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Native wildflowers can bring color and beauty to your landscape during the summer months in Central Florida. Whether planted in a dedicated garden space, mixed into existing landscape beds, or incorporated into a naturalized area of the yard, native wildflowers are an excellent addition to a Florida-Friendly Landscape. But maintenance is a bit different for wildflowers, so learning as much as you can about the plants before you install them is recommended. Florida’s native wildflowers are best grown in their native soil type and preferred climate conditions. Because they are adapted to Central Florida’s environment, many species require less supplemental irrigation and fertilizer once established than non-native ornamental plants. Native plants also provide valuable nectar, seeds, and habitat for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial wildlife. That doesn’t mean all native plants are easy to grow wherever they are planted. Make sure you follow the Florida-Friendly Landscaping principle of Right Plant, Right Place when selecting native plants. Consider the amount of sunlight, soil type, and moisture available. Many native wildflowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soils, while others are adapted to wetter locations. A mixture of species that bloom at different times throughout the year will provide a continuous source of nectar and pollen for pollinators as well as a continual show of color in the landscape. One of the greatest benefits of adding native wildflowers is their ability to attract pollinators. Bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinating insects depend on flowering plants for food. Research has indicated that native wildflower plantings can increase pollinator activity and provide important habitat for beneficial insects that help manage pests naturally. Consider adding these plants in and around your vegetable plants as they tend to have pest issues. There are several native wildflowers that perform well in Central Florida landscapes that we encourage you to try: • Florida’s state wildflower, tickseed (Coreopsis species), produces cheerful yellow blooms and is attractive to butterflies and native bees. It self-seeds around the landscape and likes full sun and sandy soils. • Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea, pictured above) provides red flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. As soon as the weather warms, it will bloom constantly until the weather turns cold. • Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella) offers long-lasting blooms and excellent drought tolerance. It has red, orange, and yellow flowers and its foliage is blue gray. Plant it where you need a tough plant! • Beach sunflower (Helianthus debilis) can cover a sandy, sunny spot in the landscape in a matter of weeks. Its sunny yellow flowers are prolific and it likes very dry soils. • Blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), not to be confused with its much larger lookalike (S. cayennensis and S. urticifolia), is a very versatile wildflower and grows like a groundcover. It works well along a pathway, driveway, or to edge a landscape bed. • Starry rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus) is another yellow flower, but it has a yellow center. It grows much taller than Coreopsis or beach sunflower. Preparation is one of the most important steps for establishing a successful wildflower planting. Start by controlling existing weeds before planting. Wildflowers often struggle to compete with established weeds during the first year. Good site preparation improves seed-to-soil contact and helps young plants become established more quickly. Mulch can also help suppress weeds while conserving soil moisture, but many wildflowers like dry, sandy soils, so you may want to mulch less in wildflower beds than in other landscape beds. In the summer, we suggest that you start native wildflowers from containerized plants. Wildflowers can be direct-seeded in the fall. As your wildflower garden matures, you may notice an increase in butterflies, native bees, birds, and other beneficial wildlife. These visitors are signs that your landscape is becoming part of a larger network that supports Florida’s natural ecosystem. Even a small planting can provide meaningful habitat while adding seasonal color and interest to your yard. Adding native wildflowers is a simple step that can make a big impact. By choosing species adapted to Central Florida conditions, homeowners can create attractive landscapes that are beautiful, low-maintenance, and beneficial to pollinators and wildlife. If you have any questions about growing native wildflowers in your Central Florida yard, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at 863-519-1041 or visit us online at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. To learn more about gardening and landscaping in Central Florida, listen to the “Your Central Florida Yard” podcast. You can find out more on our Substack: substack.com/@ yourcentralfloridayard. An Equal Opportunity Institution. Anne Yasalonis is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator for UF/ IFAS Extension Polk County. Please contact her at anneanne@ ufl.edu

