A flour-covered five-year-old making it ‘snow’ in the kitchen turned Food Network champion is making your favorite farmers market macarons – in case you didn’t know. Chef Briea Lowe is a trained pastry chef with an impressive career, a thriving Central Florida confection business, and a passion for making culinary education accessible to aspiring chefs. The GLAZE Confections owner has loved playing with food her entire life. “My first memory of baking was with my grandmother. She was making what we call bizcochitos,” Chef Brie said. “In Spanish families, you use cinnamon, anise, and a sugar cookie dough.” Though delicious, Briea wasn’t dazzled by the cookie’s appearance like the treats she saw on the Food Network. “That’s when my mom would step in,” she said. “My mom loved all the piping techniques growing up and always made us those old school teddy bear cakes with the star tip with endless stars of different colors.” Like a sponge cake in the oven, a passion for the culinary arts rose within Briea with every captivating Food Network program, baking session with her grandmother, and piped star from her mom. “I decided at a young age that I’d figure out how to get on TV no matter what it took,” she said. From ages 12-17, Briea trained in the first-ever performing arts school in Osceola County. “It was very exciting to be that influenced by art,” she said. The pastry chef joked that she only left the performing arts to avoid becoming a ‘starving artist.’ Her friends heartened Briea that the baking she loved so much and practiced constantly was an art form and that she should pursue it. Determined to find a way to make a living ‘playing with her food,’ Breia applied to Le Cordon Bleu’s rising chef competition. She took 3rd place and received a $15K scholarship. On the way to sign the contract to go to Le Cordon Bleu, her mother cut the car’s wheel and pointed at a school on the roadside – Notter School of Pastry Arts. Briea’s mother encouraged her to be open-minded and check out the school. She’d already won a scholarship. Why divert the plan? “Passion,” her mom told her. The world champion pastry chef, whose name graced the building, Ewald Notter, was on-site that day, building a showpiece. The woman giving Briea and her mother a tour of the school nudged her to make his acquaintance. Briea peeked around the corner at Notter and described him as intimidating and impressive. Accessibility to a chef of his caliber was an ‘epiphany moment’ for young Briea. Notter spotted the 17-year-old culinary devotee and waved her over. As she stood next to him at the demo table, the chef skipped pleasantries and started teaching her how to make chocolate petals. “I’d never touched chocolate, let alone know you could sculpt with it,” she said. A quick study, Briea would eventually become Notter’s Apprentice/ Assistant and help him run the pastry school. After a few short months during her training, he had promoted her to ‘instructor,’ and she was teaching solo by age 20. Having represented the USA at 18 years old and obtained a mentor/coach, she and Notter began entering her into competition after competition. After working with Notter and training alongside his son, the chef helped Briea get placement in Palm Beach, where she became the assistant pastry chef of the Everglades Club. She continued working in resorts from Shingle Creek and Bonnet Creek to helping open the Ritz Carlton in Orlando. Chef Brie consulted for several confectionery businesses. The young pastry chef moved on to work in Virginia. She taught and sold goods at Sur La Table in Alexandria, Virginia. After two years and much success, Briea had learned all there was for her to know in that position. She decided it was time to move on and build something of her own. “I need to be challenged, and I need to share that information with other people,” she said. Chef Brie accepted a job offer from the Michelin Star restaurant group Fabio Trabocchi and went on to work alongside Trabocchi’s executive corporate pastry chef, Christian Capo. She worked in the heart of Georgetown as the pastry chef of Fiola Mare. She returned to consulting until the pandemic hit three months later. Briea and her husband Brad moved back to Florida and started GLAZE Confections four months later. The couple attended their first-ever market as GLAZE Confections in Harmony, Florida, over the Halloween weekend of 2020. “It was exciting because this was the first time we took a leap,” she said. The pastry chef was overwhelmed by the support they received from a town that played such a significant role in their story. Harmony was the place she and her husband went on a blind date their mothers set them up on and where they fell in love over the summer of 2013. The Lowes branched out of Harmony with more markets and events, a hit-or-miss process. After encouragement from other market vendors, GLAZE Confections attended their first Winter Haven Farmers Market in June of 2021. “It seemed to be anywhere we could make people feel like they could create a special moment – that would attract people,” Chef Brie said. “It’s so nice to see that this community appreciates culinary cuisine and creating those real hometown moments.” Orlando and Winter Haven became go-to markets where Chef Brie would sell out of Victorian sponge cakes, dense chocolate cakes (which she calls Grandma’s Chocolate Cake), sandwich cookies, and jumbo macarons. Briea’s own happiness is reflected in the faces of customers enjoying her food – her art. “Watching a person eat is where a chef’s joy is,” she said. “At least for me, it is.” Sweets and Showbiz The little girl who set her sights on a television debut realized her dream many times over. Chef Brie first worked with the Food Network as a contestant on “Sugar Dome” at age 20. Partnered with a costume designer, she built a colossal structure almost entirely out of sugar. “It ended up toppling over onto my head,” she remembered. She joined the network again in 2014 for Season 4 of “Halloween Wars.” During the filming of the last episode, Briea came down with a bad case of strep throat. She pushed on, and her team, Corpse Crushers, won the competition. Like anyone who finds themselves in the judgmental glare of the public eye, Briea received her share of criticism and nasty comments online. “I didn’t use the publicity like I should have at that young age,” she said. “I was too scared based on the criticism that I received.” The Season 4 “Halloween Wars” champ continued, “If I could say anything to a younger generation – never listen to the naysayers who say, ‘You’re so young, you have so much time.’ I hate when older people tell me that. My advice to the younger generation – you run as fast as you want. Do it. If you’re willing to grind and put in the hours, and you’re sweating 20 hours a day at something you want to get good at – I commend you. I encourage you.” Chef Brie was also a part of “Halloween Wars” Season 7 in episodes 1-4. These episodes taught her perseverance. She thought her team would be sent home every episode, but they proved their capabilities repeatedly. “Only pressure can make diamonds!” she said. “We didn’t win, but our edible art spoke its story and sparkled.” The pastry chef returned to Food Network on the team “Baking Spirits Bright” for “Holiday Wars” Season 4, which aired in November. Briea’s favorite part of the experience comes after filming wraps, the episode airs, and reactions to her creations roll in. “I do it because I want to see people’s appreciation for my art.” Pastry Fundamentals Accessible education and mental health in the culinary arts impassion Chef Briea Lowe. When Notter School of Pastry Arts closed its doors, her mentor gifted her all 38 years’ worth of teaching content. “That was the biggest gift he could have ever given me,” she said. “It still brings me to tears that he trusts me that much.” Prepared to offer her skills and talent to the education of up-and-coming culinary students, Chef Brie plans to lean into the online space. More importantly, she plans to keep it free. “I believe in old-school values as far as business goes and learning a skill. I don’t think we should have institutions that charge people for school,” she said. “I genuinely believe that if you want to learn something, that’s on you as a human. Go out and learn it. But to charge people and then to be like, ‘I’ll pay you minimum wage for the next ten years,’ that’s miserable. I don’t think that’s how we should reward the young culinary society.” Long before her television debut, Briea’s mentor gave her valuable advice. He told her, ‘You have so much talent. You will always be belittled for it and pushed down for it to try and dim your light. Just know this and always push through it.’ “Had I known to have more confidence in my skills and myself to not listen to all those naysayers, I think I could have ended up farther than I am at this point,” she reflected. “But I think I needed to go through that to be a better teacher.” The bubbly pastry chef imparts her know-how to viewers on her YouTube channel Pastry Fundamentals, produced by her husband’s company, Lowe Media Works. Briea and Brad have also discussed producing a culinary-centric mental health podcast. With so many ideas and recent health complications, the couple decided to focus on GLAZE and Pastry Fundamentals for the time being. The Lowes moved from Lake Nona to a new home in Orlando that will double as a fully operational kitchen set. Of the 2000 square foot house, 800 square feet is the kitchen, and 200 square feet is a studio space. Several networks interested in a future televised concept have approached the chef. Follow Chef Brie’s sweet journey on social media. Diamonds are more akin to tea cakes than you might think. Pastry chef and business owner Briea Lowe strives for GLAZE Confections to be a brand built on high quality, reasonable prices, and memorable experiences. A television-quality sculpted cake wrapped in fondant and sugar pearls is impressive, like a ruby-studded necklace. All costs considered, sometimes costume jewelry is better than the real thing. It’s just as sparkly, compliments the outfit, and won’t break the bank. “In a sense, GLAZE is the costume jewelry of what the pastry industry is,” she said. It truly is the small pleasures in life. Photography by Amy Sexson GLAZE Confections IG @glazeconfections www.glazeconfections.com YouTube @PastryFundamentals

Tucked into a corner of Hope Plaza just behind the Wawa on Highway 17 sits a newly opened Indian spot. Its façade – unassuming. Its fare – comforting and sapid. Cousins Shyjan Mekkattuparamban Mathai, Giboy Varghese, and Jinoy Varghese opened the doors to their Avenue O restaurant, Chilly Masala Indian Cuisine, on November 4. Over the few months they’ve been open, the owners say they’ve been blown away by the community’s support. “We were always looking forward to starting a restaurant business,” Shyjan said. Another cousin owns the liquor store next door and told Shyjan and Giboy about the open space. So, they applied and got it – a dream realized for the pair who had been catering under the same Chilly Masala moniker for six years. The restaurant’s owners, as well as its chef, hail from the state of Kerala on India’s southwestern tip. The recipes used at Chilly Masala are a tasty mélange of southern and northern Indian cuisine. Southern Indian food, Shyjan explained, is exceptionally spicy, while northern Indian cuisine offers more tolerable heat. “American people like the northern style,” Shyjan said. “Mostly, our south Indian food is really spicy.” The cousins are joined in the Sunshine State by some 65-70 family members. They remain close, gathering for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, holy communion, and the traditional Kerala celebration of Onam. Food, no doubt, is cardinal at family get-togethers. The Food Two of Chilly Masala’s most popular appetizers are their Veggie Samosa, a deep-fried pastry turnover filled with seasoned potato and green peas, and Veggie Samosa Chat, a famous street food made with scrambled samosa topped with chutneys, chickpeas, and sev (long, thin strands of gram flour, deep-fried and spiced). Another dish worth trying, especially for vegetarians, is Chilly’s Gobi Manchurian, made with batter-fried cauliflower infused with garlic, ginger, onion, chili bell pepper, and scallions in a tangy gravy. “It’s a mix of Chinese and our Indian [cuisine],” Shyjan said. For main course dishes, Chilly Masala covers all the bases with vegan and vegetarian options, different spice levels, and foodie favorites like the North Indian dish, Butter Chicken, cooked in a tomato cream sauce, as well as Chicken Tikka Masala, cooked with tomato-coriander sauce and flavored with bell peppers and onions. The two latter well-recognized dishes, which grace the menu of most Indian restaurants, are popular menu items at Chilly Masala. “People play it safely,” he laughed. And what would an Indian meal be without naan? The flat, leavened bread is made with all-purpose flour and traditionally cooked in a clay oven called a tandoor. Chilly Masala has quite a few flavors ranging from sweet to spicy. We tried the garlic naan, another patron favorite, which was warm and fluffy with a crisp bottom from its time in the tandoor. Allow me to set the scene. A long white plate garnished with a blazing red appetizer lay before me on the table. The dish, Chicken 65, originated from Chennai and consists of rice-battered crispy chicken spiced with green chili and curry leaves. The sharable portion was tempting. ‘I’ll just try one bite. You know… for research,’ I told myself. After uncounted bites later, the plate was all but empty – thanks to the help of my trusty editor and sidekick (or maybe I’m the sidekick – unsure), Amy. Juicy, tender chicken crusted with rice batter and a faultless combination of spices. The saltshaker was within reach but untouched as the chicken was seasoned like a dream. Shyjan and Giboy partnered with their chef, Nithin, to devise a menu that featured their most popular catering items. “We are grateful to our chef,” Shyjan said. Dine in or carry out at Chilly Masala. The eatery also works with Doordash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub for delivery. The Future “We are getting support from the Winter Haven people. It’s really good,” said the Chilly Masala co-owner. Shyjan noted how thankful he was for the return customers, rave reviews, and word of mouth that have fueled the restaurant’s infancy. As for the future, Shyjan said, “We are looking forward to expanding from here to a bigger place,” or a chain of restaurants. Shyjan beamed while speaking about the Winter Haven restaurant, “It was our dream, and we are here now.” Photography by Amy Sexson Chilly Masala Indian Cuisine 233 Ave O SW, Winter Haven, FL (863) 875-6169 FB: Chilly Masala Indian cuisine IG @chillymasala2022 chillymasala.us

