasionally be joining the Saturday lineup at the Winter Haven Farmers Market starting in May. She’s looking to partner with other businesses in Winter Haven, from the library to coffee shops and the brewery. “I’m very excited to get in touch with that community,” she said. SO WHAT’S A CAT LOUNGE ANYWAY? “A cat lounge is full of adoptable kitties,” Nettler said. “All of mine are rescues, so either I get them from the SPCA [or] a rescue out of Kissimmee called Liberation Cat House – they take in medical cases, and then when they’re healthy and ready to be adopted, they can send them to me.” Nettler also has pet owners reach out to her when they can no longer care for their cats. She takes them in, has them checked by a veterinarian, and gets them ready for adoption. All the cats up for adoption at Botany Cats have been fully vaccinated, microchipped, spayed/neutered, dewormed, given monthly flea prevention, and tested for common diseases such as feline leukemia, aids, rabies, distemper, etc., according to their website. Though the purring posse at Botany Cats are looking for furr-ever homes, adoption isn’t a requirement to play with cats and shop plants. “Whenever you see me around town, just come in and hang out with them for a little bit.” Typically, Nettler allows four people in the same party at a time to play with the cats. At larger events like farmers markets, it’s open for 15-minute walk-ins. During the week, when she’s at the museum or a coffee shop, she accepts reservations online – $7 for 30-minute appointments. Walk-ins are welcome, too, if available – $9 for 30 minutes. Nettler notes it’s always a good idea to make a reservation as it secures your spot and saves a bit of money (which you’re sure to need for all the cat toys and treats you’ll be buying your new fuzzy friend after you fall in love with an adoptable kitty). According to Botany Cats, “Cats have a huge impact on both your physical and mental health by lowering stress levels, heart rates, and boosting positivity. The adoption experience should be the same. Calmer humans + stress-free cats = forever homes found.” Those interested in adopting a cat can learn all about them, including their medical history, from the Botany Cats owner. “I spend more time with these kids than my cats at home, so I know their personalities and I’m very passionate about matching them with the perfect family, the perfect home,” she said. Since opening in February, Botany Cats has adopted out 12 cats! As for the ‘Botany’ part of the name, Nettler offers a selection of cat-friendly plants for sale. She’s working on expanding her offerings, even starting a greenhouse at home where she plans to grow catnip and cat grass. Alongside the cat-friendly greenery for sale, Botany Cats offers cat supplies, handmade scrunchies, headbands, and cat bandanas by local maker East of These. Two other local artists have work for purchase at Botany Cats – digital prints by Gently Mental and pet portraits by Gabriella Escalera of Gaby’s Art Gallery. Even the mural of Nettler’s cat, Bear, on the trailer’s façade, was painted by local artist Maegan Carroll. THE FUTURE SOUNDS PURR-FECT “For the future of Botany Cats, I’m definitely still looking at the brick-and-mortar side of it. In a couple of years, I’m hoping to have a larger space – a more permanent space – but also still have the trailer. [...] I still want to have [the trailer] to go to the farmers markets because they’re such a big hit, but have a larger space to take in more cats and rotate what cats I bring on the road. That might look like a partnership with a local bakery or a startup coffee shop or something. I’m open to partnerships,” said Nettler. What’s the most rewarding part about running Botany Cats? According to Nettler, “Definitely the adoptions. It warms my heart so much hearing the stories from the new owners after they take their babies home and how well it’s working at home. They’re not pressured to keep the cat if something were not to work out [...] they can always bring the cat back to me, and I’ll try to find a better fit. […] For the 12 adoptions I’ve had, it’s been nothing but happy stories, and I love it so much.” Follow Botany Cats on social media and their website to stay updated on where they’ll roll into next, for reservations for some much-needed cat therapy, and information about adoptions. Botany Cats botanycats.com FB @BotanyCatsLKLD IG @botany_cats Photography by Amy Sexson

Lakeland-based nonprofit SPCA Florida is abuzz with construction, renovations, and new programs to better care for the cats and dogs that come into their facility. According to SPCA Florida Executive Director Shelley Thayer, these improvements are made possible through community generosity and participation. SPCA Florida is a nonprofit organization founded in 1979. This no-kill shelter “exists to eliminate animal suffering and to engage the entire community in the welfare and well-being of animals. We accomplish this by advancing model programs to promote the adoption of healthy animals, prevent dog and cat overpopulation, provide veterinary medical services for animals in the community, and keep animals in homes through relinquishment intervention strategies,” according to their mission statement. Last year, SPCA Florida saved 4,282 lives and performed 4,523 spay/neuter surgeries. The nonprofit’s Annual Save Rate for dogs and cats combined has risen from 92% in 2019, 94% in 2020, to 96% in 2021. OH, SNAP! April 9, 2022, was the end of a chapter for SPCA Florida. It marked the 30th and final Walk for the Animals, a fundraising event that raised over $90,000 this year. Though this was the final Walk for the Animals, the