ST. PETE PIER RUN July 4, 6:15 a.m. at the St. Pete Pier. Celebrate our country’s 250th birthday and join the 4-mile walk or run. There are two races, first one at 6:15 a.m., second at 7:45 am. The event also features old-fashioned holiday fun like a pie-eating competition, ice cream, pizza, popsicles, and fireworks. Register at runtampa.com. FREE MOVIES! The Tampa Theatre is offering a free movie screening three times in July at various locations, no tickets required. July 12: “The Princess Bride” (1987) at 2 p.m. at Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center. July 26: “Little Women” (2019) at 2 p.m. at Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center. July 26: “The Little Mermaid” (2023) at 6:30 p.m. Sing-a-long at Sparkman Wharf. tampatheatre.org AQUAGLOW Fridays & Saturdays, 8 – 11 p.m. at Adventure Island. Family-friendly event and open to all ages. This is an after-hours, separate ticketed event offering limited capacity and reduced wait times for attractions. Experience the slides and pools at night in neon light. Guests will love the electric atmosphere filled with colorful lights, music, and immersive surprises around every corner. adventureisland.com CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR July 12, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Oxford Exchange. Come out for a fun-filled day celebrating children’s literature! Get ready to explore a wide selection of books for kids of all ages. Meet your new favorite local author, enjoy storytelling sessions, and participate in a book-themed scavenger hunt. RSVP at oxfordexchange.com. LINE DANCING Free line dancing every Thursday from 7 – 9 p.m. at Keel Farms in Plant City. Grab your boots for line dancing lessons on the Patio. Go early and enjoy dinner from their farm-fresh menu before heading outside to dance the night away under the stars. No ticket is required. keelfarms.com DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE July 9 – 26 at the Straz. A heartfelt and funny love story from one of America’s most celebrated playwrights, Ken Ludwig. The Tony Award–winning author of “Lend Me a Tenor” and “Moon Over Buffalo” shares the true story of his parents, two strangers who fall in love through letters during World War II. It’s witty, romantic, and full of charm. strazcenter.org LIBERTY BY THE BAY July 4, 4 – 9:30 p.m. at Julian B. Lane Park. This free, family-friendly waterfront celebration will feature a 250-drone light show honoring America’s 250th birthday, followed by a fireworks finale. During the day, enjoy a kids’ fun zone, beer garden, patriotic pet show, water ski show, live music, food trucks, and more. tampa.gov CRAFTY HAPPY HOUR July 20, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Sparkman Wharf. Get crafty! Bring your friends or meet new ones every third Monday of the month on the lawn for Crafty Happy Hour with Birdette’s. Bring your own craft or purchase a craft kit. While you’re there, ask about the Happy Hour specials at Birdette’s! sparkmanwharf.com POST MALONE WITH JELLY ROLL July 8, 7 p.m. at the Raymond James Stadium. The Big Ass Stadium Tour part 2! Post Malone performs from his catalog, including the country-leaning material from “F-1 Trillion.” Jelly Roll should perform his breakout songs like “Need a Favor,” “Save Me,” and “I Am Not Okay.” Carter Faith will open for them. raymondjamesstadium.com BOLTS BREW FEST July 25, 7 p.m. at Benchmark Int’l Arena. Enjoy craft beers from a variety of local craft breweries, liquor distilleries, plus oversized games, ThunderBug, photo ops, and more. VIP ticket allows early access, food, a Tampa Bay Lightning locker room tour, and an offer code for a BOGO ticket for one Lightning pre-season game. benchmarkintlarena.com

