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

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

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

On the breezy front porch of the Fort Meade Historical Museum, Founder & Executive Director of Dorothy Jean’s Dream Initiative, Jaret Landon, began to tell his story. He chose the setting for its connection to the rich history of the oldest city in Polk County, a city he loves dearly. “This place has my heart,” he said. Landon is an NAACP Award Winning Composer and Music Director with work on Broadway, film, and television. He returned to Fort Meade ten months ago in the throes of his career to ignite the foundation he started in his mother’s honor. Since age five, Landon could hear a song once and play it on the piano. He said, “I actually started playing because my brother got all the attention.” Landon hails from a musical family with his grandmother, mother, and brother playing piano. “My grandparents and mother nurtured that gift,” he said. That gift eventually landed him at Harrison School for the Arts. He’d wake up each day at 4:30 a.m. to catch the bus to school. Before he went off to college, Landon promised his grandparents that as he grew his career, he would always come home to give back. He intends to keep that promise. “There is a pump inside of me that pumps into my veins, the belief that you can be great, you will be great, and with this greatness, it is not for you. It is to serve and help others. […] And I believe it deeply.” “I wanted to be an artist,” Landon said. He comes from an honest, hard-working family. His grandfather was a pastor and worked for the U.S. Steel Corporation, and his grandmother worked at the canning plant. “The idea of being an artist and making a living was a little bit foreign… or a lot a bit foreign, and they wanted to make sure I had something to fall back on.” They continued encouraging his abilities and trusted he would figure it out as he attended Florida State University for Music Performance. Landon’s foundation is family and faith. He grew up singing hymns in church just a mile from the Historical Museum. His grandfather pastored Beulah Baptist Church for some 45 years, and Landon grew up there playing the piano, drums, and organ. He ushered, was a choir member, maintenance man, and whatever else the Lord and his grandfather called on him to do. “Beulah Baptist Church is my home church,” he said. “It’s where they allowed me to explore, allowed me to grow. The patience and the love that they gave me while I was there is the foundation of who I am, of who I became in my journey, and it really gave me wings to fly.” At age 11, Landon became the music director of the church’s youth, adult, and men’s choirs. By 13, he was planning Christmas cantatas and Easter concerts, laying the bedrock for his career to come. That role validated Landon in ways he wouldn’t understand until years later. It made him feel loved and appreciated. Because of his early experiences at his grandfather’s church, Landon could go off to FSU, lead the big jazz band and combos, and music direct the Florida State gospel choir for the first two years. During his freshman year at FSU, Landon put out his first record and live DVD recording. As the backdrop for the project, he returned to the flock that gave him wings to fly. Landon and twenty college friends loaded into his mom’s station wagon and the church bus and road-tripped from Tallahassee to Fort Meade. He hired a film crew and recorded at Beulah Baptist. He reflected on that first of many milestones. From a young age, he was told, “You are going to do well.” Landon said, “Sometimes when someone’s belief in you is so far greater than what you can see, when they say it enough, you believe it.” Upon graduating from Florida State, Landon had a decision to make. Was he to move to New York for theatre or LA for film and television? Both felt overwhelming at the time. He was the first in his large extended family to leave the state. One of his teachers, an alumnus of Northwestern University in Chicago, suggested the Windy City as the best move for Landon. He applied, was accepted, and he and his mother loaded up his two-door Toyota Solara and drove from Tallahassee to Chicago. He eventually transferred from Northwestern to VanderCook College of Music, where he earned his master’s in education. In Chicago, Landon’s whole life changed. In 2008 he found himself with the unexpected opportunity to work on the musical “Black Nativity” by Langston Hughes. It was the first show he’d ever been the musical director on, and though he’d never done it before and didn’t know exactly how everything worked, he had solid footing. “What I did have is I was the music director at my granddad’s church at 11 and 12.” Since then, Landon has directed a show regionally, off-Broadway, or on Broadway every year. In 2010, Landon was called to Chicago’s Goodman Theatre to work on a show. Denzel Washington’s wife, Pauletta, was coming out of retirement for the production “Crowns” by Regina Taylor. Unfortunately, Landon was passed up for the role of music director. According to Landon, a nervous Pauletta requested an accompanist for a photo shoot, and they tapped him for the gig. He played the piano while she was photographed. “She was raised in a church where they sang a lot of hymns,” he said. Landon knew all the hymns from his time at Beulah Baptist. “As she’s going from hymn to hymn to hymn, I am following her no matter what key she was in. I knew all of them. She said, ‘Who is this little boy?’” “She took me in under her wing, and from that time, they have been like parents to me,” Landon said of Denzel and Pauletta. The show hired him as assistant music director at Washington’s behest. He went on to write original music for the project just one day before its premiere. Through Pauletta’s music director, Landon was hired to work on American Idol, and from 2013-2016 he flew back and forth from Chicago to LA during filming. “Denzel comes to Chicago a handful of times, and they give me tough love. ‘If you want to do this, you have to move to Los Angeles,’” Landon said. “I was scared. My family was here. Chicago was already far enough.” When Idol ended, Landon took Washington’s advice and decided to move. His mother’s health was already failing, and her doctor advised her not to go to Chicago to help with the move. She told her doctor, ‘Okay.’ “The next week, she says, ‘Make sure you book my ticket to Chicago,’” Landon said, laughing. Ravaged by chemo and radiation, Williams wasn’t well, but she willed her ailing body to fly to Chicago and drive with Landon to Los Angeles. “I could tell she was in pain but smiled through it,” he said. That was the last car trip they took together. “It was the most beautiful time that led me to Los Angeles.” Within a month, he was working on the film “Fences” with Viola Davis and Denzel Washington. He later worked on the LEGO Batman Movie and ramped up his work on Broadway. His five-year project in the making, “The Pursuit of Happiness,” is set to premiere on Broadway soon. DOROTHY JEAN “My mom was my best friend,” Landon said. Everyone thinks they have the best mother in the world, as they should, but Landon said, “I truly feel I have the best mother in the world for me and my journey. The biggest supporter, defender. She had a fierce love and protection over me. [She was my] corrector, guide, my heartbeat. We talked on the phone ten times a day.” The eldest of eight children, Dorothy Jean Williams was a hard worker who helped raise her seven siblings while her parents worked. She was the first to go to college and to graduate. Her siblings followed her lead. “They all lived with my mother in Miami, every last one of them. They had children, and all of them lived with my mother.” In the late 60s and early 70s, anyone from Polk County who went to school in Miami sought out Williams, who worked in the financial aid office. She helped secure scholarships for students, one of many ways she helped others. Many students, unrelated to Williams, stayed in her small Miami home for a time while they attended school. “Mom’s life inspired me to do what I do because I watched her help so many,” Landon said. “I wanted to mirror her heart. The way that I first knew how to do that was through music.” She was a good daughter and best friend to her parents. Dorothy Jean took care of them both. She cared for her father even while she battled stage 4 colon cancer. “We didn’t argue much. We did there,” Landon said. “She would tell me, ‘As fierce as your love is for me, is the same for my father.’ It was a battle I knew I couldn’t win.” Piano keys, his mother’s heartbeat from her EKG during her cancer journey, and a heart with a cross are tattooed on Landon’s arm. “She is a part of everything that I am, of who I desire to be in the world.” When his mother was diagnosed with cancer, Landon would fly down from Chicago every weekend to be with her. In the last months of her life, Landon worked on “Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story” with iconic names like Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson, and BeBe Winans. Knowing his mother’s health was declining, Landon came home that April and told her he would pull out of the project. Williams’s strength was waning – she could hardly walk by this time, but “She pulled herself out of the bed and started packing my suitcase. She said, ‘You have to go. You have to go.’” Growing up, we think of soulmates as the singular person you’ll grow old with — a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime love. “As I grew in both a spiritual sense and an understanding of the world, I learned your soulmate can be someone who connects in your life with your purpose, who you are in the core of your being. That’s what my mom was.” Landon flew home on July 3, 2022, and his mother passed away the following day. Before she passed, she told Landon three things: ‘Get my purse (Landon laughed at this), I love you, and be strong.’ “That’s who she was. Her love was so great, and it was sacrificial in a way.” A DREAM FOR FORT MEADE Landon built a home in Los Angeles in 2020 and was ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor, “and God redirects my path two years in.” With little outside help and plenty of obstacles, Landon was honest in sharing that the journey has been challenging. He’s shed tears and questioned his decisions, but he said, “I’m still here.” His initial goals were to start the foundation and create events until they could drum up funding to put infrastructure in place for their long-term vision of lessons, masterclasses, and performance opportunities. “Dorothy Jean’s Dream Initiative exists to bring arts and cultural opportunities to all of Polk County,” Landon said. They have started with underserved communities, but the goal is to bring those opportunities to the entire county. “This town of less than 6,000 people is in desperate need of arts and cultural opportunities. I came back home to be a part of that,” he said. During a time when cattle and citrus were booming industries, and Fort Meade had a Coca-Cola bottling plant and a commuter train ran through the town, “There was much more life here, much more commerce. It’s just dried up.” Now that the mines have left, Landon described it as a veritable “ghost town” after 5 o’clock. “I come [to the historical museum] often to be reminded of what was and what can be with heart, tenacity, money, and a steadfastness to make it happen,” he said. Landon hopes to change the perception of the town for outsiders and the reality of its residents. “My ideal Fort Meade looks like a place that is welcoming for all,” Landon said. “There are some racial challenges that still exist in Fort Meade, and I’ve encountered a lot of them in the last ten months.” Landon envisions a Fort Meade beyond racial divides with thriving restaurants, retail, and activities for all citizens. The Dorothy Jean’s Dream Initiative founder is taking an intergenerational approach to community development with dreams of a theatre on Main Street as there once was, farmer’s markets, and food trucks. He looks to the downtown park in Wauchula for inspiration on a beer and wine garden that’s already underway. “That’s a lofty ideal of what Fort Meade could be, but that’s what exists in my head.” The foundation is a team of two, Landon and his business partner Ramel Ford. Ford is an Entrepreneur and CEO at RFI Group Inc. “providing resources and opportunities to underserved communities throughout Polk County, FL and abroad.” From Winter Haven, Ford is connected to Fort Meade through Landon’s family. He works in New York and has flown to Florida every Friday for the past ten months to work on the initiative with Landon. The pair have invested time, blood, sweat, tears, and money into the city. They’ve purchased buildings and land downtown and on the southside. Landon and Ford created the Fort Meade Soul Music Festival last year. Knowing the town was in sore need of arts and cultural opportunities, they thought if 200 people showed up, it was a win. They walked almost every block in Fort Meade handing out flyers for the event and were turned away by more than one person, yet they persisted. “We put that same sweat equity into getting people out here,” he said. In their hope of 200 people, 2,000 showed up. The street was closed off with food trucks and a community choir which Landon called “one of the most beautiful experiences.” When they hosted the event again this year, they thought perhaps the 2,000 from the year prior was a fluke. This February, about 3,000 people flocked downtown for Soul Fest 2023. Dorothy Jean’s Dream Initiative also hosted a 2022 Scholarship Gala at Streamsong Resort called Stars Under the Stars. In the empty lot downtown, where Western Auto previously stood, landscaping is already underway for Landon’s planned civic space, Paz Garden. “Paz in English means ‘peace,’” Landon said. “There’s a large Hispanic population here in Fort Meade that feels like they aren’t seen. I am making an effort to include them in all of our plans so they can see identity in what we’re doing.” A nucleus for community gatherings, Paz Garden will house a stage for entertainment, a beer and wine bar, murals along the walls, a fountain, and ample seating. Next door to the soon-to-be Paz Garden, Landon opened Bella Vita Salon and Spa. In another building he purchased, the Dorothy Jean’s Dream Initiative founder envisions a performing arts theatre and, across the street, restaurants and retail. “If you can endure the trials, I know the blessings are on the other side,” he said. Dorothy Jean Williams lives on in legacy. A woman of strong character, service, and drive, she raised a son who is changing the world – one song, one event, one opportunity at a time. “Mom will continue to live,” Landon said. “Because if I go into the bathroom, and I smile, and I look long enough, she shows up in a spiritual way.” Photography by Amy Sexson Dorothy Jean’s Dream Initiative www.dorothyjeansdream.com FB: Dorothy Jean’s Dream Initiative

Plutarch said, “Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.” Nicole Nikdel speaks volumes through themes of grief and growth, time and transition, with a visual aspect that paints the finishing touches onto her words. Her Instagram handle, @extroverted_introspection, is an ode to the beautiful contradiction that is Nicole Nikdel. She’s as highly extroverted as they come, but said, “I do find myself trying to stay grounded, and very insightful, thoughtful and self-aware.” In middle school, she was in an exploratory class that had her take right brain/left brain tests. Hers was always dead even – analytical and creative. She’s a spreadsheet whiz with a creative spirit. We love her for it. You probably do, too, if you’ve been reading her poetry in our magazine over the last year. Nikdel grew up in Orlando, where she lived until college. She attended the University of Florida, earning an Industrial and Systems Engineering degree. Winter Haven became home to Haven’s secret poet 11 years ago. When she isn’t the Organizer of Destruction for Destroyer Media, Nikdel is working on her small craft business, you crazy child, which she started as a creative outlet during the pandemic. The name comes from a lyric in the song “Vienna” by her favorite musician, Billy Joel. The song, about not moving too fast through life, resonated with Nikdel. “And I also have a crazy child,” she said of her seven-year-old son Tucker. “So it was very fitting.” The clock on her you crazy child logo shows the time Tucker was born. MELDING MUSICAL EXPRESSION In her middle school Gifted English class, with teacher Mrs. Yenisch, Nikdel first dove into her poetic well. “It was those lessons that really stuck with me and made me fall in love with it,” she said. A music lover and musically inclined, Nikdel started piano at age five and played bassoon throughout middle and high school. She grew up jamming out to whatever her dad flicked onto the car radio. Plenty of 50s, 60s, and 70s – though she’s an 80s fanatic. Another of her favorite artists are Simon and Garfunkel. “We learned in her class how lyrical and poetic a lot of Simon and Garfunkel’s songs are,” she said. The students poured over their lyrics on paper. “It is such true poetry,” Nikdel said. “That was definitely a big part of it – melding that musical expression. [...] Poetry was my way of getting that thought process out in a form I enjoyed.” So much did poetry call to Nikdel that she began writing outside of the classroom and even submitted her work to contests and books. “I loved it. I would just jot in little notebooks everywhere, all the time.” She was an early fan of lyrics, poetry, and stories. “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe are two of her favorite works. She particularly enjoys the intensity and introspection in his work. Some of the scrawlings in those ‘little notebooks’ surely dealt with boys and BFFs, but it was deeper topics that she often drifted to. “I had three significant deaths that occurred in my life between seventh and eighth grade. A lot of my poetry was about life and learning, and some of that darkness – how life can be fleeting.” Those losses ranged from a school friend to her best friend’s 50-year-old mother and her own grandmother. The scope of that sadness impacted her writing. It became an exercise in expression and processing for the pre-teen. “It was a way to get those feelings out without feeling like I was draining on friends and family.” Since high school, her writing has ebbed and flowed. “I’ve led objectively a really good life,” she reflected. “I was raised in a great family and had a good upbringing and don’t have a lot of complaints. But I’ve found that most of my writings have come from times in my life when I’m in down periods. I find that when I’m happy, I don’t need to express it, and I find that when I’m sad, I do more.” Her life is now in a period of flux, and she’s again returned to pen and paper. “That’s me being a high-happy-extrovert person, finding an outlet for my sadness and my emotions.” A PUBLISHED POET Nikdel doesn’t readily share this part of herself with others, and she was nervous about having her words published. “I don’t even know if my parents would know I’m this big into poetry,” she said. She’d begun writing again and took note of Haven’s first secret poet, Austin Tharp. “I loved that he could do it anonymously, and it gave me the courage to do it myself.” Now felt like the right time to reveal herself as the secret poet. “I’m in a period of transition and regrowth and grounding myself in a lot of ways,” she said. For Nikdel’s published poetry, she prefers to focus on the events and ethos of her life. In January, she wrote about new beginnings and last month she wrote “birthday” because her birthday is on Earth Day. “I’ve always been a little hippie at heart,” she said. If not prompted by the time itself, her son Tucker is often her muse. “He is a little spitball of fun and light and intelligence. He’s just my whole world.” She discussed a poem she wrote for Tucker entitled “roller coaster.” Through your eyes Fresh new and curious I watch your spirit as it flies With curiosity and amazement you move Each day anew Nothing yet to prove You’re now on life’s roster Up and onward you go A sense of wonder it will foster My hope for you is this A life worth living One full of pure bliss When trouble does arise Struggle in the journey But reach for clear skies Journey on, little one Go forth with no fear The ride has only just begun It’s one of her favorite poems. Her life is mid-metamorphosis, and so is his. “I was trying to look at the bright side and think through him, how he’s going to see the world. A lot of my focus has shifted to him. I’ve spent the last several years going to therapy and learning who I am and why I am the way I am, and that’s helped me want to get back into writing.” The secret poet finds inspiration online as well. “Given this time in life and all the things that are going on in the world, I’ve been trying to avoid the doom scroll as everyone collectively does. […] Part