Diners at WACO Kitchen overlook the Lakeland Linder International Airport runway as planes taxi in and take off. A comfortable space to enjoy an exceptional meal, the restaurant offers plush low-back booths and light spilling in through sprawling second-story panoramic windows. What it provides in views, the restaurant matches, if not surpasses, with its menu. WACO Kitchen was started in Battle Creek, Michigan, in January 2021, by aviation enthusiast Dieter Morszeck as a restaurant extension of WACO Aircraft. The aircraft company is the world’s only FAA & EASA-Certified manufacturer of sport biplanes produced today based on the original type certificates from the 1920s and ‘30s. “WACO is an aircraft company that’s grown into a restaurant because they wanted to feed the ladies and gentlemen that build the planes,” said WACO Kitchen Restaurant Manager Todd Kercher, a 30-year hospitality industry veteran who has been with WACO for a little over two years. The biplane bistro did so well that Morszeck decided to open it to the public. Less than a year after opening the Battle Creek eatery, Morszeck extended WACO’s offerings to Lakeland in the terminal building on the second floor of the Lakeland Linder International Airport. “We began as American-European fare, and it’s blending now,” Kercher said. “We’re making it local to Lakeland, whereas Battle Creek is doing the same. It gives our chef the freedom to create dishes and go with what the desires in Lakeland are.” Kercher bragged on Chef Bret Pelaggi for his ability to craft visually and appetizingly sumptuous dishes. Pelaggi is from Boston, where he worked for Sibling Rivalry and the English Hospitality Group. In 2012, he and his wife moved to Miami, where he was cast to be on season 11 of Food Network’s “Top Chef.” He went on to open Uvaggio in Miami, which won best wine bar and was nominated for best new restaurant. In 2017, Pelaggi left the restaurant business for four years to work in food service manufacturing and recipe development. When he was recruited for WACO, “It was a good fit,” he said. The chef started in February, just before the annual SUN ‘n FUN event. “I’m still learning what Lakeland likes and doesn’t like,” he said. “The whole thing is starting to come together.” Their menu – in a realm between fast-casual and fine dining – boasts fresh and decadent lunch and dinner offerings unlike anything in Lakeland. The Bavarian pretzel with gruyere fondue and pickled veggies is a must-order for the table. For a lighter bite, opt for the watermelon salad. If summertime had a signature dish, this would be it. The salad has sweet, crisp watermelon, feta, kalamata olives, Suman, mint, cucumber, arugula, and almonds. The duck leg confit will call your name for dinner. Tender duck is served over white grits with ricotta, pecan Swiss chard, plum, and port syrup. Locally sourced grouper is used in one of their most popular dishes, the fried grouper sandwich topped with smoked paprika aioli, tomato jam, pickled shallots, lettuce, and tomato. “We just want a menu of really good food. You can categorize it how you want,” said Pelaggi. He described their offerings as “good food with different cultural influences.” A handful of menu items, including the WACO tacos and the Biplane Burger, can be found at both locations. Their beverage options boast local craft beer and Lakeland-brewed Ethos Coffee. All their bread, flatbreads, and desserts are made in-house from scratch by WACO’s pastry chef, Patty M. Along with a full cocktail menu soaring with spirits with fun aviation-themed names like the Paper Plane Martini and the Rumway Mule, WACO’s wine menu features nine varietals of owner Dieter Morszeck’s Portuguese wine. The olive oil used in-house also hails from his own brand in Portugal. Fly (or drive) over to WACO Kitchen to check out their new menu, revamped in July. We previewed the three-grain power bowl with organic raw apple cider vinaigrette, farrow, buckwheat, barley, Portuguese olive oil, ube, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, spinach, apple, and blueberry. It was a refreshing and filling glimpse into their seasonal menu. Photography by Amy Sexson WACO Kitchen (WACO rhymes with taco) 3900 Don Emerson Dr, Lakeland (863) 583-4004 wacokitchen.com Facebook @Waco Kitchen Lakeland Instagram @wacokitchenfl

Sweet summertime! Kids are out of school, and there’s plenty of sunshine (and rain) to go around. Now is the perfect time for a quick vacay to one of the quintessential Florida destinations in our backyard or the ones a road trip away. There are fantastic places to visit in every direction, and we’ve compiled a list of some fun, educational, wacky, relaxing, spooky, and enriching summer trips. Whether you’re looking to camp and kayak, sun and swim, or milk snakes and hunt the elusive Skunk Ape, we’ve got it on the list. Don’t forget to snap a photo and post it on social media with #kindachill or #lkldhaven – you might end up in the next issue. Bon voyage, babe! Robert is Here Fruit Stand The year is 1959. Six-year-old Robert was set on a corner to sell his father’s cucumber crop. As the story goes, “Robert sat all day that Saturday and no one even stopped. That evening, Robert’s father decided that ‘There can’t be that many people who don’t like cucumbers; they must not see this little boy standing here on the corner.’” Determined to sell his crop the next day, Robert’s father placed signs around the little fruit stand with big red letters that said: “Robert is Here.” The signage must have done the trick because, by noon, Robert was walking home after selling out of his father’s cucumbers. A neighboring farmer added produce to his display, and Robert took occasional help from his little sister Rose. His mother arranged for the bus to pick him up and drop him off each day at his fruit stand, which grew with such gusto that by age nine, Robert hired a neighbor to work for him while he attended school. The young fruit-selling mogul bought his first ten acres when he was fourteen, on which he planted an avocado grove and rented out the house. Today, passers-by are drawn in by the “Robert is Here” signage, now in huge white lettering atop a much larger building than the stand in which he started. What began as a modest fruit stand continues as a family-owned and operated tourist destination specializing in rare and exotic fruits and veggies grown mostly on their Homestead, Florida farms. In addition to produce, guests can indulge in fresh fruit milkshakes and homemade key lime pies. There is also an animal farm, play area, picnic tables, and live music on weekends and holidays. Anna Maria Island A barrier island on Florida’s shimmering Gulf Coast, Anna Maria Island is a popular beach destination for much of Central Florida. It has an island life vibe and a favorable selection of public beaches on which to sun and swim. Popular beaches include Manatee Public Beach, Anna Maria Public Beach, Bean Point Beach, Coquina Beach, and Bayfront Park. If a beach day is what you’re after, pack a cooler, a towel, and SPF, and you’ll be good – or take out the boat (or rent one) for saltwater fishing and sea life spotting. A weekend stay in one of the many cheery, beachy-hued condos on the island is preferable to get in all that AMI offers. Take the Island Trolly up and down all 7 miles of the island for free. Something to do, eat, or buy will be within walking distance of one of the trolley’s 35 northbound and 35 southbound stops. If you’re imbibing during your trip, the island has plenty to choose from. For a Hurricane that won’t make you panic-buy supplies and Sex on the Beach that won’t get you arrested (maybe), stop into Hurricane Hank’s for a fish sandwich and tropical cocktails. A trendy stop to get your medicine is The Doctor’s Office, a craft bar in an actual former doctor’s office. The good doc offers craft cocktails, beer, wine, and small plates to sober up. I believe the saying goes, “A stiff drink a day keeps the doctor away.” After you’ve dumped the sand from your swimsuit and assessed the sunburn you swore you wouldn’t get, don’t forget to get your photo in the clink at the old Anna Maria City Jail. This is a frequented photo-op on the island with “no roof, no doors, no windows, no bars, no guests for yrs n’ yrs.” Fort De Soto Dog Beach Park Hey, your best friend deserves a trip this summer, too – life can be ruff when you’re stuck at home all day. Fort De Soto Dog Beach Park southwest of St. Pete has 4.4 out of 5 dog bones on bringfido.com, so you know it’s legit. Fort De Soto Park itself is over 1,100 acres spanning five interconnected keys. Fort De Soto Dog Beach Park is the only place in the park where dogs are allowed on the beach and not required to wear a leash so you and Fluffy can frolic freely. Leashed pets are welcome anywhere in the park besides public beaches, piers, and buildings. Remember to bring plenty of fresh drinking water for your beach buddy! Here’s a dog/ human beach activity checklist: Play – frisbee, fetch, swimming, digging, you know the deal Meet new friends, say hello – sniff all the butts (the last part is exclusively for dogs only) Slow-motion Baywatch run together (buy dog sunglasses for full effect) Instagram photo montage (use #lkldhaven and #kindachill, and you might make it in the next issue!) Wash up at the park’s dog wash station and hang your heads out the window all the way home We hope you and your pet babe have a great day of sand, sun, barks, and belly rubs! Old Town Nostalgic music, classic cars, shops, and rides transplanted from the Main Street USA of yesterday, Old Town is the epitome of Florida roadside attraction kitsch. The park opened in 1986, located on US 192 in Kissimmee just up the road from what would later be Celebration. The park, open daily from 11 am to 11 pm, has its share of rides like a classic carousel, an arcade, a haunted house, and a five-story roller coaster aptly named the Hurricane. The Ferris wheel will give you a bird’s-eye view of Old Town and all the surrounding neon rides, mini-golf, larger-than-life tourist gift shops, and magic that dots the 192 strip. Old Town’s weekly classic car shows draw crowds to their brick-lined streets to enjoy cruising classics and hot rods. Friday night is the Muscle Car Show and Cruise, followed by Saturday night’s Classic Car Show. Guests can grab a bite or beverage at the numerous restaurants, bars, and grab-and-go options within the park, from burgers and sushi to pub fare and pizza. Top it off with some Sweet Dreams Ice Cream! Just about anything kitsch, camp, and beyond can be found in the row of shops up and down its main street – all things leather, sunglasses, Tiki, retro memorabilia, gemstones, crystals, magnets, soap, and more – even beef jerky. Remembering your trip with either a hand-drawn caricature or an old-timey portrait at Old Town Portrait Gallery is an embarrassing right of passage. If you haven’t yet had your fill of fun, walk directly next door to Fun Spot for even more rides and attractions! Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring Are you brave enough to enter the Devil’s Den? It’s not as dramatic or evil as it sounds, promise. Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring, located in Levy County, is a subterranean spring within a dry cave. The year-round 72-degree waters plunge to a maximum depth of 54 feet, covering 120 feet of surface diameter. According to devilsden.com, the cave “has been home to many extinct animal fossils dating back to the Pleistocene Age, which are on display at The University of Florida’s Museum of Natural History.” For decades, the spring has attracted divers and snorkelers from near and far. The privately-owned scuba diving training center offers scuba diving seven days a week. Open Water Certification or above and a dive buddy are required for admission. Night dives are available by reservation. If diving isn’t your thing, perhaps you’ll enjoy snorkeling which does not require any certification to participate. Children under six are not permitted access to Devil’s Den, and parties must make reservations to snorkel. A mask, snorkel, and fins are required for admission. But have no fear if you leave yours at home, you can rent them there. Make a weekend out of it at the tent campgrounds, R.V. park, or cabins available for rent. Downtown Williston is less than ten minutes from the Prehistoric Spring. You can grab a bite at The Ivy House Restaurant, BubbaQue’s BBQ, Sister’s Place, and more local haunts. Once you’ve taken a dip at the Devil’s Den, check out their website for a list of other springs as close as two miles away, like Blue Grotto to the south or Silver Springs, 30 minutes to the east, which offers glass-bottom boat tours! Little Gasparilla Island Little Gasparilla Island is an easy-paced coastal getaway. Fishing, lounging, swimming, and sunning should be at the top of your to-do list for this summer trip. This barrier island is about two and a half hours southwest of us, hugging the Gulf. No paved roads on Little Gasparilla mean personal boats, rentals, or water taxis are the only way to and from the mainland. Beach houses and island bungalows can be rented for your secluded coastal retreat. There are three choices of transportation around the