BITE 30 Through July 13 at participating restaurants. Choose from almost 50 restaurants offering a special prix fixe menu that includes a multicourse dinner at a set price of $38. Visit bite30.com to see the full list of restaurants. No tickets or coupons needed. Just ask to see the Bite 30 menu. Tax and gratuity not included. ORLANDO CITY PASTA CLASS July 16, 6 p.m. in Winter Park. Get hands-on instruction to make cappelletti pasta with dough to take home. You will also receive a three-course dinner that highlights the flavor and texture of scratch-made cappelletti pasta. Space is limited, register online at fitlivingeatswinterpark.com. GO-KART RACING Experience the adrenaline rush of electric go-kart races with instant acceleration around hairpin turns, elevation changes, and long straightaways on these indoor climate-controlled tracks at Andretti Indoor Karting & Games. The karts are powerful, ergonomic, and safe. Mini Mario karts available for drivers 4-7 years old. andrettikarting.com ART NIGHT OUT July 8, 6 p.m. at the Orlando Museum of Art. July’s theme: Serpentine Studio: Uncoiling the Secrets of Snakes with Xavier Moss. This session invites participants to slow down and observe these reptiles, their flowing movement, and intricate patterns, while illustrating studies revealing their design. Space is limited, registration required. omart.org FAIRY DOORS EXHIBIT Every day from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Leu Gardens, featuring 20 magical doors tucked away throughout the gardens. Each fairy door is crafted by a different fairy and invites young dreamers (and the young at heart) into a realm of secret gardens, whispering woods, and sparkling imagination. A special map will guide your journey. leugardens.org SUMMER FLIX AT THE GARDEN Every Tuesday at Garden Theatre on Plant in Downtown Winter Garden. Features kids’ matinees (10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and evening screenings (7 p.m.) of classic and contemporary hits. Hosted by the City of Winter Garden, all tickets are $5.00 (no added fees or tax). Tickets are assigned seating and available for online purchase only (no box office). cwgdn.com WATERMELON 5K July 4, 7:30 a.m. This race begins on Park Ave in Winter Park, and winds through their prettiest streets. Run or walk, then cool off with refreshing ice-cold watermelon. You can also participate in the watermelon eating contest! Proceeds benefit the Track Shack Youth Foundation. Register at trackshack.com LIONEL RICHIE + EARTH, WIND & FIRE July 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Kia Center. Richie is a true music icon known for his soulful voice, and he will be here “All Night Long (All Night)” and “Dancing on the Ceiling.” Earth, Wind & Fire’s unique fusion of R&B, funk, soul, jazz, and rock elements has made them one of the most influential and beloved bands in history. kiacenter.com FIREWORKS AT THE FOUNTAIN July 4, 4 p.m. at Lake Eola Park. Celebrate 250 years with the City of Orlando! Festivities include live music, a dedicated kids’ play zone, and a premier selection of local food and beverage vendors. The monumental fireworks spectacular begins at 9:10 p.m. perfectly synchronized with a live performance by the Orlando Concert Band. orlando.gov INTO THE WOODS July 31 – Aug. 2 at Dr. Phillips Center. This musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine brings together classic fairy tales, including “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Rapunzel,” into a richly layered story about wishes, consequences, and the meaning of happily ever after. drphillipscenter.org

BLOOMS & BRUSHES Every Thursday at Bok Tower Gardens. This is a hands-on crafting experience for all ages! Step inside the Alexander Discovery Center and enjoy nature-inspired art activities designed for curious kids, families, and adults alike. Each session is a make-and-take experience—so you’ll leave with your own handmade creation to remember your visit. boktowergardens.org MAURICE BENARD July 17, 7 p.m. at The Ritz. Join Maurice Benard, star of ABC’s “General Hospital,” a New York Times best-selling author, and the host of YouTube’s “State of Mind” for an afternoon of inspiration and reflection, as well as “General Hospital” fun and a Q and A. Limited space, purchase tickets in advance. theatrewinterhaven.com TEEN PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP July 1, 8, 15, and 22 at the new Winter Haven Recreation & Cultural Center. Kids ages 13 – 18 will learn how to take, process, and develop their own film. Materials will be provided. Space is limited, registration is required. mywinterhaven.com POLK COUNTY BURGER WEEK July 17 – 26 at select restaurants. Polk County Burger Week is an opportunity to support local restaurants and try as many delicious, mouth-watering burger specials as you can! From a burger pizza to the “Cowboy” burger, there’s something for everyone. You can find a list of participating restaurants and their specials at polkcountyburgerweek.com. MAIN STREET MONSTERS July 1 – 31 in Downtown Winter Haven. This is a family-friendly month-long scavenger hunt! Look for the friendly monsters & scan their QR code to learn more about them. Once you’ve “checked in” eight monsters, you’re eligible to win the grand prize! More info at mainstreetwh.com. PUPPY CUDDLES July 11, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Visit Central Florida Welcome Center in Davenport. Come meet adorable, adoptable puppies, enjoy some cuddles, and support a wonderful cause. Cuddles are $5 for 5 minutes, all proceeds benefit SPCA Florida. Adoptions begin after 1 p.m. Every cuddle helps support animals in need. Other dogs are not permitted during this event. More info on FB @VisitCentralFlorida. ROCKIN’ FREEDOM FEST July 3, 5 p.m. at MLK Park in Winter Haven. Celebrate America’s birthday with live music from the Bay Kings Band; a spectacular Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show; food vendors; and family-friendly activities. Watch one of Central Florida’s largest fireworks displays to end the night! Bring your lawn chairs & blankets. Admission is free, all ages welcome. mywinterhaven.com TIKI TAKEOVER July 18, 4 – 9 p.m. at Bowen Yard. Experience an evening of island vibes featuring the incredible Fire & Ice Hawaiian Dancers at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy specialty Hawaiian-inspired cocktails and food specials from all six Bowen Yard restaurants. Free show, no tickets required. Feel free to bring your own chairs or blankets for additional seating. FB @bowenyardwh YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced “Fronken-steen”) inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced “Eye-gore”), and a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally), Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. July 9 - August 2 at Theatre Winter Haven. theatrewinterhaven.com LEGO FESTIVAL July 20 - August 16 at LEGOLAND. LEGO® Festival returns with all-new exciting headliners and returning fan favorites in the Music, Creativity, and Chill Out play zones - each packed with awesome family fun. Check out the brand new F1 exhibit only during this festival! legoland.com/florida