On the heels of their full-house summer “Abbey Road” show, Classic Rock Legacy Presents is back at the Ritz with a cut-by-cut live performance of The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver” albums. The band will honor the albums in their entirety during two shows on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. (doors open 30 minutes before showtime) at the Historic Ritz Theatre in Downtown Winter Haven. Don’t walk, “Run for Your Life” to centralfloridatix.com for tickets. The show is made even more special by the recent reissue of “Revolver,” which was announced in September and released on October 28, 2022. “We didn’t know at the time that we were putting it together. […] We found out after we were doing it that they were reissuing the album,” said Classic Rock Legacy Presents vocalist and guitarist Daniel Pepin. Months before solidifying which albums they’d perform, drummer and vocalist Keith Coville told Pepin, “Those two albums [“Rubber Soul” and “Revolver”] were supposed to be a double album, but the record company wouldn’t let them do it.” “I was hooked – I thought that was a great idea,” Pepin said. “We wanted to do something bigger than we did last time. What’s bigger than one album but two?” Asked if he’d already snagged a reissue, Pepin smiled and said, “I haven’t picked one up because I know my wife well enough to know she probably bought it for Christmas.” The Classic Rock Legacy Presents lineup includes Daniel Pepin on vocals and guitar, Bill Dorfschmidt on vocals and guitar, Jessy Rose on vocals and keyboard, Josh Grimes on vocals and bass, and Keith Coville on vocals and drums. All members, save for Rose and Dorfschmidt, knew each other from a previous Beatles tribute band. Pepin began asking his musical compadres if they’d be interested in doing a Beatles project honoring the music, sans costumes, on a bigger stage. They were all in. Pepin has known Rose, one of his oldest friends, since age nine when the two went to school together in the New England area. Rose joined Classic Rock Legacy Presents following a career as musical director for a major cruise line. As for Dorfschmidt? “Bill is in every project that I do. He’s my best friend,” Pepin said. “It’s funny because I didn’t even ask him. I called him up on the phone and said, ‘Hey Bill, you’re in a Beatles band.’” With all their Beatles in a row, Classic Rock Legacy Presents started rehearsing the very next week. “There’s no one in that band that doesn’t love the Beatles and doesn’t respect what they’ve done and what they’ve contributed to other music even today,” Pepin said. “Even some hip-hop music has sampled Beatles songs. Their contribution is amazing. We’re trying to honor the music the way it’s supposed to be played. We’re not putting our spin on it. It’s not us trying to outshine The Beatles as musicians – it’s us trying to be them musically.” For Pepin, The Beatles have a stronghold as his favorite band – no close second in sight. Nourished by nostalgia, one of his earliest musical memories is of his grandmother playing The Beatles’ “Eight Days a Week” on an old flip-top record player. The first time he heard it, he said, “That’s what I want to be. I want to do that.” The Beatles prompted Pepin to get his first guitar lesson at four years old. A tough ask to be sure, and with much consideration on his part, Pepin’s favorite Beatles song? “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Pepin, an accomplished guitarist who has opened for the likes of Godsmack, Cold, Breaking Benjamin, Mudvayne, and Disturbed, took a guitar-shredding sabbatical following the birth of his son. He returned to performing in 2021, debuting solo at the Winter Haven Farmers Market and picking up recurring gigs at what have become his home venues, the Pink Piano, Grove Roots Brewing Company, and Swan Brewing. The last few years have been a propulsive ‘slow burn.’ “It’s been from me fighting to get gigs to now having them contact me, and I’m booked until May of next year.” Pepin is set to tour his original music throughout the UK this summer, and hopes to return to the Cavern Club, where The Beatles played. He’s currently sponsored by Canadian guitar company Godin – donning a Union Jack strap across the handmade guitar to honor his favorite band. Pepin’s music is available on all streaming platforms. He and Classic Rock Legacy Presents bandmate/ best friend Bill Dorfschmidt, are also in a band called Evil Bill and the Strugglebus, rocking out to 80s hits (think burly dude with purple hair singing “Video Killed the Radio Star”). It started as a fun project, said the guitarist. Even so, they’ve gained traction and now have music on Spotify, Amazon, and iTunes. As for the Classic Rock Legacy Presents Rubber Soul & Revolver show, Pepin said attendees can expect to “experience the music the way it’s supposed to be played by people who really love the music. That’s the vibe we’re going for.” He added, “We’re doing those albums note for note – almost exactly. There are some mistakes The Beatles even made on their guitars that we copy to get that same feel. We really want you to be able to close your eyes and hear the Beatles.” Along with all the “Wait,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Yellow Submarine” goodness, Pepin said, “During the encores, we honor every era of the Beatles from the mop top to the hippy days, so there’s something for everybody no matter what kind of Beatles fan you are.” Follow Classic Rock Legacy Presents on Facebook for more Beatlemania and purchase tickets to their January shows at centralfloridatix.com. Classic Rock Legacy Presents Rubber Soul and Revolver When: Saturday, January 28, 2023 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Where: Historic Ritz Theatre 263 West Central Avenue Winter Haven, FL Tickets and Info: Centralfloridatix.com FB: Classic Rock Legacy Presents

Happy Holidays, Haven readers! You bring us so much joy throughout the year – you’re the milk to our cookie. So, we thought we’d send some cheer your way…in baked form. Put on your most festive apron and play some seasonal tunes, (grab a cocktail), and start whipping up these favorite cookie recipes from each decade. These recipes are great for keeping on hand as ‘coping cookies’ when the holiday stress sets in, or box them up with a cute bow and give them away as gifts. Wishing you and your family a merry (and tasty) holiday season and a Happy New Year! Baked with love, Amy Sexson 1910's - Oatmeal INGREDIENTS: 1 ¼ cups butter, softened ¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed ½ cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg 3 cups uncooked oats ½ cup chopped pecans (optional) ½ cup dried cranberries (optional) INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. In a separate large bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add combined dry ingredients; mix well. Add oats; mix well. Add optional nuts or berries. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased sheet pans. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes for a chewy cookie or 10 to 11 minutes for a crisp cookie. Cool for 1 minute on sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered. Makes 3 dozen. *Recipe from Quaker Oats. “Oat Cakes” were the first oatmeal cookie to appear on the Quaker Oats package in 1908. The first recorded oatmeal cookie recipe was published in the United States by Fannie Merritt Farmer in her 1896 cookbook, the “Boston Cooking-School Cook Book.” 1920's - Molasses INGREDIENTS: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon salt 1 ½ cups sugar ¾ cup butter, softened 1 egg ¼ cup molasses INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place ½ cup sugar and set aside. With an electric mixer, beat butter and the remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until a dough forms. Roll 1 tablespoon of dough at a time, into a ball, roll in reserved sugar to coat. Arrange on sheet pans lined with parchment paper, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until the edges of the cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool for 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Makes 3 dozen. *Recipe from Martha Stewart and is a staple at our house every holiday season. They stay soft and chewy and are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. 1930's - Ice Box Cookies INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups butter, softened ¾ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 3 teaspoons vanilla 5 cups all-purpose flour ⅔ cup milk ¼ cup cocoa powder 1 egg white INSTRUCTIONS: Using an electric mixer, mix the butter and sugar until creamy. Add 2 eggs and salt; mix well. Add milk and vanilla; mix well. Add flour a little at a time and mix until just combined. Divide the dough in half, wrap one of the halves in plastic wrap. Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to the other half and mix until combined. Wrap that half in plastic wrap and refrigerate both for at least one hour. Sprinkle your work surface with flour. Roll out each dough to a ¼ inch thick rectangle, making sure to keep each piece a similar size. Brush one piece of dough with egg white and layer the second piece of dough on top. Brush the top layer with egg white and slowly roll to create a swirl pattern. Wrap this log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice cookies ¼-inch thick and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 - 15 minutes until firm but not browned. Let cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. Makes 3 dozen. *Recipe from Martha Stewart. Option: leave out the cocoa powder and add food coloring to create a colored swirl. In the early 1930s refrigerators started to make their way into every household. Around the same time, women slowly started entering the workforce and Icebox Cookies became popular. 1940's - Chocolate Chip INGREDIENTS: 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, softened ¾ cup sugar ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 2 cups (12 oz. pkg.) Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 1 cup chopped nuts (if omitting, add 1-2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour) INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter, both sugars, and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased sheet pans. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. *Recipe from Nestlé. In 1939, Ruth Wakefield, who ran the Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts was mixing a batch of cookies when she decided to add broken pieces of Nestlé Semi-Sweet chocolate into the recipe expecting the chocolate to melt. Instead, the semi-sweet bits held their shape and softened to a delicate creamy texture and the chocolate chip cookie was born. Ruth’s ‘Toll House Crunch Cookie’ recipe was published in a Boston newspaper and her invention of the chocolate chip cookie quickly became the most popular cookie of all time. Thank you, Ruth! 1950's - Peanut Butter Blossoms INGREDIENTS: ½ cup sugar ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar ½ cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup butter, softened 1 egg 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder additional sugar for rolling 36 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, mix ½ cup sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, and egg on medium speed until well blended. Slowly add flour, baking soda, and baking powder; mix until dough forms. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in additional sugar. Place on ungreased sheet pan about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly brown. Once you take them out of the oven, immediately press 1 Hershey’s Kiss in the center of each cookie. Remove from sheet pan and cool on racks. Makes about 3 dozen. *Hershey’s Kisses were first produced in 1907. This cookie originated as an entry into the 1957 Pillsbury Bake-Off contest. The cookies were originally called Black-eyed Susans but was renamed by Pillsbury to the Peanut Butter Blossom cookie. This is the classic recipe from Betty Crocker. 1960's - Church Windows INGREDIENTS: 2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips ½ cup butter, cubed 10-ounce package pastel marshmallows ½ cup chopped walnuts 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut INSTRUCTIONS: In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate chips and butter over low heat, stirring constantly until melted. Let cool for 5 minutes. Place 2 large pieces of parchment or wax paper on work surface. Sprinkle ¼ of the coconut onto each piece. Place the marshmallows and walnuts into a large bowl. Pour cooled chocolate into bowl and stir. Transfer half of the mixture to the parchment paper and shape into log. Sprinkle all sides with half of the remaining coconut. Tightly wrap into logs and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Slice into cookies. *Recipe from the Spicy Southern Kitchen. These no-bake cookies are really just rocky road but the addition of colored marshmallows is fun for the holidays. This recipe is messy, but worth it. 1970's - Potato Chip Cookies INGREDIENTS: 6 cups ruffled potato chips ¾ cup butter, softened ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour INSTRUCTIONS: In a plastic bag, crush potato chips with your hands or gently with a rolling pin. You don’t want them to be powder, they should be recognizable potato chip crumbs. You want to end up with 2 cups of crushed potato chips. Separate the 2 cups into 1-cup measurements. With an electric mixer, beat the butter on high speed for 1 minute. Add sugar and vanilla and mix well. Add egg; mix well. Add the flour and mix just until incorporated. Stir in 1 cup of crushed potato chips, don’t overmix. Cover and chill the dough for at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Using a glass or your hands, flatten the cookies and sprinkle with remaining crushed potato chips (press them down lightly). Bake for 11 - 12 minutes or when they just start to brown on the edges. Cool on wire racks. *This cookie is just as wacky as the 70s were but delicious! Don’t overmix the dough and use a heartier chip like Ruffles so they don’t completely disappear in the dough. 1980's - No Bakes INGREDIENTS: 2 cups sugar ½ cup milk ½ cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup cocoa powder 4 tablespoons butter pinch of salt 3 cups oats 1 teaspoon vanilla INSTRUCTIONS: In a large saucepan, melt sugar, milk, butter, and salt. Let it boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add oats, peanut butter, and vanilla. Stir well. Spoon onto parchment lined sheet pan and refrigerate until firm. *This was my favorite cookie to get at the school cafeteria when I was in first grade. I thought there was nothing more delicious in the entire world. Although I don’t make them very often, they are still a family favorite of ours. Store the cookies in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. 1990's - “Dunkaroos” INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking powder ⅛ teaspoon salt ¾ cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla sprinkles (optional) FROSTING INGREDIENTS: 1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened 3 ½ tablespoons butter, softened 1 tablespoon milk ½ teaspoon vanilla 2 cups powdered sugar INSTRUCTIONS: In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on high speed for 2 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat on high speed until combined. Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed until combined, the dough will be soft. Split the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap, refrigerate for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thick. Cut cookies out and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. If using sprinkles, gently press into cookies. Bake for 11 - 12 minutes or until edges are set. Let cool on a wire rack. FROSTING DIRECTIONS: With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add powdered sugar and mix until fluffy. *Dunkaroos were a favorite of our kids in the 90s. This recipe is adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction and the cookie tastes like an Oreo when not dipped in frosting. 2000's - Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti INGREDIENTS: ½ cup dried cranberries ½ cup boiling water 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons butter, softened 1 cup sugar plus more for sprinkling 3 eggs plus 1 egg slightly beaten set aside 2 teaspoons vanilla ½ cup unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, place cranberries and add boiling water. Let sit for 15 minutes or until plump. Drain and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium speed for 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add 3 eggs, one at a time mixing well after each one. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture on low speed until combined. Mix in cranberries and pistachios. Divide the dough in half and shape each one into a 16- x 2-inch log on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined sheet pan. With the palm of your hand, flatten logs slightly. Brush the beaten egg over the surface and sprinkle generously with sugar. Bake until logs are slightly firm to the touch, about 25 minutes. Transfer logs on parchment to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Reduce oven to 300 degrees. Using a serrated knife on a cutting board, cut logs crosswise on the diagonal into ½-inch thick pieces. Place a wire rack on a sheet pan and arrange cut slices on it. Bake until firm, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely on the rack they were baked on. Makes 4 dozen. *Recipe from Martha Stewart. These look like the holidays with red cranberries and green pistachios. Along with a bag of locally-roasted coffee, box these up in a pretty container and it’s the perfect gift. 2010's - Sugar Cookies INGREDIENTS: 1 cup sugar ⅓ cup butter, softened ¼ cup shortening ½ teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ⅔ cup sour cream FROSTING INGREDIENTS: 1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened 3 ½ tablespoons butter, softened 1 tablespoon milk ½ teaspoon vanilla 2 cups powdered sugar INSTRUCTIONS: In a large bowl with an electric mixer, mix sugar, butter, shortening, vanilla, and egg until fluffy. Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on low until just combined. Add sour cream, mix until combined. Remove dough, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough ¼-inch thick, cut with cookie cutters. Reroll extra dough gently to cut more cookies. Place on parchment-lined sheet pan. Bake for 8 - 9 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched. Makes 3 dozen. FROSTING DIRECTIONS: With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add powdered sugar and mix until fluffy. *I’ve been making these cookies for almost 30 years and I’ve adapted it along the way. These cookies are soft, not very sweet, and a favorite of our family. The frosting recipe I’ve included is optional. Feel free to use a recipe of your own or leave it out entirely.