island – walking, bicycle (if you bring yours across to the island), or golf carts available at Little Gasparilla Island Carts. There are no restaurants or grocery stores on LGI. Stock up and bring over your trip’s groceries when you take your boat or water taxi. Well-loved pastimes on LGI are exploring the island, swimming, snorkeling, shelling, wildlife watching, boating, fishing, and stargazing. If you’re looking for something else to pass the unhurried island time, rent a wave runner, jet ski, or paddleboard for the day. Wekiwa Springs State Park When was the last time you took a camping trip with friends? Wekiwa Springs State Park with its year-round 72-degree spring waters, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, swimming, snorkeling, picnicking, paddling, mountain biking, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, and more – make for a memorable nature retreat. The park has 60 campsites with water, electrical hook-up, a fire ring with a grill, and a picnic table, along with two restrooms with showers in the camp area. Some sites also have sewer hook-ups, and a dump station is located at the campground. For a more sequestered experience, try the primitive campgrounds of Camp Cozy or Big Fork. Ten people are comfortably accommodated at each site with a fire pit, grill, benches, and picnic table. Otter Camp and Big Buck Camp on Rock Springs Run are only reachable by water with no vehicle access. If you don’t have your own, canoes and kayaks can be rented within the park. For these sites, reservations are required 60 days in advance. Gather your friends, the best spooky stories, s’mores ingredients, and camping gear for a trip to Wekiwa Springs that will doubtless leave you with some funny camping tales of your own. Cassadaga Known as the “Psychic Capital of the World,” this unincorporated community of Spiritualists was established over 120 years ago and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. According to www.cassadaga.org, after being told during a seance that he would be instrumental in founding a Spiritualist community in the South, a young New Yorker, George Colby, would see that prophecy fulfilled. Colby put roots down in Cassadaga while continuing to travel for work as a medium. In 1894, the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association was formed, and in 1895, Colby deeded over 35 acres to its founders. Today, the Spiritualist camp is sprawled over 57 acres and comprises 55 homes and a community of spiritual folks, including many mediums, psychics, and healers. Their website defines Spiritualism as “The Science, Philosophy, and Religion based upon the principle of continuous life demonstrated through mediumship. Spiritualism embraces the concept of individual responsibility and the belief that the door to reformation is never closed.” The resident Spiritualists of Cassadaga welcome believers, skeptics, and the curious alike. Things to check out in addition to visiting the Camp and its bookstore (which has the area’s largest selection of books on Spiritualism, spirituality, and metaphysics) are the historic and allegedly haunted Hotel Cassadaga, The Cassadaga Spiritualist Psychic Center, and the Devil’s Chair. The latter is a brick throne of sorts, sitting graveside at the Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery. Legend has it that if you sit in the Devil’s Chair at midnight, Lucifer himself will communicate with you. Plan your visit now! I bet they already know you’re coming. Kennedy Space Center What would a Florida summer trip list even be without rockets? You could say this trip is out of this world – the atmosphere is great. You will need to make space in your calendar to shuttle your kids here. Your galactic adventure to The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will dive into history and soar towards the future of space exploration with the many exhibits, historic spacecraft and memorabilia, IMAX theaters, Planet Play, and bus tours of the spaceport. Though there’s plenty of fun for adults, this is one trip that could inspire our smallest future astronauts and shuttle engineers. According to www.kennedyspacecenter.com, “Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is organized into Mission Zones where attractions and tours are grouped by chronological era. From the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions, you can get an up-close, hands-on feel for the story of humans in space. Fuel your quest for inspiration right here.” If all that space exploration works up an appetite, land at the Orbit Cafe, Red Rock Grill, Moon Rock Cafe, or Space Bowl Bistro. Moonwalk your way to the Milky Way to get some Space Dots for dessert. Scalloping in Steinhatchee If sitting on the boat waiting for a bite isn’t the kind of fishing you like, grab your snorkel and flippers for some scalloping in Steinhatchee. One of the furthest trips on our list up in Big Bend territory, the seagrass beds of Steinhatchee are a treasure trove. You’re in luck! The Gulf Coast scalloping season is in full swing from June 15 through Labor Day. You can captain your own boat, rent or charter from one of the many local companies like Sea Hag Marina and Florida Saltwater Flats Fishing Charters. Scalloping requires a current Florida recreational saltwater fishing license (available online from the FWC) unless you are scalloping on a chartered trip. After a day of pluckin’ and shuckin’, we’ve been told the perfect end to a scalloping excursion is to drink in the sunset overlooking the Steinhatchee River with the Gulf just beyond over a bite to eat at Roy’s Restaurant. Wat Mongkolratanaram of Florida Wat Mongkolratanaram of Florida (or Wat Tampa as most people call it) is a Theravada Buddhist Temple for religious ceremonies, meditation, and Dhamma (teachings of Buddha) study. It was established in 1981 and moved to its current location in 1983. The Sunday Market started in 1987 with only two tables and has since grown into a food paradise for thousands of people every Sunday. Volunteers serve authentic Thai food prepared by Temple volunteers from 9 am until about 1 pm, with all proceeds going back to Wat Tampa. Menu items can include grilled pork or chicken on a stick (my favorite of the day), Pad Thai, various chicken curry dishes with vegetables, egg rolls, Guiteow (beef or pork noodle soup), Som Dom (Thai Papaya salad), and a wide variety of Thai desserts, Thai tea, and Thai coffee made with sweet cream. You can get your food packed to go or stay and eat right there. Just steps away, underneath the shade of mature trees, are plenty of picnic tables where you can sit and eat. Each menu item is usually more than enough for one person, so there’s always plenty for later. This is a family-friendly environment and a fun way to try all kinds of food without spending a lot of money. While there, you can shop for Thai fruit trees, herbs, orchids, and hanging plants in the delightful outdoor Plant Market next to the picnic tables. Visitors can also go inside Wat Tampa, and see the Buddhist Temple. Please remove your shoes and leave them outside. Gatorama This roadside wildlife attraction, open for some 60 years, promises the biggest gators and crocs, along with plenty of thrills and education. Gatorama offers nostalgic (for Florida, that is) gator and croc feeding shows, as well as up-close encounters with tortoises, pythons, and more. Brave Gatorama guests can opt for the Fast Hands Challenge and feed hungry leaping gators and crocs from the bridge. “Walk out on our bridge and lean over the edge as our hungry Gators and Crocs leap out of the water to grab a snack from your grip. You’ll need nerves of steel to successfully do the Fast Hands Challenge and a bit of showmanship. Don’t worry, if you lose a finger, you’ve got nine more – right?” Not for the faint of heart is the Face to Face Challenge, where you can get up close and personal with these prehistoric monsters ‘with little more than a Gator Stick between you.’ Of course, you’ll need a photo for bragging rights and probably a new pair of shorts. If you’d prefer less thrill and more education, check out their numerous exhibits of alligators, crocs (including Orinoco, Cuban, and Saltwater), other reptiles, Kinkajou, and bobcats. Safari Wilderness Ranch No crowds, just tons of fresh air and wild animals! Safari Wilderness Ranch, a Florida agritourism project licensed by the USDA, is a Lakeland oasis of wildlife and adventure! This family-owned, licensed working game ranch, surrounded by The Green Swamp, specializes in wetland exotic species, African Watusi, and Irish Dexter cattle (heritage breeds). Guests can enjoy a drive-thru safari tour in their own vehicle or be guided by an experienced driver through 260 acres of wilderness in their customized canopied safari vehicles. More adventurous safari-goers can explore with a guide by camelback, ATV, or kayak. They also offer exclusive animal encounters with lemurs, cheetahs, and guinea pigs. According to safariwilderness.com, the journey is fun and educational. Explorers of the ranch “will learn about Florida’s natural and human history, our conservation programs, and encounter amazing animals that are endangered or extinct in the wild.” Keep the fun going with a Glamping adventure! Safari Wilderness now hosts a few special people per night in 10 safari tents on the property, complete with a continental breakfast. Reptile World Serpentarium Opened in 1972, Reptile World Serpentarium in St. Cloud houses a collection of over 80 species of snakes from around the world. This includes six species of cobra (including an over 13-foot king cobra), a black mamba, an East African green mamba, and 11 kinds of rattlesnakes, in addition to more innocuous non-venomous snakes. Also on display are several species of lizards, a Nile crocodile, an alligator, turtles, and tortoises. What sets them apart is their regular venom extraction shows performed in front of visitors. According to their website (www.reptileworldserpentarium.com), “Though there may be only fifty snakes on public display at any given time, behind the scenes are hundreds of venomous snakes just waiting to be “milked” for their valuable venom. Reptile World Serpentarium ships this precious commodity worldwide for use in medical and herpetological research.” Venom shows begin with a verbal presentation about snakes and their venom. Then, behind a glass barrier, owner and Herpetologist George Van Horn handles venomous snakes, which are “coaxed into sinking their fangs through a clear membrane stretched over a collection glass” for medical and herpetological research purposes. “The view can’t be beaten. You are just a few feet away from these fanged wonders and will be thankful for the glass window between you and the snakes.” Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Fifteen hours and eleven minutes. That’s how long it takes to fly from Florida to Japan. It’s a trip I one day hope to make, but in the meantime, we Polk Countians are fortunate enough to have a Japanese museum and gardens celebrating their rich and elaborate history mere hours away in Delray Beach. The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens underscore Japanese culture through Japanese art and artifacts exhibitions. Roji-en, the name of their Japanese gardens, means ‘Garden of the Drops of Dew.’ According to their website morikami.org, these gardens were “designed to be a living exhibit as an extension of the museum. Its six distinct gardens are inspired by, but are not replicas of, significant gardens of Japan. Designer Hoichi Kurisu has created a unique garden conceived and constructed in the spirit of the masters.” Their premier collection of bonsai is worth the visit alone. The Dr. Ron and Arlene Kessler Walk explore the bonsai exhibit and the art which inspired it, including the technique of training and sculpting. Check their website for information on upcoming bonsai classes. Among the peaceful gardens is the museum, which hosts several exhibitions of Japanese art and artifacts throughout the year, showcasing items from the museum’s collection and pieces borrowed from private collectors and other institutions. Spook Hill Ah, Lake Wales, Crown Jewel of the Ridge, home to Bok Tower Gardens, rows of blossoming citrus trees, the friendliest people, and (wiggles fingers in a menacingly scary way) Spoooooook Hill. Posted on a sign just before the hill is the legend of Spook Hill. The sign reads: “Ages ago, an INDIAN TOWN on Lake Wailes Lake was plagued with raids by a HUGE GATOR. The town’s GREAT WARRIOR Chief and the gator were killed in a FINAL BATTLE that created the huge swampy depression nearby. The chief was buried on its north side. Later PIONEER HAULERS coming from the old ARMY TRAIL atop the ridge above found their horses LABORING HERE… at the foot of the ridge and called it Spook Hill. IS THE GATOR SEEKING REVENGE, OR THE CHIEF PROTECTING HIS LAND???” Then it states simple instructions: Stop car on white line, place in neutral, and let it roll back. I’ve heard Spook Hill is an optical illusion, but I’m unsure what’s so spooky about it. When I tried it with a group of friends, all we could collectively deduce was that maybe a smaller hill at the bottom produced this trick of the eye. Though I didn’t see the chief or the giant gator, it was fun to try out. I give Spook Hill three out of five Exorcist head spins since it was not very scary but made for a fun trip with plenty of laughs. The Wonder House Built without blueprints by inventor and oddities collector Conrad Schuck, The Wonder House sits in grand juxtaposition to the average Bartow neighborhoods surrounding it. Currently a full-time private residence, this Bartow abode is open for historic tours on a limited basis. As the name implies, the spacious estate is full of wonders. The house is made with a blend of steel-reinforced concrete inlaid with glass and tile mosaics and stands four stories tall with two stories underground. The Wonder House amalgamates an eccentric dreamer’s boundless imagination and vision, from beautiful tile mosaics and hand-painted ceiling panels to hidden rooms and clever inventions. Some of the home’s notable features include a moat with two bridges spanning it and two pools on the third floor (one of which has since been concreted by a previous owner) used as bathtubs, swimming pools, and then koi ponds. According to their website, “The house featured many time-saving devices like delayed light switches, a laundry chute, and inventions including air conditioning in the 1920s!” Historic Tours of the Wonder House are available only by booking a reservation online in advance at www.wonderhousebartow.com. Skunkape Headquarters You’ve heard of the Yeti, an abominable snowman-type creature covered in hair as white as the snowy mountainous landscape they’re said to roam. And Bigfoot, the elusive giant ape-man that traverses the backcountry of the Pacific Northwest only to be caught in a blurry photo or two. Florida has its own legendary creature – the Skunk Ape. The Florida Skunk Ape is said to be a tall, bipedal animal with reddish-black fur and a strong odor similar to rotten eggs. In the heart of the Everglades, about three hours south of Polk County within the Big Cypress Preserve, past a speckling of airboat tours and the tiny Ochopee post office, is The Skunk Ape Headquarters. After a selfie with the Skunk Ape replica or the 28-foot fiberglass cougar statue out front, tourists can enter the small gift shop and purchase a magnet, hat, t-shirt, mug, or their very own copy of the Everglades Skunk Ape Research Field Guide. For a fee, visitors can step through a door in the back to see a collection of animals – different species of snakes, including a massive 24 feet long, approximately 400 lb. Reticulated Python named Goldie, alligators, turtles, and fowl. Bok Tower Gardens Twenty-three million visitors have meandered the stunning garden paths to Bok Tower since it opened in 1929. No summer would be complete without a trip to this Lake Wales gem. From the 20-room 1930s Mediterranean-style Pinewood Estate to the Visitor Center & Exhibit Hall, which features a museum with permanent exhibits, there’s plenty to take in at the Gardens. The Visitor Center & Exhibit Hall houses the original keyboard for the carillon in the Singing Tower, a miniature replica of the Singing Tower displaying what is behind the walls of the Tower on each level, a topographical map showing a cross-section of Florida which details different habitats found at varying sea levels, and much more. Those who adventure to Bok Tower Gardens can enjoy photography, birdwatching, geocaching, and hiking. Guests can trek the 1.5-mile Preserve Trail or 3/4-mile Pine Ridge Nature Trail and take the kids to the Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden, featuring nearly three acres of nature play along with art, water features, plantings, a boardwalk, a performance stage, and a music area. After taking in the lush flora and fauna, and the carillon concert which rings out throughout the Gardens each day at 1 and 3 p.m. with short selections played on the hour and half hour, conclude your visit with a tasty bite at Bok Tower Gardens’ on-site restaurant, Blue Palmetto Cafe. Don’t forget to pick up a memento of your trip at The Shop at Bok or The Plant Shop. St. Augustine With a history steeped in settlers, soldiers, and restless spirits, St. Augustine is the place in the Sunshine State for history lovers, ghost aficionados, and seekers of everlasting youth. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed near what would eventually become St. Augustine in 1513. He claimed the newly discovered territory, which he dubbed La Florida or “place of flowers” for the Spanish Crown. In September of 1565, Spanish admiral and explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded the city of St. Augustine, securing its spot as “the oldest permanent European settlement on the North American continent,” according to OldCity.com, predating the establishment of the Jamestown, Virginia colony by 42 years. Those interested in the city’s history can visit Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archeological Park. Guests can even buy a keepsake bottle to fill with water from the Fountain of Youth for agelessness on the go. Perhaps the most impressive structure in St. Augustine is the massive coquina fort and national monument, Castillo de San Marcos. Virtual tours are available online, and in-person visitors can pay admission to explore the grounds themselves. At certain times on most weekends, spectators can watch soldiers in period garb reenact the firing of cannons from the fort’s gundeck. An assortment of walking, trolley, and horse and carriage tours of the city are available. Some dive into the depths of St. Augustine’s history, while others focus on Old City specters. Some of St. Augustine’s most notorious haunts are said to linger around St. Augustine’s Old Jail, Castillo de San Marcos, The Spanish Military Hospital, and the Casablanca Inn – just to name a few. Book a room at the Casablanca or the St. Francis Inn Bed & Breakfast for a potential night of frights... if you dare! (Other than the alleged hauntings, they are charming inns, so you’ll have a pleasant stay regardless. Or there’s a Hilton if you’re a chicken.)

“I’ve never had a better cup of coffee.” Those words from a customer bring joy to Jude Coffee owner Jordan Willcox. He and his wife Kelsey started Jude, a mobile coffee cart, in Lakeland last year. They hope to turn their mobile venture into a brick-and-mortar over the next five years, where they can keep serving up those excellent cups of coffee with a side of hospitality. Jude is for all, after all. Jordan Willcox was born and raised in Seattle. When the couple moved from Seattle to Florida, Kelsey returned to St. Pete, where she’s from, and Jordan moved to Orlando following a design job. On the weekends, the pair commuted halfway to Lakeland to spend time together. “We fell in love with the city. We fell in love with the community,” said Jordan. The Willcox’s bought a 101-year-old home in the heart of Lakeland where they planned to start a family and their coffee cart, Jude. The idea for Jude actually started back in Seattle. The thought was that it would be a retail accessory for businesses. Jordan was a long-time barista in Seattle to work through design school. “Now that I’ve established myself as a designer, it was time to step back into coffee,” he said. Putting down roots lit a fire in Jordan to start Jude in Lakeland. “It feels like it truly is my hometown now,” he said. “What’s the next thing we can do legacy-wise? What are the things that are going to help plant us in this community that we truly love?” Jude launched in February 2022 as a mobile coffee cart for community pop-ups and private events. “I’ve always thought of coffee shops as the third place,” Willcox said. “You have your home, you have your work, and you have a third place where you have community. Coffee shops are great for that. They anchor neighborhoods. They anchor communities.” Relatively new to the area, Willcox wanted to grow an audience organically. Community pop-ups have allowed the couple to do that. “Those are really intentional to be for the people of Lakeland and the surrounding area,” he said. Jude holds their monthly pop-ups at a third-floor vintage shop in downtown Lakeland, The Curated Collective. A few months post Jude launch, the Willcox’s found out they were expecting. In January, just a month shy of their first coffee cart anniversary, they welcomed a baby girl named Juniper, Junie for short. Willcox already has plans to bring his daughter in on the family biz when she gets a bit older. He envisions a miniature version of his Jude mobile coffee cart to sell baked goods. They’ll call it Junie. The new father, who works full-time as a designer, described Jude’s first year as ‘exciting’ and ‘stretching.’ Though it can be cumbersome to work two jobs, he’s keeping himself at the forefront of the business. “I want people to know me and know our business.” Kelsey is a senior executive project manager for a tech company. She handles the administration for Jude and crafts recipes for their tasty syrups. MARKETING & MERCH To get Jude off the ground, Jordan has established a sort of subversive marketing strategy. When the couple discovered they were pregnant, he bought a billboard on South Florida Avenue announcing, “Jude is having a baby.” In the spirit of poking fun at his strict neighborhood, he printed flyers of him pouring a cup of coffee in front of a Ring camera that said, “If you see something, say something.” Jordan said, “It’s been a year of no one saying ‘no’ to my bad creative ideas and seeing some success in it.” Being able to fully express himself through design with no one to reject his ideas has “given me the juice to keep going. […] I think it’s helped curate our voice. I have spent the last year curating the voice of our business to be a little bit of mine and a little bit of what we want to be.” Leaning further into Jordan’s design background, Jude has branched into merchandise, offering hats, shirts, and stickers. What started as a creative outlet has evolved into a central piece of the business, with items selling out at their monthly pop-ups causing Jordan to shift to pre-orders. “Our brand is taking on its own life,” he said. “It’s becoming something we didn’t expect, and that’s been really fun.” COFFEE & CONNECTION The company’s mantra is “Jude is for All,” a sentiment that coffee shouldn’t be limited to Americano aficionados and espresso experts. “We never want you to come in and chat with me or chat with somebody who’s working and feel like you don’t understand or you’re less-than,” said Jordan. “Our goal was to structure it in a way where if you love coffee, you can spend the time talking to me about coffee. If you just want a lavender latte, I’m going to whip you up the sickest lavender latte you’ve ever had, and we’re going to keep it moving, and each customer is fulfilled in that way. It’s accepting the person where they are when it comes to coffee knowledge.” Over their first year, Jude has exclusively served Little Wolf Coffee out of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Now they’re pivoting to include other craft coffee brands. “We love Florida, and we love the roasters here, but we wanted to focus on people in other smaller cities that were similar to us but doing something really important and showing people in Florida something cool,” Willcox said. “I want people to experience something they can’t get anywhere else. I want them to have that through Jude.” Moving forward, when Jude patrons order a latte, Americano, or cappuccino, it will be from one roaster, drip coffee from another, and cold brew, produced here by hand, from a third. Joining Little Wolf on the Jude roaster roster is Metric out of Chicago and Regalia Coffee out of New York. Jude features standard café offerings with a choice of whole or oat milk and house-made lavender and vanilla syrups developed by Kelsey using locally sourced ingredients. “I’m proud of it and think we could bottle it at some point,” Jordan said of their lavender syrup. They also offer honey simple syrup with locally sourced honey. Willcox’s approach to the marriage of hospitality and good coffee means he’ll likely remember your name and coffee order. “There are very few customer interactions where someone remembers you like that. I know that when someone remembers me like that, I really take it to heart.” A standard café interaction lasts about 30 seconds, according to Willcox. You order a coffee, wait another 2-5 minutes, get your coffee, and leave. Not at Jude. “Our conversation ends as I hand you that cup of coffee. […] At the end of our interaction, you get what you paid for. You get your coffee, but in that time, we got to connect.” THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN Currently, Jude operates at about 70/30 private events to community pop-ups as the couple saves money to purchase a brick-and-mortar. That’s the five-year plan. “I would rather have customers celebrate that we’re actually getting to a real location than trying to fight for the customers to understand who we are,” Jordan said. He looks to the path Born & Bread’s Jenn Smurr took from simple beginnings to a cruffin cult following. “She’s incredibly smart, and I love their dedication to craft.” Once in a physical location, the Willcox’s hope to focus on philanthropy. Jordan has the idea for job training for the unhoused and a program where a percentage of the drip coffee sales go to Gospel Village. As they expand their merchandise and hone their voice, next year may see an abridged version of Jude with a semi-permanent pop-up. “You don’t have to live in New York or L.A. to be deemed important anymore because social media has opened up this whole avenue,” Willcox said. “You can drive through the South and really experience coffee at a degree you couldn’t five years ago.” Jordan strives to make sure Jude is one of those experiences. Photography by Noble Photo Co. Jude Coffee www.judeforall.com IG @judeforall