BIG FISH July 10 – 26 at Lakeland Community Theatre. Edward Bloom has lived a full and fantastical life, populated by witches, giants, and mermaids, marked by true love that stops time in its tracks, and framed by heroics that push the limits of believability. His adult son, Will, is no longer amused by his father’s fantastical tales, insisting on a rational rather than a fantastical account of one’s life. lakelandcommunitytheatre.com LEGO FESTIVAL July 20 - August 16 at LEGOLAND. LEGO® Festival returns with all-new exciting headliners and returning fan favorites in the Music, Creativity, and Chill Out play zones - each packed with awesome family fun. Check out the brand new F1 exhibit only during this festival! legoland.com/florida FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL July 10 – 19 at Harrison School for the Arts. With Love Productions presents this high-energy show celebrating the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind. This show includes dynamic new songs you’re going to instantly love. centralfloridatix.com TIKI TAKEOVER July 18, 4 – 9 p.m. at Bowen Yard. Experience an evening of island vibes featuring the incredible Fire & Ice Hawaiian Dancers at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy: Specialty Hawaiian-inspired cocktails, food specials from all six Bowen Yard restaurants. No tickets required. Feel free to bring your own chairs or blankets for additional seating. FB @bowenyardwh RED, WHITE & KABOOM! July 3, 6 p.m. at Lake Mirror. This evening includes live music, local food vendors, and family-friendly fun. The evening ends with a fireworks display over Lake Mirror at 9 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring at least one non-perishable food item to support Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE). lakelandGov.net/RWK MAURICE BENARD July 17, 7 p.m. at The Ritz. Join Maurice Benard, star of ABC’s “General Hospital,” a New York Times best-selling author, and the host of YouTube’s “State of Mind” for an afternoon of inspiration and reflection, as well as “General Hospital” fun and a Q and A. Limited space, purchase tickets in advance. theatrewinterhaven.com SUMMER SUNRISE WATERMELON 5K July 11, 7 a.m. at Lake Hollingsworth Park. Proceeds go towards scholarships for Polk County graduates administered through the Polk Education Foundation. The Summer Watermelon 5k is run on a certified course, all races are chip timed. Cumulative results from the three races are used to determine official results. This is the second of three races. lakelandrunnersclub.org SUNSET DANCE SERIES July 23 at Bonnet Springs Park. Doors open for lessons at 7 p.m. and dancing goes from 8 – 10 p.m. Enjoy a special drink & snack menu. The venue is carpeted, please skip the high heels or metal-soled shoes. They recommend flats, sneakers, or smooth soles so you can spin with ease. Free to attend, indoors at Bonnet Springs Park’s Kirby Center. bonnetspringspark.com POLK COUNTY BURGER WEEK July 17 – 26 at select restaurants. Polk County Burger Week is an opportunity to support local restaurants and try as many delicious, mouth-watering burger specials as you can! From a burger pizza to the “Cowboy” burger, there’s something for everyone. You can find a list of participating restaurants and their specials at polkcountyburgerweek.com. RED BY JOHN LOGAN July 30, 6 p.m. at The AGB. This 2-person play explores the intense dynamic between renowned abstract expressionist Mark Rothko and his young assistant, Ken, as Rothko wrestles with the conflict between artistic integrity and commercialism during the Seagram murals commission. Tickets available at agbmuseum.org

