BEHIND THE SCENES

Creative Director

BRIDGETTE WALDAU has been a graphic and fine artist for over 30 years. She received her A.A. from the Ft. Lauderdale Institute of Art and a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Stetson University. She moved to Okeechobee in 1994 where she opened her art studio. Bridgette has been creative director for several publications, working with Heartland Publications & Marketing as art director since 2011, winning eleven Florida Magazine Charlie Awards (2015- 2021). She is Arts & Culture Alliance Director (17 years) for Okeechobee Main Street. Bridgette is married to James Waldau, a retired firefighter from the City of Hialeah.

February & March 2023

Editor | Writer

CHRISTY SWIFT has been a freelance writer for over 13 years, working as an award-winning newspaper correspondent, magazine article writer, and web and social media content provider. She is also a soon-to-be published author of Young Adult and Adult fiction. You can find her at www.christyswift.com.

Photography Director

Writer

REBECCA MAGLISCHO is a wife and mother of two boys. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Human Movement with an emphasis on Corrective Modalities. She has completed a two year study in Full Body Systems through the Holistic Nutrition Lab and a certification in Functional Range Condition through the Functional Anatomy Systems.

Writer

HANNAH TUCKER is the Downtown Coordinator for the Community Redevelopment Agency with the City of Sebring. Hannah was born and raised in Sebring and enjoys getting to work for the city that she loves so much. Her biggest passion is the creativity of the work she designs and writes as well as the memories she captures through her videography and photography.

RAFAEL PACHECO I am a Pisces and was born on the island of Puerto Rico. My dog thinks I am crazy for locking the door so many times in 10 seconds and my cats think I am made of catnip. Everything I wear is black, gray or blue. If I put on something colorful I must have been in a hurry. Photography is how I have let my artistic visions come to life since the early 90’s. Patience, kindness, sharing, sacrifice, love and not to judge- I saw my mother practice these and they stayed within me. We are collective energy and all from the same Source. I don’t see the world through my eyes. I see it through my soul.

Photographer

CAROLINE MAXCY FOX was born and raised in Central Florida. She decided to be an artist at the age of five. After achieving her BSA from Florida State University, she practiced in the field of design for six years and then received a Master's in Graphic Design from NC State University. She honed her artistic craft and developed a "way of seeing" that fuels her work. Caroline is a full-time photographer and lives with her husband in the heart of Sebring. Together they run the day-to-day life at The Great Commission Bible Institute as the site coordinators and dorm parents. Naturally, adventure abounds.

The Villages of Highlands Ridge

36 Holes of Championship Golf

is home to 635 families that live in beautiful homes with beautiful views. There are 150 completely ready to build homesites available. All infrastructure is in place. This is a golf cart friendly community. Actually, it is a golf cart preferred community. A full-time event coordinator keeps everybody as busy as they can be. Not to mention, besides the golf courses, there is bocce ball, pickle ball, basketball, tennis, shuffleboard courts, and two swimming pools, two restaurants, two club houses and two pro shops.

Lake Bonnet is adjacent to this property. There are two piers on Lake Bonnet, one is for watching beautiful sunsets; the second dock is next to the private boat ramp. The golf course is set in the middle of the wilderness . You get a chance to step back in time and see where the Seminole Indians roamed and lived. There is wildlife galore. Florida Whitetail deer, Osceola turkeys with their big 8-inch beards, owls, hawks, eagles, ospreys and then of course you have your residence squirrels, possums, armadillos, raccoons, bobcats, and you might even get lucky and see a Florida panther.

Amenities

36 Holes of Championship Golf | Golf Driving Range

Two Club Houses | Community Center

North Tavern Restaurant | 3 Gens Grill

Two Heated Swimming Pools and Hot Tub

Lighted Tennis Courts | Shuffleboard, Pickle ball, Horseshoe Pits, & Table Tennis

260-Acre Lake with Boat Launch Ramp

Dock with Slips | RV Boat Storage Area

Gated Community with two entrances Active 55+ Community

The Christmas edition was beautiful.

-Laura Young, Owner, Bare Wood Market

Talent, hard work and your love for what you do has accomplished much… congratulations, Cindy.

-Roberta Beattie

Always the most beautiful covers.

- Lani's Rental For Weddings & Special Events LLC

It is gorgeous! Absolutely Gorgeous!

Monica Lynn

look forward to attending this year!

- Christy Swift

Surfing Santas was such a fun story. This is now on my family's "must do" list.

-Kay Dawson

Nice story about Okeechobee's Wreaths Across America. Thank you for doing this. Our veterans deserve only the best.

- Jane C. Black

Big thanks to each volunteer on our local Wreaths Across America team that helped us have another successful year honoring our veterans at their final resting place.

-Brad Phares