A love of cats (and plants), a trip to an Orlando cat café, and a passion for helping animals led Lakeland native Janette Nettler to her dream job – one she created for herself. Florida’s first cat adoption lounge and plant nursery, Botany Cats, opened earlier this year and has introduced 12 cats to their new pet parents. “There are so many cats out on the streets and in shelters. All the shelters are completely full, and I want to help as many as I can,” Nettler said. Janette Nettler has loved animals since childhood. She got her first cat at age four, followed by another several years later. As an adult, she got two Corgis and found that she adored dogs too. Now she has three cats at home, “Plus these guys, of course,” she said of her Botany Cats brood. Born in Lakeland, Nettler lived in North Carolina from age four to 14 before moving back to the Swan City. After another move, she’s been back in Lakeland for two years. “I keep coming back, and it gets better every time,” she said. “I consider Lakeland my home.” She went to college to study elementary education but gravitated toward veterinary medicine. Nettler changed career paths and became a veterinary technician for about five years. “I loved helping the animals,” she said. “I just wanted to do something a little more – to have something of my own and be able to plan my work schedule around my family.” Familiar with the cat café concept, Nettler had the fleeting thought that she, too, could create an atmosphere around cappuccinos and cats. “I thought the idea of a cat café was so unique. There are so many cats out there that need homes. The boutique experience of a cat café was so different from a shelter,” she said. She took a trip to an Orlando cat café in 2021. “It was so relaxing, and it was fun, and the cats didn’t seem stressed. […] I fell in love and decided to make it a reality for Lakeland, but a little different – I put my own spin on it.” BOTANY CATS HITS THE ROAD The original idea was to have a brick-and-mortar cat lounge. Finding space within budget proved difficult. Nettler didn’t have any experience working in coffee shops either, and Lakeland already has some great ones. Why not bring Botany Cats to them? Nettler rethought her business plan and decided to make it mobile. She first thought of renovating a school bus, but the concept soon evolved. “I thought, ‘I already have a truck. Why don’t I get something I can pull?’ I started looking at campers, and I found this one,” she said. Her cat adoption lounge and plant nursery took the form of a 2009 Dutchmen Freedom Spirit travel trailer. “The layout was pretty much what I wanted anyway. I didn’t have to do too much as far as renovations go,” said Nettler. “Everything started working out, and it was like, ‘Well, this is what it’s supposed to be then.’” She bought the trailer last November. “I took it camping to break it in before I did any renovations,” she said. The kitty camper took only a few months to renovate with minor cosmetic upgrades like removing the dinette and building a bench for more seating. Nettler dubbed the trailer Demeter. The Greek goddess of harvest and agriculture and a character in the Broadway musical “Cats,” Demeter was a fitting name to marry Nettler’s two concepts. Botany Cats’ first day open was February 9, with a grand opening on March 5 at The Green House Garden Store – a locally owned plant shop where Nettler sources her plants. Now Nettler brings Botany Cats to local establishments like Quinteassence Kava Bar – where we met with her – Hillcrest Coffee, the Polk Museum of Art, and the Lakeland Public Library. “I can bring the kitties to the people. They don’t have to come to me, which is great,” she said. Nettler says she plans to work with other Lakeland businesses, including Cob & Pen, Swan Brewing, and The Joinery. Those on the east side of Polk County won’t have to travel far for kitten cuddles either, as Nettler will occasionally be joining the Saturday lineup at the Winter Haven Farmers Market starting in May. She’s looking to partner with other businesses in Winter Haven, from the library to coffee shops and the brewery. “I’m very excited to get in touch with that community,” she said. SO WHAT’S A CAT LOUNGE ANYWAY? “A cat lounge is full of adoptable kitties,” Nettler said. “All of mine are rescues, so either I get them from the SPCA [or] a rescue out of Kissimmee called Liberation Cat House – they take in medical cases, and then when they’re healthy and ready to be adopted, they can send them to me.” Nettler also has pet owners reach out to her when they can no longer care for their cats. She takes them in, has them checked by a veterinarian, and gets them ready for adoption. All the cats up for adoption at Botany Cats have been fully vaccinated, microchipped, spayed/neutered, dewormed, given monthly flea prevention, and tested for common diseases such as feline leukemia, aids, rabies, distemper, etc., according to their website. Though the purring posse at Botany Cats are looking for furr-ever homes, adoption isn’t a requirement to play with cats and shop plants. “Whenever you see me around town, just come in and hang out with them for a little bit.” Typically, Nettler allows four people in the same party at a time to play with the cats. At larger events like farmers markets, it’s open for 15-minute walk-ins. During the week, when she’s at the museum or a coffee shop, she accepts reservations online – $7 for 30-minute appointments. Walk-ins are welcome, too, if available – $9 for 30 minutes. Nettler notes it’s always a good idea to make a reservation as it secures your spot and saves a bit of money (which you’re sure to need for all the cat toys and treats you’ll be buying your new fuzzy friend after you fall in love with an adoptable kitty). According to Botany Cats, “Cats have a huge impact on both your physical and mental health by lowering stress levels, heart rates, and boosting positivity. The adoption experience should be the same. Calmer humans + stress-free cats = forever homes found.” Those interested in adopting a cat can learn all about them, including their medical history, from the Botany Cats owner. “I spend more time with these kids than my cats at home, so I know their personalities and I’m very passionate about matching them with the perfect family, the perfect home,” she said. Since opening in February, Botany Cats has adopted out 12 cats! As for the ‘Botany’ part of the name, Nettler offers a selection of cat-friendly plants for sale. She’s working on expanding her offerings, even starting a greenhouse at home where she plans to grow catnip and cat grass. Alongside the cat-friendly greenery for sale, Botany Cats offers cat supplies, handmade scrunchies, headbands, and cat bandanas by local maker East of These. Two other local artists have work for purchase at Botany Cats – digital prints by Gently Mental and pet portraits by Gabriella Escalera of Gaby’s Art Gallery. Even the mural of Nettler’s cat, Bear, on the trailer’s façade, was painted by local artist Maegan Carroll. THE FUTURE SOUNDS PURR-FECT “For the future of Botany Cats, I’m definitely still looking at the brick-and-mortar side of it. In a couple of years, I’m hoping to have a larger space – a more permanent space – but also still have the trailer. [...] I still want to have [the trailer] to go to the farmers markets because they’re such a big hit, but have a larger space to take in more cats and rotate what cats I bring on the road. That might look like a partnership with a local bakery or a startup coffee shop or something. I’m open to partnerships,” said Nettler. What’s the most rewarding part about running Botany Cats? According to Nettler, “Definitely the adoptions. It warms my heart so much hearing the stories from the new owners after they take their babies home and how well it’s working at home. They’re not pressured to keep the cat if something were not to work out [...] they can always bring the cat back to me, and I’ll try to find a better fit. […] For the 12 adoptions I’ve had, it’s been nothing but happy stories, and I love it so much.” Follow Botany Cats on social media and their website to stay updated on where they’ll roll into next, for reservations for some much-needed cat therapy, and information about adoptions. Botany Cats botanycats.com FB @BotanyCatsLKLD IG @botany_cats Photography by Amy Sexson

Lakeland-based nonprofit SPCA Florida is abuzz with construction, renovations, and new programs to better care for the cats and dogs that come into their facility. According to SPCA Florida Executive Director Shelley Thayer, these improvements are made possible through community generosity and participation. SPCA Florida is a nonprofit organization founded in 1979. This no-kill shelter “exists to eliminate animal suffering and to engage the entire community in the welfare and well-being of animals. We accomplish this by advancing model programs to promote the adoption of healthy animals, prevent dog and cat overpopulation, provide veterinary medical services for animals in the community, and keep animals in homes through relinquishment intervention strategies,” according to their mission statement. Last year, SPCA Florida saved 4,282 lives and performed 4,523 spay/neuter surgeries. The nonprofit’s Annual Save Rate for dogs and cats combined has risen from 92% in 2019, 94% in 2020, to 96% in 2021. OH, SNAP! April 9, 2022, was the end of a chapter for SPCA Florida. It marked the 30th and final Walk for the Animals, a fundraising event that raised over $90,000 this year. Though this was the final Walk for the Animals, the organization isn’t closing the book, just flipping the page to new programs. Smokepoint Rock for Paws, another SPCA Florida fundraiser, is coming up this month on May 14. The event held at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven will benefit one such new program, SPCA Florida’s Emergency Response Team, FL SARC. The event promises live music and a raffle with prizes from an electric guitar and amp package to a full-size complete drum kit and more. FL SARC (Florida State Animal Rescue Coalition) is a ten-year old nonprofit brought onboard by SPCA Florida last year. The only FEMA-approved nonprofit volunteer training organization in the United States, FL SARC’s mission is dedicated to disaster mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery for emergencies involving companion animals. “Last year, we deployed three teams to Louisiana to help the animals