No sunset or lake silhouette is more fitting than that of “The Water Ski Capital of the World” to honor the 100th anniversary of the sport. The waters of Dick Pope Sr.’s tropical haven and skiing sanctum, Cypress Gardens, were the stage for many shattered records, celebrity guests, and film and television productions throughout the years. The magic lives on as later this month, thousands of spectators and athletes the world over will descend on Winter Haven for the 2022 International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) World Water Ski Show Tournament. The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team, City of Winter Haven, and Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing are partnering to host the World Show Ski Championships. International teams and individuals will compete on Lake Silver in the largest tournament to date and the first event to combine an Individual and Team competition. Competitive teams include the USA, Belgium, Germany, Canada, and Sweden, with Mexico joining as an exhibition team. Preceding the tournament on the evening of October 18, Visit Central Florida and the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team will host a “Night with the Stars of Show Skiing’’ at Nora Mayo Hall. The red carpet dinner will honor professional show skiers. The Opening Ceremony will be held at the original Cypress Gardens Ski Stadium at LEGOLAND Florida on Wednesday, October 19. Festivities will include a parade of athletes, welcome speeches, live music, skiing demonstrations, and fireworks. The International Food & Drink Street Festival hosted by Main Street Winter Haven will occur the following day, Thursday, October 20, at 5:30 pm on Central Avenue in Winter Haven. Admission to the family- and dog-friendly festival is free. Attendees can expect drink tents, live music, and international food from local restaurants and vendors. The tournament will officially kick off on Friday, October 21, at Lake Silver, with the Individual Swivel Ski event followed by Adagio Doubles. Countries new to the WWSST will join in on the Centennial Celebration of the sport of waterskiing by performing their exhibition shows on Friday as well. Saturday, October 22, all competitive teams will compete. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, October 23, with teams placed by their Saturday scores, followed in the late afternoon by the Individual Freestyle jump competition, ending with a Medal Ceremony. For a full schedule of events and more information about the IWWF World Water Ski Show Tournament, visit worldwaterskishow.com. CYPRESS GARDENS WATER SKI TEAM PREPARES Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team president Mark Voisard expects between three and five thousand people at the World Water Ski Show Tournament, and he’s excited to show off the beautiful Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. He and the team have been busy making ready for the event by preparing the site. The ski team will run the Southern Hospitality tent and concession stands at the tournament, and according to Voisard, “We’ll be doing some skiing during breaks in the action at the Worlds.” Voisard, a former Cypress Gardens show director, was instrumental in forming the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team – and keeping the legacy alive. Mark Voisard hails from Deerfield, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His uncle owned a resort several hours north in Eagle River, Wisconsin. When Voisard was six, someone gave his uncle a homemade boat which he outfitted with a 45 horsepower Mercury motor and got out on the water. That’s when he first learned to ski. “I had to put tennis shoes on because they didn’t have any kid’s skis,” Voisard remembered. At 16 years old in 1970, Voisard became a founding member of the Chain Skimmers Water Ski Show Team in Eagle River, Wisconsin. In 1976, the team became the Wisconsin State Champions. After graduating college, Voisard set his sights on Cypress Gardens. He was hired to ski at the park, and when they called and asked when he could come, Voisard said he’d be there in two weeks. His first day was March 1, 1977. “We had a bunch of our guys from Eagle River come ski with us down here. My brother skied here,” he said. “When I got here, I was focused on skiing because there was so much to learn,” Voisard said. “They were doing things already that we hadn’t even thought about doing.” Soon after arriving at the Gardens, Voisard started flying the Delta Wing Kite. “We flew two kites every show, and we had four shows a day. So, with eight chances to fly – you get a lot of flying in.” Spectators can still see Voisard fly today during Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team shows. Mark became the Cypress Gardens show director for 15 years and worked at the park for some 30 years. In 1982, Voisard won the Men 2 National barefoot tricks and starts titles and has officiated over 30 National Show Ski Association tournaments. Voisard has officiated ten national and two world championships. Another feat Mark and show ski champion, Cheryl Orloff, took on was the first five-tier pyramid. “Nobody had ever done it before. First of all, you have to do a double-top four-tier,” he said. The direction of the pyramid spurred advancements in safety for the skiers, including the Flo-Mo vest and the use of braided handles – both of which have been adopted by the greater water ski community. “There’s a little more safety every time we do something like that,” Voisard said. With one boat pulling another boat and a total of 17 people – they successfully performed the first five-tier pyramid. Voisard was honored with an award of distinction by the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Foundation in 2016. THE SHOW GOES ON The former show director relayed the inception story of the original ski team at Cypress Gardens. “The story goes that Dick Pope Sr. was in the army somewhere around the world, so Julie Pope, his wife, was basically running the park. Skiing wasn’t anything they normally did. The kids would come, and they’d go skiing,” he said. According to Voisard, military personnel on leave visited the park and saw the kids skiing. “They went back to Orlando and said, ‘Hey, you guys have to go to Cypress Gardens – they’re doing a ski show.’ It wasn’t actually a ski show.” People began to ask what time the ski show was. An improvising Julie Pope told them 3 o’clock. “The kids got out of school, they got them all picked up, got them out there, and they started skiing, and that’s how it started.” In 2011, two years after Cypress Gardens closed, USA Water Ski Hall of Fame inductee and former Cypress Gardens skier Don Thompson was honored. Former professional Gardens skiers got together to perform a ski show on Lake Silver for Thompson. The show sparked talks of starting a ski club and teaching kids to ski. Voisard remembered someone suggesting, “We’ll teach them the way they did it at Cypress Gardens so that they really do it well and continue doing it.” Mark and his wife, Jean Voisard, began working with the City of Winter Haven in 2012 to secure Martin Luther King, Jr. Park as a home for the emerging Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team. “It took almost a year to get the whole deal worked out,” he said. Waiting on permits and a contract with the City in the works, they began forming the team. “We actually started skiing in our backyard in Eagle Lake. We brought the trailer with all the skis and a couple of boats,” Voisard said. The team started on Lake Silver later that year. “We’re very lucky. The City has been really good to us, and the County has been good to us.” Today, the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team is a non-profit USAWSsanctioned ski team with approximately 155 members ranging in age from two to skiers in their seventies. The team makes a splash on the third Saturday of each month with their free ski shows at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Lake Silver. Slalom, tricks, jumping, knee boarding, hydrofoil, barefoot, “In the show ski world, you kind of put all those things together. We barefoot, we hydrofoil, we jump, we fly the kite some, the girls swivel,” Voisard said. The team also offers adaptive ski clinics for those with special needs and disabilities. There will not be a Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team show on the third Saturday of October because of the World Tournament. But don’t miss their Halloween show! The nighttime show promises tons of spooky fun, from a skeleton pyramid to ghouls, wolfman, and a “Thriller” performance. The legacy continues as the team carries the Cypress Gardens torch – and its billowing namesake flags. Just as Dick Pope did with his theme park, the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team invites visitors to imbibe sunshine, fresh lake air, and the glamour and athleticism of a sport entering its centennial. Photography by Amy Sexson Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team www.cypressgardensskiteam.com FB: Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team (est. 2012) IG @cypress_gardens_ski_team Free shows on the third Saturday of each month: Lake Silver at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park 275 S Lake Silver Dr., Winter Haven

From charming guests as a Southern Belle to awing audiences as an Aquamaid at Cypress Gardens, Brenda Mitchell sat down with Haven to share stories of an iconic time in Central Florida history. Citrus was booming, “Mr. Florida” Dick Pope Sr. was operating a star-studded theme park, and Winter Haven was forging its designation as the Water Ski Capital of the World. Eclipsed only by “Mr. Florida” himself, images of beguiling Southern Belles and Aquamaids arm-in-arm smiling to the camera remain ambassadors of an era – pre-Disney emissaries of entertainment. Born in England, Brenda Mitchell considers Australia – where she moved as a child – home. She learned to snow ski before hitting the water. In Melbourne, Australia, there was a snow ski resort with a weir at the bottom. She and her friends would often snow ski and water ski on the same day. “We’d have bonfires there. It was fun,” she said. During a trip from England to Australia, Mitchell traveled to the sun-drenched skiing sanctuary that was Cypress Gardens. She met the park’s founders, Dick and Julie Pope. They asked if they could photograph her and if she would like to work with them at the Gardens in the future. She took a raincheck and returned to Australia, where she hosted a television program called “The Children’s Adventure Club.” In 1961, a 21-year-old Mitchell did come back to Winter Haven. Her previous ballet training gave her a leg up working at the Gardens. “If you’ve got some training in something, you know what to expect. It’s going to be hard work until you get it right, and not only are you pleasing yourself – you’re pleasing your director or the people watching the performance,” Mitchell said. GLITZ AND GLAMOUR AT THE GARDENS There was a buzz at Cypress Gardens, a hum of excitement – something in the water. The thrill of water ski shows, movie stars, and tourists the world over. Mitchell described it as a fun place to work. Whether shooting a film like “Easy to Love” or a television program like “The Johnny Carson Show” or “The Mike Douglas Show,” “It was evolving continually,” she said. The water skiers were involved with production too. “If you worked on it, you had an edge over someone who had never been involved and didn’t understand you hurry, hurry, hurry, and wait, wait, wait. That’s how it works.” During one production, Mitchell did a stint with Van Johnson skiing around the islands on Lake Summit. “I was to get into his arms which means I step on his ski, but he has to let go of the rope for me to get over. If they could have heard what he said – he used words normal to our ears now, beginning with ‘F’ about the drivers and the waves. […] I said, ‘Just smile!’” It wasn’t all dazzling shows and movie shoots at Cypress Gardens. “We had to do everything in those days,” she said. “Sometimes we taught the Southern Belles how to ski.” The summer was when they did most of their training, as winters tended to be prime for tourism in Central Florida. Brenda and the other Cypress Gardens water skiers also helped prepare for the arrival of special guests. She remembers one of the other girls going to Belk’s to buy bed sheets, Julie Pope going room to room, dropping them off, and Brenda making up the hotel room beds. But if work took too long, Brenda said Mrs. Pope was the kind of person to say, ‘Oh no, you’re going to be late. Call your husband and have him come over for dinner. Sylvester will pick him up.’ A notoriously gracious hostess, Julie Pope would seek Brenda’s English sensibilities when preparing for European guests at Cypress Gardens, asking how they might like their tea and if Brenda could help her set it up. “She was someone who was so warm and made you feel good that you had something to contribute,” Mitchell said. Brenda was so close with the Cypress Gardens founding family that Dick Pope Sr. gave her away at her wedding. “He was the kindest, kindest person and such a gentleman,” she said. “Julie Pope had a reputation of being the strength behind them.” In the last years of Mr. Pope’s life, Brenda remained close to him, regularly visiting him at his home. “I could finish a lot of his sentences for him knowing the things that he did and the things that he liked, and that made me feel good as well as him,” she said. “They were just wonderful.” SWAN ON THE CHAIN OF LAKES “We were all so close-knit,” Mitchell remembered. She stayed in supervised housing, as did many other non-Floridian Cypress Gardens water skiers. “It was like being in college and having roommates, and we all had a similar goal.” Admittedly not much of a gymnast, Mitchell shied away from tricks but shined when it came to swivel skiing. “Everybody had something that they could contribute, and the show staff was bright enough to understand to make use of the talent you have,” she said. “We were the premier ballerina of that show. We called it ‘Swan,’” Mitchell said. And just like any prima ballerina, “The longer your arms are and the longer your legs are, the prettier you look.” “Was it glamorous? Well, we had to wear more makeup because when you’re on the water, your face would look blank if you didn’t have red lipstick and eyelashes that showed up,” Mitchell said. The former Aquamaid reflected on the current Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team, which puts on a free show at Lake Silver on the third Saturday of each month. The glamour on the water is more now, she said. “We wore lots of bright colors, but not sequins.” The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team does a whole ballet line in unison. “What I used to do that was special is every day now, but that’s progress — that’s life,” Mitchell said. While working at Cypress Gardens, the Aussie Aquamaid even got to ski with King Hussein at his seaside estate in the Jordanian city of Aqaba. It was skiing doubles with a hint of danger for Mitchell and her party while they visited the king. “There was a minefield between the hotel in Aqaba – the Gazelle Club – and his property that we had to be walked through when we were staying there,” she said. Mitchell remembers skiing the glittering blue water of the Gulf as jets zoomed overhead. From Jordan, she went back to Australia and joined a synchronized swimming team. “That was a feat for me because I’m not really a super swimmer at all. I said, ‘Just keep me in the shallow end,’” Mitchell smiled, still glamorous as ever. She noticed that everyone having the same swimsuit and cap lent consistency to their performance. She brought that idea back to Winter Haven and asked if they could start doing something similar with costuming at the Gardens. The Cypress Gardens water skier wore many costumes throughout her career, from mermaid at Florida’s first theme park to Tinkerbell in a ski show at “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Mitchell remembered that Jantzen sponsored the water skiers at Cypress Gardens for swimwear. The girls’ swimsuits had molded cups. After one wash, the cups were all over the place. “The male skiers would say, ‘You’ve got a little malfunction,” she laughed. “Well, great!” While cleaning out her closet recently, she found her favorite costume – a black number with diamonds and a proper ballerina tutu paired with long white gloves. Cypress Gardens was home to Brenda Mitchell until 1984 and was the backdrop for many life events, often narrated by the voice of their announcer. The announcer said, “Brenda is a new mother today!” as she took to the water the day she adopted her daughter Mandy. During her later years at the park, Brenda said, “The announcer would sometimes say, ‘And now we have the oldest living Aquamaid,” Brenda laughed. “You can leave the old out! Experienced maybe? But you don’t have to say old.” Though she no longer water skis, Mitchell still takes to the snow ski slopes. “I think the more you keep skiing, the younger you feel.”