July is National Lakes Appreciation Month, and as a UF/IFAS Extension agent, I’m taking this opportunity to shed light on an aspect of our local lakes that’s often overlooked but is incredibly important: the value of aquatic plants. Many of us might view these plants as pesky water weeds, but if we dive deeper, we’ll discover that they play a critical role in maintaining the health of our lakes and the wildlife that inhabits them. Let’s start by debunking some misconceptions. Lakefront vegetation often gets a bad rap for being messy, dangerous, or unsightly. However, with thoughtful planning and treating our shorelines as extensions of our landscape plans, lakefront vegetation can be transformed into a picturesque vista that also serves important functional roles for both our families and the environment. Some of the major benefits of aquatic plants is their contribution to clearer water, improved fish habitat, and their role in deterring problematic algae blooms. A diverse and abundant aquatic plant community is also likely to attract migratory birds and other wildlife, making our lakes teeming ecosystems and not just scenic backdrops. WILDLIFE HABITAT Aquatic plants are essentially wildlife condos. They supply shelter, food, and space – the three key components of wildlife habitat. Emergent (plants rooted to the lake bottom which emerge out of the water’s surface) and submerged plants (plants that are rooted to the lake bottom and live underwater) provide food for many of our migratory birds and waterfowl. For example, plants like duck potato and eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) serve as nutritious food sources for local waterfowl. Additionally, the seeds of aquatic grasses and sedges are important food sources for these birds. Beyond serving as a cafeteria for waterfowl, aquatic plants also act as nurseries for young sport fish and valuable aquatic species, like the Florida blue crawfish. Species like the red-wing blackbird, moorhen, and pied-billed grebe find nesting habitats among these plants. EROSION CONTROL On the practical side, aquatic plants like pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) and duck potato are excellent at controlling shoreline erosion. They anchor the soil, protecting your property from wave action. Preventing erosion is not only beneficial to maintaining your property line but it also helps you avoid lengthy and challenging processes to secure permits from Florida’s DEP to add soil back to your eroded land. WATER QUALITY AND CLARITY The connection between aquatic plants and water quality might be complex, but in general terms, a robust and diverse aquatic plant community will safeguard and enhance water quality and clarity over time. Some plants, like eelgrass, have even been correlated with improved water clarity. When a lake has a healthy population of submerged aquatic plants, it is more likely to have cleaner, clearer water. Having more native plants in our lakes is a win-win situation for both people who enjoy the lakes and the wildlife that depend on them. ALGAE BLOOMS Algae blooms are a natural phenomenon in Florida, especially during summer. However, due to changes in land use from rural to more urban and agricultural practices, we have added excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to our lakes. This can lead to larger and more frequent algae blooms which can be harmful to our ecosystems and society. The true remedy lies in reducing excess nutrients through restoration of our lake ecosystems. This means restoring wetlands, encouraging the growth of native plants, and prioritizing lakefront management that helps the ecosystem over personal desires. Unfortunately, it also takes time. Most algae blooms are merely an annoyance, but sometimes when conditions are right, they become “harmful algae blooms” which are also referred to as HAB’s. These algae blooms look vibrant in color, often bright green and bright blue, and may smell like rotting plants. They tend to be streaky on top of the water, like floating paint. If you think you may have a “harmful algae bloom,” report it to Florida’s Department of Health at floridadep.gov/AlgalBloom. “BUT, I DON’T LIVE ON A LAKE?” Even if you don’t reside by the lakeside, there are several ways to join in National Lakes Appreciation Month: Arrange a “Lakes Appreciation Night” at a local eatery, a fun community event that can also raise funds for a local lake association like Lakes Education/Action Drive (www.lakeseducation.com) Embrace the Florida summer with lake activities like boating, swimming, or fishing to build a deeper appreciation for our local lakes. Consider organizing a shoreline cleanup - it not only beautifies but also improves wildlife habitats. If your home is near a water body and your home is on septic, think about having your septic system pumped to prevent potential water contamination. If you’re a nature enthusiast, go birding or photograph a lake or pond. If you’re artistic, draw or paint a lake scene and share your creation with us on social media. I’m on Twitter and Instagram at @PolkNR and would be thrilled to see your works! These small acts can make an enormous difference in preserving and appreciating our local lakes, today and every day. This National Lakes Appreciation Month let’s take a moment to appreciate the intricate and invaluable role aquatic plants play in our lakes. They are more than just “weeds” - they are the lifelines of our lake ecosystems. In our roles as stewards of these natural resources, we can start by promoting the value of aquatic plants and by practicing responsible lakefront management. Together, we can make a difference, not only in appreciation of our lakes but in the action to preserve and protect them. If you live on a lake and want to get involved in water quality sampling, email me at scarnevale@ufl.edu to inquire about becoming a Florida Lakewatch Volunteer (https://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/). Photography by Tyler Jones

Did you know Winter Haven is an official Trail Town? That designation is thanks partly to the efforts of the Parks Planning and Strategic Initiatives Manager for the City of Winter Haven, Andy Palmer. The Maryland native grew up enjoying the outdoors, hiking, biking, and running cross country. He moved to Polk County 21 years ago and has been with the City of Winter Haven for 18 and a half years. “As I’ve gotten into planning parks and capital projects, a lot of my professional and personal interests have really lined up,” Palmer said. “I try to take the community’s interest in new playgrounds, new trails, new parks, and develop them.” The Trail Town program is through the Greenways and Trails state office, housed in the Department of Environmental Protection. “We work with them very well,” said Palmer. The FDEP defines a Trail Town as “a vibrant destination where people come together. It is a place where trail users can venture off a hiking, biking, equestrian, or paddling trail to enjoy the amenities and unique heritage of the community, benefitting the town economically and socially.” The self-assessment for a Trail Town lists attributes including a presence of trails, access to food, lodging, support facilities/trail amenities and entertainment, social and physical infrastructure, community events, community and business support, and a shared vision. Winter Haven has over 14 miles of interconnecting trails and connections, including complete streets, major sidewalks, and loop trails that link into our downtown with access to amenities like parks, restaurants, shops, ski shows, playgrounds, picnic facilities, tennis courts, a brewery, the Ritz Theatre, Gram Parsons’ Derry Down, apartments, and a soon to open hotel. “It’s how all those items work together, the synergy,” said Palmer. When holding public meetings and community outreach, the City often hears that people want trails and sidewalks. “They want to have those connections between their house and schools and parks and be able to walk to work,” said Palmer. “The City, the Chamber, Main Street, a lot of the community, and our private sector all want a walkable downtown and to have all these amenities. […] One of the things that the Greenways and Trails staff and council were impressed with were our great partnerships locally.” To further fulfill the community’s interests, the City continues to work with the Department of Transportation to go after grant dollars. Avenue C, Third Street, and South Lake Silver Drive were all projects funded through DOT. “We benefit locally from State and Federal grant dollars with a fraction of the overall costs being local investment,” said Palmer. A COMMITMENT TO TRAIL DEVELOPMENT Winter Haven was officially designated a Trail Town in 2022. “I was super excited,” Palmer said. “It was a culmination of a lot of the City’s efforts, and it showed great partnership with the State.” He called the distinction “another feather in our cap” as a city and noted that it shows the City of Winter Haven’s continued commitment to trail development and maintenance. A celebration for the Trail Town designation kicked off at the February Slow Roll and Ski Show. A group of 100 or more residents gathered with elected officials from Tallahassee to celebrate. They participated in a “slow roll” ride through downtown, where they stopped to watch the monthly Cypress Garden Water Ski Team perform on Lake Silver and ended the ride at Grove Roots Brewery. The Lake Elbert Trail is one example of that commitment to trail development. The 8-foot path on the south side of Dundee Road was improved about two years ago. The City spent two years working with 46 property owners around the lake to purchase the right of way and is currently finishing up another 1.8 miles to connect the west, north, and east sides for a completely paved 2.4-mile loop around Lake Elbert. The project will include a sidewalk connection to Rotary Park, some on-street parking, and a trailhead and boardwalk. In step with their One Water initiative, there will be a rain garden on Polk State College’s campus. The City is also assisting in championing an effort by the DOT to connect Winter Haven to the many vibrant cities bridging Florida’s Coast-to-Coast Trail (C2C). The C2C is an approximately 80 percent complete paved multi-use trail running east and west across the state from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. Spanning some 250 miles, the trail connects St. Petersburg and Titusville. According to Palmer, our trail system is only six miles from connecting to the C2C. “Our vision is that you’d be able to go to downtown Winter Haven on that trail,” he said. The Old Dixie Trail would connect Winter Haven to the Auburndale/Van Fleet Trail and the Coast-to-Coast system. THE SAPPHIRE NECKLACE Winter Haven’s Sapphire Necklace, a vision of the City’s One Water Project centered around conservation, education, and long-term water storage, ties into the Trail Town ethos. Winter Haven forecasts continued long-term growth. “As responsible growth, one of the biggest resources we have to manage and plan for is water,” said Palmer. For years water would go into our Chain of Lakes and channel into Charlotte Harbor, Peace Creek, and then the Peace River. Very little water was stored locally. The Sapphire Necklace Project will feature properties around the city that catch and reserve rain while recharging the aquifer. These areas are envisioned to become nature parks with a linked trail system to alternative water sites. According to storymaps.arcgis.com, “The Sapphire Necklace is a connected network of water resources to guide the most suitable areas for development and conservation, while mindful of water storage, reuse, and recharge. The path is guided by Winter Haven’s lakes, aquifer recharge, and water storage to promote the best water strategy. Water strategy ‘looks’ different than you may think. Ultimately, water recharge and retention efforts often result in new parks and recreational areas for our families and tourists to enjoy. The Sapphire Necklace will also be home to a trail network to connect the many nature parks, neighborhood communities, and urban destinations.” This twenty-plus year project “will help replenish much of the estimated 27 billion gallons of water lost from the past century, yielding benefits locally and across a 13-county region. “The trail runs over 40 miles to connect nature zones, neighborhoods, and urban areas. “The potential alignment interacts with twelve lakes and helps guide water runoff to recharge zones through its emphasis on nature-based design.” “The Sapphire Necklace passes the Lake Conine Wetland Restoration Project, a great example of a water quality enhancement project happening in Winter Haven,” according to storymaps.arcgis.com. “This project is Winter Haven’s 4th wetland treatment nature park to improve water quality and reduce flooding, while adding trails and other recreational amenities in a disadvantaged neighborhood.” Roughly 32 acres were developed from overgrowth and muck into wetland pockets and plantings. Water is channeled through this wetland system and cleaned before entering the lake. Phase II of the project, expected to start construction in early 2024, will include developing a park and trail with picnic areas, a dock, restrooms, and a boardwalk. The City also purchased land adjacent to the South Lake Howard Nature Park several years ago. They are working towards expanding the Nature Park, which would include additional stormwater treatment to improve Lake Howard’s water quality. There will be additional trail network, a frisbee golf area, a picnic area, and an outdoor classroom. Along with City investment, The Lake Conine and Lake Howard Nature Park Projects were ranked first and second among close to 100 applications from across the state to the Florida Recreation Development Assistant Program (FRDAP). Photograph by Amy Sexson

