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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BEST REALTOR TONYA REGAN THE MCKEEL TEAM, KELLER WILLIAMS (863) 602-7742 FB: Tonya Regan Realtor IG @tonyaregan_realtorkw tonyaregan.kw.com On the hunt for your dream home? Tonya Regan can help! Regan is a repeat winner in the Best Realtor category. Clients give Regan five stars for her responsiveness, negotiation skills, professionalism, communication, and market expertise. One client wrote of Regan, “As a real estate broker myself I know quality professionals when I see them. My wife and I chose Tonya as our Realtor due to her exceptional knowledge of the market and attention to detail. She was patient, communicative, and always available throughout the process. I highly endorse her for her and will always use her for my real estate transactions.” 2nd: Christina Moore The Moore Team, Keller Williams 3rd: Brian Stephens Keller Williams BEST REALTY COMPANY KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY SMART 218 E Pine St. Lakeland (863) 577-1234 FB @kwlakeland IG @kwrealtysmart polk.yourkwoffice.com Keller Williams Realty Smart gets high marks across the board from clients and agents alike. Serving all of Central Florida, KW Realty Smart can help you buy or sell your residential and commercial property. Clients who use this realty company remark on their professionalism, quality, responsiveness, and value. According to Keller Williams, “Our agents have local data and expert knowledge to guide you through the process of selling and buying.” 2nd: S&D Real Estate Services 3rd: SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate BEST MORTGAGE BROKER COMPASS MORTGAGE LLC 705 E Orange St, Lakeland (863) 802-1242 FB @compassmortgagellc IG @compassmortgagellcfl compassmortgagellc.com Where banks are often limited in the loan products they carry, Compass Mortgage extends to you their “Broker Advantage.” According to Compass Mortgage, “As a Mortgage Broker, we actually have access to thousands of different loan products. For this reason, we will typically be able to find a loan product that matches your particular situation. We will help you choose the best possible product with the lowest possible rate.” Some of their mortgage loan products include FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional to assist you with all your residential mortgage and refinancing needs. 2nd: The Mortgage Firm Lakeland 3rd: Home Solution Lenders BEST AC REPAIR PAYNE AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING 1048 E Oleander St, Lakeland (863) 686-6163 FB @PayneAir IG @payne_air payneair.com Is it hot in here? Call Payne Air Conditioning & Heating! Payne’s reputation for honesty, integrity, and work ethic are backed by 86 years in the business. They offer AC repair, HVAC maintenance, air conditioner installation, heating service, and heat pump installation for residential and commercial properties. Take the pain out of ac repair with Payne Air Conditioning! One cool customer wrote, “Called Payne AC this morning and Greg Wilson was at my door shortly after I called. Greg quickly diagnosed the issue and made the repair. He was very professional and detailed the issue and what repairs were needed. I highly recommend using this company for any AC repairs.” 2nd: Wards Air Conditioning 3rd: The Lakeland Air Conditioning Company BEST ELECTRICIAN WILSON ELECTRIC COMPANY 230 N Ingraham Ave, Lakeland (863) 682-0158 FB @TheWilsonElectric wilsonelectriccompany.com Wilson will get you wired up! These residential and commercial electricians have served Lakeland, Winter Haven, and the surrounding areas since 1922. Wilson Electric Company can help you with interior and exterior jobs (large or small), new builds and extensions, and they offer 24/7 emergency service, so you aren’t left in the dark. “Our electricians have at least five years of working experience in residential projects and at least eight years working experience in industrial and commercial residential installation. We are the electrical contractors you can trust with your home or business.” 2nd: Speedway Electric 3rd: Aveco Electrical, Inc. BEST PLUMBING COMPANY RICHARD C. FOX PLUMBING 1103 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland (863) 816-9414 FB @richardfoxplumbing richardfoxplumbing.com Family-owned and operated for over 20 years, Richard C. Fox Plumbing provides commercial and residential plumbing services. Plumbing problem in the middle of the night? They offer 24/7 emergency services too! Sewer camera, sewer jetting, water heater repair, plumbing repipes – no matter the service you need, Richard C. Fox Plumbing has a 100% satisfaction guarantee backed by a one-year warranty on all services and manufacturer’s warranty on products. One customer wrote, “Richard Fox Plumbing is my go-to for any plumbing problems. Team is always professional and prices are very reasonable. Trust them for any job! You won’t be disappointed!” 2nd: Curry & Co. Plumbing 3rd: Gillum-Waddell Plumbing Co. BEST ROOFING COMPANY R.I.G. ROOFING 2001 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven (863) 294-4477 FB @RIGroofing IG @rigroofing rigroofing.com “Your Shingle Best Roofer” wins again! R.I.G. Roofing is a locally owned roofing contractor providing service to residential and commercial customers, including free storm damage assessments, emergency roof repair, insurance roof claim assistance, and financial options, across Polk County and Central Florida. “We are a faith-driven company with over 30 years experience. We’ll always tell you the truth. Each roof is in a different stage of its life, and we will help you to devise a plan that, if possible, extends the life of your roof....instead of just trying to sell you a new one.” 2nd: High Tower Roofing 3rd: Musick Roofing BEST PATIO SCREENING COMPANY MID-FLORIDA ALUMINUM & RESCREENS (863) 289-2368 FB: Mid-Florida Aluminum & Rescreens Best Of LKLD voters continually trust Mid-Florida Aluminum & Rescreens to keep them made in the shade! This licensed and insured full-service aluminum company provides sliding garage screens, windows/doors, seamless gutters, rescreen, soffit/fascia, carport, vinyl siding, hand-railing, and screen enclosures. Based out of Polk County and serving all of Central Florida, Mid-Florida Aluminum is a certified dealer for LifeStyle Screens, Mystic Motorized Screens, Genius Retractable, & Rollaround Screens. This allows them to offer more than the standard type of screen enclosure for any home or business. Call or message them for more information or a free quote today! 