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As we gear up to celebrate Pride Month here in Polk County, I can’t help but think about how lucky I am to have spent a good portion of my life volunteering and working in a theater. I am the Producing Director at Theatre Winter Haven, but the first play I ever did was a production of THE KING AND I at age 5. Most of my life has been informed by the values I learned in a dark theater. Because I was a theater kid, I have been blessed to know and love members of the LBGTQ community long before I knew how to shave. One of the lessons I learned is that a theater is a safe place for those who society hasn’t always embraced. I learned that people I loved and admired inside the theater could be victimized outside of it, just for being who they are. I wish the whole world could be more like a community theater. Because theater, especially community theater, is the one place in the world where being different, being weird, being strange is considered an asset instead of a reason to be bullied or ridiculed. The people I work with are wonderfully odd, magically bizarre, and absolutely march to the beat of their own drummer… (but we ALWAYS clap on the 2 and 4… we are weirdos, not barbarians). In Community Theater, we don’t care about race, sexual orientation or identification, if someone is on the spectrum, or even your age. ART transcends all that other stuff. HECK, we don’t even care if you can act, sing, or dance – because there are a hundred other ways to be part of our community. Sets need to be built, costumes need to be made, tickets need to be sold, and patrons need to be seated. There is something for everyone. Community Theater is a safe place, especially for those who don’t fit in easily. We are a band of misfits. All are WELCOME. In fact, theater has ALWAYS been the home of the disenfranchised, the outcasts, the marginalized. Theater has ALWAYS been an island of acceptance in a frequently cruel world. And the world has often been disproportionately cruel to members of the LBGTQ community. The first Community Theaters were in ancient Greece. And, like the community theaters of today, they attracted the quirky, the different, and those who lived outside the mainstream. The comedies of ancient Greece championed the underserved… the butt of the jokes were always the rich and famous and powerful. At the same time, they celebrated those who were, well, fabulous. Long before there was a RuPaul’s Drag Race, Greek comedies were exploring nuances of gender roles and homosexuality. Then, like now, the theater welcomed and embraced the gay community. I think it takes a similar type of courage to be openly gay or transexual as it does to be successful in theater. There is a fearlessness to embracing one’s true self and being comfortable with that. I contend it is that same brand of fearlessness that makes one shine on stage. The charge of a Community Theater is more than just putting together pieces of entertainment. Our higher purpose is to make our communities better places to live, to work, and to play by making our citizens – especially our underserved citizens – the focus of everything we do. We are black, we are white, we are gay, we are straight, we are Christian and not; we are young and old we are liberal and conservative and we couldn’t be more eclectic or different. But we are a family. We genuinely care and love one another. THE TRADITION CONTINUES AT THEATRE WINTER HAVEN. The world is a different (and better) place than it was when I was a kid, but we still have a lot of work to do. I am proud that we continue to be a safe place for members of the LBGTQ community. Especially for young gay people throughout Polk County. It warms my heart to see the unlikely friendships that are built on our stage and know that these kids are learning the same lessons that I learned as a kid in a theater. I am equally proud that we have role models for these kids who have unimpeachable character, warm and kind hearts, and would walk through fire to protect them. Many of these role models happen to be gay. For those times one needs an escape from the harsh realities of the world, theater offers an opportunity to pretend to be someone else and somewhere else every single day. We get to create worlds that are free from prejudice and full of grand adventure. Within our walls and on our stage we get to drop our labels and be whoever the script dictates we be. For a few hours each day, we get to leave the outside world behind. The fact is, Community Theater is a place where people who are not yet comfortable in their skin can find a home as easily as those who have already learned to celebrate what makes them different. In theater, we love people to be unique. No one ever got a starring role by being just like everyone else at an audition. Part of the job description for an artist – especially an actor – is standing out, and that doesn’t happen by fitting in. We admire the differences in each other and, in time, those who struggle with who they are realize that’s what makes them unique also makes them great – both as actors and as humans. The best part about community theater is that, not only are we welcoming and accepting, we are an antidote to loneliness. There are some problems in our world that are too big and too complex to comprehend. But if isolation and loneliness are part of those problems – then more people need to find a community theater and play with us. I promise there is a friend somewhere in the wings of a theater – and that friend won’t care if you are gay or not. I invite all members of the LBGTQ community to come and work with us. I am sure you will find a welcoming home.

It’s alive!!! But, in a good way. For Krazy Kombucha owner, Wendy Johnson, producing this fermented beverage for the community she loves is a way of life. Her family goes back 100 years in Lakeland – Wendy is the third generation here. She and her husband have three sons, two of whom are in the Marine Corps and her third still in high school. A nurse of over 20 years, Johnson’s first job was on the Digestive Floor of Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Looking for alternative options to some of the digestive issues she had seen and experienced in her own family, Johnson became certified in holistic medicine. “I saw the debilitating diseases in the hospital and I know twenty-something years later younger and younger kids are in there with chronic problems with digestion,” she said. She knew about kombucha through her holistic background and met a chiropractor who was making it locally. “The ginger kombucha is what helped my stomach so much, and I got her on it because she’s my best friend,” she said pointing to her BFF and Krazy Kombucha team member, AJ Jackson. Wendy and AJ met through a fitness class that AJ teaches. They started running together, but both dealt with stomach issues. When they came upon kombucha, they were addicted to its benefits. The chiropractor moved to Tampa and the business was no longer. Wanting the kombucha operation to continue not only for herself but for Lakeland, Johnson bought the company and the equipment to carry on Krazy Kombucha. AJ works for the City of Lakeland full-time and assists Wendy with the business during her off time. Wendy’s youngest son, Justin also helps his mom, opting to lend a hand with the heavy lifting. June 9 marked a year selling at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market. Wendy said as a nurse with no background in running a business, she needed a little help. She joined Catapult which allowed her to propel her business forward. In February the team spread their wings and branched out to a workspace of their own in Dixieland. What is Kombucha? “Kombucha is a fermented tea, it also contains a live probiotic culture in it. Each drink that you take in contains a live culture,” explained Wendy. “The live culture grows the good bacteria in the gut biome.” Issues with digestion, belly aches, bloating, acid reflux and the like, Wendy says are usually caused by an imbalance of the gut microbiome. “The gut biome is made up of many bacteria – good and bad. Sugar tends to feed the bad bacteria and you get an overgrowth of the bad bacteria. With kombucha, when you drink it on a regular basis, you’re able to put in the good culture which is going to help combat the bad guys, so they don’t overgrow,” she said. “When you tip the scales into the good bacteria – the acid reflux, the bloating, the gas and things like that – get better.” It’s all about the SCOBY, Baby It all starts with a “momma” SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) in a large glass contained tank. Wendy described the SCOBY’s like the “momma” that will eventually grow “babies.” Proud of their SCOBY children, AJ joked, “We grin as soon as we walk in and see them.” “We’re so proud of them,” Wendy added. The full process of making kombucha takes about three weeks. Wendy starts by boiling a blend of organic teas including green and white teas for added antioxidants. They add organic sugar and let it cool to around 80 degrees. Using a process called a “continuous brew” in their tanks, there is always about 2-3 gallons of starter liquid tea in the bottom for the next batch. They add the cooled tea and sugar into the starter liquid and add water to a certain level. Fermentation will take about a week at a steady temperature between 75 and 76 degrees. All the while they are testing it for alcohol and pH levels. Their kombucha is considered non-alcoholic containing below 0.5% alcohol and they keep the pH to approximately 3.3. After the week of fermentation, it goes into the keg for the second fermentation with whatever fruit will be flavoring it – taking about 24-hours. No more sugar is added other than the fructose from the fruit. The team concocts seasonal flavors like strawberry, blackberry basil, and pineapple with their staple ginger continuing to lead sales. Refrigeration slows fermentation down, where it will sit for a week and a half to two weeks. Now, the finished product is ready for distribution! They currently make their kombucha in three tanks, with each tank producing one barrel or roughly 30 gallons. The space they are in now offers room for expansion. They are in the process of building three new tanks to double their brew. Where to Find Them Krazy Kombucha’s bread and butter is the downtown farmer’s market. That’s where you’ll find them every Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm during regular hours, and 8 am to 1 pm in the summer. The market closes for a month in August. You can enjoy an ice-cold glass on its own or mix it with your favorite beer at Swan Brewing. Mango and berry flavors are usually on tap there which Wendy recommends with Swan’s Mango Mia or their Blonde Ale. The Lakeland CBD Wellness store on Kentucky Avenue has a kegerator where kombucha lovers can fill their growler or another container. Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub has picked up a few of their half gallons. “They’re really liking our ginger to put in with their Moscow Mules,” said Wendy. In fact, Wendy and AJ say their kombucha is the perfect additive or substitution in your favorite cocktail recipe (they are all good with rum). Instead of reaching for a sugary mixer next time, try using kombucha! The east side of the county will get a chance to sample the good stuff in the soon-opening Smoothie Squad in Winter Haven. Offering an Alternative Health and wellness are passions for both Wendy and AJ. As athletes, they’ve had their own issues with indigestion from overtraining to stress. The pair want to provide a healthy remedy to these issues to the greater community as well as the fitness comrades. From an athletic standpoint, Wendy said, “When you grow the good gut bacteria, it boosts your immune system, you’re boosting energy so it’s going to give you that power you need to perform.” She considers drinking kombucha a lifestyle choice, saying that it’s not a medicine you have to take, but rather something real that you can feel good about drinking regularly. It is alive after all and as Wendy said, “Living food is healing.” “It’s bigger than us,” said Wendy, “We’re trying to bring this into the community that we love because we know that each drop in somebody’s stomach can definitely benefit them.” Krazy Kombucha https://krazykombucha.life FB @krazykombucha IG @krazykombucha Photo by Amy Sexson