of that was trying to find accounts and people that I find inspiring for one reason or another. I’ve been trying to follow more makers and artists on Instagram.” One such artist is Morgan Harper Nichols (@morganharpernichols). Nikdel appreciates the daily joy and encouragement she gets from Nichols’ vignettes, poems, affirmations, and artwork. “Every day, she sends out more to the poem or the reason behind it, or she’ll describe why she made it,” Nikdel said. “I get those every morning, and I can’t tell you how many of those I’ve saved in my phone that relate to various things in my life.” The presentation, too, has been a fun, creative piece to her poetic puzzle. “I’ve tried to find things in nature or life that have reflected what I’m feeling in my poem without giving too much away.” Her poem ‘coolest’ about the city she loves is photographed in a bed of bright yellow peanut flowers that grow in the city’s rain gardens along Avenue A. Her work ‘cadence.’, an introspection on time, lies beneath the hour and minute hands of the clock at her house, and ‘radiance’ is only right to be before the lovely “Lady on the Wall” mural. Her poem, ‘lost,’ is printed on a map between where she’s been and where she is now. This artistic approach to presenting her poetry has become central to her process. YOU’RE NOT ALONE Nikdel had advice for other poets looking to get started or share their work. “I think back to how many stanzas there are, should I be writing in a certain form, should it be a limerick, should I follow as a sonnet…No. I learned all that, which helped me figure out the style I like to write in. I prefer that spoken from the heart – no true rhyme or reason [poetry]. […] I think that eludes more to the emotion behind it and how I’m feeling about it,” she said. “Just do what feels right for you. Especially if you’re doing it for yourself, there is no right or wrong. If it feels good, it is good. If it makes you happy, who is anyone else to judge you for it?” Asked what she hopes readers glean from her poetry, Nikdel said, “Much like music and poems have done for me, I hope somebody can find something in it that makes them feel good or feel like they’re not alone for feeling those feelings. It’s big to feel validated. People just want to be heard and know they’re not alone.” Photograph by Amy Sexson IG @extroverted_introspection

May is American Wetlands Month, and with one-fifth of the nation’s wetlands, Florida is the perfect place to appreciate the beauty and importance of these ecosystems. Home to various types of wetlands, these areas provide crucial habitats for threatened and endangered species, help maintain water quality, and protect our communities from flooding while contributing to the state’s rich biodiversity. Wetlands are unique and complex transitional areas between dry upland ecosystems and waterways. They can take many forms, including saltwater marshes, mangrove forests, inland wetlands connected to lakes and rivers, or even seasonal wetlands that fill up during summer rains. The duration a wetland remains wet, called its hydroperiod, dictates the species found there and shapes the intricate balance of life within these ecosystems. Florida has a distinct dry season (November – April) and rainy season (May – October), which further adds to the dynamic nature of wetlands. Wetlands serve as natural buffers against stormwater and flooding, acting as vital components of our landscape. The dark, organic matter in wetland soils swells when filled with water, helping to store floodwaters and keeping them away from our residential areas. By restoring wetlands on the edges of our communities and reconnecting them to existing water bodies, we can enhance natural surface water storage capacity and improve water quality, reducing the impact of summer storms and even hurricanes. These benefits extend beyond protecting human settlements and help preserve vital ecosystems. The Green Swamp is a prime example of Polk County’s large historical wetland areas, showcasing the incredible diversity of these ecosystems. It provides flood protection and serves as a crucial recharge area for the Floridan aquifer and several area rivers. Polk County also has successful municipal wetland restoration projects, such as Lake Gwen, Lake Hancock, and Lake Conine. These projects aimed to restore natural wetlands or add engineered wetlands to improve water quality and provide storage capacity for the surrounding areas, while also fostering vibrant habitats for local wildlife. Wetlands play a critical role in maintaining water quality, acting as Earth’s natural filtration system. Disconnected from their natural wetlands, lakes, rivers, and coastal areas often experience higher nutrient loading and more frequent algae blooms, which can have disastrous effects on water quality and aquatic life. The tannic waters and soil microbiota in wetlands help filter and process nutrient contamination, highlighting the essential role these ecosystems play in maintaining a healthy environment. And so, if you care about healthy lakes and rivers, then you should also care about healthy wetlands. Circle B Bar Reserve and the Lake Hancock Wetlands projects are great examples of engineered wetlands that improve water quality for their neighboring lake and river. Circle B’s wetland areas clean the water flowing from Saddle Creek before the water continues into Lake Hancock, protecting the floodplain and restoring the Banana Creek marsh system. Then, before the water leaves Lake Hancock for the Peace River, the water flows through the  constructed wetlands of the Lake Hancock project to clean up the water before it is released into the Peace River. Eventually, this water makes it all the way down to Charlotte Harbor. These successful initiatives demonstrate the effectiveness of well-designed wetland restoration projects in achieving multiple environmental goals. Another example of a constructed wetland treatment facility is the Se7en Wetlands Park in Lakeland. Se7en Wetlands park has been an engineered water treatment wetland for decades but recently re-opened as a recreational area. There are, appropriately, seven wetland treatment cells that the City of Lakeland’s cleaned wastewater travels through before connecting to the North Prong of the Alafia River, which flows directly to Tampa Bay. Se7en Wetlands also provides water for Tampa Electric Company’s Polk Power Station. Florida’s wetlands are home to a diverse range of wildlife, from our state reptile, the American alligator, to the roseate spoonbill (state-listed threatened) and federally endangered wood stork. They provide habitats for mammals like marsh rabbits and raccoons and host numerous small fish species that help reduce mosquito-borne illnesses. These vibrant ecosystems are also crucial for migratory birds, which rely on wetlands as stopover points during their seasonal journeys. A local initiative that underscores the importance of wetland restoration is the City of Winter Haven’s “Sapphire Necklace” project. This ambitious long-term initiative aims to create a network of restored wetlands encircling the city, providing both ecological benefits and recreational opportunities for residents. The project, part of a 50 year effort, demonstrates a commitment to preserving and enhancing wetlands for future generations, showcasing the dedication required to protect these valuable ecosystems. Despite their many benefits, Florida’s wetlands face threats from development and outdated public opinion. People once believed that wetlands harbored disease and dangerous wildlife, but we now understand their vital importance to Florida’s future, economy, and the enjoyment of the state’s water resources. Current policy protects many wetlands from the threat of true development within their borders. However, there are some ways around this, if the profitability is estimated to be high enough. One such way in Florida involves something called mitigation banks. Theoretically, if you are causing harm to a wetland and you get approval from the managing agency, you can spend money to restore wetlands somewhere else in an existing mitigation bank. Essentially, you are moving that wetland’s benefits away from wherever you’re developing into wherever you buy mitigation bank credits. It’s a bit abstract, but the end result is that the area developed loses the wetland area, and wherever the mitigation bank happens to be, they may see some restoration benefits for their wetlands. Being at the top of the watershed, Polk County does not typically benefit from mitigation bank credits. If we want improved water quality in our region and the many other benefits from wetlands, such as flood protection and wildlife habitat, we need to ensure that wetlands here are protected here, and not where a mitigation bank may be located. This calls for a renewed commitment from local communities, businesses, and policymakers to prioritize wetland conservation and restoration. By protecting and restoring our wetlands, we can help ensure a healthier and more sustainable Florida for generations to come. A heightened awareness of the importance of wetlands and support for initiatives like the many upcoming municiapl wetland restoration projects will enable us to work together in maintaining these crucial ecosystems, safeguarding the many benefits they provide for our communities and environment. To find out about wetland resotration projects near you, reach out to your city hall and ask! As we celebrate American Wetlands Month, let us remember the immense value of these ecosystems and commit to preserving them for the health of our planet and the well-being of future generations. The best thing you can do for American Wetlands Month is to build your connection to these amazing ecosystems! Visit one of the parks discussed here. Look for wetlands while you visit any of our State and National Parks and take a moment to appreciate all they do for us. Tell your friends and family all about wetlands and the amazing services they perform. Help us spread the word that wetlands are wonderful and we need them. By fostering a greater appreciation for wetlands and advocating for their conservation, we can create a lasting legacy that benefits both people and wildlife. Photograph by Amy Sexson Learn more about the projects discussed here: Se7en Wetlands Park:lakelandgov.net/departments/water-utilities/se7en-wetlands/about Winter Haven’s Sapphire Necklace Project:storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/73ea131e01ec4baa9baf982238aa77f7 Circle B Bar & Polk’s Nature Discovery Center:polknature.com/explore/circle-b-bar-reserve Lake Hancock Constructed Wetlands Project:swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects/lake-hancock-outfall-treatment-project