there. We’ve also transported animals for other organizations to get them out of harm’s way,” said Thayer. “The goal this year is to train another 450 people for boots on the ground training for these disasters,” said Thayer of their aim to train state volunteers along with 25 certified trainers in 2022. Another of the nonprofit’s current efforts is SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program), which has the goal of spaying and neutering 3,350 community and personally owned cats. “This effort will reduce our county’s euthanasia rate by reducing unwanted births,” according to SPCA Florida’s 2021 Annual Report. To meet this goal, SPCA Florida has a brand new surgery center under construction on the Adoption Center side of their complex. The project looks to be completed by mid-May. “When I first got here, all the animals from the Adoption Center would go through our hospital. It didn’t leave very much room for the public,” said executive director Shelley Thayer. For the last two years, SPCA Adoption Center veterinary staff have been working out of a borrowed trailer to spay and neuter, performing surgeries on around 5,000 animals in the tiny space. “Finally, we’re building our own surgery center in the adoption area so that we can do dental for the first time ever on all of our cats and dogs, and we can spay and neuter more animals than we’ve ever done before,” she said. “It frees up our trailer to help people with their personal pets to do free and low-cost spay and neuter.” Three donors have committed $500 each to wrap the trailer’s exterior with pictures of pets, similar to SPCA Florida’s transport vans. They need seven more donors. “We’re really excited about being able to do both. Being able to help the public more than we have in the past, which also helps Animal Control with not so many animals coming in, and then people maybe not having the funds to get their animals spayed or neutered – this will be a blessing to them.” Thayer praised SPCA Florida Adoption Center Veterinarian Dr. Robyn Barton, calling her a “godsend.” “She’s the best shelter vet I’ve ever met. We’re lucky to have her here in Polk County,” Thayer said. “She was determined to get them all done on this trailer, and she has.” Barton’s efforts will soon be rewarded with the addition of the spacious new surgery center, complete with a prep area, two surgery tables overlooking large windows, a washer and dryer, a dentistry area, a pharmacy, and more. With kitten and puppy season shortly upon them, SPCA Florida aims to mitigate unwanted litters by spaying and neutering as many animals as possible. “This opens a whole new world for our community,” Thayer said of the surgery center. “We’ll be able to save a couple more thousand cats and dogs a year because of it.” “This is all through the generosity of people. It’s all donations,” said the SPCA Florida executive director. “You can see from the trailer, to this, how excited everybody is to be able to work in this space and how much more we’ll be able to do.” Additionally, SPCA Florida became a training center for Lincoln Memorial University and Ross University students in their final year of veterinarian training. Thayer noted that the organization is also working with Hillsborough Community College for CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) training, students who will also be able to assist in the new surgery center. A WALK IN THE DOG PARK Construction on the surgery center isn’t the only renovation set to take place (or already in motion) at the SPCA. Adjacent to the surgery center will be two new puppy pens and a “working cat” adoption pen. “Having a place for the puppies is important because when they’re little, their feet can’t touch the ground because they haven’t had all their vaccines. Having the puppy pens that we’re going to build out here will be great because they’ll be able to go outside and get fresh air and play,” said Thayer. The nonprofit is soon to replace its flooring with poured epoxy and move its laundry facilities to a separate building outside to reduce the risk of a dryer fire. It will be adding industrial washers and dryers for the first time. They recently refreshed their canine area with new grass and a widened walking trail. “We’ve been working with a group out of Tampa as their corporate project to help us clear our walking trail,” said Thayer. The trail is a loop through the woods (where it is considerably cooler), along which there are three pens to work on basic skills with adoptable pups. The same group helping to widen the trails, CAPTRUST, will be returning to help install benches around the area. “It’s projects like that – the community working together – that help make things nicer,” Thayer said. SPCA Florida’s most significant need is financial support for medical care. Aside from that, the executive director would love to have a garden club to take care of lawn maintenance and keep the facility looking nice. Those looking to help SPCA Florida in their mission to save animals can sign up for a Doggie Date which often results in adoptions through their interactions around town, or consider shopping for your own dog or cat at their store. Located at the front of the Adoption Center, the store offers various toys, leashes, collars, pet clothes, treats, and the like at discounted prices — purchases from the store benefit SPCA Florida. From those contributing to programs like SNAP and FL SARC, donating supplies and food and funds, to volunteers, Shelley Thayer says, “It’s everybody working together” that makes their mission possible. SPCA Florida 5850 Brannen Rd S, Lakeland (863) 646-7722 www.spcaflorida.org FB @SPCAFlorida IG @spca_florida Photography by Amy Sexson

My family grew oranges in a grove next to a little wild lake in Polk County for four generations. The grove yielded its sweet crop and stood next to the lake for over 75 years. It was home to turkey, bobcat, hogs, and deer. It shielded the lake and kept it, at least in my young mind, a wild and sacred place, and those rows of green trees covered in golden globes witnessed many good memories and moments of solitude. It was a place I loved. In 1989, the grove was lost to a hard freeze, as were many others that winter. My uncle, generation number three, replanted the grove the following year. By a fortunate accident, blood oranges found their way into the rows of the grove. Through a nurseryman’s error, 10 blood orange trees were included with hundreds of Hamlins to be replanted. I was 5 when those trees were put in the ground. My memories of the grove began after time revealed the surprise, and the grove had become a mature stand of trees next to the little wild lake. Each year, I always made sure to flag a couple of the blood orange trees ensuring that they held tight to their golden treasure and didn’t end up in the harvest crew’s trailer. While they lasted, they were a sweet treat on days afield and while working in the grove. The elevation and the deep sandy soils told me that Tall Pines once grew next to the lake. Except for a small patch of long overgrown woods showing the groves ancestry, the grove is all I’ve known. As far back as I can remember groves surrounded my family’s grove and the lake. They seemed a vast, wild landscape in their rolling expanse over the sandhills. As wild as the groves seemed I could only imagine the native flat woods and scrub of the not-so-distant past. Many mornings found me among the tree rows stalking feral hogs and whispering to Osceola Turkeys. Many mornings found me on the little wild lake fishing for speckled perch or hunting ducks and alligator. Those mornings spent in pursuit of game are memories as sweet as the oranges that grew on the trees. One of my favorite memories includes bluebills, which every year would migrate from the far north and navigate to our lake next to the grove. Each year flocks of bluebills would announce their final approach as primary feathers sounded descent. Small jets landing and sounding very much like the large ones on final descent into Orlando! With regularity, I would find myself on one of these outings contemplating time and place, as a short walk through the grove would yield evidence that man had occupied this land for thousands of years prior. Arrowheads and pottery shards sent my mind wandering. How long ago was this projectile used in the same pursuits I was on? How tall were the pines that towered overhead? How loud were the bluebills landing on the lake back then? What was he hunting, and did he find the same satisfaction in this place that I did? I often thought while hunting, working, camping, and finding arrowheads, that one day I’d bring my yet-to-beconceived family here. We would sit and call at turkeys, listen to bluebills cruise through the skies, and treat ourselves with blood oranges as summer held onto fall. We would camp and fish and make memories. We would find arrowheads, and the concept of time and my relationship to this special place would transfer generations. It had been a couple of years since I walked the grove. I knelt to pick up a broken coral arrowhead, one like many I’d found before. I faced the lake and saw the raft of bluebills which had concluded their migration south, to this spot, for as far back as I could remember. This would be my last walk here. The last time I would hear the bluebills on the little wild lake, the last time I would pick up an arrowhead. The blood oranges have been gone for several years, as have most of the groves around here. They got hammered by a disease and gobbled up by development. All that remains is the small patch of woods and an empty field. My family hasn’t owned the grove for a few years (technically I was trespassing), but it would be my last time doing so. I returned to say goodbye. The lake was still beautiful and wild but not for long. A wall of gray, beige, and off-white boxes across the street foretold what was to come. “The last crop” would soon be planted. Rows of houses would soon line this field. The developer pulled up and asked why I was there. I talked with him. “Can’t stop progress” he mentioned. I feigned a smile. “We break ground in two weeks.” I wondered if anyone would wander and wonder about tall pines, ancient peoples, and sweet blood oranges while walking a cul-de-sac. When all that covers this land and surrounds this lake is humdrum rooftops, will anyone be inspired by this once sacred place? Anyways, I do miss those Blood Oranges.