“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry Have you ever wandered the boardwalk at Alligator Alley in Circle B Bar Reserve or admired the overhead canopy reflected on the still blackwater during a hike through the Peace River Hammock? If so, you have benefited from the Polk County Environmental Lands Program. On November 8, 1994, Polk County citizens voted in favor of levying a tax on themselves to fund a local environmental lands program. “The purpose of the Environmental Lands Program is to acquire, preserve, protect, manage and restore endangered and environmentally sensitive lands, water resources and important wildlife habitat. Acquired properties may be used for passive outdoor recreational purposes provided that such uses will not disturb or degrade the environmental quality for which the site was acquired,” according to polknature.com. Properties protected by the Environmental Lands Program in Polk County include Circle B Bar Reserve, Gator Creek Reserve, Marshall Hampton Reserve, Sherwood L. Stokes Preserve, Crooked Lake Prairie, Hickory Lake Scrub, North Walk-in-Water Creek, SUMICA, Crooked Lake Sandhill, Lakeland Highlands Scrub, and Peace River Hammock. These preserved wilderness areas have provided the community with rich recreational opportunities, protection of water resources and wildlife habitat, and been a boon for eco-tourism in the county. Though the initial levy expired in 2015, the issue will be on the ballot again this November thanks to Polk Forever, a nonpartisan political committee of volunteers who share a passion for conservation. The committee’s initial goal was to get a referendum on the ballot this November. With that accomplished, their aim is the passage of the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Referendum on November 8, 2022. According to Polk Forever, the purpose of this referendum is “To continue the work begun by the 1994 voter-approved referendum that created the Polk County Environmental Lands Program. If approved, funding will be dedicated to purchase and conserve the environmentally sensitive lands needed to protect our county’s water resources and wildlife habitat. Lands can be purchased outright or protected by conservation easements. The goal is to expand, buffer, and connect existing preserves and wildlife corridors and provide citizens with high-quality resource-based outdoor recreation opportunities.” If passed, four distinct areas have been identified for conservation efforts, including The Green Swamp, The Lake Wales Ridge, The Upper Kissimmee Basin, and The Peace River. Funding will be provided through a dedicated 0.2 mill ad valorem property tax for 20 years if the referendum is approved. According to Polk Forever, “Monies will be dedicated to the acquisition and management of lands purchased outright or to the purchase of conservation easements that will keep the land in private ownership while protecting important natural resources.” “Statewide partners and federal partners are always looking for communities that are willing to invest themselves. So, if we don’t have a funding program in Polk County, other state groups are probably going to look at other areas to match funds with. Matching funds with partners is key,” said Polk Forever board member Suzanne Lindsey. “Our county staff that was so successful with this before are still in place, and they really know how to use those monies to get the biggest bang for your buck. It’s a great investment.” To raise awareness and support for the Environmental Lands Referendum, Polk Forever is hosting a juried triple art show across the county. The shows will feature paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, and mixed media pieces from local and regional artists inspired by Polk’s environmental lands purchased through the 1995-2015 citizen referendum. The first exhibition was held at the Ridge Art Gallery in Winter Haven from September 3 – September 23, 2022. ART/ifact in Lakeland will display a Polk Forever exhibition from October 1 – 28, 2022, with an opening reception on October 1 from 4 – 6 pm. The Lake Wales Art Gallery will feature another exhibition from October 1 – 28, 2022, with a reception on October 15 from 4 – 6 pm. Polk County kids have submitted pieces inspired by the lands they love and hope to preserve, along with work by professional and emerging artists. “We want to see what people enjoy about the parks and get their view on it,” said Polk Forever board member and artist, Blair Updike. “It’s a good way to show appreciation for the success of the past program and showcase those different lands, the different environments – they’re all over the county.” Lindsey agreed, adding, “I think people who visit the properties become the best ambassadors to protect it.” Updike, a celebrated painter from Lake Wales, has submitted work for the Polk Forever exhibition series, and so has her daughter. Other local artists of note include photography from Adam Bass and sculptures by David Price. “Conservation helps everyone,” Updike said. “You need the clean water. You need all the things provided by having open space. Everyone should care.” Polk Forever polkforever.com FB: Polk Forever IG @polkforever YouTube: Polk Forever Information on the Polk County Environmental Lands Program: polknature.com

Champion Skier Barbara Cooper Clack Heddon “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You practice hard, you work hard, you give it all you’ve got.” That is what champion competitive water skier Barbara Cooper Clack Heddon learned during her thirty-year career. It was a lesson she first had to learn on Christmas Eve, 1956. Heddon was 13 when she learned to ski at the Sump on Lake Hollingsworth. “My uncle got a boat and invited us all down to ski,” she remembered. “I told my dad, ‘I want to be good at this one day.’” Her dad, Charles “Charlie” L. Cooper, told her he’d give her every opportunity to succeed at it. “My parents were extremely supportive of whatever I did,” Heddon said. They became so involved in tournaments that her mother would keep scores and post them from judges after the skiers performed. “My mother also skied in the Lakeland ski shows for a little bit, and my daddy would drive the boats for the shows,” she said. When her father took her to the lake on December 24, 1956, to learn to jump, Barbara’s initial attempts were a bit choppy. Try after try – 25 tries actually – she would approach the jump and let go of the rope. The twenty-sixth try was the charm as Barbara held onto the rope and landed her first jump. That was the watershed event to what would be a legendary skiing career. It was at 13 years old that Heddon set two goals: to be the first woman in the world to jump 100 feet and to represent the United States in the World Water Ski Championships. On her life jacket and skis, Heddon would write a reminder of her goal, “100 feet or bust.” Two years after that tenacious twenty-sixth jump, Heddon would go on to set a new Girl’s record for jumping 84 feet. She excelled at slalom and trick skiing, but jumping was her true passion. “Jumping I just loved because I loved soaring through the air,” she said. In 1957, Heddon won her first All American Junior Dixie competition at Cypress Gardens. Owner Dick Pope Sr. told her dad that he’d like Barbara to work at the Gardens. Mr. Cooper agreed, contingent that she be chaperoned at all times. Mr. Pope said he’d take good care of Barbara. “And he did,” Heddon said. The 16-year-old skier started working at Cypress Gardens in 1959 and skied there until 1966. “Mr. Pope Sr. was the ultimate of entertainment. He wanted to always have the best shows and was a fabulous promoter of Cypress Gardens,” Heddon said. The entertainment aspect was her favorite part of working at Cypress Gardens. “To be able to go out and perform and do your best and be applauded for it,” she said. Heddon said her experience at Florida’s first theme park was great and credited it for launching her onto television programs like “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “To Tell the Truth,” “Who Do You Trust?,” and “What’s My Line?” During her senior year in high school, Barbara entered the Miss Lakeland pageant. Mr. Pope was her sponsor for the contest and even helped produce a video of her waterskiing skills for the talent portion. Following in her mother Evelyn’s footsteps, who won the same pageant in 1936, Barbara was crowned Miss Lakeland. “It was a blast,” she said. She went on to compete in the Miss Florida pageant. Heddon said, “You would think it would be kind of cutthroat, but it wasn’t. The girls were so cordial and so sweet. I was basically the youngest one in the pageant. We would talk about the future and what’s going on, where are you going, what do you want to do in life?” Where was Barbara Heddon going in life? The better question would have been, ‘how high?’ She met her first goal and became the first woman to soar 100 feet at the 1964 Florida State Open. “The next week, Dicksie Ann Hoyt jumped 100 feet, so I thought, ‘Whoa, I didn’t make that by much,” she said. In 1963, only a few months postpartum with her son Scotty, Heddon claimed the women’s national overall title. “It was exciting because I hadn’t been able to train for that year and then got back into skiing for a month or so and went to the Nationals,” she said. She traveled to Long Beach, California, for the competition. “I thought, ‘Okay, I’m back.’” Two years later was perhaps the most triumphant moment of Heddon’s waterskiing career when she led all three events, winning the Masters Cup. “Winning all three events at the Masters Water Ski Tournament and being the first woman to do that – I was ecstatic about it,” she said. The second goal that 13-year-old Barbara Heddon had made would be met in 1965 when she earned a place on the United States Water Ski Team. She traveled with them to compete in the World Water Ski Championships in Australia, where she won the women’s slalom title. “It was very exciting. Australia is a beautiful country, and they so welcomed everybody,” she said of her time in the land Down Under. Their time in Australia wasn’t all waterskiing for the team. Barbara remembers her teammate, Liz Allen, “We bought her first bikini bathing suit because bikinis over here weren’t quite in yet, but they were in Australia.” Asked if she also bought a bikini there, she hesitated, laughed, and said, “I did. […] It covered up a lot more than they do now.” In 1969, Heddon reached new heights as a flight attendant for United Airlines. Her time on the water wasn’t over yet, though. She set another women’s record by jumping 111 feet in the 1971 Masters and won the slalom and jumping in the National Championships the same year. Barbara Cooper Clack Heddon was inducted into the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. Heddon obtained her Florida Real Estate License in 1982 and was a broker with her own company, Southern Investment Realty, by 2004. “I fell in love with it the minute I started it,” she said. “I just love seeing people fulfill their dreams and buy their dream homes.” The celebrated water skier is now semiretired from real estate after selling her business three years ago. Though no longer a broker, Heddon continues to help folks fulfill their dreams as an agent for Century 21 Myers Realty. Of all the records set, competitions won, and homes sold, Heddon notes her proudest moment was the 2007 induction of her son, Scotty Clack, into the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Hall of Fame. Scotty Clack is credited with developing freestyle jumping into a competitive event. He competed in the freestyle jumping event on the professional tour for 16 years and boasted a 10-0 record in 1985. Like his mother, he began his show skiing career at Cypress Gardens, where he performed for 18 years, serving as show director from 1995-1998. During his career, Clack performed for the president of Beirut, the Queen of England, and King Hussein of Jordan five times. His waterskiing talents took him to Hollywood, where he did stunts on the movies “Meatballs” and “Smokey and the Bandit Part 3.” Clack went on to serve as the director of operations for World Sports & Marketing from 2001-2004. Heddon and Clack were the first mother and son to both be inducted into the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Hall of Fame. The champion water skier remains close with her fellow skiers. “It’s a family – waterskiing is just a big family,” she said. “The Cypress Gardens Ski Team has done a wonderful job of keeping the integrity of the sport and skiing like the Gardens used to have.” Asked if she’d be attending the IWWF World Water Ski Show Tournament, Heddon replied she’d be there. She even signed up as a volunteer for the event. “I wouldn’t miss that for the world – no pun intended,” she smiled.