2nd: Jack Hall Jr’s Construction and Aluminum 3rd: Polk Patio and Screening Services BEST CONTRACTOR/ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SPRINGER CONSTRUCTION 2622 Longhorn Dr, Lakeland (863) 225-5606 springerconstructionco.com Respect, honesty, humility, and trust – these are the core values Springer Construction is built on. Founded in 1987, this third-generation, familyowned General Contracting firm builds and maintains Industrial, Retail, and Commercial Construction. Their portfolio includes exceptional work for Bernie Little, Streamsong, Yard on Mass, Front Page Brewing, several MIDFLORIDA Credit Union locations, and more. Springer Construction says, “Our blueprint for success is delivering quality construction on time and on budget.” 2nd: Sharrett Construction 3rd: GCS Remodel BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY BEACON TERRACE 2425 Harden Blvd, Lakeland (855) 681-1987 mymhcommunity.com/Communities/Florida/ BeaconTerrace Retire and relax in Lakeland’s premier (and pet-friendly) 55+ retirement mobile home community. Beacon Terrace offers community amenities including a community swimming pool, whirlpool-spa-hot tub, billiards, library, game room, clubhouse, and fishing opportunities. Its on-site management and laundry facilities ensure residents a safe and convenient environment. “Located in the tranquil city of Lakeland, FL, Beacon Terrace offers its residents the ease of living in the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Petersburg metro area without all of the noise and traffic.” 2nd: The Estates at Carpenters 3rd: Lake Ashton BEST HOTEL THE TERRACE HOTEL, TAPESTRY COLLECTION BY HILTON 329 E Main St, Lakeland (863) 688-0800 FB @TerraceHotel IG @terracehotellakeland terracehotel.com A historic boutique hotel overlooking Lake Mirror, the Terrace Hotel offers full-service luxury a short walk from Munn Park. Guests don’t have to roam far to grab a bite to eat with the on-site restaurant, The Terrace Grille, which boasts fresh, made-fromscratch dishes served in an upscale dining space with floor-to-ceiling arched windows and black and white patterned floors. The Terrace Hotel offers 88 guest rooms and three meeting rooms, including the grand Cypress Ballroom, an ideal space for wedding and corporate events. 2nd: Hampton Inn Lakeland 3rd: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Lakeland BEST APARTMENT COMMUNITY LAKELAND GRAND 4315 Talon Loop, Lakeland (863) 400-3465 FB @lakelandgrand IG @lakelandgrand lakelandgrand.com “Live in a fresh new community with cutting-edge design, incredible amenities, and engaging social spaces at our brand new Lakeland apartment homes.” The name says it all – Lakeland Grand Apartments delivers on its promise of luxury with “contemporary yet sophisticated interior designs.” Residents can choose from one, two, and threebedroom floor plans to suit their needs. Lakeland Grand amenities include a pool, clubhouse, fitness center, sauna, on-site maintenance and management, playground, business center, garage, free weights, and high internet speed. 2nd: Carlton Arms 3rd: Mirrorton Apartments BEST CLEANING COMPANY ONE CLEAN MOM CLEANING & ORGANIZATION (863) 670-9615 FB @onecleanmom onecleanmom.com No need to do the dirty work when you have One Clean Mom! This Lakeland-based cleaning and organization service says, “Cleaning messes is our passion.” Owner Ashley Miller and her staff provide initial/ deep clean, standard clean, and move-in/move-out cleaning services. Additionally, One Clean Mom offers organizing services, with or without side-by-side client help. “One Clean Mom is the best. I have been using them for several years and wouldn’t think of using anyone else. Always punctual and job is well done,” writes one satisfied client. 2nd: The Cleaning Authority 3rd: Busy Bees Cleaning Service BEST POOL SERVICE COMPANY PINCH A PENNY Multiple Locations FB @PinchAPennyPool IG @pinchapennypool pinchapenny.com There’s no reason to dip into your savings when you just want to take a dip in your pool. The cannonball king of the summer goes to Pinch A Penny for the pool service value they provide to Polk County customers. ‘The perfect people for the perfect pool’ offer pool cleaning and maintenance, equipment installation and repair, renovations, acid washing and stain treatment, and leak detection and repair. “With more than 260 stores and over 45 years in the business, Pinch A Penny has the knowledge and expertise to handle any pool care problem. Plus, we have more Certified Pool Operators than any other pool supply store, so why trust your swimming pool or backyard to anyone else?” 2nd: Michael’s Pool Service 3rd: Mike’s Quality Pools BEST STORAGE FACILITY EXTRA SPACE STORAGE Multiple Locations (877) 540-3698 FB @extraspace IG @extraspace extraspace.com We could all use some Extra Space, right? Founded in 1977, Extra Space Storage is now the second largest operator of self-storage facilities in the United States. Their facilities are equipped with video surveillance, personalized security codes to access gates and entry points, and are well-lit throughout the property so you can ensure your belongings stay safe. Extra Space Storage offers climate-controlled storage, vehicle storage, and more. Their online Storage Unit Size Guide can help you figure out what size storage unit best fits your needs! 2nd: StoreRight Self Storage 3rd: Century Storage

BEST FLORIST BLOOM SHAKALAKA 640 E Main St, Lakeland (Inside The Joinery) (863) 417-3007 FB: @bloom.shakalaka1 IG @bloom.shakalaka bloomshakalaka.com “Funky Fresh Blooms” brought to you by Bloom Shakalaka! Ashton Event’s Laura Helm started this cute little flower shop and gift boutique. They offer flower wraps and arrangements, wearables, full-service event florals, subscriptions, and a pickyour-stems flower bar. “At Bloom Shakalaka, we want to be known as the funky, fresh flower shop whose mission is to spread joy. We believe that every single bloom is a miracle of both strength and hope - and we love getting to offer that to others.” 2nd: Flower Cart Florist 3rd: Flowers By Edith BEST WEDDING VENUE HAUS 820 820 N Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland (888) 428-7820 FB: Haus 820 IG @haus820 haus820.com Renovated historic warehouse turned oh-socool event venue, Haus 820, is an industrial chic wedding haven. The 1924 building was first an A&P grocery store, then a furniture warehouse before it was brought back to its roots and restored, including original wall-to-wall white brick, 17-foot exposed rafters, and charcoalstained and sealed cement floors. In addition to the main open area (a blank canvas to make the event all your own), Haus 820 features a permanent 16-foot bar, catering finishing kitchen, restrooms, and a bridal suite in the building next door with private bathrooms. The private courtyard was created from the original loading docks and is perfect for a sunny afternoon ceremony or vows under the stars. 