When pondering the grassroots potential of the bake sale, it’s hard not to think of Georgia Gilmore, the woman who fed and funded the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Gilmore formed The Club From Nowhere, a secret civil rights kitchen where she sold pies and pound cakes to raise funds for the 381-day resistance. It’s also hard to not think of Paola Velez, the DC chef who co-founded Bakers Against Racism, a massive bake sale movement that began as a pop-up in 2020 and has raised over 2.5 million dollars for social justice causes worldwide. Bake sales are nostalgic, collaborative by design, cheap to produce, and, as proven by Gilmore and Velez, can be true conduits for social change. This is what inspired us to start the Big Love Bake Sale. With minimal fundraising experience, we figured the best place to start was by choosing a cause that was timely and personal to us, ideally in our own neighborhood. With Pride month upon us, we are reminded of the Stonewall Riots of 1969. We are reminded that it was the drag community and trans people of color who led the rebellion that spawned the Gay Rights Movement. In recent weeks, we’ve seen a major rise in anti-drag legislation in our home state. We’ve seen how this has caused a surge in transphobia and opened more doors for harassment and hateful speech against the LGBTQ+ community. It’s tough to ignore in general, but especially as a Queer-owned business operating in a state where things like that are happening. Gio and I started our pop-up bakery, Bandidas, a couple years ago and it’s been a rollercoaster to say the least. Food trends come and go, but one thing that hasn’t changed is our mantra of “community as a compass.” How can we create a safe space for the Queer community without a physical location to call our own? For us, the answer is to hold more events like Big Love Bake Sale where we can raise awareness, drive donations and share valuable information. With the safety and livelihood of the drag community at stake, it seemed like a no-brainer to choose The Rose Dynasty Foundation as the organization we wanted to benefit from with the bake sale. Not only do they provide mentoring for LGBTQ+ youth, but they are committed to creating safe spaces for our Queer community, all while spreading their positive mantra that everyone is “loved, accepted and wanted.” They work nonstop to raise funds for numerous organizations like the Polk County Bully Project and The Rent Tent Initiative, by producing family-friendly drag and variety shows, proving that drag can be, and IS, safe for people of all ages. Once we chose an organization, our next step was to secure the dough, quite literally. We emailed and reached out to a bunch of local bakers and businesses on Instagram for pastry donations. Our ask was 25 to 50 pastries, whatever they felt comfortable with. An overwhelming majority agreed to participate, and it was really heartening to see how the cause resonated with so many people. It was important to us that we included a mix of bakers and businesses we knew, as well as some new friends we’d been pining to work with. Some have a brick-and-mortar; most are pop-ups, and a few are avid home-bakers who are passionate about the cause. A huge driving force behind the bake sale was our desire to meet other people in our industry and collaborate with them on something meaningful. Many of us operate as pop-ups, and it’s rare that we get the chance to participate in the same markets, since most of them have quotas for how many pastry vendors can participate in a single event. Our goal is to make the Big Love Bake Sale a regular occurrence and to get it down to a science so we can replicate it to raise funds for other local organizations that matter to us. Creating community around food is our love language and sometimes that message gets lost in the chaos of running a small food business. Many fundraisers are centered around fancy galas or benefit dinners, which are great, but we wanted something small scale and accessible to everyone in the community. You can come to our bake sale with five dollars and walk away with something delicious, knowing you supported an amazing cause. What can you expect to eat at the bake sale? To name a few: Pinoy Cravings will be serving up their signature Filipino bibingka, a chewy coconut rice cake. Winter Haven’s Honeycomb bakery will be providing classic croissants and pain au chocolate and Lakeland’s Born + Bread Bakehouse will have “Love Is Love” twice-baked croissants stuffed with cake batter frangipane and rainbow sprinkles. Citrus lovers will swoon for the mojito and key lime pie cupcakes by From Beverly Bakery (the latter is GF and vegan!). Vegetation Plant Food, who recently opened their brick-and-mortar in Lakeland, will also be serving vegan delights. DOU Bakehouse will be bringing their financier cake pops (that’s an almond and brown butter cake dipped in chocolate!) and Baking Brewer will be on site with her beloved beer-infused triple chocolate brownies. Beyond baked goods, there will also be some fun beverages from Lakeland pop-ups Glizzy Gal and La Sirena who will be serving vegan cold brew creations and agua frescas, respectively. There will be ice cream and popsicles from Purple Panda to cool down on what will surely be a June scorcher (don’t worry, the event is indoors). Last but not least, there will be raffles and live performances from The Rose Dynasty Foundation and friends! If you made it this far, we hope you are hungry and as excited as we are for this event. Big Love Bake Sale is family-friendly and free to attend. It will take place on June 4th at ART/ifact Studio in Lakeland from 12 to 3pm. Tickets will be available at the door to redeem for baked goods and beverages. Each ticket is $5 and is good for one item of your choosing. We can’t thank our participating bakers and makers enough for offering up their talents. Special thanks to ART/ifact for providing us with a space to hold all this love (and sugar) and of course to the Rose Dynasty Foundation for everything they do for our community. See you all on the 4th! Photography by Amy Sexson Big Love Bake Sale June 4, 12 pm – 3 pm ART/ifact 820 N. Massachusetts Ave. Lakeland, Florida 33801

Eight years ago, Jason DeShazo sat in the crowd of a Dixie Longate drag show. “I don’t think I laughed and cried so much in one sitting outside of church ever,” he said. In her affected southern drawl, Dixie, America’s own Tupperware queen, told a simple story about “bumping a duck.” It goes something like this. There’s a duck in the middle of a calm lake. If you throw a stone into the lake, it ripples and bumps the duck. “If you can just be one stone to bump a duck, to cause a reaction, what kind of difference could you make in the world,” DeShazo said. “It immediately changed my life.” That’s when DeShazo, who performs as Momma Ashley Rose, moved forward with starting the charitable organization, Rose Dynasty Foundation. Born in Plant City and raised in Okeechobee, “I grew up in a very conservative home,” DeShazo said. The family attended church several days a week. “I’ve always known I was gay.” Coming out in the early 80s amid the AIDS epidemic was a dangerous time for anyone, he said. “There was a lot of fear instilled already.” In his teens, DeShazo endured conversion therapy. “It just wasn’t going to work,” he said. “I did everything I knew I could do to try to change what I thought, and what I was being told, was not right.” In true Momma Ashley Rose fashion, DeShazo found humor in the midst of pain, joking, “It gave me three things: It gave me my therapist, it made me gayer, and it made me a drag queen.” DeShazo was involved in both mainstream and LGBTQ+ churches for many years. After serving in the ministry, he found something to be missing. “There was more to what I believed in my life that needed to be done,” he said. Loved, Accepted, and Wanted For the duration of this story, I will refer to DeShazo as she and her because, really, my interview wasn’t with DeShazo – it was with Momma. A dynasty, by definition, is a family, and the Rose Dynasty Foundation is no different. Momma started the organization with her husband, Scott DeShazo. Rose Dynasty Vice President Scott DeShazo, who performs as Amanduh Rose, said, “Every great person needs a good backbone.” Together for 15 years, Scott also makes all of Momma’s costumes, including the patchwork dress she wore that day, made with her great-grandmother’s hand-stitched material. She completed the look with a pair of rhinestone sneakers. Momma Ashley Rose started experimenting with drag in 2000 when a local drag queen painted her for a Halloween Party. “I loved it. I absolutely loved it,” she said. This persona was someone she wanted to bring to the world. “I never wanted to be the stereotypical queen.” When she first started performing as Momma, she was a bit “churchy” and even did a few gospel shows. Her drag changed and sometimes stopped entirely for a year or two before finding her way back to it. “Every time I evolved and really made a change of growing into what ‘Momma’ and this organization is now.” “I believed that what I needed to do was establish a safe space for all people,” Momma said. More important than the flashy costumes, elaborate makeup, and side-splitting one-liners is her message, “You are loved, accepted, and wanted,” something she intones at every event. “We’ve all felt that, whether you’re Queer or not. We’ve all felt unloved, unwanted, or unaccepted at some point in our life. Any human being has felt that way. I knew it was a message that people needed to hear, including myself.” The organization has been a safe space for folks like 19-year-old Florida Southern College student Adam Reuther. Reuther, who performs as Mistah Aphrodite, started doing drag two years ago. Their first performance was at a charity event with Rose Dynasty. The versatility and art – horror, camp, glamour, across the gender spectrum – drew them to performing. “There’s so much to explore,” they said. “Doing good while performing, raising money, is a very satisfying feeling because I’m doing something I love, and I’m making the world better.” Working with the organization has given the music education major a new understanding of how the world works “in both good ways and bad.” They said, “It’s disheartening to see that there are people out there trying to crush someone’s individual spirit for just existing.” Locally, Mistah Aphrodite says they’ve been surrounded by support for their art from family, friends, and fellow students. “What’s most shocking about Polk County is the love is so much more outspoken than the hate.” Rose Dynasty Foundation provides a safe space and entertainment for all ages while raising money for charities across Polk County, Central Florida, and beyond. They host events to raise funds for organizations like CampOUT, Florida’s first LGBTQ+ summer camp, and the FitzLane Project, which provides funding to underprivileged transgender youth for LGBTQIA+ specialized therapeutic services at the mental health provider of their choice. “We focus on the small charities that don’t get the government funding that are still making a difference,” Momma said. The Polk County Bully Project, Red Tent Initiative, It Takes a Village feeding families during Covid, Art Crawl, domestic violence shelters, autism, children’s hospitals, and cancer research are just some of the 70 charitable efforts for which they’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years. The organization’s primary fundraiser is Miss Rose Dynasty, the world’s only family-friendly charity-based drag pageant. This year they raised $28K for five charities. Their goal is to one day have a community center in town. Momma envisions a space that offers food, life skills classes, therapy, a venue for events, and a safe space for the Queer community. Some oppose their family-friendly philanthropic events, calling them ‘adult’ and ‘inappropriate.’ “I encourage people to come to our events and see what’s happening. If you don’t leave with your mind changed, that’s something that you need to deal with,” Momma said. She cited classic movies and television shows like “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “I Love Lucy,” in which drag was predominantly featured as comedic relief for the whole family. While there are undoubtedly adult drag performers, that is not what Rose Dynasty promotes. “This has been around for a long time, and if it’s being sexualized, it’s not by the drag queens. It’s by the people that are closed-minded looking in,” Momma said. “A child, when they walk up to me, they see the same thing as when they see Cinderella. They see any other princess, any other character. They just see someone that they feel safe with that has a positive message that’s sparkly, and glittery, and shiny.” Hate Won’t Win On December 3rd last year, at a family-friendly drag and art show, a hate group protested the event. Some dozen Neo-Nazis, covering their faces, turned up at ART/ifact Studio in Lakeland to disrupt the fundraising efforts. Momma Ashley Rose noted they’d held events for six years at the venue and never once had a protestor make a scene. “I knew one day it was coming,” she said. “But I had no clue it was going to be Nazis.” About an hour before the event, as Queer artists from around the county geared up to sell their artwork to raise money for CampOUT, Momma got a phone call. A concerned parent contacted her from a parking lot down the road to say they were scared because they’d seen protestors with Nazi signs outside the gallery. They immediately locked down the venue to make sure everyone was safe, and the Lakeland Police Department arrived on the scene. “Lakeland Police Department did really well. I believe they did the best of their ability,” Momma said. “They made sure we were protected, that the doors were sealed, that no one came in unless we let them. They stayed until we were done.” Mistah Aphrodite was there that day too. “I was angry. I was pissed off because I’m here dedicating my time and energy to raise money for people in need. We have children here who want to showcase their art, who want to do something they love, and there are people outside screaming curse words, screaming slurs,” they said. The protesters blocked the window with a 20-foot sign and projected offensive things onto the side of the building. They held antisemitic signs and yelled “things that no child should have to hear” at kids as they walked with their parents into the event. “Rose Dynasty has helped me manage my own reactions,” Mistah Aphrodite said. “It’s taught me to be composed on the outside, so I didn’t do anything rash. I stayed inside and made sure everyone else was doing okay, everyone else was safe.” Despite the disruption, the event went on. “We’re not going to let hate win,” Momma said. The incident did shake the organization, though. They now have to spend hundreds of dollars for security at every event. It’s another weight on the philanthropist’s shoulders. “We’re working on active shooter training, on how to handle protestors. We’re trying to get as prepared as we can for the ‘what ifs,’” Momma said. She lost several friends in the Pulse nightclub shooting. This hits close to home. “It’s scary,” she said. “Drag queens are supposedly causing harm to children when our children are having to do active shooter drills in school,” Momma added. “And here we are raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity, helping the community, and we’re having to think about active shooter training. […] We shouldn’t have to think about that, and it all stems from the hate that we have allowed to come into our country in the last several years.” Speaking Out Momma Ashley Rose spoke both in and out of drag against SB 1438. The Florida chapter of the ACLU described SB 1438 as “a bill that grants state agencies the power to target LGBTQ+ friendly businesses by giving the Department of Business and Professional Regulation discretionary authority to fine, revoke liquor licenses, and even shut down establishments. Additionally, it makes it a crime to admit young people to any performance, exhibit, play, or show that the state deems inappropriate, even if the child’s parents think it is appropriate for their family.” The bill, introduced by Florida Republican Senators Clay Yarborough and Keith Perry, passed 82 to 32 on April 19. “At face value, it shouldn’t affect us,” Momma said. But it has given them pause to consider how they run the organization. “Do we rename it? Do I stop doing drag? I don’t want to, and I’m not planning on it. It’s going to cost legal services. It’s going to risk going to jail. It’s going to risk losing venues – which we have already.” “It’s a blatant attack on the Queer community,” she went on. “It’s a blatant attack on the drag community. It’s a distraction from something else, from something bigger. […] When you look at the people making these accusations, they’re deflecting something, and it’s sad. […] Our suicide rate in our LGBTQ+ community is skyrocketing again, and it’s because of this fear-mongering that’s happening.” Out of the emotions Mistah Aphrodite feels about the bill, fear is not one of them. “I think the bill is just a thinly veiled attack on the Queer community as a whole because people have been entertained by drag for centuries, if not eons,” they said. “Dating back to ancient Greece, you would have men playing female roles on stage. You have all these classic TV shows and cartoons of characters in drag, and it was never a problem then. There are photos of past political leaders doing drag, and I’ve heard the excuse, ‘It was just in good fun.’ Well, what are we doing? Are we not having fun?” Rose Dynasty may now have to find more creative ways to raise funds for charity. They’ve already lost thousands of dollars a month in donations from businesses having to choose between continuing to host their drag events or risk losing their business. “It puts fear and more stress on entertainers. Not just myself but my brothers and sisters who are drag performers. What are they going to do? The restaurants are already canceling. The brunches are already closing. It not only puts a damper on the entertainment industry, it puts a damper on people’s income and for the charities we raise money for.” “The people backing these laws will never set foot in one of our events, and I’ve invited them,” Momma said. “They want to believe the hate they believe.” To counter the hate and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation, “Be an action ally,” Momma urges. “People claim to be allies, but if you’re sitting and not doing anything and you’re not helping, you’re not being an ally. If you’re being quiet and not having conversations, not donating, you’re not an action ally. We really need action allies.” “Use your voice to amplify ours,” said Mistah Aphrodite. A Ripple Momma is a fighter. Sitting for dozens of interviews, speaking in front of the Florida senate, and continuing to be outspoken on Queer issues have garnered her hateful messages and death threats. Asked why she carries on, her husband spoke up, “Who else is going to do it?” Momma’s eyes welled up with tears as she said, “Who else? I wish I had somebody like me when I was young. We all wish we had somebody like ourselves. Who else is going to fight? Who else is going to stand up for these people? Who else is going to stand up for the community?” She hopes, if not a multitude, at least one person will be changed by her words. “If nothing else, it’s shown us that people are watching, and people are listening, and it’s giving people hope. That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I spread this message of love and acceptance,” she said. “If it stops somebody from ending their life. If it stops somebody from feeling hurt, distraught – it would be worth it.” Scott DeShazo added in a hopeful tone, “It just takes a ripple.” Photographs by Amy Sexson Rose Dynasty Foundation FB @rosedynastyfoundation IG @rosedynastyfoundation www.rosedynastyfoundationinc.org

The art of drag has a long history. It is nothing new to society, dating back centuries when men often dressed as women for entertainment and other events. The term “drag” itself is thought to have originated in the theater world in the early 20th century, when male actors would wear women’s clothing to play female roles. For a time in history, it was illegal for women to perform on stage. While “art” is subjective and can vary from person to person, drag can certainly be considered an art form. Drag involves using costume, makeup, and performance to create a persona that is often exaggerated or larger-than-life. Drag performers often use their art to explore issues related to gender identity, sexuality, social norms, and beyond. Drag can consist of Kings, Queens, and anything in between. It can be an expression of gender, gender-bending, cosplay, and more. Whether you are a male dressing as a female, a female dressing as a male, or even expressing your own gender or none at all, this is one of the amazing parts of the art form. Many drag performers also use their art to express themselves creatively and entertain audiences. Whether through lip-syncing, dance, comedy, singing live, playing musical instruments, or drama, drag performers often use their talents to create a memorable and impactful performance that leaves a lasting impression on their audience. Drag is a form of performance and visual art. As I stated before, the term “larger-than-life” is a good way to explain the look. Whether it’s a drag Queen, King, or anything in between, everyone has a chance to show off their art in a creative way. Utilizing makeup, wigs, costumes, and props, drag performers often spend time getting into character before a performance. This may involve practicing their mannerisms and movements to create a convincing and entertaining performance. Like any performance, drag requires a lot of practice and preparation. Drag performers may rehearse their lip-syncing, live singing, dance moves, comedy routines, and more to ensure their performance is polished and entertaining. Drag can have the power to challenge societal norms and provoke thought about issues related to gender identity and expression. This can open up so much for people to understand and even provide a safe space for others. There can be so much inspiration and empowerment for others through art. The drag transformation for me can be a lot of work – shaving my facial hair off to have a smooth face to create the look of a female and using stage makeup of all sorts. My base is a thick cream foundation used in many theaters and television shows, along with special effects makeup and large amounts of setting powder. Bright colors for my eyes and contour to change the look of the shape of my face. False lashes that are huge! Wearing a big-styled wig, large rhinestone jewelry, and elaborate dresses covered in rhinestones, it can take me up to two hours to become Momma. Over the last 23 years, my makeup and costumes have evolved, as do many artists. I have had the chance to learn and grow in my skills. I have learned from other makeup artists, makeup classes, YouTube, and more. In my over two decades of doing drag, I have had the chance to watch so many lives change. I have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities. I have spread the message that everyone is loved, accepted, and wanted, no matter who they are. I have seen families come together to celebrate so many things, including the love they have for their children, family, and friends. To me, the power behind drag is and can be life changing. On days when I am tired or don’t feel like taking the time to “transform” into Momma, I look in the mirror and think of the lives we have helped change through this art. I think of the kids whose smiles light up the room when I walk out and sing or read them stories. I think of the families I see come together to celebrate each other. I think of the community we built by raising money and awareness for so many charities. That is the reason I do what I do. That is the reason I believe drag is an art and drag is life-changing and brings joy and love! While not everyone may consider drag an art form, it certainly has many elements of traditional art forms. Executing successfully requires a great deal of skill, creativity, and talent. There has been a lot of talk about drag being harmful to people. There are no proven facts that drag has harmed anyone. In fact, history has shown drag performers have always created a safe space for people and helped raise money and awareness for many social and political issues. There are many types of drag, as there are different types of TV, music, and stage shows. You have adult TV, radio, and entertainment, and you have those that are safe for all ages. Drag is and can be the same. Not all drag is for adults only. As with any art form, the show and entertainer can adjust the content to make it safer for all ages. Drag is not a crime; Drag is NOT harmful; Drag is love; Drag is community; Drag is art, and we are not going anywhere.