A waterskiing and wakeboarding legend turned towed water sport exponent, Zane Schwenk got his start in a unique after-school program. The Sarasota native said casually, “I was in a circus as a kid, which was weird and fun.” The young adrenaline junkie dove into acrobatics, the flying trapeze, and the teeterboard, and by 12 years old, he had a 12-foot unicycle. Nothing too crazy happened at the circus, Schwenk said, well, except for that one time four lions chased him in South America. He flipped and flew in the circus from third grade until the tenth. That’s when he told his dad he wanted to join the water ski club. Schwenk started skiing at age three. The sport was a family affair. Blood may be thicker than water, but water seemingly runs in the Schwenks’ veins. Zane’s brother Tripp went on to swim at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, winning a gold medal in the medley relay and a silver in the 200-meter backstroke. “We had a very aquatic upbringing,” Zane said. By tenth grade, he would ski four to five days a week. “In Sarasota, it’s not easy to do that. It’s an hour and a half of cleanup afterward with the boat and taking care of stuff – but it was good. You learn a lot of responsibility,” he said. Schwenk began competing and made it to the water ski nationals in Wisconsin. “Mark Jackson interviewed me and gave me my first chance of getting any real notoriety,” he said. That landed the water skier his first sponsorship from Connelly Skis out of Washington state. Shortly after, they asked Schwenk if he wanted to try out their wakeboard. The sport hadn’t yet gained widespread popularity, and Schwenk didn’t know what it was. “They looked like a surfboard. […] This was like a bungee cord over the top of your feet, and then go try to do some flips. It was really crude,” he remembered. He tried out the wakeboard but continued skiing, improving his freestyle jumps. “Crashes were fun and obscene – that was a cool thing to do,” he said. Schwenk eventually got so good at freestyle jumping that he would become the first and, to this day, only person to land a double front flip ski jumping. Schwenk joined Cypress Gardens in 1993, where he would then travel on the weekend for tournaments across the country. “One of the coolest things that happened at Cypress Gardens for me was I was encouraged to try new things,” he said. Schwenk remembers attempting that double front flip off the ramp there, a feat he’d hoped to accomplish since the ninth grade. “You get beat hard – it really is painful. You’re going about 110-115 feet, hitting the ramp at 40 plus miles per hour, trying to do two flips and land, and you can’t see the landing. It’s crazy,” he said. One of the skiers at Cypress Gardens encouraged him to try the jump again as the owner of the park, August Busch, was on the dock. “I came whipping around – I tried it, I made it. I was super excited.” About a week later, he received a handwritten letter extending a sponsorship from Cypress Gardens. They wanted to help Schwenk achieve his dreams. “I came from a hardworking family. I moved over here with like 300 bucks – that was it,” he said. Now he had a full sponsorship to go out and compete. “It was the break I really needed.” He continued skiing while ramping up his wakeboarding career, competing in both. “Wakeboarding really didn’t want to identify with waterskiing. It was like two factions happening at the same time, on the same lake, at the same events, but the wakeboarders were kind of the red-headed stepchild for a while,” Schwenk said. “Very much like extreme sports, [wakeboarder’s thought] we’re going to adapt. We’re not going to be the establishment, we’re going to do something different, we’re going to be flexible. […] I’m still very passionate about waterskiing, and I’m so happy to come full circle – waterskiing and wakeboarding coexist really well together now.” His circus background also lent itself to the stunts Schwenk went on to master and even name. “There was a group of probably five or ten of us all learning these tricks and going, ‘Hey, I learned a new trick! I’m going to bring you a VHS tape of it, and I want to call it this.’ And you’d get that to the magazine as fast as you could because your buddy in Orlando was probably trying the same thing. So, you got to name a few tricks, claim a few tricks.” Schwenk skied with his buddy Parks Bonifay who he called a wakeboarding “phenom.” At just 14, Bonifay won the inaugural wakeboard competition at the X Games. “I’m 20, and he’s 14, and we’re just learning new tricks left and right, and I’m feeding off this kid who’s six years younger than me who’s going to kick my butt,” Schwenk laughed. Like Bonifay, Schwenk garnered legendary status as a pro tour wakeboarder, medaling in the X Games and winning the 2000 America’s Cup, Australian X Games, French X Games, and other pro events. The 2000 America’s Cup was a special event for the wakeboarder. “I traveled so much that I didn’t get to see my family a whole lot, but my dad was with me for that one, so that was really cool,” he said. His record-setting career earned him the title “World’s Greatest Water Skier” in 1999 at Cypress Gardens. Schwenk also worked with high-performance boat manufacturer Mastercraft to design the first wakeboarding boat, the XStar, as well as wake surfing systems. He worked with Mastercraft for over twenty years, even hosting their video series, “Rewind.” In March of this year, Zane Schwenk, alongside fellow wakeboarder Tara Hamilton-Wynne, was inducted into the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame. Reflecting on his career, Schwenk said, “As cheesy as it sounds, outside of all that – I had a lot of fun times – but getting to teach people and encouraging the next generation of wakeboarders and kids and skiers to get out there and promote the sport – that to me has been the greatest thing I could have done.” Schwenk started the Pass the Handle initiative in 2014 with fellow wakeboarding legend Shaun Murray. The program encourages “any towedwater sports enthusiast to get out on the water and extend their arm to people in need of an awesome activity,” according to www.passthehandle.com. “Our goal is to truly engage those already involved to “share the stoke” and teach as many people as they can to ride.” Schwenk called the initiative his “driving passion” in recent years. “We’ve got a lot of wonderful athletes focused on doing double flips and all these cool things, but you didn’t get to do a double flip if you didn’t learn how to get up.” Pass the Handle promotes accessibility to help more people get out on the water and ‘learn how to get up.’ “We challenged [those already in watersports] to take somebody new. Go to your church, go to your school, go to your neighbor, and get them out on the water and help expose the sport to somebody else. That’s been really successful,” Schwenk said. Calling the Chain of Lakes our “greatest resource,” Schwenk is also avid about promoting safety on the water. “I don’t sound like the guy from the mid-90s who was doing crazy stuff,” he said, “but we’ve got to promote safe boating.” With more boats on the water, he encourages boaters to keep aware of their surroundings and guard the throttle. “Use common sense – like If you’re on a pontoon boat, don’t sit on the front of the pontoon boat while it’s going and drag your feet in the water. I see that every weekend.” Schwenk now lives in Winter Haven with his wife Lauren and their kids, five-year-old Stone and eight-year-old Stella, and has taken the marketing skills learned with Mastercraft to work as Director of Marketing and Media at Oakley Transport. Stone and Stella are getting an “aquatic upbringing” similar to his own, already learning to ski and wakeboard. Asked if he sees his kids breaking any of his records in the future, he smiled and said, “I hope they break my school records which will be easy for them to do, I think.” Numerous knee surgeries and previous wakeboarding injuries keep the Winter Haven wakeboarding great from being on the water as much as he’d like. Schwenk said, “You just can’t keep doing that forever, but if you can leave a lasting mark on a sport, that’s what I wanted to do, and I feel pretty good about that.”

BEST PIZZA BISTRO PIZZA 326 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 875-4894 FB @bistropizza326 arabellas.us/bistro-pizza Bistro’s back at it again with another Best Of Haven win! This Ave Bar adjacent pizzeria serves up brick oven, hand-tossed pizzas made with fresh ingredients. Create your own, or keep it classic. Bistro offers varieties, including the Pizza Italia, made with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic, and the Pizza Rustica with mozzarella and ricotta cheese, ham, bacon, garlic, and olive oil. Pair your pizza with a calzone, stromboli, antipasti, baked pasta, oven-baked sub, or salad. Cheers with a glass of pinot from their wine list or a cocktail from the bar. And don’t forget to ask your server about the “Pizza of the Day.” 2nd: J. Burns’ Pizza Shop 3rd: Pizza Connection BEST BURGER ADLER’S 543 Ave B SW, Winter Haven (863) 875-6615 113 Ambersweet Way, Davenport (863) 438-4324 FB @Adlers.TCB IG @adlerstcb adlersburgers.com Adler’s smashed their competition AGAIN – just like their juicy Midwest, high-fat content ground beef patties. And what a delicious victory it is! They’ve been takin’ care of burgers at their Avenue B (for Burger) Winter Haven location since last August, where they serve up little numbers like the Classic with LTOP, American cheese, mayo, ketchup, and mustard on an artisan bun. Others on Adler’s badass burger roster include the Italian, Bad Hombre, Twitty, Bourbon BBQ, and specials (if you follow their socials and play your cards right). Order it with a side of hand-cut fries and a craft soda from the fountain or beer on tap. If you haven’t been yet, GO. And tell them Haven sent you. 2nd: Andy’s Igloo 3rd: Five Guys BEST TACOS TACOS MY FRIEND 3899 Recker Hwy, Winter Haven (863) 837-7416 FB @tacosmyfriend IG @tacos_my_friend Taco ‘bout authentic and tasty tacos! Tacos My Friend is more than a casual acquaintance to the Best Of Haven winners list – they’re more like besties, dominating the taco category year over year. It’s hard to top their succulent carne asada, cradled by warm tortillas topped with onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and a drizzle of salsa verde. If steak doesn’t suit you, they have plenty of meat options, including pollo, pastor, chorizo, lengua, tripas, and cabeza. Their full menu boasts sopes, tamales, tostadas, and more. Not to be cheesy, but this place is pretty spec-taco-lar. 2nd: Angel’s Kitchen 3rd: Azteca D’ Oro BEST WINGS BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S 300 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven (863) 293-9464 FB @MyBeefs beefobradys.com/winterhaven Ummm, Beefs? More like Chicken’ O’ Brady’s, amI-right? Their sauce and dry rub game is strong with flavors like Beef’s Signature Buffalo, Nashville Hot, Boom Boom, Sweet Thai Chili, Honey BBQ, and Atomic. Beef’ O’ Brady’s Award-Winning Jumbo Wings are always made fresh to order and tossed in one of their dry rubs or famous sauces. They come traditional or boneless and can be made into a combo or a basket. Beefs, you are the wind beneath Winter Haven’s (chicken) wings. 2nd: Apple Lounge & Grill 3rd: The Twisted Prop Bar & Grille BEST CUBAN SANDWICH SOUP’R CUBANS SANDWICH SHOP 1502 42nd St NW, Winter Haven (863) 967-6277 FB: Soup’R Cubans Winter Haven’s tried and true ‘Soup’er Hero has done it again! “Over 20 years and still pressin’!” Since 2000, Soup’R Cubans Sandwich Shop has perfected its pressed Cuban craft. They load up their Cubans with ham, pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, pickles, and a mustard and mayo mix on fresh Cuban bread. You can get your hot pressed sammie as a 7-inch Regular or 10-inch Super. Enjoy this award-winning sandwich with a sub, salad, or six daily soups. 2nd: Publix 3rd: Richard’s Fine Coffees BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT ARABELLAS RISTORANTE 346 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 293-1797 FB @ArabellasRistorante arabellas.us There cannoli be one Best Italian Restaurant in Winter Haven! Since opening in 2004, Arabellas has become synonymous with standout Italian cuisine downtown. Open for lunch and dinner, folks flock to Times Square for a bite to eat. For a romantic dinner for two, pair the Carre Di Agnello Scottadito, roasted rack of lamb served in a red wine rosemary sauce, and Filetto al Porto, Angus filet mignon topped with gorgonzola cheese in a port wine glass with a glass or bottle from their extensive wine list or a cocktail from Ave Bar next door. “Arabellas is rated 5-stars in food, service, and atmosphere. We are dedicated to providing an exceptional experience each time we have the opportunity to serve you.” 2nd: Carrabba’s Italian Grill 3rd: Olive Garden BEST SUSHI RESTAURANT TSUNAMI SUSHI 5937 Cypress Gardens Blvd #300, Winter Haven (863) 324-6777 (Second location in Lakeland) FB @TsunamiSushi2013 IG @tsunamisushiwh tsunamisushi.net Rollin’ into first place again! There is plenty to choose from on Tsunami’s menu, including sushi rolls, sashimi, makimono, tempura, miso, and more. Their sushi list is full of bright, fresh flavors like the 8 Ball Roll with lobster, scallion, garlic sauce, and cucumber topped with mixed krab topping, almonds, and eel sauce or the Malibu Roll with tempura grouper, asparagus, cream cheese, topped with tuna avocado, scallion, spicy mayo, and tempura crumb mixture. Tsunami’s specialty rolls are sure to make you gyoza crazy! Godzilla or Hot Mamma Roll, anyone? 