2nd: Hollis Garden 3rd: The Terrace Hotel Lakeland, Tapestry Collection by Hilton BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER PARIS SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY (863) 307-1868 FB: Paris Scott Photography IG @parisscottphotography parisscottphotography.com There’s a bit of magic in Paris Scott’s pictures. Her style is romantic and cool, bringing out the love and personalities of the couples she photographs. “My approach to taking photos is an exchange in energy. Creating a calm space where you can genuinely feel like yourself is what it’s all about,” says Scott. Paris Scott specializes in Elopements, Lifestyle, and Adventure photoshoots that her clients adore. One bride wrote, “Paris is amazing! Her photos are so dreamy, and it just made me feel like a princess in a fairytale. She’s super sweet and made the entire experience wonderful. I can’t wait to work with Paris in the future!” 2nd: Emily Plank Photography 3rd: Garry & Stacy Photography Co. BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT DREAMS COME TRUE ENTERTAINMENT 214 Traders Alley, Lakeland (863) 944-1264 FB @DreamsComeTrueEntertainment IG @dctemagicalmemories dreamscometrueentertainment.com Your next party needs a princess! Dreams Come True Entertainment provides character entertainment for all ages. They can make an appearance at your private party, host your private event at their Enchanted Fairytale Hollow in Lakeland, or you can join them for weekly and monthly events! Award-winning custommade costumes and experienced actors bring an unmatched level of authenticity (and magic) to each fairytale and superhero character. Owner Amy Sharpe says, “Dreams Come True Entertainment is all about creating magic for all ages. It has always been my dream to make children happy and make a difference in their lives, and with my new company, now I can do that while doing something I love and bring magic and hope into hearts young and old. I strive my hardest to be the most memorable, authentic and fun entertainer you ever meet!” 2nd: Graingertainment 3rd: Triviosity Live Events BEST DRY CLEANER GARMENT CARE PROS AT SOUTHSIDE CLEANERS 901 Florida Ave S, Lakeland (Second location in Plant City) (863) 688-4747 FB @SouthsideCleaners garmentcarepros.com Perhaps best known for their snappy signs, Garment Care Pros at Southside Cleaners continues to be a Best Of LKLD voter favorite choice for dry cleaning. Since 1954, Southside Cleaners has provided Lakeland with the highest quality of care for its garments. They are one of the only eight companies worldwide to have multiple employees pass the rigorous training to become a Certified Garment Care Professional (CGCP). This team of literal garment care pros offers traditional dry cleaning and laundry services, weekly home/ office service plans, and historic garment and wedding gown restoration. One long-time customer wrote, “Southside has been a staple in the Lakeland community for decades. Excellent work and service with weekly delivery and pick up. Thank you for always going above and beyond!” 2nd: Regal $2.95 Cleaners 3rd: Touch of Class Dry Cleaners BEST AUTO REPAIR WEBB’S BP SERVICES CENTER 2820 Florida Ave S, Lakeland (863) 686-5498 webbs-servicecenter.business.site Is your car making that weird noise again? Check engine light ominously glowing at you from the dash? Webb’s is where you should go! This familyowned and operated auto repair shop has served Lakeland since 1957, with all work guaranteed. Their Master ASE certified mechanics offer AC service, tires, batteries, check engine light, power locks and windows, tire repairs, CV axles, oil changes, transmission flush, brake service, tuneups, and more. One review reads in part, “Since my first dealings with them over a year ago, they have been exceptional, considerate, and gone out of their way, even when busy, to make sure my vehicle was running properly, and I knew it was in good hands and safe on the road.” 2nd: Levy’s Imperial Tire 3rd: Joyce Automotive BEST AUTO DEALER REGAL HONDA 2615 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland 863-400-5298 FB @RegalHonda www.regalhonda.com Has searching for a new car been more difficult than it should be? Regal to the rescue! Regal Honda is a family-owned and operated Honda dealership and home of the Lifetime Warranty. Regal Honda makes it easy with a tailored car buying experience with professional associates available to assist you in choosing the right new or pre-owned model from their expansive selection. From credit assistance with your car loan to service performed by factory-trained technicians, Regal keeps your car experience stress-free. One Regal customer wrote in part, “My wife and I are new to the area and were welcomed by a very friendly staff. Our salesperson Douglas Maynard guided us through the process of trading in our old vehicle and coming to terms on a new vehicle way easier and in less time than we thought was possible. His low pressure approach along with his experience and knowledge was a breath of fresh air!” 2nd: Fields Motorcars 3rd: Cannon Automotive Group BEST BOAT DEALER OUTCAST WATERSPORTS 4020 Bartow Rd, Lakeland (863) 816-6081 FB @outcastboats IG @outcastws outcastwatersports.com “From boat sales to service, Outcast has set the standard for consistent quality and familyoriented customer service. Partnering only with brands in the top of their fields, we strive to give our customers the best products and service available.” This bay area boat dealer has been serving Tampa Bay’s boat sales and service needs since 1996. They expanded to Polk County in 2016 and brought with them decades of experience and technical knowledge with mechanics on staff required to attend Yamaha school yearly for their continued education. Expect top brands, quality customer service, and a family feel at Outcast. 2nd: Old Salt Marine 3rd: Action Water Sports of Central Florida BEST OIL CHANGE TAKE 5 OIL CHANGE (Multiple locations) FB @Take5OilChange IG @take5oilchange take5oilchange.com Take 5 Oil Change, home of “the quickest oil change in Lakeland,” offers a drive-thru 10-minute oil change service with no appointment necessary. Just pick your oil from the technicians’ options, sit back, and relax while expert technicians change your oil and filter, replenish under-hood fluids, and check your air filter and wiper blades. One customer’s five-star review from the Take 5 Oil Change at 5250 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, reads in part, “This is my favorite place to get my oil changed. They are so friendly and communicative. They are always fast and efficient.” 