“The Patron Saint of Justice,” a new mural by the internationally renowned Icelandic artist Lokey Prakkarastrik, featuring Polk County’s often controversial but never camera-shy Sheriff Grady Judd, has been approved to replace “The Calm.” The former mural depicting a group of people riding atop a whale has graced the west side of Heartland Church in downtown Winter Haven since 2015. “I must admit, at first, I was at a loss,” Prakkarastrik said. Eventually, the artist found her inspiration with the help of the social media platform TikTok. “I was aimlessly scrolling my life away on the TikToks… the addictive nature of this platform is maddening. However, I came across this video of the great Sheriff Grady telling people to chill out, drink 7ups, eat the Moonpies, and stop with the murdering. I said to myself, “Ég hef fundið það! This is it, my muse!” “For the most part, the people in this community are excited about this new piece,” said James De’Pokets, the millionaire investor who commissioned the mural. “The Patron Saint of Justice’’ will be the first of several art installations scheduled to hit the streets of Central Florida in 2022. These art pieces are all a part of his initiative to pay tribute to local heroes through the power of art, simply called Make America Grateful for Our Local Men and Women That Put Their Lives on the Line Every Day, Again. “It’s a working title,” says De’Pokets. “I think this is going to be a beautiful addition to the other murals and sculptures featured in downtown Winter Haven. I can think of no better way to honor a great man that has dedicated his life to shooting bad guys and shooting them a lot.” Local residents and business owners are divided on the execution of the project. Pat Hernandez, owner and sole proprietor of Smooth Operator Bikini Waxes, located directly across the street from the new mural, had this to say. “When a client comes in for one of my world-famous bikini waxes, they expect two things. Number one, the absolute smoothest bikini line money can buy, and two, a great view of downtown Winter Haven, unobstructed by this grotesque attempt of self-expression. It’s the last thing I want my clients to see. It’s hideous. And as a person who stares at butts all day, that’s saying something.” However, some people see this as a welcomed addition to the thriving artistic culture of downtown. People like Karen Conway, a self-described proud animal rights activist, said, “I am so happy to see that disgusting display of animal abuse taken down and replaced with something wholesome. Sheriff Grady Judd is a true American hero who inspires me to be a better person and makes my heart smile.” Although Sheriff Grady Judd could not be reached directly to comment on his new shrine, a representative from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office had this to say, “Everyone here at the Sheriff’s office is deeply moved by this arresting work of art. We all know how much Grady hates the spotlight. It’s about time our Sheriff gets a little recognition for all the good work he has done.” If you know a local hero and would like to nominate them to the Make America Grateful for Our Local Men and Women That Put Their Lives on the Line Every Day, Again Arts Initiative, email april_foolz@havenmagazines.com.

Swans? More like yawns. Zebra Longwing Butterfly? But why? It’s official. Lakeland and Winter Haven have new city symbols. After reviewing the abilities and weaknesses of many creatures in the MonsterVerse, Mayor Bill Mutz chose Godzilla to be Lakeland’s new symbol, and Mayor Brad Dantzler tapped Mothra for Winter Haven on March 16. Both mayors signed executive orders despite many detractors. Rumors are swirling around what caused this sudden power move. A source close to Dantzler and Mutz say they’re just a couple of buds that like to get together with candy and popcorn for ‘Mayor Monster Movie Nights.’ “This is Pandemonium!” shouted Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz as a fire-breathing beast rose from the murky depths of Lake Mirror behind him. “That’s the title of this sculpture, “Pandemonium.” I like it, it’s catchy. And look at that guy, so scary! It’s like, ‘Ahhhhh! Godzilla, no! Don’t destroy our city with your atomic breath!” he chuckled during the official unveiling of the concept. The statue will be Lakeland’s largest public art project of 2022. The stone statue of Godzilla will protrude from Lake Mirror with fountain features to give the effect of water cascading off his 210-foot frame. The tallest structure in Lakeland currently is the Lakeland Electric Building sitting at 148 feet. That will not be the case come summer 2022. The installation “Pandemonium” was designed to tower over all in its path. “You know, like in the movies,” said the project’s lead architect. A fire feature will shoot 50-foot flames from the open maw of the monster, and LED lights mimicking Godzilla’s atomic rays will shine from his back spikes. The atomic rays can sync up to music and display different colors. The city plans to use this festive feature during the holidays, pairing Godzilla’s atomic rays with classic Christmas tunes. To assist citizens in keeping time, speakers around the lake will emit an earthshaking roar every hour, on the hour. The art installation will cost taxpayers an estimated $412M. With such a slash to the city budget, it looks like Lakeland may be in store for an even more restrictive road diet as they won’t be able to afford any more road. Many businesses who have embraced Lakeland’s former symbol, the swan, for their name or logo are upset with the mayor’s hasty choice. “Now my brewery doesn’t make any sense,” said a local brewery owner. “The permitting process to change it to Godzilla Brewing has been a bureaucratic nightmare.” Apartment communities, tattoo shops, retail stores, doctors’ offices, even the City of Lakeland itself will have to get with the program and join the rebrand. Things aren’t faring much better on the county’s east side, either. Mayor Dantzler’s executive decision to make Mothra the city symbol will have a comparable economic impact with hundreds of art fixtures, the purchase of a radio station, and the cost of repainting planes. The City of Winter Haven’s former mascot and the official butterfly for the state is the Zebra Longwing Butterfly. Its graceful black wings banded with yellow were no match for Mothra’s reflective scales and telepathy. Rodan, King Ghidorah, Behemoth, King Kong, and Methuselah were all close to claiming the title of Winter Haven’s official symbol. “Scylla was popular with the commissioners, but she’s a Spider Titan, and I have arachnophobia,” said Mayor Dantzler. “The City’s mascot is already a butterfly, and I mean, come on – supersonic flight, antenna beams, stinger blast, silk, wind. The list for what makes Mothra cool goes on and on.” Last year, artist Gillian Fazio completed the Haven mural on the Alan L. Ulch building downtown. As part of the city rebrand, Fazio has been asked to change the butterfly atop the letter ‘A’ into Mothra shooting energy beams at the letter ‘H.’ Senior art majors at Polk State College are constructing Mothra hanging installations that will dangle from trees in Central Park and spew silk at passersby. Winter Haven is in talks with the Auburndale Rotary Butterfly Garden to replace all butterflies with moths and change its name to the Auburndale Rotary Mothra Garden. Since telepathy is one of Mothra’s primary abilities, the City of Winter Haven purchased its own radio station WWMZ where citizens can hear “All Mothra, all the time.” The station will play city announcements and news with interspersed giant insect growls. Winter Haven is also known as ‘The Seaplane Capital of the World.’ All seaplanes at Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base will undergo a Mothra makeover so the community can enjoy our new city symbol anytime a seaplane takes flight. Discussions about installing prismatic beams on the planes are ongoing. The city mascots have been finalized, and there is no recourse for those who disagree with the creature feature choices. Citizens opposed to the official city symbol changes are asked to “Chill out,” according to a joint statement from the mayors. If you have any Godzilla or Mothra-related public art ideas for Lakeland or Winter Haven, please email april_foolz@havenmagazines.com. Images by Ella Doyle