2nd: Tsukiyomi Sushi Bar & Grill 3rd: Sakura Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar BEST BBQ RESTAURANT BLACKBURN’S BBQ 169 5th St, Eagle Lake (863) 287-9975 FB @BlackburnsBBQ IG @blackburnsbbq Blackburn’s BBQ is oak-smoked fall-off-the-bone goodness. They keep their menu stocked with southern staples like pulled pork and rib bone-in sandwiches, dinner plates including brisket, turkey, smoked sausage, meat by the pound, and family meal deals. You’ll also want to pick up a couple of made-from-scratch sides, like sweet coleslaw, southern potato salad, fresh collard greens, or Mimi’s corn casserole. We hear their homemade banana pudding, fresh apple pie, and pecan pie are slap your momma good! 2nd: The Smokin’OX Premium BBQ 3rd: Sonny’s BBQ BEST DONUTS THE DONUT MAN 1290 6th St NW, Winter Haven (863) 293-4031 FB @thedonutmanWH Other places donut even compare to the Donut Man! This little bake shop has all the glaze and sprinkles your heart could desire. Their amazing apple fritters, assorted cake donuts, filled donuts and raised donuts have derailed many a diet throughout the years. One customer wrote, “Delicious donuts that always make the trip over to get them well worth it! My personal favorite is the Toasted Coconut with Bavarian Cream. I believe anyone passing through Polk County should stop by at least once to try these baked goods!” Donut Man offers sandwiches, bagels, muffins, croissants, and coffee too. If you’re looking for an oh-so-sweet pick-me-up, Best Of Haven voters says it’s Donut Man all day! 2nd: Baking Donuts Plus 3rd: Dunkin’ BEST SUBMARINE SANDWICH PUBLIX FB @publix IG @publix publix.com We sub snobs just know that Publix does it best. Certainly, no beach trip is complete without a Pub Sub stop. And you’ve got ‘sub’stantial options, baby. How about a Boar’s Head Italian Sub, Publix Ultimate Sub, or Boar’s Head Cajun Turkey & Shrimp Poboy? The tried-and-true is the Chicken Tender Sub made with Publix Deli’s famous double-hand-breaded chicken tenders. This sandwich has become a Sunshine State institution that people across the country crave! 2nd: Firehouse Subs 3rd: Jersey Mike’s Subs BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT AZTECA D’ORO 5860 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven (Multiple locations in Orlando, Lakeland, Winter Garden, and New Smyrna) (863) 295-9080 FB @Aztecawinterhaven IG @aztecadorowh aztecadoro.com Is there anything better than margs and Mexican food? Azteca D’Oro is praised for authenticity, friendly service, and flavorful fare. Their lunch and dinner menus feature ceviche, nachos, elotes Mexicanos, fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, tortas, tacos, signature dishes, desserts, and more. One customer wrote, “Their food is absolutely delicious. We drive 40 minutes just to eat here at least once a month. They make guacamole right at your table if you order it. Margaritas are delicious!!” It’s feeling like an Azteca Steak Mexicano and sangria kind of night! 2nd: El Olivo Mexican Restaurant 3rd: San Diego’s Mexican Grill BEST BREAKFAST RESTAURANT EGG HAVEN 301 3rd St SW, Winter Haven (863) 268-8269 FB: Egg Haven egghavenwinterhaven.com Best Of Haven voters agree that Egg Haven is the butter to their toast, the biscuits to their gravy, the cheese to their omelet! The downtown diner opened in 2013 and serves breakfast all day, along with other greasy spoon fare. Their menu is so egg-stensive that you could get something different every morning and not run out of options for quite a while. They have a drive-thru for breakfast on the go, or you can take it (over) easy inside or out on the covered patio. 2nd: First Watch 3rd: Big Tom’s Diner BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT HARRY’S OLD PLACE 3751 Cypress Gardens Rd, Winter Haven (863) 324-0301 FB: Harry’s Old Place IG @harrysoldplacewh harrysoldplace.com Winter Haven is over the moon for this underthe-sea eatery! Harry’s Old Place, located on the lapping shores of Lake Ned, has been specializing in fresh seafood since 1992. Known as the place “where the fish is always de-lish,” Harry’s serves a large selection of fresh fish and seafood, steak, chicken, pasta, and cocktails. A happy Harry’s customer raved in part, “Fresh fish & seafood cooked beautifully! We’ve been to Harry’s for lunch and dinner a number of times and are always really happy with our meal. The Smoked Fish dip is a great appetizer for sharing. Be sure to check the chalkboard specials as they change with the catch!” 2nd: Harborside 3rd: Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood & Bar BEST THAI RESTAURANT THAI HAVEN 309 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 291-8085 FB @ThaiHaven IG @thaihaven_fl thaihaven.com If you haven’t yet, it’s about Pad Thai-me you try the authentic, made-to-order food at Thai Haven. The cozy Central Avenue establishment is family-owned and operated, offering appetizers, soups, salads, curries, specials, noodle dishes, fried rice dishes, and more with spice levels to suit any palate. The lemongrass soup and red curry are perfect for a lighter lunch, and the Basil Bliss and Drunken Noodles are a must-try for dinner. 2nd: Saigon Garden 3rd: Gin Khao Food Truck BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT MEDITERRANEAN FRESH GRILL 6035 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven (833) 633-4745 FB @MediterraneanFreshGrillWinterHaven IG @mediterraneanfresh mediterraneanfreshgrill.com Chef Chadi Mokbel dazzles guests with beautifully plated Lebanese cuisine like Tabbouleh, kabobs, and shawarma, which somehow tastes even better than it looks. Mediterranean Fresh Grill offers a sizable but curated menu of food that is prepared fresh daily and cooked to order, accommodating dietary needs and choices from vegetarian and vegan to low-carb and gluten-free. Med Fresh Grill notes, “Our menu is inspired by the bold, fresh flavors found in the street foods of the Eastern Mediterranean. Our food contains only high quality, wholesome ingredients like organic fruits and vegetables sourced mainly from local and regional farmers as well as antibiotic-free chicken, lamb, and beef.” 2nd: The Krazy Greek 3rd: Andrea’s Family Restaurant BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT CHINA GARDEN 6027 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven (863) 318-1900 chinagardenwinterhaven.com Generous portions, affordable prices, and tasty takeout have China Garden customers raving. They serve up New York-style Chinese cuisine offering all the fan favorites from sweet and sour chicken and crab rangoon to vegetable lo mein and moo shu pork. “Food has been consistently awesome, fresh, and hot. The staff are friendly and attentive. I’ve never had a bad dish from here,” reads one China Garden five-star review. Grab a bottle of wine, some China Garden takeout (you can order online), and rent a movie for a super ramen-tic night in! 2nd: Beijing Restaurant 3rd: Evergreen BEST RESTAURANT FOR OYSTERS GARY’S OYSTER BAR & SEAFOOD HOUSE 660 E Alfred St, Lake Alfred (863) 956-5055 FB: Garys Oyster Bar garysoysterbar.com If you’ve never been to Gary’s Oyster Bar & Seafood House, you must be living under a rock – or maybe a half shell. It’s the oldest oyster bar in Polk County, serving the area for over 42 years. According to the coziest shuckin’ oyster shack around, “We pride ourselves as a true Florida seafood experience that the entire family will enjoy.” Order a cocktail from their full-service bar and get your hot sauce and crackers ready for some raw oysters on the half shelf or have them steamed. We hear the Char-Grilled Parmesan and Jalapeño Bacon Oysters are worth the trip alone! 2nd: Harborside 3rd: Old Man Frank’s BEST FOOD TRUCK TALLULAH’S TABLE BY THE SEA (863) 289-6255 FB: Tallulah’s Table by the Sea IG @tallulahstable Everyone’s favorite mermaid on wheels won Best Food Truck again! Tallulah’s Table by the Sea is available for public and private events and floats some fabulous fare like the grouper Reuben, lobster rolls, and sweet and spicy shrimp tacos. The latter is a food truck favorite topped with Tallulah’s homemade sweet and spicy sauce, mango salsa, and coleslaw. This Polk County food truck travels all over central Florida, serving up deep-sea deliciousness. 2nd: Gin Khao Food Truck 3rd: Taco Riendo BEST DINER ANDY’S IGLOO 703 3rd St SW, Winter Haven (863) 293-0019 FB: ANDY’S IGLOO andysigloo.com Can I get some fries with that shake? Andy’s is the place for old-school diner bites, from burgers and crinkle-cut fries to hot dogs and BBQ. The iconic Winter Haven eatery also serves chicken and seafood baskets, salads, dinner options, and classic sandwiches like tuna salad, roast beef, and a triple deck club. Andy’s Igloo opened in 1951 and has been a Highway 17 staple ever since. Order an ice cream float to wash it down before you go (they were voted Best Ice Cream, too)! 2nd: 1st Street Diner 3rd: Egg Haven BEST FINE DINING ARABELLAS RISTORANTE 346 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 293-1797 FB @ArabellasRistorante arabellas.us At Arabellas, no detail is spared to create a second-to-none guest experience, making it a Downtown Winter Haven fine dining destination. From the ambient lighting to the pianist and premier service, guests rave about everything from the food to the overall experience. Voted Best Italian Restaurant and Best Romantic Restaurant, Arabellas is sure to please for any occasion. One customer wrote in part, “Wonderful food, service, wine, and ambiance! Great for a special occasion if you want multi courses, but reasonably affordable if you just order entrees and drinks.” 2nd: Nutwood 3rd: The Fire Restaurant BEST PATIO DINING NUTWOOD 132 Ave B SW, Winter Haven (863) 229-7770 FB @NUTWOODWH IG @nutwoodwh nutwoodwh.com Bask in a starlit dinner beneath twinkling string lights or a balmy mid-morning Sunday brunch prepared by Michelin Star Chef Steven Rojas. The brick-lined patio space is shaded by a sprawling oak tree and bordered with lush greenery. The atmosphere, only second to the cuisine, is a marriage of sophistication and tranquility in the heart of Central Florida. Foodies travel from across the Sunshine State just to have a meal at Nutwood. 2nd: TIE – The Twisted Prop Bar & Grille The Fire Restaurant 3rd: Harborside BEST WATERFRONT DINING HARBORSIDE 2435 7th St SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 293-7070 FB @HarborsideFL IG @harborsiderestaurant harborsidefl.com A Central Florida seafood mainstay, Harborside is lauded for its panoramic Lake Shipp views. Harborside is a repeat winner in the Waterfront Dining category, with guests citing delicious surf and turf, cocktails, and unmatched lakeside sunsets. It remains a destination for fresh seafood, steaks, and casual American fare. “What a wonderful surprise. Very nicely decorated to a seaside motif. Lakeside views from anywhere you sit, including outdoor patio seating. A great menu with reasonable prices,” reads an excerpt from one five-star Harborside review. 2nd: The Twisted Prop Bar & Grille 3rd: Tanners Lakeside Restaurant & Bar BEST BAR AVE BAR 340 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 297-1797 FB: Ave Bar by Arabellas arabellas.us This cozy downtown cocktail spot is situated between two other Best Of Haven winners, Arabellas Ristorante and Bistro Pizza. A small plate menu and menus from both sister establishments are provided, making it the perfect spot to imbibe and grab a bite. Ave Bar aptly describes its atmosphere as “sophisticated and fun,” the ideal backdrop to sip a craft cocktail, whiskey on the rocks, or glass of wine. One customer described Ave Bar as a “Great place to meet friends.” 2nd: Barrel 239 3rd: Grove Roots Brewing Company BEST COCKTAILS THE SOCIAL COCKTAIL LOUNGE 356 3rd St NW, Winter Haven (863) 229-7453 FB @thesocialwh IG @the.socialwh Don’t let the Social Cocktail Lounge’s ‘Old Fashioned’ 1920s motif fool you – they can whip up a mean modern cocktail too! This 3rd Street piano bar and speakeasy lounge offers craft cocktails, classic drinks, beer, and wine. It’s a chill establishment to be ‘social’ with friends and catch live entertainment. One customer writes in part, “Fun spot in downtown Winter Haven! Cozy seating, a great bar, and an outside patio with a window pass-through giving easy access to the friendly bartenders.” 2nd: Ave Bar 3rd: Barrel 239 BEST WINE MENU OBSCURE WINE COMPANY 276 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 268-6555 FB: Obscure Wine Company IG @obscurewine obscurewine.com With Obscure Wine Company’s vast wine offerings by the bottle and the glass, you can “Drink for yourself!” A newcomer to Winter Haven turned downtown darling, Obscure was a dark horse in both the Best Wine Menu and Best Wine Bar categories. Owner and sommelier Wellie Bethea “hopes to share her love of the beautiful wine regions and the hard-working people that make the gorgeous wines we get to enjoy. Telling their personal stories of back-breaking work and devoted passion, one glass at a time.” We’ll catch you at Wine Down Wednesday! 