As an Extension Agent, a significant part of my daily work involves talking about our environment with folks from all walks of life. A topic that has recently been on everyone’s lips in the realm of urban forestry and community health is the urban heat island effect. It’s an issue that has far-reaching implications for our cities and the people who live in them. Now that summer feels like it is officially here, and hurricane season is upon us, I feel like everyone’s conversation has turned to how hot the weather has been. And while the season’s hottest weather is yet to come, you may have noticed it doesn’t feel equally hot everywhere in Polk County. This is especially true when you compare the evening temperatures in our more rural or natural areas to our cities like Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, and Lake Wales. We can all thank the urban heat island effect for this heat disparity. So, what is the urban heat island effect? Essentially, it refers to urban or metropolitan areas that are significantly warmer than their surrounding rural regions. This temperature difference is primarily due to human activities. Cities and towns are full of buildings, roads, parking lots, and other structures made of materials like asphalt and concrete that absorb sunlight during the day and release it slowly at night, leading to an overall increase in temperature. However, the heat island effect isn’t just a daytime phenomenon. Unlike rural areas, which cool down considerably after sunset, urban areas don’t experience the same temperature drop. The heat stored in buildings and roads keep cities warm even after the sun goes down, creating a 24/7 cycle of increased temperatures. In winter, this can feel a bit nice. While the countryside in Polk may experience freezing temperatures, it will likely stay a few degrees warmer in the cities. In areas with a lot of water, like Lakeland and Winter Haven, this effect can be compounded by the insulating effect large waterbodies have on the surrounding lands. Even at a statewide level, this is noticeable. It’s why Florida will look bright orange on the weather map when every other state is experiencing freezing temperatures. And, although it may seem counterintuitive, the water can have the same insulating effect in summer. When states to the north are experiencing heat waves into the triple digits, it is rarer to see those temperatures in Florida. There isn’t a lot of research about how the urban heat island effect and the insulating effects of large waterbodies work in cities with both phenomena, but hopefully, there will be in the future. Unfortunately, the implications of the urban heat island effect are complex, and wide-ranging, and go beyond simple discomfort. For instance, as temperatures rise, so does our reliance on air conditioning, leading to increased energy consumption. Furthermore, hotter temperatures elevate the emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. From a human health perspective, heat islands can lead to heat stress and other heat-related illnesses. Even our wildlife isn’t spared, as some creatures are drawn to the warmth of the roads, leading to an unfortunate increase in roadkill incidents. As Polk County continues to urbanize, we must tackle the heat island effect head-on. But what can we do on an individual level? There are several strategies we can all take part in. First and foremost, plant more trees. Trees are nature’s air conditioners. They absorb sunlight, provide shade, and cool the air through a process called transpiration. Additionally, trees provide a multitude of other benefits, from filtering pollutants out of the air to capturing stormwater runoff. However, planting a tree isn’t as simple as just digging a hole and dropping in a seedling. You need to consider where to plant it for maximum shading effect. For instance, planting a tree on the east, west, or south sides of your house can provide the most shade. If you’re unsure what type of tree to plant or how to plant it, call our office in Bartow. Your local Polk County extension office is staffed with trained master gardener volunteers who are always ready to provide personalized advice for your yard. Beyond planting trees, we can also turn to green infrastructure. This includes initiatives like green roofs, cool pavements, and strategically planned city growth. These mimic natural systems and bring the benefits of nature into our built environments. These projects can be more expensive up front but are often less expensive in the long run when we consider energy efficiency, stormwater management, and mitigation of traditional capital projects. Last, but by no means least, is the power of civic engagement. Let your local government know you value trees and support measures that protect and enhance our urban forests (also known as community forests). You can do this by sending an email, making a call, or attending community meetings. Every voice counts and public support for these less-traditional solutions is critical. As we work to mitigate the urban heat island effect, it’s essential to remember that community trees and forest canopy aren’t just about cooling our cities. There’s a growing body of research showing that being around trees can lower stress levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. In short, trees make us happier and healthier. And, as new research continues to be released, I’m confident that this relationship with community trees will only get stronger. In conclusion, combating the urban heat island effect is a complex and collective effort. We all have a part to play in planting trees, supporting green infrastructure, and championing urban and community forestry. By doing so, we can help make our cities more livable, improve public health, and protect Florida’s natural beauty. If you’re interested in learning more about the urban heat island effect, consider listening to the Naturally Florida podcast episode on this topic at https://link.chtbl.com/HAVENreaders. It’s episode one of season two, “Is It Getting Hotter in Our Cities? It’s the Urban Heat Island Effect!” If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at scarnevale@ufl.edu.

It’s time to celebrate, affirm, and stand beside our LGBTQ+ friends, family, and community members in the week-long celebration, Polk Pride. Asked if there was anything new or exciting with Pride this year, founder Scott Guira replied, “The most exciting thing is that we’re going to continue to have it despite the things going on out there.” Guira created Polk Pride in 2015 to foster a community in Polk County where LGBTQ+ folks of all ages could feel welcome. Discussing the organization in 2021, Guira said, “I know this community has grown. I know that it is an outstanding place to live, to work, to play. I grew up here, and I’ve seen the community change. I want to make sure that the next generation of young people coming up and people moving to the area see that this is a place for them, this is a place for everybody.” Despite a slew of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Guira, and his team are moving forward to create the same safe, loving space he sought to forge in 2015. “We think that at a time like this, it’s more important than ever that we be out, we be vocal, and that our allies are part of our events,” he said. Polk Pride isn’t just being vocal. In April, the organization donated to the Drag2Talle initiative. “Drag2Talle was an opportunity for not only drag queens but trans people and our allies to go up to Tallahassee and make our voice heard that drag is not a crime. Drag is an art,” Guira said. “This is considered an attack on the entire LGBTQ+ community, and it was important for us to be part of a larger contingency of people from across the state who went to make sure our legislators, and so the public could see, that LGBTQ+ people are everywhere and that we are just as much a part of the community as they are.” Also under the Polk Pride umbrella are Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and the Lakeland Youth Alliance (LYA), and they, too, are raising their voices. On November 4, students participated in the state-wide “Don’t Say Gay’’ walkout as the Florida Board of Education unanimously voted to expand the “Don’t Say Gay” law. On March 31, they held an LGBTQ+ rights protest at the entrance of Lake Bonny Park. The bills they protested included HB 999, HB 254, and HB 1223. “I don’t know that they make much of an impact on the people in Tallahassee, but I know it makes a huge impact to the kids. It’s important that their voices be heard,” said LYA and Polk PFLAG President Kerri McCoy. Most LYA students are middle school-aged and have used words like “unfair” and “government control” to describe the bills. Of HB 999, McCoy said, “Some of them will now have to reshape what they’re thinking as far as their future goes, as far as what they’re going to study.” Trans youth have asked, “What’s going to happen to us?” McCoy said, “We have seen the tides turn before. It’s going to be a matter of electing the right people, and we can see change again. If we all just stick together, eventually, we will get through this. I feel like there’s a rainbow at the end.” To support Polk Pride, folks can become a sponsor, volunteer, donate, or join their initiatives. Those interested in volunteering or donating can do so on their website. “It’s important that we have our allies as part of our Pride celebration,” Guira said. “If people can share our events [on social media] […] or by word of mouth, whatever they need to do to get the word out that this event is happening and that it is important to everyone in Polk County.” As an ally, Kerri McCoy advised finding LGBTQ+ resources in the community and becoming part of a group. “If you know someone who is LGBTQ+, ask, ‘What can I do to support you? How can I help? What can I do to make a difference?’” “Pride was born out of a necessity,” Guira said. “We celebrate Pride now, but when Pride started, it began as a protest against people who were holding LGBTQ+ people back from living safe lives. Now, it’s just as important, if not more important than it’s been the last several years because of our legislation and the changing political climate, to make sure our voice is heard and let people know we’re not going to stand by and let this decision be made without our speaking up.” Photography by Amy Sexson Polk Pride polkpridefl.com FB @PolkPrideFL IG @polkpridefl Lakeland Youth Alliance lakelandyouthalliance.org FB @LakelandYouthAlliance PFLAG of Polk County pflagofpolkcounty.org FB @PFLAGofPolkCounty PRIDEONTAP Polk Pride 2023 Begins Swan Brewing 115 W Pine St, Lakeland Saturday 6/10 2-5 pm PRIDEFORYOUTH Lakeland Youth Alliance Pride Party Ages 11-17 Location TBD Wednesday 6/14 6:30 pm PRIDEINFAITH An Interfaith Celebration of Pride Beacon Hill Fellowship 220 W Beacon Rd, Lakeland Thursday 6/15 7 pm PRIDEKICKOFF Drinks, Dancing, and Drag The Parrot 1030 E Main St, Lakeland Friday 6/16 9 pm - 2 am PRIDEINTHEPARK Celebration of Pride for the Whole Family Munn Park | Downtown 201 E Main St, Lakeland Saturday 6/17 10 am - 3 pm PRIDEAFTER DARK Pride After Party | Drag Show LKLD Live @ Rec Room 202 N Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland Saturday 6/17 9 pm - 2 am