2nd: Levy’s Imperial Tire & Auto Service 3rd: TIE – Jiffy Lube Pep Boys BEST CPA DIANE HERRINGTON, CPA, P.A. 202 Lake Miriam Dr # E8, Lakeland (863) 644-7125 FB: Diane R. Herrington, CPA, P. A. dianeherringtoncpa.com Polk County native Diane R. Herrington has worked in the accounting field since 1970 and became a licensed CPA in Florida in 1980. She founded her accounting firm in 1983, providing personalized tax preparation, tax planning, and business consulting services for individuals, businesses, estates, and trusts. According to Herrington, “Every client is important to us, and we want to help take the burden of bookkeeping, tax, and financial problems off your shoulders.” Backed by decades of experience and detailed customer service, Diane Herrington’s customers often rave about her professionalism, quality, responsiveness, and the value of her services. 2nd: David R. Ramos, CPA 3rd: Virginia “Ginny” Harris, CPA, MBA Harris & Hahn, P.A. BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR CONLEY THORNHILL THORNHILL WEALTH MANAGEMENT - UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. 295 1st St S, Winter Haven (863) 298-3600 advisors.ubs.com/thornhillgroup Senior Vice President of Wealth Management and Financial Advisor Conley Thornhill has provided clients comprehensive and customized wealth management solutions for over 40 years. Thornhill has received the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor Florida distinction in 2020, 2021, and 2022 and is one of the few advisors to earn and maintain both the Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Investment Management Analyst® designations. “Conley has taken on every type of market environment, giving him the clarity to navigate whatever financial questions you may have. He is passionate about helping clients organize and simplify their financial lives, no matter how complex.” 2nd: Chuck Foss | CORE Wealth Advisors 3rd: Matt Bishop | Edward Jones BEST ATTORNEY LAURIANE CICCARELLI | MILLER TROIANO, P.A. 2323 Florida Ave S, Lakeland (863) 688-7038 FB: Miller Troiano, P.A. millerlawfl.com Since graduating from Stetson University College of Law in 1996, attorney Lauriane Ciccarelli has been involved in thousands of eminent domain cases. Now with Miller Troiano, P.A., she also practices in the areas of real estate, estate planning, and general civil litigation. Ciccarelli is a former member of Business Network International, Business in Motion Chapter, where she served as President in 2014. She currently sits on the Board of Campfire USA, is a member of the American Business Women’s Association, Lakeland Downtown Chapter, and served as Vice President in 2014. 2nd: Daniel F. Pilka Pilka, Adams, & Reed, P.A. 3rd: Timothy F. Campbell Clark, Campbell, Lancaster, Workman & Airth, P.A. BEST BANK MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION Multiple Locations FB @MIDFLORIDA IG @midflorida_creditunion midflorida.com MIDFLORIDA, a repeat Best Of Haven winner for Best Bank, is not-for-profit and member-owned, offering banking products and services including personal and business banking, loans, mortgages, and investing. It began in 1954 as Polk County Teachers Credit Union and now has more than 60 branches as Central Florida’s community credit union. MIDFLORIDA emphasizes personal attention and competitive rates, “Because your money isn’t just a string of numbers on an account statement. It’s personal—and we think the way you bank should reflect that.” 2nd: Citizens Bank & Trust 3rd: Truist BEST INSURANCE AGENT JOY MORSE | STATE FARM 5727 US Hwy 98 S, Lakeland (863) 647-2915 FB @JoyMorseInsurance joymorse.com Serving Lakeland and the surrounding areas, Joy Morse and her team have over 80 years of combined State Farm experience. Their agency has qualified for multiple State Farm Awards over the years, including Ambassador Travel, State Farm Crystal Honor, and State Farm Chairman’s Circle. Morse can help you with Auto, Homeowners, Life, and Health Insurance and assist small business owners with their Commercial Insurance. “My team of licensed insurance professionals and I are here to help make insurance & financial services easy to understand. We are here to protect you from everyday risks and make sure that your insurance program doesn’t have gaps or caps that you are unaware of.” 2nd: Karen Bryan | State Farm 3rd: Mark Spann | Mulling Insurance BEST SPA DAYDREAMS DAY & MED SPA 1463 Town Center Dr. E, Lakeland (863) 686-5859 FB @DayDreamsDaySpaLakeland IG @daydreams.dayspa daydreamsdayspa.com Treat yourself to a full body massage or facial (or both) at DayDreams Day & Med Spa. Each massage begins with an opening scent and an optional head and scalp massage. DayDreams offers massages to relax and rejuvenate you, from Swedish and Bamboo Fusion to Deep Therapy. They even have spa packages for the complete royal treatment like the Renewal Suite, which includes an 80-minute Swedish massage, targeted corrective facial, classic manicure, and signature pedicure. Book an appointment at their med spa with APRN Alicia “Tonja” Arkell, who specializes in BOTOX and fillers. 2nd: TIE – TrueMedSpa Bella Viságe Medical & Aesthetic Rejuvenation 3rd: Pura Vie Holistic Studio BEST HAIR SALON BELLE LA VIE SALON & SPA 4525 Florida Ave S Suite #16, Lakeland (863) 617-5408 FB @bellelaviesalonlakeland IG @bellelaviesalonandspalakeland bellelaviesalonandspa.com Time to touch up that Balayage, babe – and other salons just don’t cut it. Clients rave about the atmosphere, stylists, and overall doting experience at Belle La Vie Salon & Spa. Owner Charline Fulbright and her team have more than 27 combined years of experience in the beauty, health, and wellness industries. This premier salon offers cuts and styles, formal styles for special occasions, premier color design, hair extensions, textures, and straighteners. “With services ranging from the newest hairstyles to customized facials. There is surely something to tickle everyone’s fancy. Experience the difference at Belle La Vie Salon and Spa, where nurturing inner and outer beauty is what matters most!” 2nd: Studio 323 3rd: Glam Color Bar BEST BARBER SKULLY’S BARBER SALON 434 W Pipkin Rd, Lakeland (863) 224-3507 FB: Skullys Barber Salon IG @skullysbarbersalon skullysbarbersalon.com From “a tank of gas and a dream” to an awardwinning mobile and brick-and-mortar salon. Congratulations on another Best Barber win, Skully! This master barber and Best Of LKLD voter favorite founded his hair biz doing house calls in 2015 and opened his mobile barbershop out of a 32-foot RV in 2017. Skully’s Barber Salon now has a physical location on W. Pipkin Road in Lakeland. Skully can hook you with a haircut, skin fade, beard trim, or shave (he does women’s hair too)! One client testimonial reads, “Always a pleasure. Good conversation, good prices, and very very comfortable. Not to mention, great cuts every time. Definitely the guy to go to for all your barbershop needs!” 