The United States was coming out of the Second World War. The troops came home with many physical and psychological wounds. Many had suffered horrendous experiences beyond our present understanding. Yet, life had to go on. Families reunited, rebuilt lives and carried on. I had the honor of talking to Randall Stokes Edwards, a 102-year-old who was a Prisoner of War in Manchuria for over three years. He shared stories with me of his very challenging life. Randall began, “We were in the Philippines on a ship that supplied twenty submarines. We had the spare torpedoes. USS Canopus was a 1918 banana boat that had 600 sailors. There were no sleeping quarters for the enlisted men. I slept behind a big radio transmitter on a cot. I was a radioman first class. When the Japanese came, the ship was bombed and that supposedly put her out of commission. We weren’t really, of course, but we made it look that way. We made it look like it was only good to scuttle.” He continued, “The Japanese attacked the Philippines and so we were ordered to go to a port at the very bottom tip of the Bataan peninsula. We serviced our last submarines there but then the Japanese pinned us down. I went with the 220 Signal Corps with the army. We did anything we could with the material we had. We had no supplies at this time and we ate everything we could find while at Bataan. We ate the last Army mule in March and we were completely surrounded by the Japanese.” “In April, a Japanese general came back to kill all the Americans on Bataan,” Randall added, “We weren’t going anywhere, we were dying anyway. We were starving to death. We had beriberi, malaria and dysentery. We didn’t have much ammunition and the clip I put in my 1898 enfield rifle when I fired it, would travel about twenty feet and we’d see it drop. We would get a whole case of ammo and out of that very little was any good. It was all so corroded. So we didn’t have much to shoot with.” Randall remembers when the Japanese general brought his army back to Bataan, they folded. “The last order I got from the Army was you are on your own. I had a choice, try to go through the jungle and escape or I could join the Navy. Well hell, I didn’t like that jungle thing so I went back to join the Navy. My old ship was nose down and the Navy crew was gone. Me and my friend decided to get to Corregidor. We picked up junk, floated on it, and the tide helped us get there. We found the Marine battalion there. We were bombed daily. We watched and counted 900 guns landing on Corregidor. It was just a mile from us. They were the big guns, 240 millimeter! General Wainwright, commander of the Allied Forces in the Philippines, surrendered to the Japanese in May, 1942.” Randall tells how he was deathly ill and somehow survived and for a time ended up cooking for Japanese engineers while still on the island of Corregidor. “At that time we ate pretty darn good.” Then he was transferred to another prisoner camp where he was put on the burial detail. The grave was a huge trench. “We would take the dog tags off the bodies and slide them in. It was a horrible job.” Randall recalls 1500 Americans and 1500 Japanese were put on a troop ship. “We were in the hold of the ship but half of us would be on deck as there was no room. We got one cup of water and a tiny rations per day.” In transit Randall had many close calls. He was moved with other prisoners many times. “We dodged a submarine attack. We were on deck and saw a big splash about a quarter of a mile away. We screamed torpedo and even more came at us. Now we knew that those American torpedoes would bump into us, but we also knew they wouldn’t explode. What happened was the firing pin, which was supposed to go straight back in, would bend on contact instead and not explode. You could hear a thud when they hit a ship… but they wouldn’t explode! The Navy eventually fixed that!” After many months The prisoners ended up in China. “We were not POWS now, we were slave labor. The Japanese sold us to the MKK corporation to build factories in Manchuria. We got there in November. The camp, well, it was like the way Americans raise hogs in. One cast iron stove was at the end of each building. It was 40 below zero there. I froze my feet, I froze my hands and everybody else did too. I wasn’t unique. We did not have any clothes! And we were dying! That first winter we had a cup of cabbage soup each day. The doctors recommended soy beans in the soup! That’s what we ate until we finally were released, more protein.” When asked about how he could get up every day he said “We had no choice. We knew the Americans were coming. But we also knew we would all be executed if they came. So we did what we could to sabotage. You know how I survived? Every morning when I woke up I would say these little bastards aren’t going to kill me today! “ How Did you finally get released? “That’s pretty interesting. One morning we were all sent out to the parade field.There were no guards! An American said the war is over! You woulda thought you’d hear whoops and yelling. But not a sound. (He choked up here). You could hear a pin drop. After three years thinking we could die any day, we were speechless. After that we bailed out of that camp like you wouldn’t believe! Eventually we were shipped out to hospitals to recover.” Back home, Randall did a five year Electrical Engineering program in three years. He wasted no time in getting back to life. He spent 25 years working for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. He later moved to Lakeland to be near his only son, Dr. J. Randall Edwards. Edwards became a National Service Officer for American Ex Prisoners of War Organization and American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. He has served many over the years. He has given many speeches to the Service Academies . For now, he is taking it easy as he is legally blind but still can walk without a cane! When referring to the Greatest Generation, I think Randall Edwards stands out . He did what he had to do. He came back, worked hard, made no excuses (though he sure could have), preservered, and has lived a full and rich life.

Lakeland’s hometown barbeque spot since 1964, Jimbo’s Pit Bar B-Q maintains a lasting legacy of good food and good service, run by good folks. The restaurant was originally started by Jim Neff, owner of the Foxfire Restaurant and Henry Landworth who owned the Holiday Inn just down the road. Peck’s Freez-ette was the eatery’s first moniker. It eventually became Jimbo’s Pit Bar B-Q and Neff hired Harold “Happy” Lehman to run it. “Dad managed it for him for a year and bought it from him in ’65,” remembered Harold’s daughter, Traci Lehman Hughes. Traci started working at Jimbo’s when she was 16 years old, leaving for a time to go to school in Orlando. In 2001, she bought the business and carries on the barbecue legacy that has endured for over half a century. Not much has changed in Jimbo’s since the doors first opened. The warm wood-paneled dining area is lined with antiques (which Harold Lehman collected) and some pig-themed decor brought in by guests. The comfy space is filled with picnic-style bench seating and the large windows allow light to flood in. About half of their business comes from take-out through their drive-thru and walk-up windows. Guests can order there or order online through their website and on bitesquad. com. A 1965 menu is framed, hanging on the wall, yellowed a bit with age. They’ve added a few things and taken a few off, but the bones of Jimbo’s menu remain the same. The current menu offers up barbecue standards like chopped pork, Bar B-Q beef and ham, chicken, Jimbo’s burger, or a fried fish sandwich with all the fixin’s. The star of the show is Jimbo’s Bar B-Q Ribs. By far, their biggest seller, the ribs, like the rest of their barbecue, are meat magic made with love. “We use an oiler pit, which comes out of Texas. We use no gas in cooking our barbeque – it’s all wood,” said Traci. “We put a dry rub on them, then we smoke them for 3 and a half, 4 hours. They come off and we baste them. It’s pretty simple – they’re just really good,” she smiled. Everything but the potato salad is made in-house at Jimbo’s. That includes Bar B-Q beans, coleslaw, mac and cheese and more. But I’d be remiss not to mention the made from scratch, to-die-for apple and cherry pies. In fact, that’s what Traci was about to do as we walked in for the interview – roll out the dough for the day’s pie. Though Harold Lehman passed away in 2018, Jimbo’s remains familyowned and operated. Traci’s daughters work with her at the restaurant. Daughter Olivia also runs Happy’s Place Farm and Chloe attends the University of Florida online. Daughter Molly is currently attending college at UF and picks up a shift or two when she comes home to Lakeland. Traci’s nephew, Tyson Hutto and cousin, Daryl Lehman also work at the restaurant. Jimbo’s offers catering and a holiday special in which you can buy whole pies and smoked turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They begin taking reservations for that on November 1 – whip your phone out now because they usually book up within the first week. “We haven’t changed much over the last 50 years – it’s kind of crazy, but it works,” said Traci. She learned this concept from her dad, though she’d nudge him to tweak things here or there in the past. “Now that I’m older, I get that. It works – why would I want to mess with it?” That’s only one of the many things Traci learned working with her dad. She also learned, “To value your customers, to be nice, to get out there and help your community and give back where you can.” Jimbo’s customer base is generational. The family says they are thankful for the community that has supported their small business over the years. “We can’t do it without them. We’re so lucky, we have generations who come in. People will come in with their grand-dad and their dad,” said Traci. Though not messing with what works is part of Jimbo’s business model, that doesn’t mean they won’t listen to their customers. They are toying with the idea of giving pulled and chopped chicken a permanent spot on the menu. In other exciting news – they’ll be adding a rib sandwich soon! “It’s going to be on a thicker, Texas toast white bread with ribs. It’s simple but people ask for it all the time,” said Traci. I stopped in for some take-out during a Wednesday lunch-hour rush. The Jimbo’s Bar B-Q Ribs plate was calling my name. The barbeque plates come with two hushpuppies and two sides. I chose mac and cheese and potato salad. For dessert – apple pie! I drove back to the office with full intentions of sharing… I did share, a little. A rib for you, and a rib for you, and the rest for me. “Fall-off-the-bone” is a phrase thrown around a lot when describing barbeque, but I can think of no four words more fitting for the smoky goodness that came in that Jimbo’s takeout box. It went from lunch to a full-on barbeque experience when I tried it with their homemade barbeque sauce (which they keep hot all day). It was equal parts tangy and sweet with just enough spice to make things interesting. The mac and cheese stood out as well. Strings of real cheese were ribboned in (seemingly strategically for max flavor) within the noodles and creamy sauce. And then, there was the apple pie. The warm, gooey, not-too-sweet apple filling was hugged by a flaky crust. The pie is served with a side of cider sauce which adds any sweetness your missing. A fork full of that pie with a dab of cider sauce is probably the most perfect bite of apple pie I’ve ever had (outside of yours, of course, Nanny). The whole lunch was ten out of ten – would recommend. As I finished my lunch, I thought back to what Traci had said earlier, “We haven’t changed much over the last 50 years – it’s kind of crazy, but it works.” Jimbo’s Pit Bar B-Q www.jimbospitbarbeque.com FB: Jimbo’s Pit Bar-B-Q IG @jimbospitbbqlkld Photo by Amy Sexson