2nd: Arabellas Ristorante 3rd: Nutwood BEST WINE BAR OBSCURE WINE COMPANY 276 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 268-6555 FB: Obscure Wine Company IG @obscurewine obscurewine.com Obscure Wine Company is a woman-owned Central Avenue wine bar and shop offering a sprawling menu of wines from around the world by the bottle and the glass. Owner and sommelier Wellie Bethea provides her services to assist patrons in finding the perfect wine for their palate or meal pairing. Obscure offers a three-tier wine club along with wine courses from beginner to master class. Pair your pinot with something from the lite fare menu like an Art[isan] Palate chefcurated charcuterie board or Croque Monsieur made with ham and gruyere cradled by brioche bread and topped and toasted with bechamel and parmesan cheese. The lite fare menu even includes suggested wine pairings with each dish. 2nd: Grape Expectations Wine Bar 3rd: Ave Bar BEST BEER LIST GROVE ROOTS BREWING CO. 302 3rd St SW, Winter Haven (863) 291-0700 FB @groverootsbrewing IG @groverootsbrewing groveroots.com Grove Roots Brewing Co. is a comfy downtown hangout with a community-centered feel steeped in citrus history and tradition. The brewery prides itself in being a place “where hops meet heritage,” both true in its atmosphere and beer. Along with their flagship beers – Slanted Ladders, Wakes of Grain, Rind & Shine, and 6AM Pickers – the Grove Roots team is constantly concocting a selection of seasonal and special-release brews. Try a Tropical Dilemma (winner for Best Polk County Beer last year) for a crisp, refreshing sour on one of those sweltering Central Florida summer days, or enjoy a hint of honey with their Honey on the Double DIPA. Meet some friends or bring the whole family to chill, cheers, and try whatever food truck is on-site. 2nd: Union Taproom 3rd: Jessie’s Lounge BEST POLK COUNTY BEER 6AM PICKERS GROVE ROOTS BREWING CO. 302 3rd St SW, Winter Haven (863) 291-0700 FB @groverootsbrewing IG @groverootsbrewing groveroots.com One of Grove Roots Brewing Co.’s flagship beers, 6AM Pickers, is a breakfast coffee stout on draft year-round. The perfect ice-cold coffee, chocolate pick-me-up, the brewery describes this 7.2% ABV stout as, “Inspired by the pickers who greet the day from the grove, this rich and roasty stout delivers incredible depth of flavor dominated by coffee, oats, and cocoa nibs.” 2nd: Slanted Ladders | Grove Roots Brewing Co. 3rd: Rind & Shine | Grove Roots Brewing Co. BEST COFFEE SHOP HAVEN COFFEE ROASTERS 140 3rd St SW, Winter Haven (863) 251-9619 FB @HavenCoffeeRoaster IG @thehavencoffeeroasters havencoffeeroaster.com Congratulations, Haven Coffee Roasters for two years on the Best Of Haven winner list! The cozy atmosphere, friendly baristas, and darn good coffee have earned Winter Haven’s only coffee roaster a spot in the community’s heart (and their morning routine). This family-operated, faith-based coffeehouse regularly hosts live music. Have you tried Haven’s seasonal flavors yet? Words cannot espresso how good they are! 2nd: Richard’s Fine Coffees 3rd: N+1 Coffee BEST U-PICK FARM WHITEHEAD’S BLUEBERRY FARM 1024 Macon Rd, Winter Haven (863) 860-4575 FB @whiteheadsblueberryfarm IG @whiteheadfarm Whitehead’s hedges out the competition yet again as the berry best U-Pick farm! What started as a plant nursery in 1979 became a blueberry farm in 2000. Next blueberry season (which typically runs from the first Wednesday in April through mid-May), grab your friends and a few baskets for a day of berry picking at Whitehead’s Blueberry Farm. This 33-acre family-owned farm boasts over 30,000 blueberry plants across 15 acres. 2nd: Ridge Island Groves 3rd: Lonesome Oak Blueberry Farms BEST NEW RESTAURANT LUCILLE’S AMERICAN CAFE 205 3rd St SW, Winter Haven (863) 875-5005 FB @lucillescafe IG @lucillescafewh lucillescafe.com The people have spoken, and Lucille’s is officially Winter Haven’s favorite new from-scratch cafe. The restaurant has a funky, fun mid-century vibe that pays homage to local history, with photos of decades-worth of water skiers dotting the walls in honor of the city’s distinction as the Water Ski Capital of the World. Lucille’s serves up comfort food made “with love, the way mom and grandma have always done!” On the menu, you’ll find salads, sandwiches, and Southern comfort dishes like chicken pot pie and Lucille’s Homemade Meatloaf. Cheers with an adult beverage from their drink menu chocked full of craft cocktails, beer, and wine. This 3rd Street must-stop recently announced weekend brunch, and we hear the PB&J French Toast is out of this world! 2nd: The Smokin’OX Premium BBQ 3rd: Victor & Mika’s Bakery BEST CATERING COMPANY THE CATERING COMPANY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA 2090 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven (863) 207-7057 FB @thecateringcompanyofcentralfl IG @cateringco.ofcentralflorida thecateringcompanyofcentralfl.com Using fresh, local ingredients, the Catering Company of Central Florida aims to “provide flavor-forward dishes, custom to each event menu to fit any budget,” for their clients. One glowing review reads, “As someone who organizes several events, the Catering Company of Central Florida never ceases to amaze me! With every experience, they’ve gone above and beyond to ensure satisfaction. Their food is unbelievably delicious, and the customer service is top notch too! They are one of my absolute favorite caterers, and I highly recommend them for your next event!” No matter the scope of your event, the Catering Company can meet your needs – twenty people or 200, brunch, corporate lunch, charcuterie, rehearsal dinner – you name it, they can do it! 2nd: Blackburn’s BBQ 3rd: Catering Oasis BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT ARABELLAS RISTORANTE 346 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 293-1797 FB @ArabellasRistorante arabellas.us Grab your date and head downtown for dinner at Winter Haven’s most romantic restaurant. Arabellas is also a fan favorite in the Fine Dining and Italian Restaurant categories. The ambiance is nothing short of dreamy, with dim lighting and piano playing softly in the background as guests enjoy their meal with a glass of wine or cocktail from Ave Bar. “We went for our one-year wedding anniversary last night, and wow, what an experience! We had an absolute blast, from the live pianist to the amazing food and service. We will be making this a tradition, and we will be back!” reads a review from one satisfied diner. 2nd: Nutwood 3rd: The Fire Restaurant BEST VEGAN FOOD VICTOR & MIKA’S BAKERY 371 Ave D NW, Winter Haven (863) 734-9148 FB: Victor & Mika’s Bakery IG @victormikabakery victormikabakery.com A repeat winner in the Best Vegan Food category, Victor & Mika’s Bakery is renowned for its delicious, high-quality, plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free foods. V&M opened its first brick-andmortar eatery in Winter Haven last fall, where they offer hearty, savory options and baked goods. “We pride ourselves on specifically addressing the needs of those who are still sometimes overlooked: people with food intolerances such as dairy, eggs, gluten, and soy, those seeking healthy food alternatives, and also those with allergies who end up missing out on the tasty treats that their peers can enjoy.” 2nd: Mediterranean Fresh Grill 3rd: Thai Haven BEST BAKERY HONEYCOMB BREAD BAKERS 140 6th St SW, Winter Haven (863) 662-5513 FB @honeycombbread IG @honeycombbread honeycombbread.com From farmers market mainstay to Best Bakery in town! Honeycomb’s little golden bee has become synonymous with piping fresh artisan bread and delectable pastries. Owner Benjamin Vickers “first lit the hearth” in February of 2018 and opened his Winter Haven storefront last year in a thoughtfully renovated 1960s gas station. Honeycomb has become a choice breakfast and lunch destination offering a selection of coffee and tea and soughtafter sustenance like baked brie and apple butter, bagel and schmear, salads, and sandwiches on their fresh baked bread. 2nd: Gourmet Goodies Bake Shop 3rd: Sugar and Slice BEST ICE CREAM ANDY’S IGLOO 703 3rd St SW, Winter Haven (863) 293-0019 FB: ANDY’S IGLOO andysigloo.com Andy’s Igloo totally creamed the competition again this year! Both Andy’s neon sign and its Americana diner atmosphere are an iconic beacon of a bygone era. In addition to delicious diner fare, Andy’s is ice cream parlor perfection. They offer homemade sherberts, milkshakes, freezes, floats, hand-dipped ice cream, and Royal Treats like their Banana Split, Spin-The-Wheel, Banana Bonanza, and Parfait (and all their toppings and sherberts are made in-house). Best Of Haven voters agree that a trip to Andy’s is the cherry atop any hot day. 2nd: Dairy Queen 3rd: Cabana Boy Ice Cream

BEST REALTOR ERIN FLOYD COLDWELL BANKER REALTY (863) 294-7541 FB: Erin Floyd - Coldwell Banker Realty - Winter Haven erinsellspolkcounty.com Best Of Haven voters agree it’s nothing but smooth ‘selling’ when you work with Erin Floyd. Clients note Floyd’s organization, responsiveness, professionalism, and overall effectiveness resulting in a seamless selling and buying process. One client writes in part, “Special thanks to Erin and her whole team for selling our condo in one day for full price. Everyone on the team was professional, friendly, helpful, patient, and knowledgeable. They took all the stress off of us and made the whole process a pleasure.” 2nd: Tiffany Ellis The Fortify Group at Keller Williams Reality 3rd: Michael Noris NextHome Norris & Company Realty BEST REALTY COMPANY KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY SMART 1 407 1st St S, Winter Haven, FL (863) 508-3000 FB: Keller Williams Realty Smart 1 Winter Haven mc622.yourkwoffice.com Keller Williams Realty is regarded as an industry leader in real estate, and clients say Smart 1 in Winter Haven is too. Keller Williams Realty Smart 1 pride themselves on being customer service-oriented and integrity based. “This is the best as far as Real Estate companies I have been represented by. The staff is a caring bunch of professionals I have had the pleasure in working with,” reads an excerpt from one five-star review. 2nd: TIE – The K Team Town & Country Real Estate 3rd: NextHome Norris & Company Realty BEST MORTGAGE BROKER HOME SOLUTION LENDERS, INC. 1445 E Main St, Bartow (863) 607-4663 FB @homesolutionlenders IG @hslenders hslenders.com There’s no place like Home…Solution Lenders! “Home Solution Lenders is a great team! They were professional and informative throughout the whole process. Thank you for helping my family and I move into our dream home. You guys are swift and friendly, and I can’t thank you enough!” writes one happy HSL customer. This Bartowbased company prides themselves on exceeding client expectations by closing loans promptly and efficiently. Founded in 2008, HSL serves the entire state of Florida and specializes in FHA, USDA, VA, Conventional, Construction, Florida Bond Programs, and Refinancing. They simplify the application process with options to apply securely online, over the phone, or in person. 2nd: Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation 3rd: Carlos Unzueta | CrossCountry Mortgage BEST AC REPAIR RIDGE ENERGY SAVERS 135 S Acuff Rd, Lake Wales (863) 676-2665 FB @RidgeEnergySavers ridgeenergy.com Ridge Energy Savers, a second-generation family-owned and operated company, backs its residential and commercial HVAC services with 48 years of stand-out service. The NATE-certified team at Ridge Energy Savers is qualified as a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, ensuring proper HVAC design, installation, repair, and maintenance. Their extensive service menu includes heating, cooling, air quality, duct services, commercial refrigeration, and sheet metal fabrication. Best Of Haven voters agree that Ridge Energy Savers is the coolest AC repair company around! 2nd: A-1 Air Conditioning 3rd: Winter Haven Air Conditioning BEST ELECTRICIAN KINCAID ELECTRICAL SERVICES 56 W. Central Ave, Lake Wales (863) 676-0198 FB @kincaidelectric kincaidelectric.com Say watt?! Clients of Kincaid Electrical Services won’t be shocked to hear they won Best Electrician. This family-owned and operated business was founded in 1973 by Alan Kincaid. Operating under a Master Florida Electrical License, most of Kincaid’s electricians have been with them for over twenty years. One five-star Kincaid review reads, “They installed MULTIPLE fixtures, flood lights, and fans in the same day. My wife was home alone and said the technician made her feel VERY comfortable and that he was very professional even with my kids running around. The owner Chris is unmatched. You can’t go wrong here.” 2nd: A & T Electric 3rd: Cassady Electric BEST PLUMBING COMPANY CYPRESS PLUMBING INC. 1776 Executive Rd, Winter Haven (863) 294-7319 FB: Cypress Plumbing Inc. cypressplumbingincwinterhaven.com Best Of Haven voters piped up to vote Cypress Plumbing Best Plumbing Company again! Cypress Plumbing has served Polk County for nearly 40 years, offering drain cleaning, plumbing installation, plumbing repairs, water heaters, and backflow testing. They can fix a leaky faucet or mystery clog any time of day or night with their 24-hour emergency service. Cypress Plumbing also has warranties available and offers senior discounts. Noting their responsiveness and value, one customer wrote, “The service was fast, and the problem was repaired in a very short time. We will use them again!” 