Artist and educator Tinia Clark said, “Art connects us all.” Thanks to her and the Polk Museum of Art, the special needs community has a local connection to the arts all their own. Access Art: Special Needs is a program that invites individuals with varying exceptionalities to meet monthly at the Polk Museum of Art to view and discuss exhibited artwork. After the tour, the group heads to one of the Museum’s education classrooms to create an art activity inspired by what they’ve viewed and discussed during the visit. The group meets for the talk and tour at 2 pm on the first Thursday of every month, excluding June, July, December, and January. The 90-minute program is led by specially trained educator and artist Tinia Clark. Clark, a docent and facilitator for Access Art, has years of experience volunteering with individuals with special needs, Alzheimer’s, and dementia at the Museum and her former Sidestreet Studio in Winter Haven. She notes that encouragement and listening skills on her part are “the main qualifications needed to make the experience a good one.” An abstract painter herself, Clark has been a practicing artist for some 35 years, working primarily with acrylics and watercolors, and has experimented throughout the years, including creating sculpture. Clark also penned and self-published a children’s book called “Mars: Escape from the Meanies.” The book was produced twice as a play for the special needs community, which the author called a “highlight in my life.” In addition to her special needs program, Clark works with the Alzheimer’s Association to facilitate tours for individuals with dementia. These tours follow a similar format to Access Art: Special Needs but are less frequent. IT STARTED AT SIDESTREET The artist moved into her now-closed Sidestreet Studio space in July 2014. An after-work volunteer opportunity with Arts Ensemble and The Alzheimer’s Association led Clark to focus on people with dementia and Alzheimer’s and, eventually, those with special needs. Her Access Art programs, which officially began around 2016, were designed to inspire creativity and social and cognitive engagement. These free-to-attend sessions included therapeutic drum circles, drawing, coloring, painting, and beyond. Unfortunately, as the pandemic continued to rage in early 2021, “My clients [and] participants had evaporated as a result,” Clark said. “Many of them were at higher risk, and it was recommended that they stay home, shelter in place.” Sidestreet Studio closed that February. “Not knowing the future and the impact on my population served, I felt that the best thing would be to close up the studio and divvy out the remaining funds we had to other local nonprofit organizations which were also hurting.” ACCESS ART “The Access Art programs at the Museum is almost like coming full circle,” she said. Closing the studio didn’t mean an end to Access Art, whose participants Clark is steadfast committed to. Clark made do and, for a time, used Kelly Rec as the art marking space for Access Art following the Museum tour. Now, Clark and her participants are able to utilize space within the Museum. “The program is designed to engage the participants,” she said. “The participants get exposure to art as well as an opportunity to express their views on art and [interact] with peers in a safe environment.” She starts by greeting her attendees at the door and welcoming them to the Museum. After asking who has been to the Museum, explaining they cannot touch the art, and that the Museum is free to attend all the time, the group enters the main galleries to view and discuss the art there. They typically follow that up with the student gallery before traveling upstairs to a classroom. “I try to incorporate, on some level, a tie-in with the exhibit,” Clark said. After the April tour, Access Art: Special Needs participants recreated the Bunnies paintings by Hunt Slonem. The month before, they used fabric and inspiration from Lauren Austin’s quilt exhibit. “Over the years, I have seen some great pieces developed,” she said. “The program is important because art connects us all – it is meant to be shared with every person in our community. You don’t have to have a degree or background in art to share an experience with art. It is a universal language where words are not necessarily needed,” Clark said. “I am grateful that the Museum understands and promotes it as such.” FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY Clark has known many of whom she fondly calls her “people and friends” for years. “I watched many of the younger people literally grow up over the past seven years.” She stays in touch on social media, adding, “They have touched my life and taught me so much and brought joy to me just in sharing art and ideas.” On the adverse, Clark has lost many of “her people” with Alzheimer’s and dementia, “which hurts as they become like family.” Those losses, though painful, haven’t diminished the gains – the joy in what she does. “My favorite part is the people and the shared experience. Whether it is one person or ten people, it is nice just to know you have made a little difference in someone’s day.” For those interested in improving the quality of life and programming for individuals with special needs, dementia, or Alzheimer’s, donate. Clark suggests giving to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Polk Museum of Art, or Out of the Box at Lakeland Community Theatre. Tinia Clark shared one of the most valuable lessons she learned at Sidestreet. “We all have challenges, and if you can make a difference for just one person, it is worth trying. It is not the quantity of lives you touch, but the quality of life you share.” Access Art: Special Needs Thursday, May 4, 2023 2:00 pm 3:30 pm Polk Museum of Art 800 E Palmetto St Lakeland, FL 33801 Registration is preferred but not required. For registration or questions, please text Tinia Clark at 863-224-8557. Please include guardian or caretaker in the total attendee number.

If there’s anything that transcends age and occasion, it’s ice cream. Nine to 99, birthdays to ‘just because’ there’s nothing like premium hand-dipped ice cream dripping down a homemade waffle cone on a sunny day. Owners of the former Good Buddies BBQ, Joel and Melissa Vann, implemented a magical combination – barbecue and ice cream. Melissa formerly worked in marketing, and Joel is a BBQ competition pitmaster. “He’s a BBQ competition cook, and we both really love ice cream, so we married the two,” Melissa Vann said. Now, the couple owns multiple locations serving BBQ or ice cream, and some with both. BBQ BEGINNINGS Lakeland BBQ  is beloved, smoked over oak and hickory for hours and hours with all the typical southern fixin’s like pulled pork, pulled chicken, chicken quarters, ribs, brisket, banana pudding, and the like. A best-seller at their BBQ restaurants is the Couch Potato, a baked potato covered with BBQ chicken or pork topped with bacon, shredded cheese, butter, BBQ sauce, and chives. Another popular side dish is the BBQ pit beans with six different types of beans, and we can’t forget the collard greens. “Everybody loves our collards – we have a secret ingredient in the collards, and we are sworn to secrecy,” Melissa said, who described their fare as “very southern, very traditional.” She added, “We make everything from scratch and smoke everything every day.” The pair started catering under the Lakeland BBQ Company name in 2015, opening their first location, Polk City BBQ, the same year. They opened a BBQ joint downtown, where Pressed Books and Coffee is today, and eventually moved to Combee Road, serving their southern favorites and ice cream. In 2020, they opened Lakeland Ice Cream Company and Avon Park BBQ, which now exclusively serves ice cream. The busy couple also owns Mulberry Ice Cream, Dade City BBQ (and ice cream), and, last month, opened Frostproof BBQ. Each location is different – some just BBQ, some just ice cream, and some with both! We visited their flagship ice cream shop on Duff Road to get the scoop. “This was our first addition of ice cream,” Melissa said of the location. “He was the BBQ guy, and I was the dessert person,” she said. The Vanns always traveled to try new ice cream, even outside the county and decided to open a shop of their own. They signed the Lakeland Ice Cream Company space lease three months before the pandemic, put their best scoop forward, and persevered. After trying many ice cream brands (for research), Melissa said, “We went with a more premium, higher butter fat ice cream that gives you that rich creaminess.” Their manufacturer, Ice Cream Club, started as a small 600-square-foot dipping store in Manalapan, Florida. Now manufacturing in Boynton Beach, Ice Cream Club produces two million gallons of ice cream annually. “We like this brand the best,” she said. Lakeland Ice Cream Company is the only vendor in Polk County to carry Ice Cream Club. THE GOOD STUFF Sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes, malts – oh my! Lakeland Ice Cream Company is a cute shop carrying premium hand-dipped ice cream. They’re also famous for the cotton candy burrito. A huge base of fluffy cotton candy made fresh (the air is filled with a sugary aroma as they twirl it), two scoops of the ice cream of your choice, and two toppings. Talk about a sugar rush. “We have kids come in and make the craziest combinations,” Melissa said, smiling. The Duff Road ice cream shop offers over 60 flavors of ice cream, including sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free options. Fan favorites fill the freezers like Strawberry, Coffee, Rum Raisin, and Cherries’ n Cream. Their specialty flavors steal the show, like Red Velvet Cake, Carrot Cake, Elephant Ears (vanilla ice cream swirled with peanut butter and chocolate chips), and Garbage Can (with seven name-brand candy bars mixed in). Smurf is a sought-after flavor – a blue raspberry ice cream with mini marshmallows folded throughout. It’s a dupe for the popular Midwest flavor, Blue Moon, first made in Milwaukee in the 1950s. “We get calls once a week asking if we have Blue Moon, and this is kind of the same thing. But the Blue Moon had a marshmallow ribbon, this has miniature marshmallows. Everyone loves that one.” They also get calls for Bubblegum, a snappy pink ice cream with colorful bubblegum throughout. It’s a throwback to a mid-century flavor from Dipper Dan in Lakeland, according