“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” —Audre Lorde Inspired by movements like that of Femme Fatale DC, a “By womyn, for womyn” collective supporting women-owned creative entrepreneurs through retail pop-ups in Washington D.C., and in search of connections and opportunities exclusive to women – Ileah Green teamed up with co-founding members Alison Foley-Rothrock, Jessica Rios, Sunny Balliette, and Stephanie Gregg to form the Lakeland Women’s Collective – a space for women to be free. Free from harassment, free from discrimination, free to create, free to start a business, free to be women. Ileah Green grew up in Lakeland and moved away for college, settling in Washington D.C. in the ten years before moving home. In D.C., Green took notice of womenonly spaces popping up around the city like that of Femme Fatale DC. “It was about empowering women to be themselves and to celebrate their uniqueness, and also to grow female relationships,” said Green. When she relocated to Lakeland, Green sought out opportunities to support women in freelancing, creative, artistic, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Her first thought was to check out the women’s business center. The only trouble was finding one. Six months of asking just about everyone she knew where she could find one, it became clear that it simply didn’t exist in Lakeland. Where was the place exclusively investing in women entrepreneurs? Where was the money for women-owned businesses? Where could women come together to connect and share in their badassery? “I started the Women’s Collective out of looking for connections – around business, around being a mom, around being a woman,” said Green. THE BEGINNING OF LWC Green met Sunny Balliette at a LKLD Creative Makers meeting. The two shared their frustrations with and vision for the state of women in Lakeland. The two began meeting to brainstorm ways to create opportunities for women locally. In efforts to bring together interesting, powerful women in the community, they began holding women’s meetings or “focus groups” as Green called them. She looked at these focus groups as a way to gauge whether other women felt similarly about the plights of women in Lakeland and lack of opportunity for them here. She wasn’t alone. Balliette, a creative entrepreneur herself, started the VOLUME Art Collective and began organizing classes at ART/ifact. These classes caught the attention of artist, Jessica Rios. The two connected and Balliette invited Rios to the women’s group meeting. Green met attorney and founder of the Red Tent Initiative, Alison Foley-Rothrock in the summer of 2018 after someone suggested she reach out to the anti-domestic violence organization if she was looking for an impactful way to support women. After meeting Foley-Rothrock, Green started working with her as an advisory board member for Red Tent and as an assistant at Foley-Rothrock’s law firm. Their first event as a collective, a joint effort with the Red Tent Initiative, was a presentation of data from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research called “The Status of Women.” The response to the event was exceedingly positive and the founding members began to think about, “how do we make Lakeland and Polk County a safer and more equitable, more even playing field for women and people of color,” said Green. The growth has continued, as have the events. The second was a Women’s March Meetup at the Poor Porker, and they’ve continued hosting events for activism, art, entrepreneurship, and femaleempowerment. THE MISSION The LWC wanted to get the message across loud and clear to women that they are important, deserve to be treated with respect, and have a job that pays well and doesn’t expose them to harassment. “You have options, but it’s easy to feel like there are no options if you’re in a community that is stifling,” said Green. “I think in a lot of ways, Lakeland can be stifling to women and people of color.” The collective wanted to seek out a co-working environment that was a safe space in which women, femme-identifying, and non-binary artists, makers, and entrepreneurs could exist and work free of harassment and discrimination. After a few potential locations fell through, the group found the Lemon Street space just outside of downtown that would become the Lakeland Women’s Collective. The co-working space is home to brilliant and creative women from lawyers, nail artists, writers, artists and more. Lakeland Women’s Collective is an inclusive, pro-equality, pro-equity, non-denominational, non-partisan, pro-woman, and pro-human rights space. “We want social, economic, and political equality for everybody,” said Jessica Rios. “Glass ceilings are a real thing – and we want to shatter those. […] Anything that is holding women back, we want to get rid of.” Rios said, “Somehow women end up here and we heal each other.” In addition to the healing she has received and given to her sisters at the LWC, Rios finds it inspirational to be surrounded by women doing what they want to do. “Women are coming here and making their dreams come true,” she said. “I love that we can come here and engage in a powerful way and become powerful in business without participating in the toxic masculinity and environments that we find in other workspaces,” said Foley-Rothrock. “We’ve created our own space for each other, for ourselves. This is a safe space where we can be ourselves, but also be doing powerful things and making decisions and making impacts around us – without compromise.” Without compromise is right. Everything they’ve done as a collective has been engineered to give women opportunities without compromising other areas of their life – like motherhood. The LWC’s position is that motherhood and business are not mutually exclusive. A woman can be both an attentive, caring mother and powerful, successful entrepreneur. They even provide a kid’s room at their coworking space. Members are welcome and encouraged to bring their children. Foley-Rothrock said, “That’s one of those systemic things that seems to still be ingrained here in Lakeland and in more conservative communities around the country – that you have to choose either being a mother or being a business owner and a powerful business person.” “How do you make the transition between being a stay at home mother and wanting to work on becoming an entrepreneur? The gap from one to the other where you’re making enough money to leave your child in childcare or make other arrangements is a pretty big leap,” said FoleyRothrock. “That not being recognized and not acknowledged is part of the whole patriarchal system where it’s clear that men, and people who have wealth, and people who have traditional family structures are still very much in charge of making those decisions.” Green said that her goal for the LWC is to ensure that women understand resources are available to them and that, “there are very smart women in this town, who want women to be successful.” “That’s my goal, is to remove as many barriers as possible to women supporting themselves, making names for themselves, having their own businesses, being artists, having their own creative business,” said Green. Some of the many resources the collective provides to women through education. Women like Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts, president and CEO of a management consulting firm out of Lakeland and Financial Professional, Tari Kezele, invest their time with LWC to help women become more informed in matters of business and finance. “I want women to be as armed in terms of information as possible,” said Green. She encourages women in the community to feel empowered to do anything, saying, “Come here, let’s talk about it. We can brainstorm ways to get you moving and if you need connections to people to figure out how to get it going, we’ll find them. And if we don’t know them, we’ll ask somebody who may.” Green said she believes that some in positions of wealth and power in the city have an ingrained idea of scarcity. “They believe that there is not enough. There’s not enough to go around, you can only have one important place, you can only put your money in one place, you can only invest in one organization. Only one, only one, only one. That’s bullshit,” she said. “There is enough. There is enough money, there is enough investment, there is enough opportunity.” Foley-Rothrock agreed with Green, adding, “It creates the ‘us versus them’ and we’re refusing to buy into the idea that in order to lift myself up, in order to get ahead, I have to step on somebody else. No, we can work together, and we can make it happen for ourselves and each other.” The Christian community has a strong presence in Lakeland. The women expressed that they are not at all anti-church and respect the religious beliefs or lack thereof of other people but don’t think women should have to subscribe to a certain church or religion to receive resources like affordable housing and childcare. Foley-Rothrock expressed the importance of building connections and community beyond those traditional power structures, saying, “Resources like affordable childcare and housing – all of those are also concentrated in the Christian community. Ninety percent of the resources for lowincome individuals and homeless individuals and survivors are all attached to religious services – ninety percent,” she said. The community has reacted in a big way to the LWC. Rios expressed that from the overwhelming response of a 350 people turnout to “Pink Moon,” their all-female artist showcase at ART/ifact, to petition signings, and the grand opening of their space – many have shown support or at least taken notice of their movement. She smiled, held up her Rosie the Riveter mug and said, “We can do it!” GIRL POWER In addition to arming women with information, the collective believes it is important to level the playing field. “We are pro-equality and we are pro-equity,” said Green. She explained it through a graphic she’d recently seen. In the graphic, three people of differing heights stand at a fence, unable to see over it. Equality, she explained, is giving them all the same size box to stand on – though they still won’t all be able to see. “Equity is when you give them the appropriate-size box so they can all see over the fence,” said Green. A large part of making Lakeland a more equitable community is an increased minimum wage say the LWC founding members. “We think that minimum wage should be a living wage,” said Green. At the barebones minimum, they believe it should be $15 an hour, but Green says she would like to see it closer to $20. The collective urges people to call the person who represents