organization isn’t closing the book, just flipping the page to new programs. Smokepoint Rock for Paws, another SPCA Florida fundraiser, is coming up this month on May 14. The event held at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven will benefit one such new program, SPCA Florida’s Emergency Response Team, FL SARC. The event promises live music and a raffle with prizes from an electric guitar and amp package to a full-size complete drum kit and more. FL SARC (Florida State Animal Rescue Coalition) is a ten-year old nonprofit brought onboard by SPCA Florida last year. The only FEMA-approved nonprofit volunteer training organization in the United States, FL SARC’s mission is dedicated to disaster mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery for emergencies involving companion animals. “Last year, we deployed three teams to Louisiana to help the animals there. We’ve also transported animals for other organizations to get them out of harm’s way,” said Thayer. “The goal this year is to train another 450 people for boots on the ground training for these disasters,” said Thayer of their aim to train state volunteers along with 25 certified trainers in 2022. Another of the nonprofit’s current efforts is SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program), which has the goal of spaying and neutering 3,350 community and personally owned cats. “This effort will reduce our county’s euthanasia rate by reducing unwanted births,” according to SPCA Florida’s 2021 Annual Report. To meet this goal, SPCA Florida has a brand new surgery center under construction on the Adoption Center side of their complex. The project looks to be completed by mid-May. “When I first got here, all the animals from the Adoption Center would go through our hospital. It didn’t leave very much room for the public,” said executive director Shelley Thayer. For the last two years, SPCA Adoption Center veterinary staff have been working out of a borrowed trailer to spay and neuter, performing surgeries on around 5,000 animals in the tiny space. “Finally, we’re building our own surgery center in the adoption area so that we can do dental for the first time ever on all of our cats and dogs, and we can spay and neuter more animals than we’ve ever done before,” she said. “It frees up our trailer to help people with their personal pets to do free and low-cost spay and neuter.” Three donors have committed $500 each to wrap the trailer’s exterior with pictures of pets, similar to SPCA Florida’s transport vans. They need seven more donors. “We’re really excited about being able to do both. Being able to help the public more than we have in the past, which also helps Animal Control with not so many animals coming in, and then people maybe not having the funds to get their animals spayed or neutered – this will be a blessing to them.” Thayer praised SPCA Florida Adoption Center Veterinarian Dr. Robyn Barton, calling her a “godsend.” “She’s the best shelter vet I’ve ever met. We’re lucky to have her here in Polk County,” Thayer said. “She was determined to get them all done on this trailer, and she has.” Barton’s efforts will soon be rewarded with the addition of the spacious new surgery center, complete with a prep area, two surgery tables overlooking large windows, a washer and dryer, a dentistry area, a pharmacy, and more. With kitten and puppy season shortly upon them, SPCA Florida aims to mitigate unwanted litters by spaying and neutering as many animals as possible. “This opens a whole new world for our community,” Thayer said of the surgery center. “We’ll be able to save a couple more thousand cats and dogs a year because of it.” “This is all through the generosity of people. It’s all donations,” said the SPCA Florida executive director. “You can see from the trailer, to this, how excited everybody is to be able to work in this space and how much more we’ll be able to do.” Additionally, SPCA Florida became a training center for Lincoln Memorial University and Ross University students in their final year of veterinarian training. Thayer noted that the organization is also working with Hillsborough Community College for CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) training, students who will also be able to assist in the new surgery center. A WALK IN THE DOG PARK Construction on the surgery center isn’t the only renovation set to take place (or already in motion) at the SPCA. Adjacent to the surgery center will be two new puppy pens and a “working cat” adoption pen. “Having a place for the puppies is important because when they’re little, their feet can’t touch the ground because they haven’t had all their vaccines. Having the puppy pens that we’re going to build out here will be great because they’ll be able to go outside and get fresh air and play,” said Thayer. The nonprofit is soon to replace its flooring with poured epoxy and move its laundry facilities to a separate building outside to reduce the risk of a dryer fire. It will be adding industrial washers and dryers for the first time. They recently refreshed their canine area with new grass and a widened walking trail. “We’ve been working with a group out of Tampa as their corporate project to help us clear our walking trail,” said Thayer. The trail is a loop through the woods (where it is considerably cooler), along which there are three pens to work on basic skills with adoptable pups. The same group helping to widen the trails, CAPTRUST, will be returning to help install benches around the area. “It’s projects like that – the community working together – that help make things nicer,” Thayer said. SPCA Florida’s most significant need is financial support