to Melissa. The owner’s go-to scoop is Special Praline, with praline pecans and caramel swirled in vanilla ice cream. The waffle cones may take the cake (or cotton candy burrito, rather). Lakeland Ice Cream Company offers delicious homemade waffle and bubble cones (freshly made bubble waffles). Of the latter, Melissa said, “We cool them off just a minute, and then we [dip] your ice cream with all your toppings.” As you enter the shop, after taking in the wall of scoops and flavor after flavor of the good stuff, your eye is drawn to a row of colorful cones. The artisan cones are handmade in batches in Brooklyn, New York, and shipped in monthly. They are colored beautifully with tantalizing flavors like red velvet, salted blue corn, lavender, matcha, pink vanilla, birthday cake, cookies and cream, and seasonal offerings like pumpkin and peppermint. The list of goodies to ‘top it off’ is almost as massive as their ice cream selection, with options like hot fudge, hot caramel, peanut butter, pineapple topping, rainbow sprinkles, gummy bears, cookie dough, Oreo crumbles, and much more. Don’t forget to pick up your Ice Cream Passport! Patrons can get stamps for trying the listed ice cream flavors from any of their locations. After filling up their passport, customers can redeem it by December 31 for a $50 gift card for ice cream or BBQ. MAKING MEMORIES Ice cream is the best way to celebrate a special occasion or create a sweet moment. Lakeland Ice Cream Company hosted a 99th birthday party for a veteran recently, and Melissa said, “We have elderly couples that come every week and have an ice cream date, and it’s so sweet.” The Duff Road ice cream shop prides itself on a vast selection of premium ice cream and equally exceptional customer service. “We hope to give [guests] a good experience and make memories,” Melissa said. “We want everybody to make memories with their family. We’re glad to be a part of that.” Photography by Amy Sexson Lakeland Ice Cream Company 2973 Duff Rd, Lakeland (863) 337-5652 FB: Lakeland Ice Cream Company www.lakelandicecream.com

The Polk Museum of Art is thrilled to announce its 51st annual Citizens Bank & Trust Mayfaire by-the-Lake festival, to be held along the shores of Lake Morton May 13 and 14, 2023, from 9 am to 4 pm. Showcasing over 150 artists from nine states working in a variety of media, from painting and sculpture to woodworking, hand-crafted jewelry, and more, this free two-day fine art festival promises to have something for every art enthusiast and visitor to enjoy. In addition to the artists’ booths, this year’s celebration will include a robust daily event schedule, including fun activities for everyone of every age. “Kids Collect,” a kids-only tent where children can purchase artwork donated by Mayfaire artists at nominal prices, returns to Ruthven’s Mayfaire Kids Zone to engage even the youngest of art connoisseurs. Free hands-on art activities for children of all abilities will also be available at each Kids Zone tent. “Thanks to our community of art lovers, our loyal sponsors and local partners, and all the talented showcasing artists from near and far, Mayfaire by-the-Lake has been a fixture of the Florida art scene for five decades and counting, and it just keeps getting better and better,” said Dr. Alex Rich, executive director and chief curator of the Polk Museum of Art. “Mayfaire is soaring at 51, and, this Mother’s Day weekend, we can’t wait to launch officially into our second half-century.” Performances by FrediDANCE Project, Samira Belly Dance, and Musical Hammers, among others, will also be held throughout the weekend on the Lakeland Public Library lawn. Concessions will be available for purchase from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Chicks Coop, Heavenly Pretzel, and more. At the Museum, visitors will be able to re-experience festivals of yore with “A Blast from the Past: Festival Favorites from the Permanent Collection” on display in the Murray/Ledger Gallery, highlighting past festival winners. On Saturday evening, Mayfaire welcomes back the Lakeland Runners Club to host the 44th Annual Mayfaire 5K. The run begins at 7 p.m. near Lake Mirror and ends on Francis C. Promenade. Interested participants can register online or volunteer for the run at runsignup.com/Race/FL/Lakeland/Mayfaire5k. Registration will close Wednesday, May 10. Additional information about this year’s Mayfaire Judge, Featured Poster Artist, and event details are available on MayfairebytheLake.org.

We are surrounded by water, both fresh and salt. What happens when an aquatic ecosystem becomes unbalanced or worse? We sat over coffee with Sea & Shoreline President and Partner Carter Henne to discuss seagrass solutions, saving Crystal River, and how you can help keep Florida water bodies clean. Winter Haven-born biologist Carter Henne lives in Polk County with his wife, Dr. Michelle Henne, and their two dogs. The avid angler and outdoorsman grew up on Lake Daisy. “It was interesting to see Lake Daisy go from a really undeveloped lake to a developed lake and the changes that went along with that,” he reflected. In high school, he co-founded the Winter Haven Competitive Bass Fishing Team – the first in the country. “It allowed me to get my competitive side out in a sport that I really loved,” Henne said. Henne attended the University of South Florida, where he obtained a degree in Biology. The Polk County boy who ‘loved the water’ and getting his hands dirty was fixated on aquaculture. “I thought that by farming fish, you’d be able to save the world. You don’t see chickens or cows going extinct anytime soon,” he said. In college, he interned at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) and started farming redfish, sea trout, and blue crab for the state. “I loved it, but there wasn’t a clear career path to stay in the country and do aquaculture.” As he learned more about habitat restoration, he dove head-first into working as the Chief Biologist and Project Manager with Seagrass Recovery, Inc. In 2014, he joined Sea & Shoreline Founder and Partner Jim Anderson in his efforts to restore rivers, lakes, lagoons, and estuaries and “pioneer innovative technologies that help to ensure the long-term success of restoration projects.” Henne serves as the lead biologist, partner, and president for Sea & Shoreline. Since 2014, the Florida-based aquatic restoration firm has grown from six to 100 employees and counting. Henne attributes this to apt timing and a resounding need for their services. His primary responsibilities are restoration project acquisition and management and the ensured growth of Sea & Shoreline. Henne’s first success metric is hiring new people and “pouring love” into their team. “It means we’re doing something correctly, and we’re providing a benefit to the communities. We’re providing a service that people want, and we’re effectively doing it if they continue to rehire us, and we’re able to grow.” The company’s mission is to restore aquatic ecosystems, with an emphasis on seagrass and the vital part it plays in cleaning the water, stabilizing sediment, sequestering harmful nutrients that cause algae, and providing food and habitat for fish and animals. Sea & Shoreline is the largest seagrass restoration company in the world and, until last year, the only commercial seagrass nursery. Sea & Shoreline has planted over one million seagrass plants in Florida waterways. In addition to their submerged aquatic vegetation/seagrass restoration, the company offers services including dredging, propeller scar restoration, oyster reefs, wetland plants, living shorelines, coral reefs, mitigation banks, wave attenuation devices, surveying and mapping, and vegetated retaining walls. Henne said, “You can’t feed yourself on biology alone. I tell everyone, ‘We do marine contracting to pay for our seagrass addiction.’” Sea & Shoreline has grown outside of the Sunshine State into the Carolinas, Louisiana, and most recently, acquired licensing in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their focus is to serve the southeast coastal and Caribbean for now. Sea & Shoreline have refined their restoration process, with Henne describing their projects as a sort of “cut, paste, repeat,” adding, “There are environmental issues surrounding water, water quality, development, and growth. How do you do that responsibly?” WHY IT’S NECESSARY The cause is essential for animals, the environment, and humans. As Sea & Shoreline states, “All life depends on water to survive. When these ecosystems become unbalanced, they pose health risks to not only humans but also to plants and animals that rely on the water to live.” According to Henne, ninety percent of all commercially derived seafood depends on a seagrass meadow for some point in its lifecycle. “One acre of seagrass is worth roughly $50,000 a year back to ecosystem services, back to the state whether that’s commercial fishing, recreational fishing, habitat, sediment stabilization, [or] nutrient buffering.” As for the human health concern unbalanced ecosystems pose, he invoked Florida’s largest lake. “Lake Okeechobee needs 26,000 acres of submerged aquatic vegetation to function as a wetland. After Hurricane Irma, it had less than 6,000 acres,” Henne said. “All those nutrients go from a plant to phytoplankton which is algae. Then you saw these phytoplankton blooms going east and west out of the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries.” The algae’s Microcystis toxin caused health concerns. Red tide is another example. Though red tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon, Henne explained, “When those red tides kill fish, those dead fish wash into backend canals. They sink, they rot, and create anoxic conditions. [That] creates algal blooms, which further reduces seagrass. Then you lose those ecosystem services. [...] It’s the death by a thousand cuts. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We’re trying to get ahead of some of these environmental disasters, calamities, issues.” Submerged plants, namely seagrass, are the tool Sea & Shoreline uses to address these issues, which also has a marked economic impact. During a relatively small project, about $50,000, Sea & Shoreline planted in a Martin County stormwater canal. “It had the same effects of water quality filtration as a $5M stormwater pond,” Henne said. The project was an added benefit to those communities to be able to filter their water economically. “It’s my job to be able to A: Identify the benefits. And B: articulate them,” he said. Sea & Shoreline has worked to temper its habitat restoration methods. Seagrass mitigation projects of the past were going for about a million dollars an acre. “It was cost-prohibitive to use on restoration. But we’ve been working on refining the process, and we’re sub $50,000 an acre right now. […] If you think about seagrass being worth somewhere between $20,000 to $50,000 of ecosystem services back to the state every year, you’ve got a one to three-year return on investment.” Seagrass is a veritable Swiss army knife for aquatic habitat restoration. In one function, it acts as a nursery for fish, Henne explained. “Seawater is about 32 parts per thousand (ppt) salinity. Freshwater is zero ppt. Juvenile fish need to stay around 9-15 ppt salinity. That’s why these rivers and the upper parts of these bays are so important because it’s the nursery ground for all these juvenile fish. One acre of seagrass supports 40,000 fish and 50 million small invertebrates. It protects them, and it provides food for them.” Seagrasses also filter out water quality. Henne used the example of going inside after a barefoot walk along the beach. If you walk across the tile floor, your feet will remain sandy. But, if you walk across the carpet, it will scrape that sand from your feet. “That’s what seagrasses are doing,” Henne said. “They’re sequestering all the suspended particles out of the water column, and then they’re stabilizing the seabed.” It’s hard to see the trajectory of a waterbody going from an algae-dominated system to a plant-dominated system. “I can’t tell you when it does it or what the exact acreage is – but when you see the flip, it’s apparent,” Henne said. “That day when you can see the switch go to the positive side is incredibly fulfilling.” THE CRYSTAL RIVER PROJECT Though Sea & Shoreline provides a niche service, the company touches many components of the Florida lifestyle. Clients approach the organization seeking various solutions to environmental issues. The Angler Action Foundation, for example, is planting to increase fisheries. In Martin County, the aim was to sequester sediments and clarify water before it goes into the Indian River Lagoon, and in Crystal River, they worked to beat algal blooms. Henne called Crystal River a center point for merging issues – endangered species management, invasive species management, algal blooms, water quality, and “how do we deal with coastal communities and how they interact with what’s natural and what’s not natural?” A waterbody exists in two stable states, Henne explained – either a plant-dominated or algae-dominated system. Crystal River was a plant-dominated system until the climatic impact of the 1993 “no-name storm,” which sent a saltwater plume, killing all the hydrilla in its system and switching it to an algae-dominated system. “It couldn’t recover because now there were dense algal blooms, there was muck on the bottom, and any plant that was there, the manatee would come by and rip it out,” Henne said. Seagrasses are manatee’s primary food source. “It’s not the manatee’s fault,” he added. Whenever a sea cow came by to eat, they would pull the plant up from the soft bed. If the ground were harder, the manatee would eat the leaves, leaving the plant for its leaves to grow back. “Save Crystal River was formed as a response to government oversight,” Henne said. “It was a small, tight-knit community of locals. U.S. Fish and Wildlife started taking over and cutting off access to different parts of the bay, and the residents that grew up there didn’t like that.” Save Crystal River is a non-profit, grassroots organization on a mission to address the damage done by human and environmental factors that had made the river inhospitable for sea life and recreation alike. The community banded together to raise funding for land acquisition and restoration. Save Crystal River raised funding in Tallahassee for a demonstration project which included a vacuuming out of all the algal bloom, the macroalgae on the bottom, and the muck. Sea & Shoreline reduced it to a hard mineralized substrate and planted native eelgrass. “It was tough going in the beginning. The problem is scale,” Henne said. The project showed success, so Save Crystal River returned to Tallahassee and raised more funding. “They got everyone in line behind a cohesive mission,” said Henne. “That’s critical for any large-scale transformational change in a water body.” Six years later, the project is ongoing. Sea & Shoreline restored over 80 acres which have rippled into over 200 acres of naturally recruited native, dense submerged plants throughout the system. “Now the manatees have something to eat. The water clarity went from about 2-3 feet in visibility. Now it’s upwards of 20-30 feet,” Henne said. Crystal River is Sea & Shoreline’s second largest project, beaten out in scale only by their current Caloosahatchee project, which will be over 100 acres of directly planted submerged vegetation. Perhaps more important than the restoration itself will be ongoing efforts to protect that work. Crystal River is a hot spot for people moving to Florida from out of state. Unaware of the river’s condition years earlier and the exhaustive work to restore it, new residents are calling to remove the seagrasses. “Ongoing education is critical to maintaining Florida in some semblance of balance,” Henne said. “We’ve effectively turned back the hands of time from predevelopment era to developed, and now they’ve done all the septic to sewer conversions, all the fertilizer ordinances, all the things we talk about. […] Now they’re on a good track for sustainability.” With its abundance of rolling seagrass meadows, Henne said of the Crystal River Project, “It’s the poster child for manatee health now.” CONSERVATION COMMON GROUND In a state divided on a great many issues – protecting our natural spaces has proven uncontentious. Polk County saw that with last year’s rally behind and passage of the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Referendum, thanks in no small part to Polk Forever, a nonpartisan political committee of volunteers. Communities, both red and blue, are opting to tax themselves in the name of conservation. In a November 17, 2022, article titled “Florida’s Green Wave,” Conservation Florida President and CEO Traci Deen wrote, “Voters in Polk, Brevard, Indian River, Alachua, Pasco, and Nassau counties turned out during a surprise November hurricane to cast a vote for wild Florida. These counties join Collier, Volusia, and Manatee in passing recent measures that support natural resource protection.” Henne noted, “It’s apolitical because we now have to sleep in the bed we’ve made.” Altruism and duty to the environment aside, the issue has become a common ground because it makes economic sense. According to the Indian River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan, “the return on investment from achieving water quality and seagrass restoration goals is 33 to 1,” for that project. Investments in improved water quality and seagrass beds mean considerable economic benefits for the region. In 2016, Brevard County voted to impose a ½ cent sales tax providing almost $500M for wastewater infrastructure projects and aquatic restoration over ten years. Part of that sales tax goes to the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program, which is “designed to address excess nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to the Indian River Lagoon through various projects to reduce pollution inputs, remove legacy loads of pollution, and restore natural filtration systems,” according to www.brevardfl.gov. It is estimated that this program will bring in up to $542M in revenue over ten years. Natural spaces, specifically coastal communities, are embedded in Florida’s economy and lifestyle. “Tourism is a main driver of the economy, and if people aren’t coming to the state because of bad water quality – it becomes a return on investment [issue]. […] Everyone understands that an investment in the environment, an investment in education, an investment in good law enforcement is just good for communities all around,” Henne said. LEADING BY EXAMPLE Wondering what you can do to keep Florida water bodies clean? Sea & Shoreline shared a few easy ways you can help reduce polluted runoff from homes: Properly dispose of hazardous household items by checking with your county waste management service to find out what hazardous materials they accept. Reduce or eliminate the use of fertilizers and chemical herbicides and pesticides. Make sure to check your septic system annually. Make a rain garden in a low-lying area planted with native species that can handle wet soil to help reduce flooding and erosion and filter runoff. Always remember to clean up after your pet. To learn more about Florida’s ecosystems, Carter Henne recommends the “Naturally Florida” podcast hosted by Shannon Carnevale and Lara Milligan. And for those curious about marine science – the “So You Want to Be a Marine Biologist?” podcast. You don’t have to be a biologist to slow the issues that Sea & Shoreline work to ameliorate. Small changes make the most significant difference. Education, policy, and leading by example are key. “There are no silver bullets in this,” Henne said. “It’s a game of net sums.” Sea & Shoreline FB: Sea & Shoreline IG @seaandshoreline YT @seashoreline463 Seaandshoreline.com