them on the city commission about the importance of raising the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. Foley-Rothrock suggested constituents vet candidates running for office about their stance on minimum wage and vote accordingly. An act of empowerment is also, simply listening to one another. “There are a lot of women here who have experienced trauma in their lives and they need someone who will listen to them, who is not going to have a response,” said Green. “Just listen, tell them that they’re awesome and that you’re sad for them that they’re struggling, but that you want the best for them and that you want to help as much as you can, and then shut up and listen.” Women can empower themselves and each other by spending time together, being resources for each other, and brainstorming together said, Jessica Rios. “We’re all doing such different things, and everyone has something different to offer.” SUPPORT WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN All women, femme-identifying, and non-binary folks across the county and beyond are welcome to join the Lakeland Women’s Collective. The LWC board members said many of their events are open to everyone and that they are appreciative of their male allies. Check out their website for a full list of paid membership options. “One of the major perks, other than the space, of being a paid member of the Women’s Collective is that we have partnered with a bunch of women-owned businesses locally that offer our members discounts,” said Green. Find events like dance parties, art shows, workshops, candidate forums, and a monthly happy hour at Revival, as well as other classes and resources on their website where you can also donate to their registry. For its founders and members, the Lakeland Women’s Collective has become a space to feel safe, supported, and empowered. Do you hear that, Polk County? That’s the sound of glass shattering. Lakeland Women’s Collective 818 E Lemon St, Lakeland (By appointment only) www.lakelandwomenscollective.com FB @LakelandWomensCollective IG @lakelandwomenscollective Photos by Amy Sexson

Sometimes, simple food is the best food – especially if you’ve imbibed. A downtown Winter Haven staple for 37 years, Slate Family Billiards is that place you want to get drinks on Friday night and a bar-food lunch fix on Monday afternoon. We sat down with one of the owners of Family Billiards, Bryan Rich to talk all things bar cuisine. Rich and his partner purchased the establishment in 2016. “I used to come here when I was sixteen with my brother, so I’ve been around Family Billiards for a while,” said Rich. An incident in the electrical room left them with significant water damage. They took a year and a half to remodel, giving the pool hall a fresh look when it opened back up in September of 2018. Known, of course, for billiards, beer, and cocktails, their menu is worth a second look as well. It boasts bar fare staples like wings, pizzas, and burgers, and other handhelds. Their burgers and fried bologna sandwich are patron favorites according to Rich. Are you even from the South if you’ve never eaten a fried bologna sandwich? It’s one of those ‘Mamma used to make me’ meals pretty much guaranteed to be good. It is uncomplicated and satisfying. The Slate Family Billiards fried bologna sandwich consists of white bread, mayo, lettuce, tomato, melted American cheese and artfully fried (a term I’m going to start using more often) bologna. “We use good ingredients. It’s simple food – but good ingredients make simple food good,” said Rich. Their menu is ever-changing, keeping the staples but adding and subtracting items to suit their customers. Some more recent additions include mac and cheese triangles, fried pickles, and corn nuggets. “We are going to revamp our burger menu and add different toppings – we’ll have a Hawaiian burger, a breakfast burger, a Texas burger,” added Rich. Grab a beer on tap or try one of their signature cocktails like the blue Slate Margarita. If you’re looking to get adventurous with your drink choice, you can spin the Shot Wheel to take your chances on a variety of shots from a Washington Apple, Fireball, Lemon Drop, Irish Car Bomb and the like. “It’s a fun atmosphere,” said Rich. The clack of billiards and hum of regulars chatting lends itself to a comfy, hometown bar vibe. The outdoor patio is the perfect place to enjoy a bite to eat and a few drinks when the weather is nice. Though any billiards aficionados reading this might already know, Slate Family Billiards hosts APA Pool League on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday and darts tournaments on Wednesday. Check out their Facebook for more information. Guests can get their hands on this, “Good old comfort food,” any day the pool hall is open from 11 am to 30 minutes before close. The food and drinks are tasty, sure, but what makes this place great? The customers. Rich said, “The customers are happy-golucky – they’re really nice people.” Slate Family Billiards 20 4th St SW, Winter Haven, FL (863) 247-8899 FB @slate8pool Photos by Amy Sexson

This year Lakeland-based property management and real estate firm Lorio & Associates celebrates the big 3-0. The firm offers specialized brokerage services with a focus on commercial property management, leasing, and sales. For the last 30 years, founder Joe Lorio and his team have been managing their clients’ properties with an emphasis on service and quality with a simple, but unique philosophy on how to manage them. New York native, Joe Lorio came to Polk County in 1984. He worked for the real estate developer, Executive National Realty. The company was a property manager that did rehab development, specializing in the restoration of older buildings. He worked with them for five years, opening his own firm on November 1, 1990. As he was buying properties for himself and needed to manage them, he saw property management as an opportunity to be a cottage industry which would allow him the freedom to continue looking for properties to acquire. People saw him craft these property management deals and began to ask if he would do the same for them. One property at a time the firm grew, now managing 32 properties throughout Polk County. The real estate market has had its share of turbulence throughout Lorio’s time in business. His company faced rough waters through the Savings and Loan Crisis during the 80s, and the 2008 Housing Crisis. Yet, they persisted. “When I look back at my career – I feel like I’m the sum total of the decisions I never made as opposed to the good decisions I did make,” said Lorio of the risky investments he decided to pass up. “It’s nice to know you can get through two significant downturns in the real estate business and still be here.” The company is circumscribed to office space leasing, says Lorio. “We consider ourselves the office space specialists,” he said. Along with specialized brokerage services, commercial property management, leasing, and sales, the firm has a residential division. THE TEAM His team is small but mighty. Lorio has crafted an environment of family and passion for what they do. Heather Evans is the office manager, property manager, and a licensed real estate agent for the firm. Lorio is grateful for Evans and all of the work she puts into the business, saying he sees her eventually taking over the business one day. “He has taught me everything I know. Ironically enough, I came here just to answer phones and in the first six months, I was doing everything. Now, I have my real estate license and I’m going to get my brokers license,” said Evans. Evans says she is grateful for the openness, learning opportunities, and peaceful environment at L&A. Also on the Lorio team are Associate Property Manager, Lori Gray, and Maintenance Coordinator Rusty O’Neal. Lorio cares deeply for his team and acknowledges the unique talents each member brings to the firm. He doesn’t keep time charts and as long as the work gets done, they are free to do anything they need, including taking care of children and family responsibilities. He feels that freedom lends itself to productivity. “If you help people, you’ll all be successful and more than that, you’ll all be happy,” he said. CELEBRATING 30 YEARS As Mr. Lorio reflected on the last three decades, he discussed people who have influenced him, mentored him, and philosophies that contributed to the business’s longevity. Two mentors he had throughout his real estate journey were Gary Ralston and Dean Saunders whom he described as two of the most accomplished brokers in town. Ralston especially impacted Lorio. He said of Ralston, “He started selling suits in Madison Avenue and that was great sales training because he took that and went into real estate. That’s probably one of the reasons I wear a suit every day is because he wore a suit every day.” “He was successful. I thought if I did what he did, I would be successful,” said Lorio. The manner in which he manages properties is important to the L&A owner. “I’ve always wanted to manage property like I was managing my parents’ property,” explained Lorio. This philosophy was cemented in his mind during his days waiting tables at an upscale New York restaurant to put himself through college. One day, Lorio was conversing with his friends, probably discussing plans for when they got off work he said. The owner of the eatery came to Lorio’s table with a water pitcher and filled up each water glass. Lorio knew he was in trouble when the owner walked over and sat the pitcher down beside him. He said, “Make believe you’re serving your parents.” “That stuck with me,” said Lorio. He manages the properties in his care with the same due respect. He often tells his team, “Make believe you’re managing your parents’ property. Take care of it better than what you’re doing.” His entire business is also based around a high level of service. “In our society, we pay people based on the quality and quantity of service,” said Lorio. “If you provide a good service for someone, the money will come in so fast you won’t be able to count it.” The Christian roots of the firm also impact the way they do business says, Lorio. He tries to treat everyone, no matter their social or financial status, equally. This level of fair service has paid off. He told the story of a young man named Ed Laderer who came to him and said that he was leaving his company to start his own business. He didn’t have a lot of money but needed an office. “I worked really hard to finance this little hole in the wall of an office. […] He was so appreciative that I found it. Today, he owns Southern Homes with Greg Masters and we manage his property to this day.” Evans added how important his time and presence with clients is to Mr. Lorio. “It’s not just a text, it’s not just an email. It’s picking up the phone and calling to say, ‘Can I meet you for lunch,’ or ‘Can we grab some coffee and talk this over,’” she said. Here’s to 30 More Years What does the future hold for Lorio & Associates? Where will the company be on its 60th anniversary? “I would like to help the people that are here. I would like to mentor them so that one day if I leave here in any capacity […] that they don’t have to go work for somebody to collect a paycheck,” said Lorio. Thirty years in business has left Joe Lorio with much to be grateful for. “First and foremost, I am grateful to God Almighty for the great life that I’ve had. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. It’s hard to believe that I do what I do,” he said. Lorio & Associates 1820 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, FL (863) 680-1628 http://lorio.com FB @LorioAssociatesInc Photo by Amy Sexson