2nd: Sun State Plumbing 3rd: Daughtry Plumbing BEST ROOFING COMPANY EZ ROOFING SYSTEMS 120 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 875-1033 FB: EZ Roofing Systems LLC IG @ezroofingsystems ezroofingsystems.com It’s hard to beat over 60 years of roofing made EZ! This family-owned and operated business earned a reputation as a top-tier roofing company by providing expertise and exemplary services in roof replacement, repairs, roof cleaning, flat roof restoration, and insurance inspections. EZ even offers free estimates! “With years of industry experience, you can count on us for speedy, reliable service. We offer affordable solutions for everyone. Protect your investment with a reliable roof by a reliable company.” 2nd: R.I.G. Roofing 3rd: Guy’s Diversified BEST PATIO SCREENING COMPANY BOBBY KELTON ALUMINUM INC. (863) 287-9208 FB: Bobby Kelton Aluminum Inc. Bobby Kelton Aluminum customers have it made in the shade with their specialties in swimming pool enclosures, re-screens, screen rooms, carports, and seamless gutters. Whether your project is new construction or a repair, this licensed and insured screening company has you covered in Polk County and surrounding areas – and even offers free estimates. One client raved, “Bobby Kelton came out quickly to provide an estimate and scheduled the work promptly. The crew was on time and professional and rescreened my small lanai fast and with an eye for quality. The price they charged was very fair. I would definitely recommend Bobby Kelton Aluminum!” 2nd: Mid-Florida Aluminum & Rescreens 3rd: Advanced Screening Solutions BEST CONTRACTOR/ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WHITEHEAD CONSTRUCTION 601 6th St SW, Winter Haven (863) 293-6473 FB @whiteheadconstruction IG @whiteheadconstruction1954 whiteheadconstruction.com One of the most respected names in general contracting throughout Florida and the south, Whitehead Construction is a leading name in large-scale contracting. Established in 1954 and rooted in three generations of family ownership, Whitehead Construction is approaching 70 years of experience in design-build, commercial, and industrial construction. They have created some of the most impressive and recognizable buildings in Polk County, including the RainGarden Apartments, Bond Clinic, Grove Roots Brewing Company, Heartland Church, and Treatt Manufacturing. Clients consistently recommend Whitehead Construction using words like “polished,” “quality,” and “knowledgeable” to describe their Best Of Haven winning services. 2nd: Alan L. Ulch 3rd: Guy’s Diversified BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY LAKE ASHTON 4140 Ashton Club Dr, Lake Wales 1(866)-525-3274 FB: Lake Ashton lakeashton.com “Never before has elegance and value been so perfectly defined in a master-planned, active adult community. Lake Ashton sets the standards of excellence in design, construction, amenities, lifestyle, location, security, and affordability for Florida retirement communities.” This premier community is set on over 1,200 acres, including three lakes and nature preserves. Lake Ashton’s vast list of amenities and activities include a 26,000-square-foot clubhouse, 24-hour manned gatehouses, sauna, movie theater, bowling alley, library, 30,000 square foot health and fitness center, lighted tennis, shuffle and bocce ball courts, life-sized chess, and two 18-hole golf courses – just to name a few. 2nd: Spring Haven 3rd: Lake Howard Heights BEST HOTEL HAMPTON INN WINTER HAVEN 202 Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Winter Haven (863) 299-9251 FB @hamptonbyhilton IG @hamptonbyhilton hilton.com Located just a half-mile from Lake Lulu, Hampton Inn Winter Haven is central to LEGOLAND Florida Resort and just 45 minutes away from both Orlando International Airport and Tampa International Airport. This hotel has a desirable list of amenities, including connecting rooms, complimentary hot breakfast, free parking, free wifi, non-smoking rooms, digital key, an outdoor pool, fitness center, pet-friendly rooms, and a business center. Giving Hampton Inn Winter Haven five out of five stars, one guest writes, “Great Value! The room was clean, the breakfast was phenomenal, super friendly staff, short drive to Legoland. Walmart directly across the street and lots of restaurants close by.” 2nd: LEGOLAND Hotel 3rd: Courtyard by Marriott Winter Haven BEST APARTMENT COMMUNITY CARLTON ARMS OF WINTER HAVEN 7676 Carlton Arms Blvd, Winter Haven (863) 875-1700 FB: Carlton Arms of Winter Haven carltonarmsofwinterhaven.com What better place to call home than Carlton Arms of Winter Haven? This repeat Best Of Haven winner is located on 122 acres of wooded lakefront property with 23 floor plans to fit residents’ needs. Described as a “resort-style community,” Carlton Arms of Winter Haven boasts a fitness center, lakeside pools, 24/7 emergency maintenance, and is pet-friendly. Apartment features include valet trash removal, high-speed internet access, private patios/ balconies, and Spectrum Select Cable TV. Community residents enjoy the luxuries of two lakeside pools, a heated pool, a social lounge, a car care center, and more! 2nd: 20 on Second Apartments 3rd: RainGarden Apartments BEST CLEANING COMPANY ORCHID CLEANING SERVICE 5820 K-Ville Ave, Winter Haven (863) 324-2000 FB @orchidcleaningservice orchidcleaningservice.com I would start this blurb with a vacuum joke – but they always suck. Could your home or office use a one-time deep clean or maybe a regular refresh? Orchid Cleaning Service offers residential/ home, construction, commercial, move-in/ out, and vacation home cleaning. Clients often remark on their professionalism, punctuality, quality, and value, with one happy customer reviewing, “I highly recommend Orchid Cleaning. The ladies that come to my home are honest, reliable, and do a great job. Use this service. You won’t regret it.” 2nd: DPM Janitorial 3rd: Inspection Ready Enterprises BEST POOL SERVICE COMPANY PINCH A PENNY Multiple Locations FB @PinchAPennyPool IG @pinchapennypool pinchapenny.com There’s no reason to dip into your savings when you just want to take a dip in your pool. The cannonball king of the summer goes to Pinch A Penny for the pool service value they provide to Polk County customers. ‘The perfect people for the perfect pool’ offer pool cleaning and maintenance, equipment installation and repair, renovations, acid washing and stain treatment, and leak detection and repair. “With more than 260 stores and over 45 years in the business, Pinch A Penny has the knowledge and expertise to handle any pool care problem. Plus, we have more Certified Pool Operators than any other pool supply store, so why trust your swimming pool or backyard to anyone else?” 2nd: Mannix Pools and Grills 3rd: Pool Works BEST STORAGE FACILITY THE EXTRA CLOSET 231 5th St SW, Winter Haven (863) 877-1876 FB @ExtraCloset winterhavenflstorage.com Who couldn’t use some Extra Closet space? Secure and centrally located, The Extra Closet is a Best Of Haven voter favorite year after year. They offer short and long-term storage with climatecontrolled units, portable storage, vehicle, boat, and RV storage at affordable prices. One Extra Closet client wrote, “What a perfect place! Chose this storage unit after reading great reviews and due to its location close to my parents’ apartment. The facility was always clean, well-lit, and the staff was so helpful. Thank you for all that you do.” 2nd: Century Storage 3rd: Extra Space Storage

BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE 417 BOUTIQUE BY CATE 337 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 632-0827 FB @417boutiquebycate IG @417boutiquebycate 417boutique.com Looking for that perfect special occasion dress? Or a whole wardrobe refresh? Find cute, on-trend styles curated by Catie Kincaid in her downtown Winter Haven boutique, 417 by Cate. Kincaid launched her fashion venture online in 2017 and soon expanded to a Central Florida brick-andmortar space – so now you can shop online or in-store! 417 by Cate has everything you need to complete your look, from dresses and rompers to tops, bottoms, shoes, and more. 2nd: The Red Geranium 3rd: Long Live Vintage BEST GIFT SHOP/ BOUTIQUE THE RED GERANIUM 605 E Central Ave, Winter Haven (863) 291-8585 FB @TheRedGeraniumwh IG @theredgeranium_wh The Red Geranium is an affordable boutique where you can shop ‘til you drop for gifts, decor, and more! This Winter Haven boutique specializes in home and garden decor, kitchen specialties, jewelry, and women’s clothing. Whether you’re in the market for a funky throw pillow to liven up your living space, a fall candle to scent your home, country chic furniture, or a new dress to wear around town – you can find it at the Red Geranium. “Red Geranium is a cool store. Has a variety of seasonal items, home decor, clothing, jewelry, purses, and much more. They also carry Winter Haven items! Fun place. Recommend if you’re looking for something special,” writes one customer. 2nd: Amy’s Party Store 3rd: Long Live Vintage BEST JEWELER J.C. JEWELERS 504 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven (863) 294-5221 FB: JC Jewelers jewelconnect.com/8632945221 J.C. Jewelers outshines the competition again! This family-owned and operated jewelry shop has served Winter Haven for over 40 years and is conveniently located on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. They offer a wide selection of bridal and fashion jewelry, estate jewelry, custom jewelry design and creation, and watch and clock sales, including Rolex. Repairs are never a problem at J.C. Jewelers as they have in-house bench jewelers and gem-smiths who can perform same-day repairs for many items, as well as state-of-the-art LASER systems for precision, deep repairs, and cracked or damaged jewelry. 2nd: Griner’s Jewelers 3rd: Tally-Ho Jewelers BEST ANTIQUE STORE TREASURE HOUSE ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES 232 6th St NW, Winter Haven (863) 875-7921 FB @treasurehousetwo treasurehouseone.wixsite.com/treasurehouseantique Treasure House Antiques & Collectibles is a treasure trove of vintage finds! This over 10,000 square-foot Winter Haven antique mall has been open for over twenty years. It features an everchanging inventory of hand-selected clothing, furniture, and home goods, including secondhand items from top brands and manufacturers at reasonable prices. An excerpt from a five-star review for Treasure House Antiques & Collectibles reads, “It was so much fun walking down memory lane and finding hidden treasure! If you are in the area, we highly recommend a stop here.” 2nd: Central Avenue Antiques 3rd: Sherman’s Antiques BEST THRIFT STORE TOP BUTTONS BOUTIQUE 226 W Central Ave, Winter Haven (Other locations in Bartow, Lakeland, and St. Pete) (863) 229-5158 FB @TopButtons IG @topbuttons topbuttons.org Top Buttons offers designer thrift for a good cause. This faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization provides online platforms, educational events, clothing boutiques, and programs for teens in need aiming to empower young women by providing the resources they need. Top Buttons offers new and gently used thrift items at affordable prices, so you can do some high-end shopping without the high-end price tag. 2nd: Long Live Vintage 3rd: St. John’s Thrift Store For Missions BEST FURNITURE STORE BADCOCK HOME FURNITURE &MORE 1399 6th St NW, Winter Haven (Multiple locations) (863) 251-2039 FB @badcockfurniture IG @badcockfurniture badcock.com Find furniture you’ll love for every room in the house at Badcock Home Furniture &more! Looking to ditch your dingy sofa for a new one? Check out Badcock’s selection of living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture, along with mattresses, appliances, electronics, and more. They even have financing options with affordable payment plans. Want a visual of what that new bedroom set might look like in your home? Badcock’s website offers a Room Planner where you first select the room that fits your home, style the space using the hundreds of Badcock items to choose from, and shop those items online or save it for in-store purchase. 2nd: Claussen’s Fine Furniture 3rd: Brooks Furniture & Mattress Store BEST WINTER HAVEN FARMERS MARKET VENDOR RED ROOSTER’S PRODUCE (863) 521-9143 FB: Red Rooster’s Produce IG @red_roosters_produce Is there anything better than strolling the Winter Haven Farmers Market on a sunny Saturday morning? This weekly market takes place every Saturday in the BB&T parking lot across from Grove Roots Brewery and offers an impressive list of curated vendors with a focus on food. Best Of Haven voters showed their love for Red Rooster’s Produce, so they must be pretty cluckin’ good! Red Rooster’s is a mobile produce business that pops up at local community events and markets offering a wide selection of fresh, quality produce at affordable prices. Their coop box allows customers to pick their own mix of fruits and veggies to fill the box (as long as the lid closes). Check out their local raw honey, Georgia pecans, homemade jam, boiled peanuts, homemade seasonings, and farm-fresh brown eggs while you’re there! 2nd: TIE – The Whoopie Pie Guys Laker’s Barkery 3rd: Victor & Mika’s Bakery