2nd: Kirkland’s Barber Shop 3rd: TIE – Lakeland Barber Company Gents Classic Cuts BEST NAIL SALON PAINT NAIL BAR 1486 Town Center Drive, Lakeland (863) 777-2947 FB @paintnailbarlakeland IG @paintlakeland paintnailbar.com/lakeland-fl PAINT Nail Bar – not your average nail experience. “Whether it is cleanliness, color selection, client service, nail art, environment, attention to detail, or the wonderful energy at PAINT…you name it, we’ve thought of it, developed it, and fine-tuned it based on staff and client feedback.” PAINT Nail Bar features only vegan and formaldehyde-free lacquers and exclusively uses LED lamps for curing their water-based gel polishes. They also opt for ceramic pedicure basins over whirlpool jets (which often harbor bacteria). With nail artists trained in technique, sanitation, and modern trends – what’s not to love? 2nd: Lee Spa Nails 3rd: Noire the Nail Bar BEST TATTOO STUDIO BLACK SWAN TATTOO 2947 Florida Ave S, Lakeland (863) 937-9777 FB @blackswantattoo IG @blackswantattoo blackswantattoo.com Established in 2007, Black Swan Tattoo provides a relaxed atmosphere, clean environment, and tattoos worth talking about. Their six artists have over 70 years of combined experience and are versed in all styles of tattooing. One Black Swan client wrote in part, “Hands down the best tattooing experience that you can have in Lakeland. I’ve had the pleasure of being tattooed by both Cory Craft and Phil Snyder several times, and there’s no one else that I trust more to bring alive the tattoos I [envision].” 2nd: Gaslight Tattoo Company 3rd: Holy Grail Tattoo BEST PIERCING BLACK SWAN TATTOO 2947 Florida Ave S, Lakeland (863) 937-9777 FB @blackswantattoo IG @blackswantattoo blackswantattoo.com Best Of LKLD voters applaud Black Swan Tattoo for a prime piercing experience. Black Swan pierced patrons note the shop’s commitment to detail and cleanliness with the tools, chair, and room sanitized between clients. Although it appears they no longer offer piercing as a service, over the last year, they did it best! 2nd: Holy Grail Tattoo 3rd: Atomic Tattoos Lakeland

BEST FLORIST LASATER FLOWERS 254 W Central Ave Ste A, Winter Haven (863) 294-3213 FB @lasaterflowers IG @lasaterflowers lasaterflowers.net “Want to make a great impression? We can arrange that!” This flower power boutique floral design studio, established in 1958, offers arrangements for every occasion with a freshness guarantee. Lasater Flowers also extends gift sets, seasonal blooms, and subscriptions with personalized plans to fit your style, budget, and delivery frequency. A Lasater Flowers customer raved, “I subscribed to the bi-weekly delivery service, and each bouquet I get is nicer than the last! The flowers are gorgeous, and they last quite a while.” 2nd: Golden Petal Designs 3rd: Angelic Flowers BEST WEDDING VENUE VENUE 650 650 6th St SW, Winter Haven (863) 287-3814 FB @venue650 IG @venue650 venue650.com Industrial and elegant, Venue 650 is Winter Haven’s premier wedding venue and a Best Of Haven voter favorite. Its lofty ceilings, sprawling windows, and adjoining open-sky courtyard visually lend even more space to the building’s 10,500 square feet. The versatile event venue, complete with exposed brick walls and concrete floor, can see any event vision realized and comfortably accommodate up to 400 guests. Additional Venue 650 features include high-speed internet, ample well-lit parking, a catering kitchen, and dressing suites. One Venue 650 testimonial reads in part, “We are so thankful that Venue 650 was our choice for our wedding day. It was the perfect place for our friends and family to celebrate together!” 2nd: Adams Estate 3rd: Blue View Barn BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER GONZALEZ LUGO PHOTOGRAPHY 5603 Struthers Ct, Winter Haven (863) 589-8438 FB: Gonzalez Lugo Photography, LLC IG @gonzalezlugophoto gonzalezlugophoto.com Maryel and Alfredo, the couple behind the lens of Gonzalez Lugo Photography, met and fell in love by capturing it for others. Their portfolio is filled with magical, timeless moments, from a sweet hug from a tiny ring bearer to a sunset kiss shared between a bride and groom. “From the first inquiry with us, you will shortly realize that you are not only gaining your wedding photographers but also your go-to friends when you need advice; your timeline creator because we want you to relax and enjoy every single moment of your wedding day, and relax knowing that you’re going to have the most beautiful and timeless imagery of your wedding day.” 2nd: Mikey Beasley | Caloosa Media 3rd: Mindy Mier Photography BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT NEXT LEVEL ENTERTAINMENT LLC 770 Ave B SW, Winter Haven (727) 614-3652 FB @nextlevelent1djs wedding-and-events-by-dj-melvin.business.site This DJ service will have everybody on the dance floor at your upcoming wedding, birthday, or corporate party. They can take your party to the next level with a photo booth, lighting, and special effects. DJ Melvin’s clients continually sing his praises, like this five-star review which reads in part, “DJ Melvin is absolutely amazing!! He is outgoing and funny. Takes good care of his clients and always goes above and beyond. He is super talented and definitely knows what he is doing. He works countless hours making sure each and every wedding is just perfect, and he is very transparent and tells you exactly what to expect on your big day. Not only is he an awesome DJ, but he is a great host and a great coordinator as well.” 2nd: DJ Bush Entertainment 3rd: Triviosity Live Events BEST DRY CLEANER TOP HAT CLEANERS 150 2nd St. NW, Winter Haven (863) 293-2627 212 N Main St, Auburndale (863) 967-2287 FB @TopHatDryCleaners2013 A tip of the hat to Top Hat Cleaners for another year atop the Best Dry Cleaner category! This toptier dry cleaner owned and operated by Michelle Womble offers over 20 years of clean laundry backing up their good reputation. With four convenient locations and eco-friendly GreenEarth technology, what’s not to love? Top Hat Cleaners says, “Our friendly staff takes particular care with each and every order and proudly provides customers with professional workmanship.” 2nd: Dry Clean America 3rd: Executive Dry Cleaners BEST AUTO REPAIR STEWART AUTO REPAIR 1990 42nd St NW, Winter Haven (863) 965-2526 FB @stewartautorepair IG @stewartautorepair stewartautorepair.com Is your AC on the fritz? Transmission giving you trouble? Best Of Haven voters trust their auto repairs to Stewart! Since 1998, Stewart Auto Repair has been servicing a wide range of makes and models for their Central Florida customers. Their skilled service technicians use quality parts to repair collision and auto body damage and back up their work with a warranty. Stewart even invests in the latest auto repair tools and diagnostic software specifically tailored to your vehicle’s software. One customer wrote, “This was my first visit to Stewart Auto Repair, and I have to say I was impressed. I have 40 plus years in automotive service, from master ASE technician to service manager for 3 new car dealers. I have dealt with many independent shops and have to say my first visit to Stewart was excellent.” 