Cypress Trees: A Conduit of Culture and History
Woven into the fabric of Polk County’s heritage, cypress trees have a storied history and cultural significance. Native American cultures...
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Tara Crutchfield
- Apr 1
The Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida
You’ve just received the news. It’s breast cancer. The diagnosis shatters you. Questions pile one on top of the other in your mind. What...
Tara Crutchfield
- Apr 1
Polk Museum of Art $8M Expansion
Approximately 140,000 visitors meander the galleries at Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College annually. Boasting more than 3,000...
Tara Crutchfield
- Mar 4
Pizza Party
DID YOU KNOW The first-ever pizzeria in the world is the Port’Alba in Italy. Established in 1830, the store cooked their pies in an oven...
Daryl Ward
- Feb 1
A New Year, A New Festival
Polk County is fortunate to have so many wonderful arts festivals. From the Swan City Jazz Festival to the Lake Wales Arts Festival, to...
Shannon Carnevale
- Feb 1
Navigating El Niño: What It Means for Polk County’s Dry Season
As winter unfolds, a special guest, El Niño, is set to influence our weather patterns significantly. Known for altering weather on a...
Shannon Carnevale
- Jan 2
Gentle Giants of the Sky: American White Pelicans
As our holiday seasons come to a close, Polk County residents and visitors are treated to a spectacular natural event: the arrival of...
Shannon Carnevale
- Nov 28, 2023
Building a Bird-Friendly Polk County: Tips for Cavity-Nester Conservation
December is the perfect time to learn about the fascinating world of our cavity-nesting birds in Central Florida. These birds, including...
Tara Crutchfield
- Nov 28, 2023
Who’s a Good Boy?
In 1972, two women interested in helping stray animals were introduced to each other by a veterinarian. This kismet meeting would mean...
Shannon Carnevale
- Nov 1, 2023
Embracing November: A Seasonal Shift in Polk County’s Natural World
As we bid farewell to the hurricane season and the wetter months, November brings a refreshing change to Polk County. You might have...
Shannon Carnevale
- Sep 26, 2023
Greetings, Brave Souls of the Neighborhood
As the twilight of the spooky season creeps upon us, the air fills with whispers and rustles - not from wandering spirits but from our...
Jeremy Gardner
- Sep 26, 2023
The Art of Storytelling
I: Chekhov’s Cave Painting In early 2019, a team of scientists announced they had made an incredible discovery. After shimmying up a fig...
Tara Crutchfield
- Sep 26, 2023
Bartow Ford Presents Lee Brice
Bartow Ford has been giving away a truck during the fall for as long as Bartow Ford President Benny Robles Jr. can remember. He noticed...
Tara Crutchfield
- Aug 1, 2023
Creating Champions
Marco Fazzini’s office is littered with stories and posters of his boxers’ successes. “I like to fix the cars to race them. I don’t just...
Tara Crutchfield
- May 31, 2023
Rose Dynasty Foundation
Eight years ago, Jason DeShazo sat in the crowd of a Dixie Longate drag show. “I don’t think I laughed and cried so much in one sitting...
Shannon Carnevale
- May 31, 2023
The Urban Heat Island Effect: A Growing Challenge in Florida’s Urban Areas
As an Extension Agent, a significant part of my daily work involves talking about our environment with folks from all walks of life. A...
Tara Crutchfield
- May 1, 2023
Florida Dance Theatre
The Florida Dance Theatre, founded in 1993 by Carol Krajacic Erkes, is a “home and a community rather than a program,” according to...
Shannon Carnevale
- May 1, 2023
American Wetlands Month
May is American Wetlands Month, and with one-fifth of the nation’s wetlands, Florida is the perfect place to appreciate the beauty and...
Tara Crutchfield
- Mar 31, 2023
Sea & Shoreline
We are surrounded by water, both fresh and salt. What happens when an aquatic ecosystem becomes unbalanced or worse? We sat over coffee...
Daryl Ward
- Mar 30, 2023
Democracy and Arts & Culture
When communities come together to celebrate what makes those communities unique or special, memorable things usually happen. This October...
Tara Crutchfield
- Mar 1, 2023
Pace Center for Girls
Pace Center for Girls’ mission is to provide girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling,...
Tara Crutchfield
- Feb 1, 2023
Luster African American Heritage Museum
Bartow brothers and founders of the Luster African American Heritage Museum, Charles Luster and Dr. Harvey Lester say their commitment to...
Tara Crutchfield
- Oct 1, 2022
Polk Forever
“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry Have you ever wandered the boardwalk at Alligator Alley in Circle B Bar...
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