for medical care. Aside from that, the executive director would love to have a garden club to take care of lawn maintenance and keep the facility looking nice. Those looking to help SPCA Florida in their mission to save animals can sign up for a Doggie Date which often results in adoptions through their interactions around town, or consider shopping for your own dog or cat at their store. Located at the front of the Adoption Center, the store offers various toys, leashes, collars, pet clothes, treats, and the like at discounted prices — purchases from the store benefit SPCA Florida. From those contributing to programs like SNAP and FL SARC, donating supplies and food and funds, to volunteers, Shelley Thayer says, “It’s everybody working together” that makes their mission possible. SPCA Florida 5850 Brannen Rd S, Lakeland (863) 646-7722 www.spcaflorida.org FB @SPCAFlorida IG @spca_florida Photography by Amy Sexson

My family grew oranges in a grove next to a little wild lake in Polk County for four generations. The grove yielded its sweet crop and stood next to the lake for over 75 years. It was home to turkey, bobcat, hogs, and deer. It shielded the lake and kept it, at least in my young mind, a wild and sacred place, and those rows of green trees covered in golden globes witnessed many good memories and moments of solitude. It was a place I loved. In 1989, the grove was lost to a hard freeze, as were many others that winter. My uncle, generation number three, replanted the grove the following year. By a fortunate accident, blood oranges found their way into the rows of the grove. Through a nurseryman’s error, 10 blood orange trees were included with hundreds of Hamlins to be replanted. I was 5 when those trees were put in the ground. My memories of the grove began after time revealed the surprise, and the grove had become a mature stand of trees next to the little wild lake. Each year, I always made sure to flag a couple of the blood orange trees ensuring that they held tight to their golden treasure and didn’t end up in the harvest crew’s trailer. While they lasted, they were a sweet treat on days afield and while working in the grove. The elevation and the deep sandy soils told me that Tall Pines once grew next to the lake. Except for a small patch of long overgrown woods showing the groves ancestry, the grove is all I’ve known. As far back as I can remember groves surrounded my family’s grove and the lake. They seemed a vast, wild landscape in their rolling expanse over the sandhills. As wild as the groves seemed I could only imagine the native flat woods and scrub of the not-so-distant past. Many mornings found me among the tree rows stalking feral hogs and whispering to Osceola Turkeys. Many mornings found me on the little wild lake fishing for speckled perch or hunting ducks and alligator. Those mornings spent in pursuit of game are memories as sweet as the oranges that grew on the trees. One of my favorite memories includes bluebills, which every year would migrate from the far north and navigate to our lake next to the grove. Each year flocks of bluebills would announce their final approach as primary feathers sounded descent. Small jets landing and sounding very much like the large ones on final descent into Orlando! With regularity, I would find myself on one of these outings contemplating time and place, as a short walk through the grove would yield evidence that man had occupied this land for thousands of years prior. Arrowheads and pottery shards sent my mind wandering. How long ago was this projectile used in the same pursuits I was on? How tall were the pines that towered overhead? How loud were the bluebills landing on the lake back then? What was he hunting, and did he find the same satisfaction in this place that I did? I often thought while hunting, working, camping, and finding arrowheads, that one day I’d bring my yet-to-beconceived family here. We would sit and call at turkeys, listen to bluebills cruise through the skies, and treat ourselves with blood oranges as summer held onto fall. We would camp and fish and make memories. We would find arrowheads, and the concept of time and my relationship to this special place would transfer generations. It had been a couple of years since I walked the grove. I knelt to pick up a broken coral arrowhead, one like many I’d found before. I faced the lake and saw the raft of bluebills which had concluded their migration south, to this spot, for as far back as I could remember. This would be my last walk here. The last time I would hear the bluebills on the little wild lake, the last time I would pick up an arrowhead. The blood oranges have been gone for several years, as have most of the groves around here. They got hammered by a disease and gobbled up by development. All that remains is the small patch of woods and an empty field. My family hasn’t owned the grove for a few years (technically I was trespassing), but it would be my last time doing so. I returned to say goodbye. The lake was still beautiful and wild but not for long. A wall of gray, beige, and off-white boxes across the street foretold what was to come. “The last crop” would soon be planted. Rows of houses would soon line this field. The developer pulled up and asked why I was there. I talked with him. “Can’t stop progress” he mentioned. I feigned a smile. “We break ground in two weeks.” I wondered if anyone would wander and wonder about tall pines, ancient peoples, and sweet blood oranges while walking a cul-de-sac. When all that covers this land and surrounds this lake is humdrum rooftops, will anyone be inspired by this once sacred place? Anyways, I do miss those Blood Oranges.