2nd: Tires Unlimited 3rd: Auto Dynamics BEST AUTO DEALER JARRETT-GORDON FORD WINTER HAVEN 3015 Lake Alfred Rd, Winter Haven (863) 294-8539 FB @JarrettGordonFordLincoln IG @jarrettgordonfordwh jarrettgordonfordwinterhaven.com From test drive to tune-up, Jarrett-Gordon Ford Winter Haven keeps their customers riding in style. Part of the Jarrett Ford Automotive Group, founded in 1978 by William Richard Jarrett in Dade City, Jarrett-Gordon Ford Winter Haven offers a wide selection of new Ford and Lincoln cars, trucks, and SUVs, as well as pre-owned inventory. Their knowledgeable staff will work to find you the car you’re looking for and help to secure used vehicle financing or assist you in taking out a new auto loan. An excerpt of one rave review reads, “We love Jarrett-Gordon Ford and have purchased 4 vehicles from them in the 6 years we’ve been in Florida, two of them were previously owned and have been wonderful and reliable vehicles! The service department has always taken good care of us.” 2nd: Hill Nissan 3rd: Chevrolet Center BEST BOAT DEALER MARINE SUPPLY 717 6th St SW, Winter Haven (863) 293-1156 FB @marinesupplyboats IG @marinesupplytheboatingcenter marinesupplyboats.com Marine Supply the Boating Center is sure to float your boat! Along with their new and used boat inventory and financing, Marine Supply offers services, including battery replacement, oil change, tune-up, electrical repair and installation, storage, and more! Don’t have a boat? Rent one here! At Marine Supply, “The fun begins on the Chain of Lakes.” A customer wrote of this familyowned boat dealer, “I have used Marine Supply for most of my adult life to repair all of my boats over the years. They have always been consistent in their quality of work and fair on their repairs. I wouldn’t consider using anyone else. I have never had an issue with any work they have done for me and am confident in the event of an issue they would respond appropriately.” 2nd: Hillman Motors 3rd: Hoppy’s Marine BEST OIL CHANGE TAKE 5 OIL CHANGE 1530 1st St S, Winter Haven (863) 658-6075 FB @Take5OilChange IG @take5oilchange take5oilchange.com Take 5 Oil Change, home of “the quickest oil change in Winter Haven,” offers a drivethru 10-minute oil change service with no appointment necessary. Just pick your oil from the technicians’ options, sit back, and relax while expert technicians change your oil and filter, replenish under-hood fluids, and check your air filter and wiper blades. One customer’s five-star review reads in part, “I just discovered this place. They were pretty quick. I stayed in my own car for the full service. No uncomfortable waiting room chairs. They were super respectful, polite, and transparent. They don’t charge extra for inspecting parts they could service. They top off all fluids with your oil change.” 2nd: Tires Unlimited 3rd: Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR AUSTIN THARP AVENTAIL WEALTH MANAGEMENT 353 Ave C SW, Winter Haven (863) 333-1927 FB @aventailwm100 www.aventailwm.com Austin Tharp joined Aventail Wealth Management in 2016 as an Investment Adviser Representative and became the firm’s co-owner and vice president in 2019. In addition to assisting his clients, Tharp has stayed engaged with his community by serving on the Eagle Scout board of review for the Lake Region District and Endeavor Winter Haven, the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce’s young professionals networking group. “Austin prides himself in always giving his clients the highest level of service in a very personal way,” according to Aventail Wealth Management. Tharp’s clients agree, with one writing in part, “Austin is an absolute pleasure to deal with, very responsive and is always happy to discuss questions or concerns.” 2nd: Doug Rathbun | Thornhill Wealth Management UBS Financial Services 3rd: Brittney Oakes | Edward Jones BEST CPA WIGGINS, SMIT, BURBY, REINEKE & CO P.A. 30 4th St SW, Winter Haven 42729 US-27, Davenport (863) 299-8084 FB @WSBR33880 IG @wsbr_cpa cpa-winterhaven.com Wiggins, Smit, Burby, Reineke & Co., P.A. specializes in accounting services for small businesses and tax services for individuals and business owners, including accounting and auditing, professional business consulting, and Quickbooks services. They’ve assisted customers since 1989, forging long-lasting relationships through their commitment to excellence and customer service. “We are committed to providing close, personal attention to our clients. We take pride in giving you the assurance that the personal assistance you receive comes from years of advanced training, technical experience, and financial acumen.” 2nd: Conner & Associates LLC 3rd: Adamson & Co, P.A. BEST ATTORNEY SOUTHERN ATLANTIC LAW GROUP, PLLC 520 6th St NW, Winter Haven (863) 656-6672 FB @WinterHavenbusinesslaw IG @southernatlanlawgroup southernatlanticlaw.com The Southern Atlantic Law Group is a statewide civil litigation and appellate firm whose attorneys have extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts. This Winter Haven-based law firm prides itself on providing client-focused representation and positive results. Their practice areas include appellate law, business litigations, class action, contract disputes, corporate/general counsel, hurricane damage, insurance claims, and personal injury. One five-star review reads, “Southern Atlantic Law Group is the most efficient and professional law firm I have had experience with in the Central Florida area. Would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an attorney that will genuinely care and help!” 2nd: The Law Offices of Carter J. Adams 3rd: Straughn & Turner, P.A. BEST BANK MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION Multiple Locations FB @MIDFLORIDA IG @midflorida_creditunion midflorida.com MIDFLORIDA, a repeat Best Of Haven winner for Best Bank, is not-for-profit and member-owned, offering banking products and services including personal and business banking, loans, mortgages, and investing. It began in 1954 as Polk County Teachers Credit Union and now has more than 60 branches as Central Florida’s community credit union. MIDFLORIDA emphasizes personal attention and competitive rates, “Because your money isn’t just a string of numbers on an account statement. It’s personal—and we think the way you bank should reflect that.” 2nd: Citizens Bank & Trust 3rd: SouthState Bank BEST INSURANCE AGENT ERIK SEALY | SEALY INSURANCE 3395 Cypress Gardens Rd, Winter Haven (863) 324-3100 FB: Sealy Insurance What kind of service can you expect from Erik Sealy? According to an excerpt from one five-star review, “Hands down the easiest homeowners insurance experience ever! Erik was very personable, professional and kind!” Sealy is an independent insurance agent representing over 30 home companies and 13 auto carriers, as well as commercial and financial markets, to serve his clients. Whether you need home, life, auto, or business coverage, Best Of Haven voters agree you should seal the deal with Erik Sealy. 