The Florida Dance Theatre, founded in 1993 by Carol Krajacic Erkes, is a “home and a community rather than a program,” according to Artistic Director Stefan Dolbashian and Board Chair Tiffany Van Wieren. Florida Dance Theatre (FDT) is Lakeland’s only nonprofit professional dance company and a hub for dance education, excellence, and outreach. The studio’s inclusion and community outreach are  what drew Stefan Dolbashian to the dance company. Dolbashian was born and raised in New York City. He grew up surrounded by artists – his mother, a classical singer and vocal coach; his father, a percussionist who played for Earth, Wind & Fire; and his brother, a dancer and choreographer. Dolbashian, his father, and his grandfather are all alumni of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, known ubiquitously as the “Fame School.” At 19, he auditioned with the Florida Dance Theatre at the Alvin Ailey School in New York, where he trained. Offered an apprenticeship with the company, Dolbashian moved to Lakeland. He left for several years on contract with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company and spent that time touring the U.S. and Europe. “After the touring was over, I found that I really missed Lakeland and FDT,” Dolbashian said. As soon as his contract was up, he called Erkes, who gave him an opportunity to return to the company he loved as a resident choreographer until she retired in 2019 and Dolbashian took over as artistic director. Board Chair for Florida Dance Theatre, Tiffany Van Wieren, is the Arts and Medicine coordinator for Watson Clinic Foundation. After meeting Erkes, Van Wieren was impressed with the company she’d created. “I thought this was a beautiful blend of having professional dancers and education and outreach,” Van Wieren said. As a former art teacher, the emphasis on arts and education was important to her. She later met Executive Director Jermaine Thornton, appreciated his vision, and decided to sign onto the Board last year. “I am very committed to Florida Dance Theatre being the first thing that pops to mind when you think of arts impact in our community,” she said. A DANCE COMPANY FOR EVERYONE Florida Dance Theatre started as Lakeland Ballet, a training school in a modest warehouse in Lakeland. “[Erkes] never originally designed it to have a professional company. She just wanted to be able to teach dance and have that available to the youth here in Lakeland,” Dolbashian said. “Over time, belief in the organization continued to grow, as well as the student body.” As her first students graduated, they didn’t want to leave her school. That, Dolbashian said, was the birth of the professional dance company. “That has only empowered the school further because these wonderful current professional dancers are the children’s educators,” he said. “I think that’s powerful.” According to FDT, “Ms. Erkes was impressed by the talent available in the Polk County region; and while recognizing a lack of dance programming in the area, she formed Polk County’s first, and to this date, only professional dance company.” The dance company has seen dancers from around the country and the world, including Russia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. These professional dancers make up the faculty of the auxiliary training academy, which offers instruction in classical ballet, jazz, modern, and more. “Several Academy students have gone on to pursue their professional careers with other companies, including the Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Met, Memphis Ballet, Ballet Magnificat, the Smuin Company, and Hartford Ballet,” according to FDT. “Many students have also received scholarships to college dance programs, including Florida State, Southern Methodist University, and Goucher College.” The company serves as a nonprofit professional dance company, training academy, and hub for community outreach. Florida Dance Theatre has had educational partnerships with organizations such as Family Fundamentals, Salvation Army, and the Lakeland Housing Authority, summer camps, scholarship programs, and in-school Arts in Education performance series. A vested interest in creating awareness and exposure to arts education has led the organization to do many large-scale productions, including original full-length ballets. “We’ve been able to combine the professional academy as well as the students to do full-length professional productions,” Dolbashian said. “This group of individuals that dance and teach here, I always refer to them as the most beautiful band of misfits I’ve ever seen,” said the artistic director. Where many dance companies require one standard body type, “That’s not a vision that we see here. We believe dance is for everyone. There’s no such thing as too tall, too short, too thick – that doesn’t exist here. We do want you to be technically strong. [...] But as long as you have that hard work and drive, this is a dance company for everyone.” A REBIRTH Florida Dance Theatre will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. With this milestone comes a restructuring and revitalization for the company. Board Chair Tiffany Van Wieren noted that they look to other arts organizations, like Polk Museum of Art and Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, who have undergone similar growth and rebirth in recent years. “That’s what we’re looking to do,” she said. A part of that process will be moving to a new location and revamping the company’s infrastructure. “The three directors here have done amazing things with very limited resources,” Van Wieren said. As Board Chair, she is tasked with giving them better resources and helping them to flesh out the behind-the-scenes systems to keep things running smoothly and “do the most good in our community.” The move means bringing their facilities to an even higher standard. The dance theatre looks to have a prominent building with more space. Van Wieren called the move “part of a bigger picture” to inspire awareness and support to build or purchase their own building. “If you look at similar cities where they are now, they typically have three strong arts organizations. They have a very strong nonprofit dance organization, arts, and symphony,” Van Wieren said. “Here in Lakeland, we have two out of the three. This organization has amazing, wonderful quality, […] but there’s still not a lot of awareness of what FDT does, and I think that’s the missing piece, truly.” “Lakeland deserves this,” Van Wieren added. “We are fully nonprofit; we belong to Polk County. […] We belong to our citizens.” OUTREACH PROGRAMS Community outreach isn’t an afterthought for FDT; it’s at the dance company’s core. “The way they do it is very personal,” Dolbashian said. “Our executive director, Jermaine, is a fantastic grant writer and is fantastic at implementing these programs.” Van Wieren said, “Dance is integral to who we are as human beings, and it’s so important that we move our bodies.” The company’s outreach is inclusive of all ages and tends to fall into three categories – Arts and Education, Arts and Health, and Passport to the Arts. Under Arts and Education, FDT has partnered with other arts organizations like the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra to tie in performances for Polk County Schools. They also host annual summer camps and have created year-round after-school programs in local public schools. “We were able to have the kids from Crystal Lake in our “Nutcracker” this year,” Dolbashian said of the after-school program. Another workshop involved a partnership with the Robotics and Engineering department at Florida Poly Tech. “We were able to marry dance and engineering together in a summer program where the students learned aspects of robotics and created costumes that would light up,” Dolbashian said. “Dance is so expensive to participate in. There are so many children who want to do it whose families don’t have the accessibility to do so,” said the artistic director. FDT provides education, studio space, and dance clothes through its outreach programs. “My parents went through a lot and sacrificed a lot to make sure I was able to do what I wanted to. I would love to make it easier on our Polk County families if we can.” For Arts and Health, FDT partners with the Watson Clinic Foundation to integrate arts and aging programs. Florida Dance Theatre has also established relationships with local assisted care facilities for their Passport to the Arts. The program utilizes sponsors to provide tickets for those in partnering assisted care homes to see FDT productions like “The Nutcracker” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Passport to the Arts is modeled after a nationwide ‘social prescription’ program that pairs seniors with a social prescription for something they’re interested in, like dance, music, and art. BE PART OF THE POSSIBLE Those interested in supporting Florida Dance Theatre can patronize the 30th anniversary season and ‘Be pART of the Possible’ by donating to their 30th Anniversary Giving Campaign. Donors can choose where their funds go, like towards moving expenses and build-out for the new space or to sponsor a dancer. In-kind donations are welcome, as well as time, as they look to expand and diversify their Board. Florida Dance Theatre 305 W Main St, Lakeland (863) 802-0399 FB: Florida Dance Theatre www.floridadancetheatre.org

In a small tidy kitchen off Highway 17 in Lake Alfred, Calogero “Charlie” Restivo makes the best pizza in Polk County. Over piping hot espressos, Charlie dished about his background, to-die-for dough, and the joy he gets creating a memorable guest experience. A thirty-year culinary veteran and first-generation Italian American, Restivo hails from Queens, New York. He grew up in a predominantly Italian neighborhood. “That’s where I started working in pizzerias and delis as a young man,” Restivo said. He worked his way up the food chain, eventually cheffing for upscale restaurants in Manhattan before moving to Florida in 2007. Working for Patina Restaurants, Restivo was one of the opening executive chefs at Disney’s Tutto Italia Ristorante and also opened with Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria in EPCOT. THE BEST PIZZERIA IN POLK President’s Day marked one year since Restivo opened his namesake restaurant in Lake Alfred. “I like Lake Alfred,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of potential in this town. I think it could grow.” Calogero’s pizza is unique from anything in the area and worth the drive from any corner of the county. “They’re my recipes,” he said of his cuisine. “I learned over the years and traveled to Italy back and forth. I adopted some recipes and made them in my own way.” The pizza style is best described as wood-fired Neapolitan-ish. Made with imported tomatoes and 00 flour (double-zero flour), Restivo said, “I refuse to buy something inferior. If you start with good ingredients and a good product, you’re going to end up with a better experience.” Restivo even sources the water for his dough – no tap touches his pizzas. “I think it makes a difference,” he said. Calogero’s dough contains no added fats, oils, or sugar – just twice-milled flour, water, salt, and yeast. It’s not only the ingredients but the cooking method that matters too. Calogero’s Pizzeria utilizes an Acunto oven made by one of the oldest manufacturers in Italy. The oven uses no gas, no electricity, just red oak at 800-850 degrees to give the pizzas their signature pillowy, full-bodied crust in about 60 seconds. Restivo had to remove the front wall of the building, dig down to level the floor, and rent a forklift capable of lifting 10,000 lbs. to get the behemoth into place. Why go to all that trouble for pizza? “I want [customers] to experience a wood-fired pizza and Italian products. There’s nothing wrong with other pizzas,” he said, “but we’re different.” ESPRESSOS AND EXCELLENCE “Cooking is always a passion,” Restivo said. “When I come in and see a customer, and I ask, ‘How’s the pizza?’ and they say, ‘Good.’ I think, ‘Oh, okay, what’s wrong? Why just good?’ I want it to be excellent.” And excellent it is. A few Haven favorites are his garlic cheese bread made with fresh chopped organic American garlic, the Hot Honey pie, and the pepperoni pizza, with added ricotta. “I do use what they call a cup and char pepperoni,” Restivo said. The fat stays in the cup and doesn’t bleed over the pizza. “When you eat it, it’s like little bursts of flavor.” A pro-tip is to get a pie for there and one (or two) to go. Calogero’s pizza reheats like a dream, giving it new life and a crispier bottom. Whether inside the charming dining room to the right of the parking lot or outside on the deck beneath a canopy of trees in sight of the Italian flag billowing in the wind, guests can enjoy a selection of wood-fired pizza, sandwiches, salads, cannoli, gelato, espresso, and more. Calogero’s offers Kimbo Napoli coffee, Italy’s most famous coffee brand. In December, they added beer and wine to their offerings, a compliment to their exceptional fare. For pizza patrons unsure of what to try first, Restivo recommends the Queens. Named in honor of his birthplace, the Queens is a meld of Neapolitan and New York pizza made with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, Sicilian oregano, and parmesan. His favorite, though, is the Margherita. “I like it because it’s not that cheesy. It’s a little bit more sauce than cheese.” “There’s no such thing as bad pizza,” Restivo said. “Pizza is an interpretation of the person making it. So if you like my pizza, this is what I like. This is how I like to do it. This is how I interpret it.” Photography by Amy Sexson Calogero’s Pizzeria (863) 268-8352 148A W Haines Blvd, Lake Alfred FB: Calogero’s pizzeria calogerospizzeria.godaddysites.com