Start your engines and glue down those dentures, Polk County. It’s time for the 2022 NAMSER Races. The Polk Elderly Alliance and Polk County Tourism, in partnership with NASCAR, are bringing you the national phenomenon that is the National Association for Motor Scooter Elderly Racing (NAMSER). Instead of mullets and mustaches, the stands will be filled with Life Alert necklaces and arthritis. The 2022 NAMSER Cup, to be held at the Auburndale Speedway next month, will host two pedal-to-the-metal categories – Jazzy and Little Rascal races. A Jazzy, for those who don’t love their grandmas (or else you would have already gotten her one), is an electric wheelchair lauded as the height of mobile luxury. Little Rascals are a brand of 4-wheeled motorized scooters. Jazzys clear 4.25 mph of ground speed with the capability to cover even the roughest terrain due to its advanced suspension. Little Rascals are a more adrenaline-inducing vehicle maxing out ground speeds at 6 miles per hour. Try walking that fast – not going to happen. Left Pa-paw out in the rain? No worries, he can kick that Rascal into 4WD, and he’ll be just fine. In fact, he might even tow you out of the mud with his 10,000-pound towing capacity. Known as the working man’s motorized scooter – there’s a reason they call the Little Rascal a ‘power’ chair. As many of you may know, the NAMSER Cup is a pretty big deal in the world of American auto racing. A true national pastime, these blue hair badass races have been broadcast everywhere from Austin, TX to Philadelphia, PA. Polk County Tourism was overjoyed when they won the bid to host the 2022 NAMSER Cup. With the distinction of hosting the races comes millions in tourism dollars. Expect even more seniors on Polk County roads as the NAMSER caravan of groupies make their way to the races (some of which are traveling from The Villages – so protection is strongly advised). Every year at the Daytona 500, thousands of screaming fans watch cars blur around a 2.5-mile track, 200 times, traveling a distance of 500 miles. The ‘Auburndale 2,’ as officials are calling the 2022 NAMSER Cup, will consist of speedy seniors going a heart-pounding 4-6 miles per hour for eight laps, totaling 2 miles around the quarter-mile-long Auburndale Speedway. Typical NASCAR races last between one and three hours, sometimes going upwards of six hours if there are unexpected delays. “The Jazzy races won’t take that long because our racers don’t have the patience for that. They tend to get cranky and easily startled. The race starts at the crack of dawn, and they’ll be napping by 7:30 am,” said Red Smith, a race official. Professional pit crews will be onsite to juice up Jazzys and keep those fogeys flying. Fans of both racing and the elderly can expect big names in the sport. You know them, you love them, you have a t-shirt with their face on it – Doris, Barb, Shirley, Agnes, Dolores, Bernadette, Lois, Pop-pop, Mimi, Percival, Wilbur, Eugene, Gus, Archie, Jim, Walter, Norman, Virgil, and Abe – that’s right, even Abe. Standing atop NAMSER Cup sponsorship tiers are brands of note – Mountain Dew, NAPA Auto Parts, McDonald’s, Busch Light, and GEICO. Individual sponsors (the ones you’ll see plastered on the motorized scooters, wheelchairs, and racing suits) include Depends, AARP, those late-night commercials that sell specialty coins, Fixodent, Big Casserole, WHAAAT Hearing Aids, and a Nigerian prince in need of social security and bank routing numbers. Jazzy and Little Rascal races are not for the faint of heart. These geriatrics get brutal. According to NAMSER rep Red Smith, “We’ve had problems in the past with seniors getting a little too competitive. They’ll ram their vehicles into each other, hit passing scooters with canes, poke tires with knitting needles, and even throw banana peels on the track. Things can get real bloody, real fast.” Geezer aggression aside, it’s safety first for race organizers. All vehicles will be outfitted with roll cages, and they’ll be required to wear fire-retardant itchy sweaters. “Sometimes they try to take a curve too fast and topple right over, so we’ve tried to mitigate any risk of injury for the drivers.” Racing stars hook fans with a show of personality at every turn. And some of them like to really ‘jazz’ it up. Smith remembers, “Last year we had a fella put a pair of truck nuts on the back of his Rascal. Damndest thing you ever saw – Eugene with his bifocals on and pants pulled up to his chest, just gettin’ it…truck nuts flapping behind him. That was a big hit.” Fans are asked not to make too much noise, or competitors will file a noise complaint. “Most of them are hard of hearing, so it’s not so much the noise that riles them up. It’s more if you look like you’re having fun over an acceptable level – they can sense it, and they don’t like it.” Perhaps the shining moment of the race is when the winner is showered in Ensure Protein Shakes and prune juice because “champagne gives them heartburn.” The winner of the 2022 NAMSER Cup will win a gift certificate to Polk County's newest restaurant, Chewz Wisely, and get the honor of leading the first lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway this September. It’ll take a while. Coinciding with the NAMSER Cup is an unofficial off-road mud race at Bone Valley ATV Park. This race is an entirely different animal with power chairs and motorized scooters that have been taken from so-so to yee-yee. Local racers are already building out their Jazzys and Little Rascals with beefier all-terrain tires, lift kits, exhaust, chromed-out baskets, underglow, and of course, diesel engines. “It’s a lot of torque for a small vehicle, but it’s fun. Have we had a few broken hips, lost a grandma or two in the process? Sure,” said an organizer for the mud race dubbed the Redneck Retiree Tough Scooter Races. Grab your tickets to see retirees rev their engines at either of these exciting events by emailing april_foolz@havenmagazines.com.

The time was 2:04 am on October 9, 2021. A security system picked up movement outside an arts organization in Winter Haven. An alarm rang out as management and police were alerted and raced to the scene to discover the cause of the disturbance. What would they find? Broken glass? Had they been robbed? Far worse… or should I say ‘fart’ worse. A thick green ‘F’ had been spray-painted in the middle of the sign. The Lake Art Association was now the Lake Fart Association. “We felt like the butt of some bad joke,” said a spokesperson for the vandalized organization. Convinced it was a one-off occurrence, just some kids with too much time and spray paint on their hands, the Polk County Sheriff’s Department was no less determined to sniff out the air biscuit bad actor responsible for this heinous crime. “We wanted to keep things quiet,” said a representative for the PCSO. “We knew that if so much as a sharp squeak of this leaked, the attention could inspire others to commit similar acts.” Cheese-cutting copycats were something they couldn’t afford to risk. It would turn out they didn’t have to wait long for breaking wind to become breaking news. The vandal would strike again just a week before Christmas. The sign for a city about 15 miles south of Lake Wales now read, “Welcome to Frostpoot… The Friendly City.” The air was thick with unanswered questions and the upset stomach of Lady Justice – she was a rumblin’. The new year got off to a crappy start as well. The signs, website landing pages, and social media accounts of dozens of local businesses and organizations were targeted with flatulent aggression. Not even long-standing and respected art institutions, schools, or galleries were spared. The Polk Museum of Fart, the Lake Wales Farts Council, Platform Fart, the Lakeland Fart Guild, Harrison School for the Farts, the Winter Haven Fine Farts Building, Farts on Central, the Polk Farts Alliance, Fart Centric Studio, and Fart/ifact were only some of those crop-dusted by this odorous offender, leaving citizens and law enforcement in a green cloud of confusion. Who could be behind it all? And what was their motive? When the county seat was hit, it was game on for Polk County law enforcement. “We may have dropped the ball,” said detective Gary Cheeks, “but we can promise we won’t cut the cheese when we pick it up. And trust me, we will pick it up. Something about this whole situation stinks.” Emotions were high when it came to the topic of the tooting troublemaker’s actions and potential identity. Folks were pointing and pulling fingers. Passersby were scandalized, enraged, or giggly at the cursive sign that read, “Fartow… Our history comes to life!” Next hit was the Greater Fartow Chamber of Commerce, followed a few days later by Fartow High School. Polk County detectives knew there was one big target left and decided to bring federal reinforcement to catch this gassy goon before he could strike again. “When we caught wind of what was going on, we knew we had to step in,” said an agent with the FBI’s Humorous Crimes Task Force. “We sent every available agent to Polk County and really let her rip with the investigation.” For weeks local law enforcement in partnership with federal agents sniffed out leads and kept a presence at the only place yet vandalized, a local Ford dealership. After a month and a half with no action, an internal memo was sent out, “calling off” security around the dealership. This is how they would catch the bottom burp bad hombre. For weeks there had been murmurings of an inside job – a dutch oven if you will. “I got a whiff from some of our deputies about rumors that this was one of our own. I didn’t want to believe it, but it’s hard to mistake your own brand,” said a lead investigator for the PCSO. On March 1, 2022, at 11:57 pm, local deputies and federal agents surrounded the dealership and closed in on a masked Detective Gary Cheeks with spray paint in hand. Fartow Ford? Not in Grady Judd’s America. In hindsight, law enforcement officials say they should have suspected Cheeks much earlier due to his suspicious demeanor when “working” the case. Somehow he was able to fly under the radar for months – silent but deadly. It would seem Cheeks fancied himself a spray-paint-wielding flatulence obsessed Guy Fawkes – leaving his mark wherever a toot joke was to be made. More like Guy Farts – am I right? During questioning, Cheeks admitted that he had acted alone. The only motive he would give, even after hours of tense interrogation, was simply, “Farts are funny.” It seems Lady Justice popped a Gas-X, stifling this stinky plot. We can all breathe a little deeper now that disgraced former detective Cheeks is behind bars where he belongs. “We won’t be cutting this one loose anytime soon,” said the judge at Cheeks’ first court appearance. Time-old adages often provide wisdom and clarity in otherwise hazy situations. In this case, he who smelt it…indeed dealt it.