2nd: Karen Bryan | State Farm Insurance 3rd: TIE – Barfield Insurance & Financial Services Zinsmeister Insurance BEST SPA MASSAGE AND SPINAL THERAPY OF WINTER HAVEN 546 Avenue A NE, Winter Haven (863) 294-2000 FB @MassageandSpinalTherapyofWinterHavenInc massageandspinaltherapy.com Rest, relax, and revitalize at Massage and Spinal Therapy of Winter Haven. Established in 1990, Massage and Spinal Therapy offer a full menu of spa treatments and care, including spinal decompression, on-site seated massage, Swedish massage, hot stone massage, and more! Give your skin a little love with a body wrap, scrub, facial, or microdermabrasion. One client raved, “Very relaxing atmosphere and super friendly employees! Easy to make appointments. Add the cupping! It will change your life! Love going here with my sister for relaxation time!” 2nd: The Salt Room 3rd: Oasis Spa & Nails BEST HAIR SALON U SALON 2200 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven (863) 287-9231 FB @TheUSalonLLC Looking to touch up your roots or go drastic with a brand new do? A scroll through U Salon’s social media is a vibrant myriad of beautiful hair colors, styles, and cuts. One client wrote, “Kelly did an amazing job on my hair. I love that this salon has private booths, so you’re not sitting directly next to another client. It allows for privacy for each stylist and chill vibes for clients.” While booking an appointment for the Brazilian blowout of your dreams, consider their other services, including eyelash extensions, micro-blading, facials, and mani/ pedi. 2nd: Split Ends 3rd: Posh Salon and Day Spa BEST BARBER BEST CUTS BARBER SHOP 213 Ave O SW, Winter Haven (863) 293-9433 FB @BestCutsWinterHaven IG @bestcutswinterhaven bestcutswinterhaven.com The Best Cuts Barber Shop team in Winter Haven offers services at rates they stand behind for men, women, and kids! The shop opened in 2004 and has continued to build a loyal customer base one cut at a time, offering haircuts, beard trims, washes, hot towel shaves, and massage. One client raves, “We are new to the area and have been looking for a real barbershop. My husband took my boys there today, and they had a great experience. Cool atmosphere, the prices are good, and they received quality haircuts! My boys loved the entire experience and the end results! Highly recommend!” 2nd: TIE – Custom Kutz The Barber Bros. Hairstyling 3rd: Diosa Hair Studio BEST NAIL SALON OASIS SPA AND NAILS 5535 Cypress Gardens Blvd #140, Winter Haven (863) 875-8869 FB: Oasis Spa & Nails IG @oasis.spa.nails oasisspanails.com Oasis Spa and Nails, you really nailed it this year! This is the stuff mani/pedi dreams are made of. Services include a full menu of manicures (including gel), pedicures, acrylic, and even kid services so you can have a spa day with your mini-me! According to Oasis, “Our priority is to make our clients feel pampered and relaxed while getting beautified here at our salon. We will maintain our progressiveness and edginess by creating the latest trends and offering an unforgettable experience throughout your stay with us.” 2nd: HN Nails and Spa II (Tips and Toes) 3rd: Venue Nail Bar BEST TATTOO STUDIO ACES INK 838 6th St NW, Winter Haven (863) 875-3798 FB @acesinktattoo IG @acesinktattoo This repeat Best Of Haven tattoo studio winner must have a few aces up their sleeve! The shop’s mission is “to provide you with quality tattoos/ piercings in an amazing and sterile environment.” Aces Ink has a portfolio full of clean, cool, creative tattoos – and a solid five-star rating to back it up. The following excerpt is only one of the hundreds of glowing reviews for the shop. “This place is amazing. First off, the shop is bright, airy and so clean. Everyone there is super nice and easy to talk to. Jessi was my artist, and wow, she blew my expectations out of the water. The drawing she did was gorgeous, and the tattoo turned out to be more than I could have imagined.” 2nd: Skinfinity Tattoo Company 3rd: True to the Game Tattoos BEST PIERCING ACES INK 838 6th St NW, Winter Haven (863) 875-3798 FB @acesinktattoo IG @acesinktattoo And another win for Aces Ink! Clients rave about all aspects of the shop, including the atmosphere, customer service, professionalism, pricing, and quality of work. Professional Body Piercer Dakota LaRue constantly appears in reviews praising how comfortable she makes her clients and the beautiful job she does in all manner of piercings. “I love everything about this shop. The music is great, the vibe is great, the artists are great. The prices are reasonable. Everything looks very clean and sanitary. They offer you complimentary drinks while you wait. My piercer Dakota was also very nice and professional. She went over everything I needed to know and answered all of my questions with a great attitude. So glad I chose this shop over the other ones.” 2nd: True to the Game Tattoos 3rd: Skinfinity Tattoo Company

Alongside the azaleas and calla lilies, an artistic partnership blossomed this spring. Like a beach sunflower, the creative collaboration and friendship between painter Ashley Cassens and jewelry designer Nicki Turner unfolded and stretched toward the sun. Their collection, entitled “Florescence,” marries prints of Cassens’s oil paintings with a corresponding pair of clay earrings by Cori Rose Handmade artist Nicki Turner. The collection is an ode to the eccentricities, adornments, and charms of a woman’s appearance that have been, and are often still, held against us as ‘over the top,’ ‘temptations,’ ‘too much’ – as “Eye Traps.” “EYE TRAPS” BY ASHLEY CASSENS Ashley Cassens is a Central Florida representational figure painter and Florida Southern College graduate. She grew up in Daytona Beach and moved to Lakeland for college, where she earned her Bachelor in Fine Arts in 2006. She went on to obtain an MFA from Florida Atlantic University in 2017. Her work has been exhibited at the ARC Gallery in Chicago, the Cornell Museum in Delray Beach, the Box Gallery in West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach State College. The artist recently had two of her paintings, “Stirring Secrets” and “Sprinkles,” picked up for licensing at Home Goods. In addition to her