“The Patron Saint of Justice,” a new mural by the internationally renowned Icelandic artist Lokey Prakkarastrik, featuring Polk County’s often controversial but never camera-shy Sheriff Grady Judd, has been approved to replace “The Calm.” The former mural depicting a group of people riding atop a whale has graced the west side of Heartland Church in downtown Winter Haven since 2015. “I must admit, at first, I was at a loss,” Prakkarastrik said. Eventually, the artist found her inspiration with the help of the social media platform TikTok. “I was aimlessly scrolling my life away on the TikToks… the addictive nature of this platform is maddening. However, I came across this video of the great Sheriff Grady telling people to chill out, drink 7ups, eat the Moonpies, and stop with the murdering. I said to myself, “Ég hef fundið það! This is it, my muse!” “For the most part, the people in this community are excited about this new piece,” said James De’Pokets, the millionaire investor who commissioned the mural. “The Patron Saint of Justice’’ will be the first of several art installations scheduled to hit the streets of Central Florida in 2022. These art pieces are all a part of his initiative to pay tribute to local heroes through the power of art, simply called Make America Grateful for Our Local Men and Women That Put Their Lives on the Line Every Day, Again. “It’s a working title,” says De’Pokets. “I think this is going to be a beautiful addition to the other murals and sculptures featured in downtown Winter Haven. I can think of no better way to honor a great man that has dedicated his life to shooting bad guys and shooting them a lot.” Local residents and business owners are divided on the execution of the project. Pat Hernandez, owner and sole proprietor of Smooth Operator Bikini Waxes, located directly across the street from the new mural, had this to say. “When a client comes in for one of my world-famous bikini waxes, they expect two things. Number one, the absolute smoothest bikini line money can buy, and two, a great view of downtown Winter Haven, unobstructed by this grotesque attempt of self-expression. It’s the last thing I want my clients to see. It’s hideous. And as a person who stares at butts all day, that’s saying something.” However, some people see this as a welcomed addition to the thriving artistic culture of downtown. People like Karen Conway, a self-described proud animal rights activist, said, “I am so happy to see that disgusting display of animal abuse taken down and replaced with something wholesome. Sheriff Grady Judd is a true American hero who inspires me to be a better person and makes my heart smile.” Although Sheriff Grady Judd could not be reached directly to comment on his new shrine, a representative from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office had this to say, “Everyone here at the Sheriff’s office is deeply moved by this arresting work of art. We all know how much Grady hates the spotlight. It’s about time our Sheriff gets a little recognition for all the good work he has done.” If you know a local hero and would like to nominate them to the Make America Grateful for Our Local Men and Women That Put Their Lives on the Line Every Day, Again Arts Initiative, email april_foolz@havenmagazines.com.