A buzzsaw drowned out the tink, tink, tink of a hammer on a nail as we walked through a busy construction site with Winter Haven restauranter Dan Keebler. We passed a tap wall waiting for its finishing touches and a stack of tan cafeteria trays. Haven Magazine was granted a first look into the restaurant that has gums flapping across the county. The new soft food bistro, Chewz Wisely, is located in a strip mall a mile and a half south of LEGOLAND on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. It’s taken Keebler over a year to solidify his soft food concept. “The idea came to me after having my wisdom teeth taken out. I was pumped full of meds and feeling silly. I asked my daughter, who drove me home from the appointment, to get me something to eat, but options were limited. I ended up caving and eating a whole stuffed crust pizza. We had to go right back to the oral surgeon. If a restaurant like Chewz Wisely would have existed, perhaps that situation could have been avoided.” The wheels began to turn for Keebler. He thought of other reasons one might want a soft food smorgasbord. According to his market research of the area, “Look, a lot of our future customers are missing teeth for one reason or another – bar fight, teething, Mountain Dew, dentures – we don’t ask questions.” Aside from that, Keebler says chewing is time-consuming, tedious, and exhausting. “If you think about it, it’s costly too. One hundred percent of cavities and other dentalrelated problems are caused by – you guessed it – chewing. Soft food equals better dental health. I’m just one man trying to save the world here. One gulp at a time.” After much research and consultation with several area dental professionals, we cannot confirm Keebler’s claims. Keebler worked tirelessly to source the finest cafeteria-grade fare for his restaurant. He gave us a menu teaser to share with readers. Softy fans, be warned – you’re about to get hungry. Denture-friendly delicacies include applesauce, milk, goulash, chewy Life Savers, yogurt, ice cream, mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, mashed potato flavored ice cream, grits, Jell-O, mashed banana, pudding, gravy, Jello-O flavored gravy, gravy flavored Jell-O, and gruel. Guests craving something more substantive without the hassle of biting and chewing and biting and chewing will enjoy the Baby Bird section of the menu. Steak, pasta, hard candy, ribs, burgers, and the like are all available prechewed. The community will perhaps be most excited about the self-serve mush on tap – an entire wall with 53 flavors of mush. All you can slurp! “Things like color and texture are a barrier to flavor,” said Keebler. “I’ve worked tirelessly to ensure our menu is chockfull of soft, colorless options for the sophisticated Winter Havenite.” The Chewz Wisely grand opening on April 1, 2022, promises to be quite the bash. They’ll be giving away prizes, have squirt guns filled with gruel for fun samples, and a wet t-shirt contest. Enter to win a $50 gift card to Chewz Wisely at april_foolz@havenmagazines.com.

U-Pick season is almost here! Polk County has several U-pick blueberry farms to fulfill your inner Violet Beauregarde. A repeat winner for best U-pick farm in our annual Best of Haven readers choice awards, Whitehead’s Blueberry Farm is getting their buckets ready, hooking up their wagons, and preparing to welcome U-pickers for the season ahead. The Winter Haven-based family farm started as a plant nursery in 1979. In 2000, they became a blueberry farm and opened for U-pick. According to owner Jacqueline Whitehead, her in-laws purchased their home and the first bit of land in 1972. The family accumulated more property in the 80s and 90s, along with five acres across the street last summer, making up the 33-acre Whitehead Blueberry Farm. Fifteen of those acres are dedicated to growing over 30,000 blueberry plants. Jacqueline and her husband John married in 1988. “He used to work for Cypress Gardens when he was a teenager, and he grew plants for them for many years. In 1999 he decided to go into blueberries, and that’s when we became a blueberry farm,” she said. The farm is open for U-pick from the first Wednesday in April through mid-May. “Blueberries are a once-a-year crop,” said Whitehead. “When you plant the bush, it normally takes about three years for it to start producing any quantity of blueberries.” She described the beginning of their ‘cycle’ in January and early February when they bloom, which eventually turns into berries. “They don’t come in all at one time. Every two or three days, you’ll get a whole new crop that’s ripe during the harvest time. We have the bloom. Then we have the baby berries. Usually, by the end of March, you start having mature berries that you pick and eat,” she said. During the U-pick season from April through mid-May, thousands of people flock to the farm for a day of picking blueberries, enjoying the outdoors, and slowing down for a bit. Once they’ve been picked clean at the end of the U-pick season, the bushes are cut back in June. “That’s so they’ll put on fresh growth for the following year,” according to Whitehead. “At that point, they’re dormant, you could say. They have green leaves until sometime in December, and then the leaves will fall, and then they’ll start putting on the blooms again in January.” EMERALDS AND JEWELS This farm grows two varieties of blueberries – Emeralds and Jewels. “They are some of the very first blueberries ever developed by the University of Florida to grow in Florida,” according to Whitehead. The difference between the two types of berries grown on Whitehead’s Blueberry Farm is best summarized by the Florida Blueberry Growers Association (www.floridablueberrygrowers.org/varieties). “Emerald is a vigorous bush with a growth habit midway between upright and spreading. Flowers open uniformly, and it produces abundant leaves even after mild winters. Emerald is very capable of carrying heavy crops. Berries are large and firm with a good picking scar and have a sweet flavor. Color is medium to dark blue. There are no real problems with Emerald. Root rot, stem blight, and cane canker have not been too serious.” The article goes on to explain, “Jewel has a moderately low chill requirement. It is an early ripening and high-quality berry. Jewel produces a large number of flower buds but leafs well in the spring. Vigor is about equal to Sharpblue, but Jewel is shorter and more spreading. Berry quality is excellent but tends to be tart until fully ripe. Jewel is moderately susceptible to root rot.” According to the Florida Blueberry Growers Association, two types of blueberries grow in Florida – Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye Varieties – both of which encompass many types of berries. Southern Highbush include Primadonna, Emerald, Star, Windsor, Jewel, Springhigh, Springwide, Santa Fe, Sweetcrisp, Camellia, Abundance, O’Neal, Rebel, Palmetto, Dixieblue, Gupton, Sebring, Millennia, Snowchaser, Misty, Gulf Coast, Sharpblue, Farthing, Scintilla, and Lenior berries. Rabbiteye Varieties include Brightwell, Alapaha, Vernon, Ochlocknee, Powderblue, and Premier bushes. A U-PICK TRIP TO WHITEHEAD’S BLUEBERRY FARM After using the convenient parking signs to find a spot, U-pickers will head towards the classic red and white Blue View Barn, where they’ll be given a bucket with a plastic bag for their berries. Wagons attached to side-by-sides provide U-pickers a ride out into the blueberry fields. After picking their fill of Whitehead’s Emeralds and Jewels, guests will return to the barn where they can weigh their haul, pay, and eat! U-Pick blueberries are $4.00 per pound, or if you’d like them to pick for you, call ahead for blueberries at $6.00 per pound. Even after picking to their heart’s content, guests at the farm often stick around to enjoy the onsite food truck on weekends serving blueberry desserts or to shop a selection of local honey, local jam (made with Whitehead’s blueberries, of course), and other goods. “I have a very talented niece who makes fused glass jewelry, and we usually have some of that for sale as well,” said Whitehead. Families can make a day of it with the playground, corn hole, and tables to relax and take in the sights. During the off-months (September through December and January to March), the Blue View Barn is used as a wedding venue with a 130-person capacity. Decorated in a rustic-chic aesthetic with burlap, mason jars, and sweet signs, all couples need to do is show up for their big day or change out what they want. Whitehead said, “Couples that get married here tell me that it’s fun and it’s easy because I have so many decorations for them to use that it makes it simple.” The venue has an onsite bridal suite, groom saloon, DJ booth, dance floor, outdoor bar, catering kitchen, and food service area. The ceremony space is an open-sky chapel with doors for a grand entrance, wooden benches, and string lights. IN THE ZONE “I like to pick in the morning before anyone gets here. I usually come out at about 7:00 and pick some to eat for breakfast,” said Jacqueline. “It’s calming. It’s quiet. You can just get in the zone.” Some 8,000-10,000 people each year seek out the same calming appeal of what Jacqueline calls a “simple, back to basics” activity at the family farm. “I think people have lost the ability to be outside. […] People come out here, and they’re just amazed because they’ve never been on a farm in their whole life.” The Winter Haven blueberry farm is popular for school field trips, homeschool groups, church outings, and team building. Jacqueline enjoys providing a learning experience for all who come to U-pick, especially children. “It’s a way to do something fun with your kids that teaches them. People like the fact that their kids learn that blueberries don’t come from a box in Publix,” she said. U-PICK TIPS AND ETIQUETTE Wear a hat and sunscreen to avoid sunburn Wear long sleeves and pants to avoid getting scratched by the blueberry bushes Keep your children with you at all times Respect the farm and blueberry bushes. Don’t rip branches or throw berries on the ground Pick one berry at a time and only pick ones that are ripe A sample in the field is fine, but don’t eat your fill – that’s not so much sampling as it is stealing Whitehead’s Blueberry Farm 1020 Macon Road, Winter Haven www.whiteheadsblueberryfarm.com Phone(call/text): 863-860-4575 Open first Wednesday in April to Mid-May for U-pick! Hours: Wednesday-Sunday- 8:00am - 6:00pm Tours by appointment FB @whiteheadsblueberryfarm IG @whiteheadfarm BLUEBERRIES IN THE BACKYARD Are you interested in growing your own blueberries? Homeowners can make use of the “Blueberry Gardener’s Guide” fact sheet by UF/IFAS Extension at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ MG359. If you have any questions about growing blueberries in Polk County, call the UF/IFAS Plant Clinic (863) 519-1057. Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for the UF/IFAS Extension of Polk County, Anne Yasalonis, had an excellent tip for readers. “If you have the right place in your yard to grow blueberries in the ground, they make gorgeous shrubs/ hedges!” Check out this photo of Bok Tower Gardens making use of blueberry bushes in this way, courtesy of Anne Yasalonis.