career as a commissioned painter, Cassens teaches elementary art. “I fell in love with it,” she said of representational figure painting. “I’m not the kind of person that can wrap my brain around how to make things abstract. It’s hard for me to pair things down and simplify them. I want to make them more complex all the time.” Her most recent series of traditional oil paintings on patterned fabrics is called “Eye Traps.” The name and theme of the series is the reclamation of a term that had been used to shame women. It comes from a pamphlet released by the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), often described as a Christian cult. Cassens listens to podcasts while she’s painting and was enthralled in the “Some Place Under Neith” podcast episode covering the IBLP. The IBLP pamphlet, “Learn Ten Ways to Direct the Eyes of Others to Your Countenance,” is a guide on appearance. It features every girl’s favorite hit, “Wear a Smile.” The leaflet includes tips on choosing a hairstyle to complement the face shape, accents to wear near your face, how to “say the right things with your eyes,” and proper posture. It reads in part, “A lady’s knees must always be kept together when sitting. For the best impression and good health, legs should be crossed at the ankles. Her body should not look as though it were ‘draped’ over the chair.” Ashley Cassens was especially inspired by rule number six: Avoid Eye Traps. Don’t show skin, don’t wear ‘teasing’ fabrics that might cling to the body, or bright spots of color that draw attention away from the face (I think the IBLP is looking at us, ladies). Anything that could draw attention away from the face – accessories, fads, written messages on t-shirts, or any ‘excesses’ – are considered eye traps. There’s even a handy guide in the back to help identify outfits that may include a dreaded eye trap. “All the things they talked about being “eye traps” are what I think make women so beautiful and amazing and unique,” Cassens said. “I wanted to flip this negative term and make it a positive term and trap your eye visually with something that was captivating and beautiful.” The women in her series defy the concept of an “Eye Trap” – some with chopped hair, chunky earrings, bright eyeshadow, and unbothered expressions. She had already been working on the series before she named it, and when she heard the term, she felt it encapsulated her subjects and what drew her to them. After a successful collaboration with interior designer Ann Cox, Cassens wanted to work with another artist again. This time to create something wearable – perhaps a jeweler or sunglass designer. She had a short list of designers she thought would be a good fit, but when she spoke with Nicki Turner, owner, and designer of the Lakeland-based clay jewelry start-up Cori Rose Handmade, the search was over. They clicked immediately and found they had mutual connections. “It was awesome to have another mom to collaborate with because we understand each other’s schedules are tight, and there may be interruptions, and we feel like we don’t have to be so apologetic about it, which is nice,” Cassens said. CORI ROSE HANDMADE Nicki Turner grew up in Illinois, moved to South Carolina, and then landed in Lakeland to attend Southeastern University. She majored in Social Work and has a master’s degree in Human Services. Turner worked with the Department of Children and Families and has volunteered at Parker Street Ministries. She and her husband founded a church in the Parker Street neighborhood called Strong Tower Church. You might say Cori Rose Handmade was born through a clay play date with her daughters. Turner had so much fun making clay donuts with her girls that she was instantly inspired, and design ideas and color palates swirled through her mind. She began following related accounts on social media and checking out books on clay at the library. Eventually, Turner started a social media account for Cori Rose Handmade, dedicated to sharing her creations with friends. She wasn’t selling her jewelry but would happily gift them. Her friends and family implored Turner to offer her art for sale. “It was a hard concept for me – thinking about selling something that I love to do because I just wanted to share the joy that I had making it with other people,” she said. Last summer, she started attending markets as a vendor and launched an online store. Her daughters are still involved with Cori Rose Handmade. She and her mini business partners gather for business meetings where they discuss color palettes. She’ll ask the girls what they’re drawn to or what colors make them feel happy. “In our house, we love to play with color – mugs, nail polish, art on the walls.” In June, Turner left her job at Southeastern to create full-time for Cori Rose Handmade. She’d worked at the college for three years and missed spending time with her girls. She wanted to volunteer at their school and her church more often and work on her designs. “While I was at work, I was daydreaming about making earrings and color palettes,” she laughed. This spring, when an email from Ashley Cassens came through, Turner looked up the artist and was thrilled at the possibility of a collaboration. “I was blown away by her work,” Turner said. The pair went back and forth on an idea that would incorporate one another’s art. They worked on color palettes and mood boards for the collaboration. Once the earrings were complete, Cassens added them to her paintings. The pair didn’t meet in person until their collection debut at Venue 650 in June. “This doesn’t seem real, this dream of working with another artist,” Turner said. “I feel like we work very well together even though we haven’t known each other long. […] It’s a unique thing to meet someone else and just get each other and work together so well.” Cassens and Turner have two bundles for sale in the Florescence Collection, each including a 5x7 print and corresponding clay earrings. The limited collection includes the “Rosario” bundle and the “Praised Mightily” bundle. The name Florescence suited their joint efforts. Merriam-Webster defines it as “a state or period of flourishing.” The title paid homage to that love of floral and the positively blooming subjects of Cassens’s “Eye Traps” series. “We both loved florals. We loved the idea of blooming,” Turner said. “These women, they’re blooming, and their beauty is showing through who they are.” The Florescence Collection is available for pre-order at corirose.com. Keep up with both artists on social media to see what markets they will attend in the future (and maybe future projects together). Cori Rose Handmade www.corirose.com FB @corirosehandmade IG @corirosehandmade Ashley Cassens www.ashleycassens.com FB: Ashley Cassens Art IG @ashley.cassens