World-traveled, Grammy-nominated artist Jim Salestrom is set to croon for the crowd at the Lake Wales Arts Center later this month on January 18. “I play songs about places that I’ve been and people that I’ve met,” said Salestrom. “I try to bring some humor. I’m a storyteller and the music is geared for all different ages.” The singer/ songwriter was influenced at an early age starting with his parents taking him and his brothers to hear music at church and the symphony. “I started singing when I was really young […] and I loved it,” said Salestrom. He said that Elvis Presley must have been on the television, prompting him to want a guitar. He got one for his seventh birthday and played piano and trombone throughout grade school. “I got thrown in the deep end,” he said of his musical career origins. Performing with folks much older than him, Salestrom played with a religious folk mass and went on tour with a college choir at age 15. That same year, Salestrom and his older brother Chuck, along with Dugg Duggan, Craig Link, and Bill Howland formed a band of their own, Timberline. The group had a country/ folk/ rock sound featuring Salestrom as the lead singer and main songwriter. Timberline built a regional fan base and signed with the national booking agency, Variety Artists within their first year. When Salestrom was about 18, the band signed to a national recording contract and released their first album, The Great Timber Rush. When the album came out, Timberline was put on as the opening act for Dolly Parton. The band eventually broke up and Salestrom began his solo career. “I got a phone call from Dolly’s people about two years later asking if I’d like to audition,” remembered Salestrom. This was in 1979 when Dolly’s icon-status was well-cemented following hits like “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You.” He was chosen to join Dolly’s band, playing acoustic, electric, high-string guitars, and banjo. “It led to a lot of really interesting opportunities,” he said. “It was such a gift.” Throughout the 80s, he traveled the world with Dolly, appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson three times, and playing iconic venues and events from the Grand Ole Opry to the Academy Awards Show. “Dolly Parton is an incredible storyteller,” he said. “To have been right behind her on stage for thousands of shows, I hope a little bit of that has rubbed off on me.” Dolly wasn’t the only bonafide star Salestrom played with. He also joined John Denver for many projects. “He was my hero and I got to sing and record with him in 1991,” said Salestrom. Since Denver’s passing in 1997, Salestrom has been singing in tribute bands, paying homage to his idol. A talented musician and shining star in his own right, Salestrom says he is grateful for the opportunity to perform, sit in, or record with so many artists. “I’ve gotten to play with just about everybody I’ve ever hoped to play with,” he said. This includes the likes of Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Livingston Taylor, Kenny Rogers, Emmylou Harris, Linda Rondstadt, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tom Rush, John McEuen, and Peter Yarrow among many other greats. Salestrom’s solo career has proven illustrious. A few accomplishments include singing the opening song for “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” being nominated for a Grammy for outstanding children’s album in 1997, performing for many presidents both as a part of Dolly Parton’s band and as a solo artist, and making numerous national television and radio appearances. He continues to travel the world performing. Salestrom remarked, “I feel like I have been so lucky to make a career traveling the world and playing my guitar and telling my stories and singing my songs.” The powerful influence music had on Salestrom as a child has driven him to light the fire in other children across the globe, donating his time to elementary schools from Montana to Germany. This includes performances, and in some schools, recording albums with the students as fundraisers. Salestrom has even played here in Polk County. “I’ve had the joy of playing for one of the grade schools in Lake Wales and had a wonderful time,” he said. He will be playing at another Lake Wales elementary school the Friday before his performance at the Lake Wales Arts Center. Salestrom remembers a formative moment for him – a moment that inspires his work at schools today. “I remember when I was about 12 years old, I got to see a community concert,” he began. A duo performed with 12-string guitars which Salestrom loved. He went up to talk to the act after the show and asked what kind of guitar they were playing. The man told him that it was a Martin. He had heard of Gibson and Fender, but not Martin. The man told him that the guitar manufacturer, established in the United States in 1833, made the best acoustic guitars in the world. “I saved my money up and got one,” he said. “I think every time I go and play for a grade school, there’s going to be one child in the audience that’s going to think, ‘I bet I could do that. I might even be able to do that better than him,’” he laughed. “I love that feeling.” Salestrom went on to say, “It just takes one person to light a flame. If you can get one person, that takes it to the next step musically or finds that creative joy that I’ve found in writing music and performing – that’s the goal.” Another current passion project for the singer/ songwriter is his new album, Library. “I loved to read and as a child. I loved to go to the library and that stuck with me,” he said. The works of wordsmiths like Jack London and Mark Twain have influenced his storytelling through songwriting. He remembers a teacher in sixth grade that would read Tom Sawyer to the class every day after lunch. A few pages each day, Salestrom and his classmates were hooked. “It’s a really neat thing to have teachers that instill that passion for reading in you,” he said. Ideally, he would like to get his album in the hands of the American Library Association to be distributed. As the title of Salestrom’s January 18, Lake Wales Arts Center show implies, the audience will enjoy renditions of tunes from Dolly Parton and John Denver, along with songs from Jim Salestrom’s albums Library and Music From The Mountains. Executive Director for the LWAC, Andrew Allen may also join Salestrom on stage to play the piano. “I’m grateful that I get to come to Lake Wales,” said Salestrom. The show will have a little something for everyone, so bring the whole family. He said, “People come away feeling a little bit better and that’s the goal to make everybody feel inspired.” Jim Salestrom “Denver, Dolly and More” Performance When: January 18, 2020 at 6 PM Where: The Lake Wales Arts Center 1099 FL-60 E, Lake Wales, FL www.lakewalesartscouncil.org Tickets: CentralFloridaTix.com Jim Salestrom www.jimsalestrom.com

Born in California, his father’s job brought Kurtis Flanders and his family to the Chain of Lakes. Flanders grew up here and developed a love for the community, though his disposition didn’t start so sunny. His teenage years were a formative time. His roots in volunteerism, civic-mindedness, and ultimately leadership began to develop about ten years ago when Kurtis was a sophomore in high school. At the time he considered himself an “at-risk youth.” He reflected on that time, saying, “I saw all the bad in the world.” Flanders remembers walking into an art gallery, it was a world different from his own – and he wanted to be a part of it. There, he met Jane Waters the Executive Director for Arts Ensemble, Tinia Clark the Executive Director and Program Facilitator for Sidestreet Art Beat, along with artist Trent Manning. “It was an opportunity to get a spectrum of mentors,” he said. “Art was a big deal for me. […] It still is.” The studio was just the beginning of his transformation. He admitted it wasn’t until around age 19 that his outlook changed entirely. “At a time when I saw mostly the things that are wrong with this world, I still had the difficult path of learning everything I needed to learn and unlearning everything I needed to unlearn,” he said. “The awesome part was that Arts Ensemble helped guide my appreciation not only for art but in the non-profit work they were doing. They allowed me to serve with them, grow, and make mistakes. I owe my roots to Arts Ensemble.” GROWING POSITIVITY AND VOLUNTEERISM Flanders had the idea to start a collective using the talents and ideas of younger artists, musicians, photographers and the like to give back and put big ideas for the community into motion. It started as a Facebook group called, Becoming the Change where folks would discuss forward-thinking ideas around topics like clean energy and sustainable technology. Kurtis founded Growing Positivity in 2017 under the Arts Ensemble umbrella. Their collective handprint can be seen on such projects as the community garden in Florence Villa and working toward the return of the Lake Ina Mushroom. Eventually, Flanders felt the need to branch off. “I wasn’t seeing what I really wanted which was more impact and more change through the arts,” he said. Last year, he created a do-good project called Loads of Love (LOL). The mission of the group is to “serve those who serve.” The initiative provides volunteers and resources to local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and charitable organizations free of charge. “Loads of Love is a group of individuals and organizations that see the benefit of collaboration and sharing of resources for the greater good or the greater impact of our community,” said Flanders. “If your organization deals primarily with food, but you’re lacking food to give away, we connect you with resources and take care of that issue.” LOL isn’t limited to helping organizations feed the hungry – they provide a gamut of resources. Their first big initiative was giving away 60 bikes at Smoke on the Water last year. They connect organizations with everything from toys, school supplies and teaching materials for afterschool programs, to child items like strollers and Pack ‘n Plays and pet products for the Humane Society. Not only does he hold the title of founder of Loads of Love, but Flanders is also the primary delivery driver. He said, “In that span of ten years I’ve made it a goal to go out and meet these organizational leaders, get a sense of what they provide and what they do, and see how we can bring the resources to them, so they can focus on something else.” Flanders is the Recreational Activities Director for the Public Education Partnership Kids Center, leading the PEP kids in art, music, sports, and other recreational activities. He uses electives as a way to get them excited about their academics. Without disregarding the importance of academics, he highlights the arts. “They say medicine, engineering, those things are noble pursuits, but we stay alive for art and poetry and for theatre and music. Those are our expression.” Flanders bridges the gap between electives and academics by teaching lessons like using math to figure out the odds of a sports team winning or losing or how physics and science can translate to art. He even initiated the PEP Door Project as an enrichment project in which students at the center and artists from around the state designed and painted doors that they’ve set up to separate sections of the open space at the PEP Kids Center. Flanders is the Vice-Chair for the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee for the City of Winter Haven. As an active member of the advisory committee, he helps on projects like the little free libraries, city pianos, and the painted utility boxes around town. Flanders is also the Ministry Outreach Program Manager for the Haley Center and is trying to push the Chain of Gardens Project which aims to plant pollinator gardens across Winter Haven. One has been completed, and the second is in the works, he said. If there is one cause he is most passionate about – it’s people. “Our personal connection to one another is very important. You as an individual define yourself more on how your collective surrounding defines than you do yourself most of the time,” he said. “The personal connection is more important to me than anything else because it’s all of us in this together.” “WHEN ONE TEACHES, TWO LEARN” From at-risk youth to an active member of the community, Flanders says he has had many mentors along the way like Jane Waters with Arts Ensemble and Bobby Williams with Freedom Church whom he works with closely for Loads of Love. Then again – anyone can be a mentor. “I think one thing that makes great leaders is teachability,” said Flanders. “Even the kids that I teach, are teaching me. ‘When one teaches, two learn.’” “I feel like everyone has something they can teach you and if you keep your mind open to that then you’re far more likely to keep expanding your consciousness,” he said. External influences include Canadian clinical psychologist, professor of psychology, and author Jordan Peterson as well as one of history’s greatest artists and inventors, Leonardo da Vinci – a man who engaged in an array of interest and study from art to engineering, mathematics, architecture, and early medicine. “That’s the mindset that I like – full spectrum,” said Flanders. “If you have that broad-spectrum interest in everything then you also get a better understanding that these are all little pieces of the puzzle that make up our reality, our existence, our world. Then you have more appreciation for everything else.” A few things he appreciates when he can spare a few moments to take off the many hats he wears, include reading, research and writing his book. He enjoys exploring the United States by traveling around the country, indulging in nature photography during his travels. ADVICE, REFLECTION, AND GRATITUDE For anyone interested in starting a project to better the community, the environment, humanity, or anything else – Flanders has advice. “Jump into whatever you’re interested in because even if you fail, that’s not a failure if you take it as a lesson,” he said. If you’re passionate about seniors and their quality of life after retirement and don’t know how to give back, he suggested talking with them, spending time with them. “Take a step that you know you can do or that doesn’t cost you anything but your time,” he said. “You’re never going to know everything before, you’re not going to have all the resources before starting something. Start it and continuously make it better.” Initiating impactful projects is a way Flanders likes to create and he wants to keep creating. He is actively building Loads of Love and plans to make it a standalone 501(c)(3) when the time is right. One day, he aspires to be an executive director of his own non-profit. For now, though, he is, “enjoying being alive, being a part of all this, creating what I can, that is hopefully benefitting rather than taking away.” “Each day I’m working on being a little more grateful for everything. The ability to eat, talk, walk, and breathe without assistance. The hard times that become lessons or makes me appreciate the good times even more. My community and all the individuals that support my goals,” said Kurtis Flanders. “I’m even grateful that we all don’t agree and that we have differences. It makes the world more interesting and it helps define what I believe in or value.” Loads of Love FB @LoadsOfLoveLOL Photo by Amy Sexson

A trendy hole-in-the-wall bistro, an upscale dining establishment, your favorite taco truck – these are a few of the places you might expect to get an exceptional bite to eat. But – in a strip mall? In the Barclay Place Shopping Center off Highway 98 in North Lakeland sits an average-looking eatery. A fast-casual restaurant with a modest facade and simple dining space, guests walk past a bubble gumball coaster and a row of quarter toy machines to order some of Lakeland’s finest under-the-radar fare including an unintended guest favorite. Shuiqing Cindy Liu came from China to America as a child. She lived in New York before moving to New Orleans where she and her husband bought a restaurant from a Philadelphia native serving authentic Philly cheesesteaks and Po Boy sandwiches. Cindy and her family lived there for about ten years before moving to Florida. “Sometimes you just want a change of pace,” she said. They sold the restaurant and moved here a year and a half ago and opened their North Lakeland restaurant, Philly Steak & Wings in October of 2018. “I like Lakeland,” she said. “I feel they don’t have something like this store here.” The restaurant offers up Philly-style cheesesteaks and wings along with other handhelds like Poboys, burgers, and Gyros. Their namesake, like everything else they offer, is noteworthy. The generously sized Philly cheesesteak has cheese melted over Amoroso bread hugging freshly sliced ribeye. Their wings are nothing to balk at either. Popular flavors include tangy Lemon Pepper and Honey Hot wings, dripping with Nashville-esque spice. You’ll get messy eating them – but it’s one hundred percent worth it. Cindy takes the quality of their food seriously – freshness is not a standard she is willing to compromise. The ribeye is sliced fresh, not frozen, for their sandwiches and potatoes are punched and fried daily for French fries. Onion rings are handcut, fried crispy and served with a tangy secret sauce. A unique feature at Philly Steak & Wings is their Thai ice cream. Cindy saw the ice cream being made during a trip to Thailand. “You can see people paint the ice cream on the machine close to the street,” she said. Her homemade ice cream base is poured onto a flat, extremely cold surface where it begins to solidify. You can add different fruits and treats to be mixed into the dessert as well. Cindy artfully paints the ice cream onto the surface and rolls it into neat swirls. “You can watch how we make it from the beginning to the end,” she said. We had the Oreo’s Secret which was mixed with an Oreo, topped with more crumbled cookies, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and a chocolate Pocky. ‘Just one more bite’ quickly turned to a nearly empty ice cream cup. Cindy started with a cashier, front-of-house role at the restaurant. She asked her husband to teach her how to run things in the back. “I can do everything here – the front, the grill, the fry pot,” she said. She especially loves to cook for her three children (and they love it too). One meal she would often keep on hand for them has brought in a new wave of business over the last several months and gained the restaurant a sort of cult following with area foodies. DUMPLING DAYS Cindy learned to cook from her mother. “My mom liked making food for me when I was a little kid. She always taught me – you have to cook for the kids. I love the food she cooked for me,” she said. “When I have time I always cook and I try to make different food for the kids.” “The dumplings began with the Lakeland Food Group,” said Cindy. She explained that someone from the Facebook group came into the restaurant. The two struck up a conversation about traditional Chinese cuisine. On the day he came in, Cindy had made dumplings for her kids. She asked if he wanted to try them. “He tried it and he felt like it was the best dumpling [he had ever put] in his mouth,” she said. “He posted about it on Facebook.” Robyn Wilson saw the post and stopped in too. “She would sit at that last table,” said Cindy. As she does when the pace slows a bit, Cindy came out to chat with her customers. She and Wilson began conversing over food. “My little girl loves dumplings, so I always keep some in the cooler for her,” said Cindy. She went back to the kitchen and retrieved some for Wilson. She too posted about this hidden gem and messages and calls requesting her delectable dumplings inundated Philly Steak & Wings. The first time she made them for the public, she prepared around 60 orders and ran out within half an hour. About five months into her dumpling days, she does it only a few times a month, making more than 200 orders each time, now offering them for two consecutive days. Like the rest of the menu, Cindy’s dumplings are made with fresh ingredients like green onions, mushrooms, a refreshing hint of ginger, and bamboo shoot that Cindy’s mother mails to her from China. The flavor includes soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a few other components. She stopped listing ingredients and said with a laugh, “It’s secret!” She lets her loyal following know when dumpling days are by announcing them on Facebook. On the day we came in, it was pork and shrimp dumplings on the menu. The dumpling itself was sturdy but tender. Its slight translucence revealed a few of the fresh ingredients within. We’ve all had dumplings with a grayish mass of mystery ingredients – Cindy’s dumplings are the antithesis of those. Fresh, bounding with flavor, steamy goodness. The dumplings were served with two sauces – hoisin with sriracha and a second secret sauce that Cindy makes with a homemade hot oil working in harmonious tandem with other top-secret spices. It’s the kind of food that makes you want to hug the person who so generously prepared it. “We opened one year ago, and I almost have no off days – I stay here every day. I want to make sure that every customer is satisfied with their food and their experience,” said the dedicated Philly Steak & Wings owner. Cindy expressed gratitude for her patrons, glowing reviews, and recommendations. She plans to work hard to keep each guest satisfied and says she is open to any suggestions people may have. Eventually, they plan to expand and open another restaurant on the Southside to serve their customers across town. As we were raving over the spread, Cindy came to check on us. The food and service left nothing lacking and we told her that. She smiled and said, “I enjoy making food for people who enjoy the food I make,” before heading back into the kitchen to fill the dumpling orders that were rolling in. 4963 US Hwy 98 N, Lakeland, FL 33809 (863) 606-6122 Phillysteakandwingslakeland.com FB Philly Steak & Wings Photos by Amy Sexson