A twenty-seven-year-old Polk County native is soon to launch an app poised to revolutionize the event and promotion scene. The Promo App, an event-based social network, will be a valuable tool for organizations from the local Rotary Club and the Ritz to coffee shops and concert halls. According to their website, “By signing up, users can browse a live feed of public events with real-time event information, or create and share their own events.” In addition to connecting users to events in their area, organizers can sell tickets from the platform, manage events with an easy-to-use dashboard, and track sales. So who is the twentysomething from Lake Wales behind Promo, and what are the big ideas behind it? George O’Neill was born and raised in Polk County. He attended St. Joseph Catholic School through sixth grade and graduated high school from All Saints Academy. After high school, O’Neill traveled to Tennessee to Sewanee: The University of the South before attending the University of Florida. “Believe it or not, I was a theater major,” O’Neill smiled. Though he wasn’t involved in the theater growing up, he always had a connection to the arts. “My dad’s a sculptor, so I grew up working in and out of his shop when I was a kid,” he said. Finance was O’Neill’s first choice of study, but he found it boring. He didn’t know anything about theater and thought he’d give it a try to fulfill an art credit. O’Neill remembers his teacher talking about ‘stage left’ and ‘stage right’ during his first class. “I was the only non-theater kid in the room. I remember raising my hand and asking, ‘What do you mean?’” He would go on to build sets and work on lighting and sound. Outside of Promo, the theater major turned app creator enjoys strumming the blues guitar and coaching sports. O’Neill has coached since age 19, predominantly middle and high school lacrosse and soccer at All Saints Academy. He even coached in Tennessee when he attended Sewanee. “It’s one of my favorite things. I love doing it,” he said. “Some of the seniors over at All Saints were my first team when they were in middle school. I’ve watched them grow up from being 12-year-old boys to being 18-year-old young men. They’re great kids.” This year has been a busy one for the Promo founder and CEO. Though the last year hasn’t afforded him much free time to coach, he plans to pick it back up and continue throughout his life. CREATING VALUE The Promo story starts in Sewanee, Tennessee. O’Neill was in his second semester at the Episcopal liberal-arts college and found himself walking through the cafeteria with nothing to do. He saw a few kids he had classes with and sat down with them. With no other classes scheduled that day, the group had a three-hour lunch talking about a business idea one of them had. The idea for the app, then called Vivism, was a much different iteration of what Promo is today. Of the three original partners, only O’Neill is still involved with the business. “It started with a really basic app,” he said. “I didn’t code then. I don’t code now. I just understood what it was like to be a freshman on a college campus or be somewhere where you don’t know people and are trying to figure out what’s going on around you.” The idea evolved, transcending college campuses into every downtown, dive bar, and community club worldwide. “I realized that people didn’t just have this problem on college campuses. It’s a problem all over – people are looking for things to do. […] There are things going on in downtowns all over the world, […] and they’re just trying to get an extra five or six people to show up. Anyone who’s been a part of a club knows we’re not all some big celebrity. We can’t turn out hundreds of thousands of people, but getting an extra five people to show up at an event can be a really big deal. So that was the focus.” When he first began working on the app, O’Neill admitted, “I was flying by the seat of my pants trying to figure it out as I went. I made the mistake at the time — it was a learning experience — instead of focusing on creating real value and functionality for the app that people would want to use, I focused on hype.” That experience gave the Promo CEO pause to rethink the app. He came up with several key features that would benefit Promo’s users. AN APP FOR ALL “The app is where you go if you want to find out what’s going on around you,” said O’Neill. For event organizers and attendees alike, Promo integrates with a user’s location to connect them to events in their immediate area. Or, if you are planning a trip, you can search events in that location for the dates you’ll be in that city. A key feature that doesn’t exist anywhere else is what O’Neill calls the “Reposting Feature.” Many small businesses, community organizations, and mom-and-pop shops offer regular deals. “Whether it’s a bar doing ‘Margarita Monday’ or ‘Taco Tuesday.’ […] They do all these things but have no way of incentivizing people to share that information on social media. I created a system that gives a platform for the event creator to track and incentivize sharing on social media in exchange for goods and services.” O’Neill used the example of a local coffee shop offering a ‘Mocha Monday’ promotional deal. That coffee shop could go onto the Promo App and create a ‘Mocha Monday’ promotion that offers the first five people to share that link on their social media a free mocha drink. Someone using Promo can see that deal, share the link, and Promo will track that it was posted, then automatically send the user a QR code to redeem that sweet mocha reward. It was essential to the Promo founder that the app be advantageous not only to formidable event promoters but also to community clubs, nonprofits, and businesses. “I’ve said this for a long time – I want to be the largest facilitator of Girl Scout Cookies sales in the world,” O’Neill said. “Both of my sisters did Girl Scouts in Lake Wales, and I remember them having to go out and stand in front of Publix.” With Promo, that local Girl Scout troop could advertise where they’ll be and not have to rely solely on foot traffic. “When I was in college, I played in a number of bar bands. We weren’t winning any Grammys, but it was a lot of fun. The difference between zero and five people was the difference between no one and a packed house,” O’Neill said. “I understand what it’s like being part of something that’s not big, doesn’t have a big marketing budget, doesn’t have a brand name. That’s what this tool is for.” LAUNCHING SOON The Promo App is near completion and set to launch in the coming months, according to its founder. More details on a Promo launch event will be announced soon as well. “We want to bring it everywhere we possibly can,” O’Neill said. He came up with the term ‘Event Ecosystems’ to describe the different event environments with a built-in audience of people, such as a downtown or college campus, that they plan to bring these Promo launch events to. Promo Applications www.promoapplications.com FB: Promo Applications IG @promoapplications Photography by Amy Sexson

My editor sat in a bar across from a new friend a year ago. When she asked about his hobbies, he rattled off a few and added, “...and I write poetry.” That comment sparked a ‘secret poet’ monthly feature in the magazine. Each month since, this private poet has submitted work to be published in the magazine. We’ve heard guesses that this poet was someone on our staff, a local business owner, or a community leader. Haven Magazine’s secret poet, who goes by The Lost Words of a Trying Poet on Instagram, is none other than Austin Tharp. Tharp was born and raised in Winter Haven. The 25-year-old is a financial advisor, co-owner, and Vice President at Aventail Wealth Management. When he isn’t working, the VP likes to travel, read, cook, do CrossFit… and write poetry. A TRYING POET “Someone gave me my first poetry book two years ago,” Tharp said. The book was Charles Bukowski’s “Love is a Dog from Hell.” He’s since read about six of Bukowski’s poetry collections. “I like his writing because he really does put it all out there on paper. He doesn’t hold back. He says what he has to say. He says what needs to be said. The world isn’t all sunshine and roses, and he addresses that. I try to stay in line with realism when I write because I feel like being real with yourself can be the most beautiful thing in the world.” Inspired, Tharp began writing poetry about a year and a half ago. After the conversation with Haven’s editor, Amy Sexson, he decided to create a social media platform for his writings. The name of his Instagram account and what he signs his Haven poems with, The Lost Words of a Trying Poet, is an ode to his year-long anonymity. “These poems I write just come from a nobody, a starving poet, a poet that is just starting. And these are my lost words, the lost words of the nobody poet, the words that I would never have thought to be put out there in public,” he said. “I first suggested he do something like Orange Blossom Poems […], but he was not interested,” said Sexson. “You wanted me to wear a bow-tie, and I said, ‘I don’t know…,’” Tharp laughed. “I guess it’s not my style to be ‘out there.’ I write for fun. Every now and then – it’s very rare – I write one for someone, like a friend.” Tharp discussed fellow poet and the beautiful mind behind Orange Blossom Poems (and regular poet in our LKLD Magazine), Dr. Diana Álvarez-Hughes, saying, “I don’t know if I could do what she does because she does a very good job, right there on the spot.” Tharp lauded her ability to see the joy or pain in others’ lives and commit it to paper. HOPELESS ROMANTIC So, how does the Trying Poet get inspired? “Alcohol,” he laughed. “A lot of it is [written] under the influence.” Jokes aside, many of his ideas come to him as he lays in bed. “Something will hit me, and you can’t turn it off. You have to put it on paper, or you’ll forget it,” he said. Tharp keeps notes in his phone and a big red notebook full of poetry. As a single guy and self-described ‘hopeless romantic,’ Tharp writes from his experiences. His themes cover “the ups and downs of the dating world [and] the journey of finding your forever person.” “At my age, there is a lot of pressure on you. ‘Are you dating anyone yet? When are you going to get married? How are you single? Do you want a family?’ I hear it constantly. I feel like I use some of my writing as an outlet for some of that stuff,” he said. Love isn’t the Trying Poet’s only muse. “Some of it represents just everyday life – how hard it can be on you even if you are the strongest one in the room. It doesn’t matter who you are – even kings have bad days. Some of the poems help remind me to stand tall no matter what. We honestly live in a world that tries to bring you down every day. It can be a close friend, your job, or even a stranger. But in the end, I tell myself to ‘stand up, smile, and don’t stop.’” Of all the poems he’s written, Tharp cited “Behind Every Smile” as one of his darlings: It breaks you The fights The battles Little by little Piece by piece The brick starts to crumble The glass starts to crack And that’s okay Let it take you But not completely Hold on to what you can There will always be a give and a take For after the battles The fights When the dust settles You will survive You will see another day After the scars heal A part of you will make it But of which part? For that is for you to figure out We are not created to quit or give up It’s an instinct We all have it Near the end of every battle you may face You will feel the thing that keeps you going It’s that instinct It will keep you alive for many struggles For we all face many battles and challenges every day There is something that makes us all one and the same And it’s the intuition to survive To keep going To push past the cruelness that this world may produce I wish I could help you with your battles But I have my own May not be as big as yours But we will push through We all must For there are better days to come and to see Sunrises to catch And new air to breathe He revealed that this poem “hides a secret battle. […] It talks about the constant battles people face every day. The battles you can’t see. But in that poem, I explain that after every battle leaves a scar behind, a scar that reminds you that you’ve faced a lot in life, but in the end, you will get through it and become stronger after every fight.” ‘ONE TRUE SENTENCE’ AND 100 POEMS Though he didn’t show anyone when he first started writing, Tharp’s end goal was to pen a poetry book. He’s been working on this project over the last year. “I’ll have two poems on my phone, three in my book, and I have to transfer them all onto this one long Word [document] that I have,” he said. When we spoke, Tharp was at 65 poems and counting with a goal of 100. “I already have an idea of how it’s going to look. I think I have a title in mind,” he said, adding that he hopes to selfpublish in the next few months. “I’m not making millions from it. It’s one thing I want to do for myself because I said I was going to do it.” To other shy poets just starting to dip their toes in the water, or put pen to paper rather, Tharp encouraged, “Write, write, and write some more.” He also suggested being selective with whom you choose to share your writing. “Not everyone will understand it and automatically shoot down every poem you tell them. I recommend an open-minded person. Or maybe a stranger at a bar. One motto that I follow is from the great Hemingway himself, ‘All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.’ That has really helped me. After that sentence, the rest will follow.” The Lost Words of a Trying Poet IG @thetrying_poet Photography by Amy Sexson

Fourth-grade teacher and Fire Light Reggae frontman Eddie ‘Smoke’ Jackson uses music to make a positive change in his classroom and community. The drummer and vocalist grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. In 2003 he and his wife Jaime decided they needed a change. He told his boss at the Guitar Center that he and his wife would travel down the east coast, and he’d transfer jobs wherever they landed. They stayed with family in Winter Haven towards the end of their trip. “We liked the area. We realized that it was a place we could affect some change. We saw some bits of progress popping up and thought, ‘We can be a part of this and help push it forward,’” said Jackson. He and Jaime have lived here for 18 years and have two daughters, Juliana, 16, and Jalah, 15. Jackson is a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Sikes Elementary School. Jaime, a jewelry and fiber artist, owns a local business called Jaime Jay Handmade. TAKING CENTER STAGE Music has been central to Jackson’s life. The soundtrack to his childhood was plentiful with Jamaican reggae music from the likes of Bob Marley and Barrington Levy. As a teen in the mid- to late90s he jammed out to Super Cat, Buju Banton, Garnett Silk, and Morgan Heritage who he said “were creating some of the best reggae and dancehall music at the time.” “They started to influence the way that I played and the way that I wrote. Those were some of my big influences on the reggae side, but I also grew up listening to Gospel, to punk rock music,” said Jackson. “One of my favorite artists of all time is Prince. His work ethic and ability to play every instrument and touch on every type of genre of music and make it his own influenced the way I approach and appreciate music. He’s my biggest influence.” He played drums and sang in the church choir as a kid, eventually singing and performing in high school. Jackson penned his first original song during his senior year. His high school drama teacher, Hope Hartup, had perhaps the most profound impact on his early musical life. Jackson remembers playing Conrad Birdie in his senior production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” “That was probably the first time I was front and center entertaining in that way,” he said. “She saw something in me that other people didn’t and encouraged it.” One of the most significant opportunities Hartup gave Jackson was a spot on a drama club trip to London when another student had to back out. “She said, ‘Eddie, there’s a ticket, there’s room for you. [...] You’re going to come on this trip with us.’” Jackson described the transformative trip abroad as “absolutely amazing.” He remembers, “We went to theater productions in London, got to take a train trip out to Stratford-upon-Avon. [...] I got to explore the city and ride the Underground. My last day there was a completely free day.” Hartup told her students to walk around, have some fun, and explore on their last day in London. “And I did. It was one of the best experiences of my life.” Jackson lit up as he talked, his energy filling up the room. As his high school career came to a close, teachers and guidance counselors nudged Jackson to go to school for writing or journalism. “But it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to be involved in music,” he said. Hartup connected him with a personal friend of hers, a drum instructor who waived lesson fees for the promising young musician. Hartup’s husband was a professional musician, giving Jackson marimba lessons so he could ace his melodic instrument auditions. Though he didn’t end up going to school for percussion, Jackson said, “She was right there supporting me, no matter what I wanted to do.” Jackson and his high school drama club teacher remain friends. Mrs. Hartup even attended his wedding. Her influence reached beyond his time as a student and into his work as a teacher himself. “She let me know teachers have to connect, and they shouldn’t be afraid to do it. So, I try to make those kinds of connections with my kids as often as possible.” FIRE LIGHT FRONTMAN Following high school, Jackson attended the Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he studied studio engineering. After his studies, Jackson’s love of reggae transferred into a ska band. “We had a nine-piece group, full horn section, enthusiastic kids jumping around stage in these crazy shows at the local punk rock clubs,” he said. Using his studio engineering background, at just 19-years-old Jackson recorded, engineered, and produced his band’s album. After the younger kids in the band graduated and went off to college, he was recruited for a reggae band in the area called Holy Smoke. The band eventually went their separate ways, and Jackson began DJing with Thomas Dubee (who later started record label, Upsetta Records, for whom Jackson has recorded) for the few years leading up to his move from Connecticut to Florida. “I packed up my drums, packed