Good. Vibes. Only. These words are illuminated in neon on the wall inside Lucille’s American Café and is exactly what you feel when you enter this cozy, mid-century modern space. Warm wood tones, deep blue, and retro lighting beckon you in, but for those inclined towards al fresco dining, their beautiful patio is just as inviting. While this classic comfort-food restaurant specializes in meals that conjure nostalgia for grandma’s cooking, they also offer modern dishes to please every palate and a carefully cultivated list of craft cocktails. From the décor to the menu, every detail was specifically chosen by husband and wife owners Beth and Paul Nunez to create a space that welcomes locals and visitors alike to relax, dine, share stories, and feel the love. STARTING FROM “SCRATCH” Lucille’s in Winter Haven celebrates its one-year anniversary this month, but the story behind this restaurant goes back decades. The couple met in ‘91 at a Ruby Tuesday in Miami, where Beth was a top server and trainer, and in the process of earning her BS in Hospitality Management. Paul was a new manager and had recently graduated with the same degree. Initially, the two didn’t really like each other, butting heads as an established server working her way up and a new, career-driven manager. Still, both admit there was a definite attraction. Paul said, “She stood up to me, tough, and I think I respected her a lot for that.” When asked about Paul, Beth laughed, “He is cute and he smelled good!” One night, after a party, Beth asked Paul for a ride home, and the rest, as they say, is history. After dating for only a year, they married in 1992 and have a 27-year-old daughter, Alyssa, and a 30-year-old son, Nicholas. Paul was born in California and lived in many different places throughout his childhood due to his father’s job. He almost always held positions in the food service industry and eventually ended up in Miami. Beth was born and raised in Miami and, like Paul, worked for various restaurants and catering companies. Both graduated from FIU in Miami, Paul in ‘91, and Beth in ‘92. Their shared love of the industry would eventually lead them to help open the first Lucille’s American Café in Weston, FL in 1999 with a gentleman named Craig Larson. “[Larson] owned a company called Crazy From The Heat Restaurants, and I had helped him open and run a few of his restaurants,” explained Paul. “He had a restaurant called Lucille’s Bad to the Bone BBQ, so that’s actually where this concept came from. It started with that.” The original plan was to open the BBQ restaurant in Weston, but the aesthetic didn’t seem to fit the neighborhood. “We knew comfort food was going to be making a comeback, and we just thought it would be the right concept,” said Paul. They began to get excited at the idea of offering home-style meals made from scratch in a comfortable and welcoming environment. They wanted to create a place that made “mealtime a time for friends and family to share the stories that unite us while enjoying classic comfort food favorites like mom and grandma have always made,” explains Beth. Paul helped to open the restaurant as General Manager, and it was a success. “After about a year of operating with him (Larson), we got an investor, and we bought him out,” said Paul. The couple has since bought out their investor and are 100% owners. LOCATION IS EVERYTHING Beth and Paul had been interested in opening a second location for years, but in 2019, the idea finally came to fruition. “Colleagues thought that we should look in Central Florida, specifically by Legoland,” said Beth. After researching the demographics, they began looking in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and surrounding areas for the perfect spot. “We did not want to get lost in a plaza, so we were looking for something stand-alone [and] we kept coming back to this great building on 3rd street,” explained Beth. “We really wanted to be a part of downtown and be a spot where both locals and visitors could enjoy what we have to offer.” She added, “We really fell in love with the small-town charm present in Winter Haven. Every time we visited, we knew we were making the right choice for our business.” Once deciding on 205 3rd street as their new location, the couple embraced Winter Haven. An entire wall in Lucille’s is adorned with photos that celebrate the town’s rich water-ski and citrus industry history. Paul, an admitted historophile, spent hours in local museums learning about the town’s past. “We worked closely with Bob Gernert from the Museum of Winter Haven History and wanted to showcase the culture and history of Winter Haven,” said Paul. “What is really fun about our image wall is that most people know the people in the pictures, either a relative or friend. It is such a great community feeling,” Beth added. In addition to celebrating the town’s past, the duo have put major stock into Winter Haven’s present and future by partnering with several local businesses, including Grove Roots, Haven Coffee Roasters, The Treasured Olive, and Obscure Wine Company. Beth said, “We are all independents, and we feel very strongly about supporting each other to make downtown Winter Haven a great place to dine, shop and enjoy!” THE FARE The food at Lucille’s is like a warm hug, designed to make folks feel comforted and nourished while dining and connecting with friends and family. Everything is made from scratch, with love, from the hearty meatloaf and the scrumptious chicken pot pie to the decadent three-cheese baked macaroni. The salad dressings and sauces are made in-house, and you can even request homemade ketchup for your burger or fries. In addition to the classics, Lucille’s offers modern dishes. There’s the Macadamia Chicken with a citrus beurre blanc and the Marinated Skirt Steak with chimichurri sauce. There are sweet potato sticks served with marshmallow dipping sauce, and let’s not forget Lucille’s Famous Tomato Blue Cheese Soup! With a plentiful selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees, both the lunch and dinner menus offer something for everyone. On the weekends, guests can enjoy the brunch menu boasting everything from eggs benedict and shrimp and grits to avocado toast and biscuits and gravy. For dessert, there are offerings such as Aunt Betsy’s Carrot Cake and bread pudding with homemade bourbon sauce, alongside an array of sundaes, malted shakes, and floats. The libations at Lucille’s are in a league of their own and showcase the Nunez’s support for local businesses. “Wellie [Liao] with Obscure Wine Company assisted with our wine list, and we have many of the same clients who enjoy wines here at Lucille’s and there at OWC,” said Beth. Lucille’s proudly reserves their draft lines for brews from Grove Roots. “Joe [Dunham] and his team have such a great product, we wanted to support them and carry their beer on tap,” explained Beth. Even the coffee is from local roasters. “We met Jon and Lynsey Lane [from Haven Coffee Roasters] at the farmer’s market before we even opened and before they even opened. Jon offered to roast us a special blend, and we have been partners ever since,” said Beth. She added, “We also met Nathan and Cassie [Briggs] from the Treasured Olive at the farmer’s market [and] we use some of their products in our cocktails.” This brings us to one of my favorite things about Lucille’s: the craft cocktail menu. “In the bar, we wanted to offer unique cocktails made with the best ingredients that we could source,” said Beth. “We fresh-squeeze local oranges for juice, as well as lemons and limes for our sour mix and margaritas, and we also use fresh produce, fresh herbs, and infused liquors.” Beth and Paul wanted to be sure there was something for all palates, so their daughter Alyssa, an experienced bartender, worked for six months to create a diverse selection of cocktails. “It is frustrating to go somewhere, and all the cocktails are only vodka or tequila, so we have something for everyone; different liquors, sweet, spicy, fruity, as well as non-alcoholic options,” said Beth. Take it from this self-proclaimed cocktail connoisseur, they knocked it out of the park! THE LOVE As much as the Nunezes are committed to delighting every diner, they recognize it all starts with a great staff, and they are as passionate about their employees as they are their guests. “Our people are the face and backbone of our business. We believe if we take care of our people, our people will take care of our customers,” said Beth. “Everyone deserves a chance to earn a living while being treated with respect as well as enjoying healthcare and vacation benefits.” A small but sweet detail you’ll notice inside Lucille’s is that the salt and pepper grinders have custom labels with “ Paul & Beth ” printed at the bottom. It perfectly sums up the couple’s dedication: Paul and Beth Nunez have literally put their hearts into this restaurant. They love what they do, and it shows. Photography by Amy Sexson Lucille’s American Café 205 3rd Street SW, Winter Haven, FL (863) 875-5005 FB: Lucille’s American Cafe - Winter Haven IG @lucillescafewh www.lucillescafe.com

A love for nature and science landed Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Agent II, M.S., Shannon Carnevale, her dream job. Now she spends her days researching, planning programs, hosting a podcast, and sharing that love with others. We chatted with Carnevale about her career, the “Naturally Florida” podcast, civic engagement, and small changes citizens can make to foster Florida’s wild spaces. Shannon Carnevale and her husband, City of Winter Haven Public Works Director M.J. Carnevale, hail from West Palm Beach. “M.J. and I both, because we were in Scouts, grew up camping and hiking and being outdoors,” said Carnevale. Her parents were Scout leaders, and her dad encouraged her to join a co-ed group in the program called Venture Crew. The Crew would travel across the country for summer camps and backpacking trips on high-adventures like white water kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking. Carnevale even did an eight-day hike over 100 miles through the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. “I grew up loving the outdoors, and I knew I didn’t want a traditional desk job,” she said. Shannon and M.J. became high school sweethearts and attended college together at the University of Florida. She initially studied Environmental Engineering in college, hoping to work in ecosystem management. After finding the field different from what she’d expected, she looked into forestry. Shannon was interested in how M.J., who’d switched to forestry, talked about the coursework and potential career paths after graduating. After talking to the academic advisor at what was formerly called the School of Forestry, Carnevale transferred her major. A seminar series in her senior year inspired Carnevale to go after her current job. Every other week in the class, a professional would speak to the students about what field they had gone into with their forestry degree. The term’ forestry’ might evoke images of a park ranger, but the field is much broader than that, including production forestry, habitat management, environmental lands, and beyond. Her professor spoke one week about the 30 percent of his job as an extension agent. He told the class, “All the research we do in school is only as good as we can communicate it with the people who need to use it.” His extension job entailed reading scientific journal articles, going to training, and perpetually learning. He would then relay that information to professionals managing land. “I just fell in love with it,” Carnevale said. “You’re telling me I can be a student (sort of) but get paid like an adult, and I still get to go outside and meet with land managers?” She was all in. In 2010, she began interviewing and was hired for