Down a narrow dusty driveway along the Tiger Creek Preserve in Lake Wales rests a primitive cabin framed in an old Florida landscape. This cabin belongs to conservationist, philanthropist, and subject for an upcoming art exhibit, “Sticky” Steve Morrison. “Why don’t I walk you around a little bit before we sit down and talk, and you can get a feel for the environment here – how I’m embedded in this place,” said Sticky after we exchanged introductions and pleasantries. We were invited to interview Sticky by filmmaker, artist, and organizer of the Sticky Steve Exhibit, Paul O’Neill. The documentarian known for his Eye for Art mini-doc series and celebrated mixed media artwork, set up his equipment to film our interview as Sticky gave us the grand tour. “This is the Tiger Creek Ecosystem,” he began. We walked down a steep decline to the creek. It was as if time stopped. It was quiet, it was still, it was calm. “I’m on the edge of this amazing place and that’s something that I’m really grateful for,” he said with reverence. Morrison explained that the creek starts up by Highway 60, flowing about six to eight miles through the woods into Lake WalkIn-Water. From there, it travels to another four or five other lakes before it reaches Lake Kissimmee which sends it off through the Kissimmee Canal into Lake Okeechobee. It flows into the Everglades, running off eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. You could realistically leave in a canoe from Morrison’s Tiger Creek home and go all the way to the Gulf – something he plans to do one day. “We’re part of this amazing connection of the southern half of Florida,” he said. “The water from here helps provide nutrients and water for the Everglades.” The water is considered to be a blackwater stream according to Morrison. This designation comes from the rainy season when the water fills up the swamp and leaves and debris steep in the water creating a dark tea. At the end of the rainy season during the summer, the water is jet black due to the tannic acid in the leaves. During the winter, the water recedes and flows down the channel. Without the rainy season levels of tannic acid, the water turns a warm orange color and is almost crystal clear by mid-Spring. This winter color is one theory he has for the area’s name. The orange-tinged water wrapped in bands of tree and foliage shadows resembles the markings of a tiger – especially when the water ripples and kicks up sediment and muck from the creek floor, said Sticky. Another theory is that early settlers of the area simply didn’t know what a tiger looked like, mistakenly calling panthers (which the area was known to have) tigers and bobcats, little tigers. Regardless of the creek’s name origins, this wildland is a sanctuary to Sticky. Back up the incline, we made our way to his cook shack which used to be the kitchen for the house. They had a wood cookstove, he explained. The original residents cooked outside because it was too hot to do it in the house most of the year. He remodeled the primitive cooking area as an outdoor kitchen of sorts. Adjacent the kitchen was a washroom and outhouse with an inviting claw foot tub completely open to the elements, begging for a bath under the stars. “I call this a Polk County Jacuzzi,” he laughed. The washroom and outhouse were complete with solar hot water and a composting outhouse made cozy by artwork, novelties, and other sentimental items with a large picture window capturing the wilderness. Sticky lives simply. He doesn’t have air conditioning or electricity and indulges in minimal modern electronic conveniences. His father found the cabin in the 1960s and started fixing it up in the 70s. “We were on an exploration to see where Tiger Creek was because we’d heard about it but had never been to it,” said Morrison. “We stumbled upon this cabin which was abandoned, and Dad fell in love with Tiger Creek and this entire area.” His father contacted the owner and eventually purchased the property from the family. “It was dilapidated and basically unlivable when I moved in. I had to fix it up quite a lot,” he said. Sticky put in new floors made from pine wood recovered from Hurricane Charlie and built the cabinets and shelves in his kitchen. His love of music was present in the guest bedroom where a row of string instruments hung decoratively on the wall. On the adjacent wall hung his old Boy Scout merit badges. Nature and music revealed themselves to be a central theme in Sticky’s life. A man with many hats quite literally, Sticky showed us his collection that he hangs from the ceiling for easy retrieval. His favorite was a worn leather piece that belonged to his dad. Another was made from a gourd, and a funny mid-century tourist hat that came with built-in “glasses.” We made our way to the back porch which doubles as a dining room with an open window through to the kitchen. It was surrounded by preserve. His cabin was the epitome of home – a respite. We paused to listen to the nothingness. It was gorgeously absent of distractions. At that moment, I felt embedded there too. TIED TO THE LAND Morrison’s family comes from the Midwest. They moved to New York City so his dad could work for the National Audubon Society in the 1950s. The family eventually moved to Florida when Morrison’s father obtained the position as the Director for Bok Tower Gardens. He was the second director of the gardens and worked there for 25 years. Morrison came back to Lake Wales after graduating with a fine arts degree from Florida State University in 1972. He worked for a few years with the Polk County School System. “Then I got into beekeeping and a lot of other back to the land endeavors,” he said. “I had chickens and goats and ducks and a garden and lived really close to the land.” He acquired more and more beehives and became a commercial beekeeper in the 1980s, which he did for ten years. This is where his Sticky nickname, well, stuck. Sticky is well-known for his conservation work on the Ridge. The Nature Conservancy purchased the land adjacent to his and needed someone to manage the property. They contacted Morrison. “They wanted to hire someone like a warden,” he said. “I didn’t think that fit with my personality.” They kept coming back. “I eventually told them if we could change the job from being a warden to being a caretaker, I’ll do it.” Sticky started working as the caretaker for the Tiger Creek Preserve 15 hours a week for $5 an hour. This initial part-time gig turned out to be a life-changing experience for Morrison. At the time, the Lake Wales Ridge was being discovered as an important area for biodiversity. Scientists swarmed the Ridge to observe and monitor the ecosystem, and Morrison had the opportunity to show them the preserve. “All of a sudden I realized that in my backyard was this incredible world of nature that had worldwide significance because of the rareness of the species here […],” he said. “I started tagging along with these scientists and my 15 hours a week job ended up becoming an on-the-job education.” He got first-hand training on native plants, wildlife, and the ecology of the area. Morrison eventually became the full-time manager of Tiger Creek Preserve and five other Nature Conservancy preserves on the Ridge, specializing in “prescribed burn” or commonly called a “controlled burn.” After 30 years in service to the Nature Conservancy, Sticky Steve Morrison retired about a year ago. He feels fortunate to have had, “a career doing something that was really challenging and educational for me and allowed me to share what I was learning with the community around me. I can’t overemphasize how grateful I am for this happening to me.” A second-generation conservationist, Sticky has an incredibly strong tie to the land. “My parents were part of this wave of concern of the loss of what made Florida special – which was nature,” he said. “I developed my appreciation for nature by being reared by them and being taken to the special places in Florida, seeing first-hand what Florida was really about and observing them fighting to save the best of what was left of Florida.” As a result, his parents became involved in the Nature Conservancy. “They spearheaded the acquisition of Tiger Creek Preserve,” he said. On more than one occasion during our tour of the property and interview, he referred to himself as being “embedded” in the natural habitat here as if, like the creek trickling past, the pine trees overhead he was an immovable fixture. Though he has a degree in fine arts, Sticky said, “I’ve transferred my artistic talent into a whole variety of things in my life which don’t involve a canvas or sculpture.” One such creative outlet is music which has been a part of his life since he started playing guitar in high school and later fiddle in college. He became interested in Appalachian music and traditional American music. He played music for many years with his wife, Sandy Greer Morrison, who passed away in 2014. “She was the main feature artist and I was the sideman, which I was perfectly happy with,” he smiled. Sticky has played with friends he grew up with around Lake Wales for some 45 years with their band Sticky Steve and The Pollinators. At 24 years old, in 1974, Sticky started a Lake Wales tradition known at The Bass Tournament. “It was for myself and my buddies. It continued on and became more and more popular with the local group of friends and expanded to friends of friends. It’s become this really amazing congregation, a tribe of Polk County people who are all connected in some way or another and have come to look at the Bass Tournament as sort of an annual reunion of the tribe,” he said. “I call it a “fishing optional tournament” because so few people fish.” He was one of the founding members of Lake Wales Mardi Gras. His krewe, the Loyal Order of Wild Shiners, dubbed him “Exalted Ruler for Life.” SANDY’S MUSICGIRL SCHOLARSHIP When Morrison’s wife Sandy passed away, he wanted to find something that people could do in memory of her. He began to dream up a music program. “I had the idea of creating a scholarship program here locally,” he said. He planned to use the money to send local girls to a music camp. He partnered with the Lake Wales Arts Council to form the scholarship program, Sandy’s MusicGirl Scholarship. The idea took off. “It has evolved into this amazing program of helping inspire girls to develop music skills and self-esteem,” said Morrison. The program offers a weeklong music day camp, private lessons, loaned instruments, jam sessions, family music camp-outs, and workshops for girls 6 to 19. Their first camp in 2015 served 19 girls and has grown every year since. Last year they served a total of 70 girls. “It’s become this amazing community-centered program to increase the number of girls and eventually women involved in music,” said Sticky. Seeing the girls develop their music skills and getting to know their families and work with the people who help with the program has been a gift to Sticky. “That’s one thing I’ve found is that the more good, the more love you put out there – the more that comes back to you and that’s been an amazing experience for me.” “Sandy would have been extremely happy,” he said. An amazing musician, Sandy struggled with her self-esteem. “As good as she was, it was still hard for her to get up on stage,” he said. That inspired the mission for Sandy’s MusicGirl to not solely develop music skills, but also selfesteem and creativity. “I think she would have really liked that part of it,” he said. Sticky says he receives more from the program than he feels is fair. “To see the progress over time of these girls improving not just their music skills but their stage presence and their confidence is just this incredible reward,” he said. Recently, SMGS had a guitar raffle to raise money for the program. A guitar maker offered to make a custom guitar entirely out of Florida wood. The raffle raised $6,746, of which, a portion will go to extending the camp by two days. THE STICKY STEVE EXHIBIT, 2020 When Paul O’Neill came to Sticky Steve Morrison with the idea to do an exhibit revolving around his likeness, Morrison didn’t know what to think. “I have a little bit of trouble with the idea of having an exhibit be about me,” he said. O’Neill documented Sticky’s reaction to being the subject of this exhibit which asked artists of varying mediums to create a portrait of Sticky. He first sent O’Neill names of other people in the community he admired and thought would make good subjects for the project. O’Neill wanted Sticky – so he obliged. He has since sat for numerous photographs, portraits, and even had a cast of his face done by a Bok Academy middle school student. Once all of the pieces are collected, the artists and Morrison will come together for one exhibit. Sticky says he likes the idea of bringing these artists together for an evening. “So far I feel like the beneficiary of this project, and I’m learning to adapt to the attention that it’s bringing me,” he said. The exhibit date and time will be announced soon. Fifty artists have committed to the project, including O’Neill himself. PUT LOVE IN, GET MORE BACK A man who not only lives closely with nature but is himself a part of it – Sticky says he has much to be grateful for. His answer to the question, ‘What are you grateful for?’ was simple but powerful, much like his life, “I’m grateful for the generous universe we live in if we are receptive to it,” he said. “It seems like, when you put out positivity, it comes back to you.” “It was a surprise to me when I retired that there was this bigger world out there of opportunity,” he went on to say. He encouraged people his age, nearing or already in retirement, “to be open to this generous universe, to participle in it and see what it will give you back that you can be grateful for.” Find something to immerse yourselves in, he urged – something that, “requires you to put love into it and then you’ll get more back.” Before we left Sticky’s house, with a refreshed perspective on life, gratitude and giving love and positivity to the world – he played us a song, “The Gopher Tortoise Blues.” He strummed the guitar and spun a captivating tale of an old gopher tortoise who’s simply tired of all these critters using his hole. It was a front-row, one-man concert on Tiger Creek, I’ll surely not forget. Photos by Amy Sexson