up the house, packed up my records. Jaime packed up all her jewelry supplies, and we hit the road.” When the couple arrived and settled in Polk County, Jackson was one of the few people DJing reggae music in local bars and clubs. Tanner’s then-owner Debbie Tennick gave Jackson his first gig. When he formed The Burn Dem Band, she invited them to play there as well. The Burn Dem Band, led by frontmen Eddie ‘Smoke’ Jackson and Everton ‘Aqua’ Hill, would play throughout Lakeland and Ybor City. “We were super high-energy. On any given night, you probably see one of us jumping up on a table or running across a bar and getting people hyped up,” said Jackson. Fire Light Reggae, Jackson’s current band, ‘ignited’ from The Burn Dem Band. Able to sing and play drums, he and keyboard player Pablo Mastodon would book smaller venues and private parties as a duo. The name Fire Light alludes to the scaled-down version of the original band. Eventually, they started doing all their gigs as a duo, adding members here and there for larger sets. Fire Light’s current iteration consists of Eddie ‘Smoke’ Jackson, Pablo Mastodon, and female vocalist Syreeda Battle. The vocalist and drummer acknowledged his appreciation for his Fire Light bandmates for the chemistry they share both on stage and off. Fire Light Reggae is a “roots reggae band with influences from soul, hip hop, and dancehall all mixed together,” according to Jackson. “Some of the songs I write don’t always fit right into that reggae vein because my influences are so varied.” Like the alternative rock-influenced song “Wannabe a Star” with ten tracks of arranged guitar playing throughout. Making music is a collaborative effort for the band. Jackson will start with lyrics and melody at his home studio. “In my free time, I’m able to work out the skeleton of a song, and I’ll send it to Pablo and see what ideas he has for it. He’ll record a bit at his place, send me the files back, and it’ll bounce back and forth until we can see each other again and really flesh out the songs.” After scaling back on where and how often they perform in response to the pandemic, Fire Light looks forward to more shows. The reggae band has a steady set at the Poor Porker on the second Saturday of each month. “We’ve tried to make it not just a reggae night, but more of a reggae and Jamaican cultural night,” said Jackson. Part of that experience is modern Jamaican fare prepared by Our Noire Kitchen. Jackson, who raved about their jerk chicken and mango slaw, met these pop-up culinary artists at a Buena Block Party and hooked them up at his Poor Porker gigs. “That’s one of the things we were looking forward to doing here in Lakeland – finding other people who were doing different things and seeing how we can help them along. It sounds kind of cliché these days, but we really are stronger together. […] When you see potential in an area, you can’t just sit back and say, ‘It looks cool, and it’s probably going to grow.’ You can’t let things try and grow organically. If you want to see change happen in an area, you’ve got to put yourself out there, you’ve got to take some risks, and try and make that change happen. […] Because if you want some kind of change, the odds are that there is somebody else who just needs a little bit more push who wants that same thing.” MUSIC IN MATH CLASS His career trek into teaching was spurred by a class he taught while working at the Guitar Center in Tampa. They started a ‘Recording Made Easy’ course where Jackson would teach beginners how to use recording software. Jackson’s penchant for teaching shone through as the class grew from five or six to 25-30 students at a time. One of his music students, a veteran teacher in Hillsborough County, took note of Jackson’s abilities in the classroom and asked why he wasn’t teaching in the school system. Jackson asked himself the same question, and it stuck with him. “Both of my daughters are autistic and having to navigate the public school system, trying to make sure that they got the services they needed, making sure that they got everything possible out of the education they could in Polk County – it opened my eyes to some of the struggles other parents were going through. Knowing that I had the aptitude to teach, knowing I had the patience for young kids, and that a lot of other people needed help – that pushed me over the edge to try and get into teaching,” said Jackson, now in his fourth year in the classroom. He taught second grade before moving into his current position as a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Sikes Elementary School. “I love seeing the kids learn. When they can make that connection between what I’m teaching and something in the real world, and that light clicks on in their head like, ‘Oh, I’m not wasting my time, I’m not here being babysat. This person is not just speaking at me. They’re trying to connect and help me learn,’ It lets me know that I’m in the right spot and I’m doing the right thing,” said Jackson. “When I get messages from kids I taught a few years ago and from their parents saying, ‘He’s doing so well. He hated school before you were his teacher, and now, he’s getting As and Bs, and he’s engaged in class.’ Hearing stories like that definitely lets me know I’m in the right place.” One way Jackson engages his students is through music. He writes and performs songs for the kids and uploads them to YouTube so they can go home and share them with their parents. “When the kids come in, in the morning, there’s music playing to set the mood,” he said. His choice of music depends on the demands of the day or the face of the first student to walk in. “If we need to get the energy up, then I might play some more lively jazz. Sometimes I’ll play the instrumentals from the “Hamilton” soundtrack.” His classroom reverberates with the classical versions of pop songs from the show “Bridgerton” and songs from his reggae roots like a little Bob Marley or Jamaican jazz pianist Monty Alexander. “I always try to expose them to something different,” Jackson said. “During the different cultural celebration months we have – like Hispanic Heritage Month – I made sure I canvassed the different kids in the class and pulled music from their backgrounds. This year I’ve got kids from Colombia, kids from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua. I pulled music from their cultures and had that playing when the kids came in.” Not only do those children recognize it and respond to it, he said, “It gets the other kids asking where’s this from, where’s that from, do you have any more of this?” Jackson even encourages parents to engage with their children about what they are learning or listening to in the classroom to “open up those cultural windows just a little bit more.” #REALITYVIBES Jackson is currently deep in the trenches of producing a new Fire Light Reggae album titled “#realityvibes.” Inspired in a roundabout way by the hollow ‘Good Vibes Only’ message on shirts, bumper stickers, and social media posts, Jackson’s album title urges the listener to pay attention to the reality of a situation, good and bad. “I’m not here to tell you it’s sunny when it’s raining on your head, but I will tell you what that rain is going to bring you. Enjoy the reality of the moment that you’re in. Respect the reality of the moment that you’re in,” Jackson said. “For instance, it’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There are celebrations going on to celebrate his life. At the same time, we can’t get voting rights reform passed in congress. You can’t gloss over what the man stood for by offering entertainment. You’ve got to dig in and see what work we still have to do.” He related “#realityvibes” to his work in the classroom and as a parent navigating the school system. “I can have successes with some kids, but I know when I have to dig in and help those kids who might get overlooked. On paper, you can see that you’ve got an 80-90% success rate on this test or this skill. I’m not worried about that 90% right now. It’s that other 10% who are still falling behind that I’ve got to grab and pull up. [...] It’s kids and parents dealing with disabilities at school who don’t know how to navigate the system to get services for their children. That’s where “#realityvibes” comes from. You’ve got to put out a vibe, but it’s not good vibes only.” Follow Fire Light on social media for information on a GoFundMe to support the artwork and finalization of the audio and vinyl printing for “#realityvibes.” Fans who donate a certain amount will get a vinyl record once it is printed along with a bonus album mixtape called “Reignited,” which will take some of the band’s favorite songs and reimagine them in reggae. Upon release, the album will be available for download and streaming, and on custom USB drives with music and artwork. Jackson, unfortunately, lost his mother in December. “I couldn’t sing without breaking down crying for a couple of weeks. It was really rough,” he said. After taking some time to grieve, he is diligently back to work on the album’s production and expects to release it in April. Fire Light Reggae FB @FireLightReggae IG @firelightreggae YouTube www.youtube.com/user/smokeddie Soundcloud: SoundCloud.com/Edward-d-Jackson (Searchable as Fire Light Reggae) Bandcamp firelightreggae.bandcamp.com/releases