Swans? More like yawns. Zebra Longwing Butterfly? But why? It’s official. Lakeland and Winter Haven have new city symbols. After reviewing the abilities and weaknesses of many creatures in the MonsterVerse, Mayor Bill Mutz chose Godzilla to be Lakeland’s new symbol, and Mayor Brad Dantzler tapped Mothra for Winter Haven on March 16. Both mayors signed executive orders despite many detractors. Rumors are swirling around what caused this sudden power move. A source close to Dantzler and Mutz say they’re just a couple of buds that like to get together with candy and popcorn for ‘Mayor Monster Movie Nights.’ “This is Pandemonium!” shouted Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz as a fire-breathing beast rose from the murky depths of Lake Mirror behind him. “That’s the title of this sculpture, “Pandemonium.” I like it, it’s catchy. And look at that guy, so scary! It’s like, ‘Ahhhhh! Godzilla, no! Don’t destroy our city with your atomic breath!” he chuckled during the official unveiling of the concept. The statue will be Lakeland’s largest public art project of 2022. The stone statue of Godzilla will protrude from Lake Mirror with fountain features to give the effect of water cascading off his 210-foot frame. The tallest structure in Lakeland currently is the Lakeland Electric Building sitting at 148 feet. That will not be the case come summer 2022. The installation “Pandemonium” was designed to tower over all in its path. “You know, like in the movies,” said the project’s lead architect. A fire feature will shoot 50-foot flames from the open maw of the monster, and LED lights mimicking Godzilla’s atomic rays will shine from his back spikes. The atomic rays can sync up to music and display different colors. The city plans to use this festive feature during the holidays, pairing Godzilla’s atomic rays with classic Christmas tunes. To assist citizens in keeping time, speakers around the lake will emit an earthshaking roar every hour, on the hour. The art installation will cost taxpayers an estimated $412M. With such a slash to the city budget, it looks like Lakeland may be in store for an even more restrictive road diet as they won’t be able to afford any more road. Many businesses who have embraced Lakeland’s former symbol, the swan, for their name or logo are upset with the mayor’s hasty choice. “Now my brewery doesn’t make any sense,” said a local brewery owner. “The permitting process to change it to Godzilla Brewing has been a bureaucratic nightmare.” Apartment communities, tattoo shops, retail stores, doctors’ offices, even the City of Lakeland itself will have to get with the program and join the rebrand. Things aren’t faring much better on the county’s east side, either. Mayor Dantzler’s executive decision to make Mothra the city symbol will have a comparable economic impact with hundreds of art fixtures, the purchase of a radio station, and the cost of repainting planes. The City of Winter Haven’s former mascot and the official butterfly for the state is the Zebra Longwing Butterfly. Its graceful black wings banded with yellow were no match for Mothra’s reflective scales and telepathy. Rodan, King Ghidorah, Behemoth, King Kong, and Methuselah were all close to claiming the title of Winter Haven’s official symbol. “Scylla was popular with the commissioners, but she’s a Spider Titan, and I have arachnophobia,” said Mayor Dantzler. “The City’s mascot is already a butterfly, and I mean, come on – supersonic flight, antenna beams, stinger blast, silk, wind. The list for what makes Mothra cool goes on and on.” Last year, artist Gillian Fazio completed the Haven mural on the Alan L. Ulch building downtown. As part of the city rebrand, Fazio has been asked to change the butterfly atop the letter ‘A’ into Mothra shooting energy beams at the letter ‘H.’ Senior art majors at Polk State College are constructing Mothra hanging installations that will dangle from trees in Central Park and spew silk at passersby. Winter Haven is in talks with the Auburndale Rotary Butterfly Garden to replace all butterflies with moths and change its name to the Auburndale Rotary Mothra Garden. Since telepathy is one of Mothra’s primary abilities, the City of Winter Haven purchased its own radio station WWMZ where citizens can hear “All Mothra, all the time.” The station will play city announcements and news with interspersed giant insect growls. Winter Haven is also known as ‘The Seaplane Capital of the World.’ All seaplanes at Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base will undergo a Mothra makeover so the community can enjoy our new city symbol anytime a seaplane takes flight. Discussions about installing prismatic beams on the planes are ongoing. The city mascots have been finalized, and there is no recourse for those who disagree with the creature feature choices. Citizens opposed to the official city symbol changes are asked to “Chill out,” according to a joint statement from the mayors. If you have any Godzilla or Mothra-related public art ideas for Lakeland or Winter Haven, please email april_foolz@havenmagazines.com. Images by Ella Doyle