“I’m not trying to find something that makes me happy – I’m trying to find something with meaning,” said Lake Wales artist and filmmaker, Paul O’Neill. Though filmmaking is certainly something that brings him joy, the meaning he finds in forming a connection with an artist and finding out what makes them create, drives O’Neill. An artist himself, the ‘Why?’ behind others’ artwork fascinates him, and he has set out to capture that on film. O’Neill was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He grew up in the Rust Belt and graduated from Youngstown State University. He left for Florida to enter the prescribed burning field with the Nature Conservancy. He was hired by “Sticky” Steve Morrison to be a part of the burn crew at Tiger Creek Preserve. Morrison is O’Neill’s latest film subject and the subject of 50 other artists as well. But, more on that later. He settled down in Lake Wales where he met wife, Lita. The couple has two kids – 15-year-old Lily and 12-year-old PJ. O’Neill has been a professional firefighter for 19 years. The family man and firefighter also enjoys tending to his garden on the lot beside his home. He has filled his food forest with moringa, Meyer lemons, pineapples, avocados, papayas, and muscadine grapes. He’s somewhat of an amateur beekeeper as well, with two hives on his property. EYE FOR ART As a child, O’Neill was always making something or being creative in one way or another. “It came naturally to me. It was comforting,” he said. The self-described hobbyist filmmaker has always preferred documentaries over other genres, though he didn’t consider making one himself. “This film series came out of nowhere,” he said. Eight years ago, O’Neill was on a fire alarm call in Orlando. At the building they were called to, he encountered a group of UCF students making a short film. When the call was settled, he struck up a conversation and asked what kind of cameras they were using. They told him, and he went out and bought one. He began making films. “I just started with my friends. I knew nothing about filmmaking, cinematography, anything like that. All I knew, is that someone was doing it and I wanted to do something similar to that,” he said. “I had this drive to create something.” He wanted his projects to be something that he enjoyed, and if anyone else was interested or entertained, that was great too, but it was secondary. The series morphed from profiles of his friends to artists of varying mediums. “It wasn’t a straight path to it – it was minor micro-adjustments to where it is now. I’m not saying I’ve met the goal, but it’s a lot further than where I started,” he said. The minimal yet resonating cinematography of his Eye for Art film series was inspired by another Vimeo creator, Jesse Brass. O’Neill would watch his films with pen and paper in hand, taking note of transitions, close-ups, when the music was introduced and other stylistic elements. O’Neill contacted Brass at one point to tell him that he had been emulating his style and even credits him for inspiration in his films. The subjects for Eye for Art contrast in medium and style, but they all must have one thing in common. “I have to like their artwork,” said O’Neill. Many of his subjects were contacted via cold email or by introducing himself to them at an art festival. He sees his films as something the artist can use to benefit their artwork and help him further develop his cinematography skills. “My main motivation for the film series is to get to the essence of what it means to be an artist,” he said. “I feel like artists are in touch with something that maybe most people are not in touch with. It’s kind of these fundamental ideas about what it means to be human […].” “What’s important is why,” he added. “I go into it trying to get to the most basic, distilled version of ‘Why are you doing this?’” He understands the complexity of this question and anticipated that I would ask him the same. “Who knows why we do anything,” he said. So why does O’Neill create films? “There’s this concept I really like: People don’t have ideas, ideas have people,” he said. He thought about the truth of that phrase, how an idea can enwrap you entirely. “I go into the film with questions that I think will bring out the essence of why they’re doing it,” he said. He talked about meeting the artist for the first time. “We’re both figuring it out in five hours – and there’s something nice about that. There are no preconceptions coming in.” He wants their interaction to be genuine. If they apologize for the state of their studio, he says, “I’m glad it’s a mess – I want to find you in your normal habitat.” His films are made for two people – himself and the artist he is capturing. O’Neill said, “It’s tough to be alive – we’re all going to face hardships. What’s the antidote to that? It’s not happiness, it’s meaning. And for me, this is an area that brings meaning.” The Lake Wales filmmaker has profiled 24 artists in his Eye for Art series so far. Some of the artists he has interviewed included Bok Tower Gardens director, David Price, Polk State College professor of art, Holly Scoggins and Winter Haven artist Trent Manning among other impressive names. His most recent, ongoing film project chronicles his former Tiger Creek Preserve Manager, friend, and mentor, Sticky Steve Morrison. STICKY STEVE THE EXHIBIT, 2020 A documentary film called, “The John Show” unintentionally inspired O’Neill to make friend and mentor Sticky Steve Morrison the subject of an epic art exhibit. The film, by Julie Sokolow, documented Pittsburgh graphic designer, Brett Yasko asking 250 artists to each do a portrait of his friend, John Riegert, over the course of two years, at the end of which, they all came together for an exhibit of the work. It wasn’t until a year after he had watched the film that the idea hit him. “I started sending cold emails out that day before I even asked Sticky,” said O’Neill. Five artists had already signed up before he told his subject. Hired by Sticky to be a part of the Tiger Creek Preserve burn crew, O’Neill was impacted by the conservationist. “He became a mentor whether he realized it or not,” said O’Neill. “How he lived his life – it really imprinted on me. There are different ways to live your life in a meaningful manner and he is the epitome of how to do that.” The filmmaker spouted off a handful of Sticky’s many life accomplishments – he is a musician, conservationist, former commercial beekeeper and most significantly of all, he is kind to people. Sticky was also the person who introduced O’Neill to his wife Lita. O’Neill said of Sticky, “He’s the most humble person. You’ll never hear negative words out of his mouth.” Though O’Neill is 45, with a family and a career and mortgage, he said, “I still look up to him. ‘What would Sticky do?’ That comes to mind often for me.” He is so humble, in fact, that when O’Neill approached him about the exhibit, Sticky sent him a list of names he thought would make better subjects for the project. Paul told him no, he was set on having him be the subject. The goal of the project is simply the project itself. “The goal is that we’ve brought 50 artists together – some know each other, some don’t, some know Sticky, some don’t – but we’ve brought everyone together for this one night,” he said of the exhibit. There will be no judging of the work, but participating artists are free to sell their pieces. Some have already committed to selling their work to donate to Sandy’s MusicGirl Scholarship, a scholarship program and camp for girls ages 6 to 19 to learn music, creativity, and self-confidence. Sticky started the program in honor of his wife Sandy Greer Morrison who passed away in 2014. Sticky has already sat for numerous portraits and paintings by contributing artists. “Sticky is getting out and meeting people he’s never met before. Other people are meeting Sticky, and meeting each other,” said O’Neill. Artists have said to O’Neill, “This has really changed the way I see things – I haven’t met anyone like this guy before. Thank you.” “You asked – what is the purpose? I think that’s the purpose,” O’Neill said. The date and venue of the exhibit will be announced soon, but those interested can find updates on The Sticky Steve Exhibit, 2020 website. MEANING IN ART When he isn’t masterfully documenting the work of other artists, O’Neill is working on his own mixed media artwork. His work is typically created using stencils he makes from photographs that he takes. “I use spray paint or reclaimed wood and materials you don’t generally consider art materials,” he said. Though he’s been creating art his whole life, it wasn’t until recently that he started to show his work. He’s had shows at Outer Space Gallery, Lake Wales Library, and claimed third place at Art Crawl this year. “It’s been a huge surprise to me,” said O’Neill. Apart from the occasional stranger, the subjects of the photos he uses for his work are familiar – friends and family, people close to him. “They mean something to me,” he said. He showed us an abstract stencil of a person eating popcorn in Canada, several shots of Sticky, and his kids. Beyond the Sticky Steve exhibit and other current projects, he thought about what the future of his films and artwork might look like. He said, “A phrase that I heard someone say is, ‘Artists are people who go out into the world and come back and report what they’ve seen – even if they don’t understand it.’” O’Neill thought to himself, “Especially if they don’t understand it.” “I just want to keep reporting what I see and maybe it will make sense to someone – maybe it won’t,” he said. “I want to keep enjoying this process. And I just want to keep going a little bit deeper into some of my pieces – deeper for me or someone else.” We finished by asking him, “What are you grateful for?” O’Neill thought for a moment and said, “Coming home and looking outside and knowing my kids are doing well and my wife is happy – that’s what makes me grateful.” He added, “I’m grateful to have some meaning in my life – my artwork, a film series working with people. That brings meaning to my life.” Eye for Art vimeo.com/easyacrefilms The Sticky Steve Exhibit, 2020 thestickysteveshow.weebly.com Photo by Amy Sexson