THE REST OF OUR LIVES By Ben Markovits When Tom Layward drops his daughter off at college, he finds himself facing a question familiar to many parents: what comes next? An unexpected road trip sends him across the country and into a period of reflection about marriage, family, aging, and the life he has built. This novel focuses on a stage of life that is rarely the center of the story. There are no dramatic twists or grand adventures here, rather there is just an honest examination of the choices we make and the people we become because of them. Thoughtful, funny, and quietly moving, it is a reminder that self-discovery does not end in our twenties. YOU, WITH A VIEW By Jessica Joyce After her grandmother’s death, Noelle discovers a long-forgotten love story and the road trip that never happened. When she gets the chance to retrace that journey, she finds herself traveling with a longtime rival whose company she would rather avoid. There is a lot of romance complete with plenty of banter and chemistry, however, it was the exploration of grief, family, and second chances that made this book shine. The road trip itself - from national parks to small-town stops - provides the perfect backdrop for healing and self-discovery. Funny, heartwarming, and hopeful, this was one of those books that is simply a pleasure to spend time with. THE ROAD TO TENDER HEARTS By Annie Hartnett These are the kinds of characters that should not work on paper, yet somehow become completely unforgettable. A grieving retiree, a granddaughter, a cat, and a collection of fellow travelers embark on a journey that is equal parts absurd and moving. This story celebrates second chances - in parenting, in love, and in life itself. Like the best road trips, the joy comes less from the destination than from the people gathered in the car along the way. THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY By Amor Towles This is a great read to pick up if you’re looking for a nostalgic adventure and are ready to fall in love with some incredible characters. Emmett plans to start a new life in California with his younger brother, but fate has other plans when two unexpected companions join the journey. They take unplanned detours along the route and meet a cast of memorable characters. Filled with both sorrow and light, friendship and heartbreak, “The Lincoln Highway” is an exploration of human nature. THE LAST AMERICAN ROAD TRIP By Sarah Kendzior This book follows Kendzior and her family as they crisscross the country, visiting both iconic attractions and places many travelers overlook. What I appreciated most was the openness in which she approached the people and places she encountered. She embraces both the beauty and the quirks of the communities she visits while also acknowledging the complicated histories that shaped them. Reading it reminded me that travel is often most rewarding when we approach it with curiosity rather than judgment. THE RIDE OF HER LIFE By Elizabeth Letts In 1954, sixty-three-year-old Annie Wilkins left Maine on horseback with a simple goal: to see the Pacific Ocean before she died. So, she set out on an epic journey that carried her across the country and into the lives of countless strangers. The thing that makes this book so unique and wonderful to read is the kindness Annie encountered along the way. The generosity of the people she met—and the loyalty of her animal companions - left me just as captivated as the journey itself. A road trip with a twist, this remarkable true story captures the adventurous spirit of America at its best. THE 10 By E.A. Hanks I am always drawn to books that explore America beyond the major tourist destinations, and “The 10” does exactly that. Following the route of historic Highway 10, Hanks shares stories of the people and communities she encounters while also trying to better understand her own family history and a trip her mother once took her on as a child. This book is part travel memoir and part search for her own history, and it was easy to become invested in both journeys. And yes, for those wondering, this is written by Tom Hanks’s daughter. RUN FOR THE HILLS By Kevin Wilson A group of half-siblings who barely know one another set off in search of their absent father. Wilson excels at writing about families that are a little dysfunctional but entirely relatable, and the conversations between the siblings are both funny and heartfelt. Beneath the humor is a thoughtful exploration of family, belonging, and the

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

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

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

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

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

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