her dream job as the Polk County Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Agent II, M.S., for US/IFAS. Her interview at the Bartow extension office was her first-time visiting Polk County, which she and M.J. now call home. NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION “The Natural Resources and Conservation program in Polk County is committed to improving the current state of our local ecosystems through natural resources educational programs,” according to their website. “By sharing science-based information to improve upon current management and land use practices, the Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Program will improve the function of our natural systems.” Carnevale’s job is different all the time. In an academic role, employed by both UF and Polk County, Carnevale is responsible for touching on Florida’s ecosystems in Polk and reporting back to the university. That academic reporting is what she’s working on this time of year – looking at engagement rates, surveys, and what people are learning from her podcast, “Naturally Florida.” Carnevale also plans engaging nature-focused in-person programming. She has several upcoming trainings, including Introduction to Backpacking and Camping (in-person and webinar), Leave No Trace webinars, a new multi-week water course for the public (in-person only) called Florida Waters Stewardship Program, and webinars about wildlife and wildlife safety for families over summer break. The extension program is a taxpayer-funded operation. “We’re not out to make a profit, which is different than a lot of places. We can be flexible. We can bring in experts, and we try to charge as little as possible.” Carnevale partners with businesses and parks around the county for events and programs held at the Bartow extension office, Circle B Bar Reserve, Bonnet Springs Park, and beyond. The Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Agent discussed an upcoming in-person event at Circle B Bar Reserve called the Heartland CISMA Invasive Species Workshop. Targeted toward anyone who works outside with plants – biologists, land managers, technicians – the April 12 program is a combination of classroom workshops and in-the-field training. Throughout the morning, speakers from across the state will give presentations, including an updated treatment plan for invasive plant species and an update on invasive mosquito species from Polk County BoCC Entomologist Jackson Mosley. After lunch, they will split into groups, with one group learning how to calibrate spray equipment on the lawn adjacent to the classroom and the other learning to identify plant species in the ‘Garden of Evil,’ a patio brought in by FWC with 125 different plants. The groups will switch after an hour to give everyone the opportunity to participate in both breakout sessions. Carnevale holds events for the general public as well. Several times a year, she guides a two-hour nature night hike. “We ask [participants] what do you want to see? What do you want to hear? What are you afraid of after dark? All we’re trying to do is get people comfortable being in a natural area after dark. One of the big barriers to people going out on their own and doing outdoor recreation like camping is because they’re scared of it.” Immersive outdoor events like Carnevale’s night hikes are an ideal way to show people how to become more comfortable in our natural spaces. The extension agent remembers a kayak trip she took with the City a few years ago – specifically, one terrified little girl. She said, “By the end of the one-and-a-half-hour tour, not only was she so excited and wanted to go kayaking that weekend, but she was jumping around in the water trying to catch fish with her hands. A dragonfly landed on her, and it wasn’t the end of the world. That’s a win.” THE “NATURALLY FLORIDA” PODCAST The “Naturally Florida” podcast hosted by Shannon Carnevale and Lara Milligan has a target audience of professionals who otherwise can’t or won’t come to an extension program workshop. Carnevale described the audience as busy people who are likely working, caring for children, or both – and are looking to learn a little bit about the natural world around them. One of the reasons they started the podcast was to “bottle up” all the fun facts they had to share. All about “Florida’s natural areas and the wild things that live here,” the podcast is brought to listeners by UF/IFAS Extension’s Natural Resources programs in Polk and Pinellas Counties. “One of our main objectives for our program is to increase science literacy related to our natural ecosystems,” Carnevale said. She and Milligan, both extension agents, touch on a broad swath of topics on the podcast. This includes individual species profiles (like the native Green Anole) and concepts like prescribed fire and the natural role of fire in our ecosystems, urban heat islands, and lake health. “It’s an introduction level to all of these different topics. My goal is that someone listens to it who otherwise wouldn’t come to an environmental program and is like, ‘Hm, that’s kind of cool. I want to go into the show notes and find those resources they shared. Maybe I want to go to an extension program. Maybe I just want to go on a nature hike at my park,’” Carnevale said. “Anything where we can try to help get people who maybe weren’t raised with a culture of hiking and camping outside to enjoy that natural area. [...] If people don’t have a connection to those areas, nobody values them, and if we don’t value them, we don’t try to protect them.” SMALL CHANGES “Small changes by every citizen can contribute to a brighter tomorrow for our natural environment,” reads an excerpt from the UF/IFAS Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Program webpage. What are some of these ‘small changes?’ “For Polk County residents, the easiest thing people can do is control their stormwater,” said Carnevale. “Stormwater is all the water that hits your home, driveway, or sidewalk and then runs into the street. If you can keep that water on your property and let it soak into the ground, you will help everything in Winter Haven. You’ll help our lakes and our drinking water.” She described our lakes as ‘sinkhole lakes,’ putting it simply, “They fill from the bottom. They seep up and from the sides.” Rain falls, and stormwater pipes dump water into them, but “water is filtered by the soil and the soil microbes that live in the soil. It helps reduce the over-nutrification of our water. (Think fertilizers, dog waste, cat waste, pollution from cars, brake dust, that sort of thing.) Having your water on your lawn, it can soak in, and it will be clean by the time it gets to our lakes.” For example, Carnevale noted that it only takes water that falls in downtown Winter Haven less than a minute to get to Lake Howard, “and everything it touches, it takes with it.” The City of Winter Haven implemented rain gardens downtown to trap that water. The water goes into the rain garden and has a chance to collect and seep. “If we get a really big gully washer, and we get a ton of rain in a short timeframe, it will do what we call ‘pop off.’ It’ll overflow the rain garden and then go into a drain. It gives it that little percolation area first.” Carnevale encourages citizens to turn their gutters away from the driveway and into their lawn. This tip applies countywide. Your yard may be a good candidate for a rain garden if you have sandy soil. If you have any questions about whether or not a rain garden would work in your yard, you can call the extension office for assistance. “If you happen to live lakefront, having emergent plants (plants that grow up out of the water) at least for part of your lakefront, that will help with erosion control and water quality,” she added. “That emergent vegetation’s root zone is where a lot of the nutrient cycling happens, which improves water quality and clarity over time. So not killing all the plants on your lakefront is a big thing.” Those living in an apartment complex or condo can work with their property manager to see if a Florida-Friendly Landscape can be planted around the complex. “Florida-Friendly Landscapes use less fertilizer, fewer pesticides, less water, and they also tend to highlight species that are good for our local area,” Carnevale explained. GET INVOLVED “If people care about green space, whatever form it may be – agriculture, parks, all these things – they need to get involved.” The community can make many ‘small changes’ to care for our natural spaces, but Carnevale emphasized civic engagement. “Get involved with your City government. Join those committees, show up at visioning meetings, participate in surveys they put out,” she said. “They want to know what the residents want as far as urban forests are concerned, park land, natural areas, and development.” To get the most from your engagement, get involved early. “With natural resources, people don’t care until they’re gone, and when they’re gone, it’s really hard to get them back,” Carnevale said. You can engage with US/IFAS by listening to the “Naturally Florida” podcast, attending workshops and webinars, and subscribing to the “Your Polk Yard” newsletter. The newsletter is composed by Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for the UF/IFAS Extension of Polk County, Anne Yasalonis, with contributions from other extension agents, like Carnevale. It covers everything from vegetable gardening, flower gardening, lawn care, wildlife you may see in residential areas, really anything to do with your yard. Find this email newsletter on their website (sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk). And if you have a stubborn plant problem, try the Plant Clinic (863-519-1057 or polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu). You can call, email, walk in, or video call with the plant clinic to troubleshoot plant problems; soil pH testing; insect, disease, and plant identification; Florida-Friendly Landscaping recommendations; and vegetable and fruit tree growing assistance. With more classes than we can count, the Extension Program hosts small farms programming, 4-H youth development, nutrition and budgeting, and more. “We have so much to offer,” Carnevale said. Those interested in Extension can visit the Extension Program Facebook page for various events or visit the website to read up on blog posts. Photography by Amy Sexson Natural Resources and Conservation UF/IFAS Extension Polk County 863-519-1051 TWT and IG @PolkNR FB @PolkExtension scarnevale@ufl.edu sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk