The Lakelander- Issue 82

2022 LAKELANDER

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GENERATIONS AGO,

our families shopped locally. Today, we follow in that tradition and continue to support local businesses.

Auburndale

521 Hughes Rd. (863) 967-6602

Bartow 1350 N. Broadway (US 98) (863) 533-1611

Eagle Lake

1515 Hwy. 17 N. (863) 294-7749 u u

Frostproof 500 N. Scenic Hwy. (863) 635-2645

Ft. Meade 1401 Hwy. 17 N. (863) 285-9757 u u

Haines City 35495 Hwy. 27 (863) 422-3144

We are proud to be part of the communities where many artisans create, and boost local economies. Shop, eat, spend, and enjoy!

Lakeland - Christina 6100 S. Florida Ave. (863) 646-2921 u

Lakeland - Combee 1225 N. Combee Rd. (863) 665-3111

Lakeland - Lake Gibson 6625 US 98 North (863) 858-3866 u u

Lakeland - North 1409 N. Florida Ave. (863) 682-8107

Lake Wales 126 Hwy. 60 W. (863) 676-6515 u

Winter Haven North 1399 6th St. NW (863) 251-2039

NORTH LAKELAND

1805 Lakeland Hills Blvd Lakeland, FL 33805 (863) 682-1500

SOUTH LAKELAND

2410 S. Florida Ave S Lakeland, FL 33803 (863) 682-1500

AgniniDental.com

We would like to honor the founders of Agnini Dental, the ones who started it all, Dr. Mike Agnini and his wife Donna. They came to Lakeland in 1979 with their two small sons to pursue their dreams of opening a dental practice. While nurturing a growing family, and working tirelessly to create a successful business, they poured everything into planting firm roots into Lakeland. They have been married 54 years, and are proof that love and admiration for one another can create a strong foundation for growth and success. This is a legacy they can be proud to leave to all future generations of dentists at Agnini Family Dental.

MADE Style

Learn the powerful redemptive story and inspiration behind East of These, and check out some dazzling custom earrings by a mother of three, and high-end leather products made by a rising young star.

40 54

MADE Culture

See how one local musician took a personal trial and turned it into a viable business that serves others. Plus, a long-standing cigar company makes ripples with new storefront, and local worship leader drops his first album.

MADE Taste

See behind the scenes of a Krazy successful local beverage company. Get up close with some bright and tasty pastries made fresh locally. Learn more about the essence of a Lakeland kava bar.

68 80

MADE Home

If you don’t recognize the name Bump Galletta, you may still recognize his art. Take a peek behind his work to get to know the artist. Plus, a young/author illustrator who is sharing hope, and handcrafted faux plants to dress up a room.

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Ana D. Lipson, M.D. | Patricia Bayshore, APRN

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ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

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EDITORIAL STAFF WRITER

Jordan Randall CONTRIBUTORS

Julianne Waller Diego De Jesus Jenna MacFarlane

CREATIVE GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jon Sierra Briana Chenot Danielle Douglin PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dan Austin Jordan Randall CIRCULATION CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jason Jacobs

The Lakelander is published 12 times annually by Patterson Jacobs Media Group, P.O. Box 41, Lakeland, FL 33802. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission of The Lakelander is prohibited. The Lakelander is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.

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Customer Service: 863.701.2707 • thelakelander.com

MADE TO ENJOY WHAT IS UNIQUELY MADE

and the spaces those aforementioned trends exist have created jobs for millions of people around the world.

I love putting together the MADE issue because it answers the “What if?” question with tangible results that now exist for you and I to enjoy.

“What if a nurse quit her day job and used that passion to create a growing beverage company?”

Growing up, I believed I could build the world’s most customized, colorful and flat out rad football stadium. So I did.

It was part of the beauty of being raised in a family where my mom enrolled me in art classes even though my ambition outweighed my talent, I could hang collector’s Wheaties boxes on my wall, and I was never scolded for throwing thousands of pieces from dozens of Lego kits together in large plastic bins.

The stadium I built was clearly sized just right for delightful little yellow mini figures and I could only step on it, not into it — but it illuminated for me the fact that God built into our DNA a desire to use His creative spirit to build things from scratch.

You might not recognize that at times in a culture where it’s easier to jump on board trends than create new ones, yet the reality is that talented engineers designed the computer I typed this on, someone’s dream of an invisible signal called the internet now powers our lives

“What if a guitarist experienced a life-altering medical condition and was determined to find a way for people like him to continue to play the music they love?”

“What if a young woman took her creative talent and painful past and allowed God to weave it together for the common good?”

We live in a community where I am continually amazed to see people discovering new ways to entertain, innovate, collaborate, and meet needs. Every time you try a new restaurant in town, buy a local product or support the local art scene you are supporting dreams.

Enjoy getting to know some of the amazing faces, stories and products that are being MADE, right here in Lakeland.

RJ Walters EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

BRIANA CHENOT

Growing up in Lakeland has allowed me to appreciate the simpler things in life all while soaking up some Florida sunshine. I recently graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in Graphic Design + Digital Media.

I find it so interesting how graphic design can influence you or I to make a purchase just by the aesthetic of the label. It impacts us every day without even realizing it, that is what attracted me to this profession. Other activities that I enjoy doing are baking, spending time outdoors, attending sporting events such as hockey games (go Bolts!), and taking my dog on mini adventures around town.

@brianachenot

DANIELLE DOUGLIN

Danielle Douglin is a Lakelander native with Caribbean heritage. She is a local creative with specialties in design and painting. By day she works as a graphic designer and strives to be more involved in the bustling Lakeland community every day.

Danielle graduated from Florida Southern College in 2020 majoring in Graphic Design & Studio Art. If she isn’t collaborating on a design, you can find her practicing her tennis skills, frolicking with friends or painting at her studio.

@danielledouglin DIEGO DE JESUS

Diego is a senior English major at Florida Southern College and currently a staff intern at The Lakelander. Originally from New York City, he came down to Lakeland for his education and has made his home here ever since.

He plans on living in Lakeland after graduation to pursue a career in journalism while producing creative prose pieces on the side. The friends and connections that he’s made in Lakeland have truly changed his life for the better, and he is forever grateful for the community accepting him.

COMMENTS FROM LAKELANDERS

"Love

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love love Kentia! She is the best. Makes everyone feel special."

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WRITTEN BY JENNA MACFARLANE PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

omeone who has never survived cancer may assume that once you’re cured life returns to normal.

This couldn’t be further from true.

After living through a traumatic event, cancer survivors are often left behind. Loved ones stop checking in. Medical bills arrive. The world keeps turning, but they’re still living with the illness every day.

“It’s always over your shoulder, the fear it might come back,” breast cancer survivor Simoni Limeira-Bonadies says. Years after her treatment, she still juggles frequent doctor’s appointments, undergoes regular medical testing and takes intrusive medications.

Survivors can feel positive about their outcome and trust their medication—but they still need education and connection with others who’ve dealt with the same thing.

Simoni bravely shared her story with The Lakelander in an effort to help others walk valiantly through their own journeys.

In May 2017, she found a lump in her breast at home during a self-exam. “I didn’t want to go to the doctor, but I just had a gut feeling,” she said. “I felt like my body was telling me something.” Simoni’s gut feeling was right. Her doctor found a cancerous lump.

In the surgery to remove it, the doctor discovered more; Simoni had three types of cancer in the same breast.

Months of medical appointments and painful treatments would follow. One lumpectomy led to chemotherapy, radiation, and ultimately a double mastectomy.

Through it all, Simoni never stopped working. A local middle school art teacher, she taught her students all week and went to treatment every Thursday. “Art helped me the whole way through. Both teaching it, and creating it,” she said.

Simoni Limeira-Bonadies is an accomplished art teacher who appreci ated Watson Clinic’s integration of art as she walked through her cancer journey.

E s t a t e P l a n n i n g T e a m

SANDRA G. SHEETS Lakeland Managing Shareholder

KEITH C. SMITH Shareholder

JOHN K. VREELAND Shareholder NATALIE R. WILSON Shareholder

KATHERINE

SULTENFUSS SCHICHTEL Of Counsel

EMILY K. CRAIN Associate ATHENA M. WARLEN Associate

For Simoni, art was everywhere, especially in the doctor’s office. Thanks to the Watson Clinic Arts in Medicine Program, patient-created artwork lives on the walls of the lobby and the ceiling tiles of the treatment rooms. That art inspired Simoni to paint a cancer cell—she wanted to show the beauty in its intricacies, the nuance within life-altering circumstances.

Watson Clinic’s art is intentional. In recent years, research has shown the positive outcomes when arts and medicine integrate. Studies have found that art aids healing; it offers an opportunity to create, to express and to connect.

The Watson Clinic Arts in Medicine Program explores the connection between art and healing, and is currently hosting a series of educational and creative workshops for breast cancer survivors. The workshops aim to connect survivors with their community and others who have been through similar experiences to help them ultimately find a renewed sense of themselves.

Tiffany Van Wieren, Watson Clinic Foundation Arts in Medicine Program Coordinator, explored what a program like this might look like when a doctor talked to

her about the reality of survivorship.

“Your quality of life is equivalent to your quality of connection,” Tiffany said. “Art is innately part of the way we connect with others. That’s why this program was born.”

With the support of local partners like the Polk Museum of Art, Florida Dance Theatre and the Garden Club of Lakeland, the fourclass Breast Cancer Survivorship Series is offered twice per year.

When The Lakelander met Simoni she was attending the second workshop within the series: Building Strength through Movement, where Florida Dance Theatre’s Executive Director Jermaine Thornton taught the class about the connection and strength within dance.

After the workshop, Jermaine led a conversation around the reality of living through a traumatic event. Going around the table, a few women vulnerably shared their experience surviving cancer. Many shed tears recalling the isolation they felt—the loneliness it brought and the hope they still felt.

“I didn’t like being called a ‘survivor’ for a long time, because I thought it meant I couldn’t live a full life,” said Simoni. “The workshop showed me I am a survivor. I have a new understanding of the word: I am surviving every day. My entire family is a survivor, too.”

This past June, Simoni and her husband hiked the Alps. They walked more than 75 miles. “I’ve learned not to wait any longer to do the things I want to do,” she said.

“Tomorrow is never certain.”

Their next trip is already booked.

Approximately 21,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in Florida alone. Education and resources are necessary to the lives and wellness of women.

The Breast Cancer Survivorship Workshops are made possible thanks to a generous grant provided by the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation. If you are a survivor and would like to be part of the Spring workshop series, learn more at watsonclinic.com/services/arts-in-medicine or call 863-603-4718 for more information.

“YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE IS EQUIVALENT TO YOUR QUALITY OF CONNECTION,” TIFFANY SAID. “ART IS INNATELY PART OF THE WAY WE CONNECT WITH OTHERS. THAT’S WHY THIS PROGRAM WAS BORN.”

Bottom right: Tiffany Van Wieren, Arts in Medicine Coordinator for the Watson Clinic Foundation, was the catalyst for bringing the Survivorship series to Polk County.

WRITTEN BY DIEGO DE JESUS PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

canning an empty parking lot next to downtown Lakeland, Jeffrey Donalson sees nothing but potential and lays out his vision for what he believes is a muchneeded addition to Lakeland.

Being a project manager wasn’t Donalson’s original aspiration when he graduated from the University of Florida in 2010 with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in engineering, but it got him to where he is today.

He worked in the engineering field for three years on many large-scale projects, including the Northwest Polk County Wastewater Plant. His last big project was a reverse osmosis conveyance plant for Domestic Water in Clearwater.

“I hung up the cleats and came over to work for myself,” Donalson said. “So, it’s been an interesting ride. I think my bread and butter foundation is the engineering part of it.”

In 2012, Donalson started working out of his own office in downtown Winter

Haven shortly after the Great Recession hit.

There wasn’t much demand for engineering work in the area at the time, which caused Donalson to seek out a new path. It ultimately led him to network with city officials who helped him slowly establish his business in project development, which today is Thomas Capital Partners, LLC.

With these connections, Donalson started to write and design proposals for new construction projects. He saw a lot of opportunities to purchase real estate and develop it, but opening and running a real estate business took a lot of work, which forced him to rely on some of the skills he had learned as an engineer.

“It was a unique process,” Donalson said. “One thing as an engineer that I like to do is to measure everything out and eliminate any impossibilities, any issues that may come up.”

When Donalson still made a living off of his engineering work, he spent his free time learning all about financial accounting, sometimes until the wee hours of the morning. He needed to build up his financial IQ to enter the real estate business, which can involve high risk.

With a list of potential clients in hand, he would knock on the doors of local business owners looking for properties to expand their businesses. At first, he received mixed responses, but leading some small expansion started to domino into more significant projects.

He bought Thomas Capital’s first building, a conventional mixed-retail space of around 13,000 square feet.

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“Just like I am local, I want to do business with a local bank, and Wauchula being a institution that’s family-owned, that’s local, I get the best of both worlds - the personal service that I want for my business, but I also am supporting a local bank, that in turn, is supporting me.”

Milton De La Cruz

Residential Real Estate Agent, pictured with Business Banking Officer Amy Thompson

Today, Donalson’s development company manages 500,000 - 600,000 square feet in Polk County, including various buildings for commercial use.

Thomas Capital specializes in larger offices, retail and mixed-use buildings in downtown settings. Many businesses have relied on Donalson’s company to develop facilities for their establishments in Lakeland, as well as other parts of Polk County.

For example, when businessman Doug Law needed a space for his Jimmy John’s establishment in downtown Lakeland across from Munn Park he contacted Donalson to develop the property.

Other local businesses like Tsunami Sushi— originally based in Winter Haven—have approached Donalson regarding expansion efforts. Donalson helped them develop the Lakeland restaurant on N. Tennessee Ave.

Donalson’s latest major development involves a project on the property of The Ledger building on the edge of downtown. He partially owns the building with a partner holder.

In the parking lot area where the building is located, he plans on building 400-500 apartments over 17 acres of land, making the units densely packed while being true to Lakeland’s aesthetic. He says with certainty that he doesn’t want it to have an urban look that matches what has become common in downtown Tampa.

“I HUNG UP THE CLEATS AND CAME OVER TO WORK FOR MYSELF...SO, IT’S BEEN AN INTERESTING RIDE.

I THINK MY BREAD AND BUTTER FOUNDATION IS THE ENGINEERING PART OF IT.”

The project is in the concept design phase, and there is yet to be a concrete time when the apartments will open to residents. Donalson expects the project’s completion within two to three years. His company is treating it as a gateway into the west downtown area.

“We think we can maximize the use of the site through some vertical development, especially with what’s going on in downtown, and revitalize the west downtown gateway,” Donalson said. “Most development will be residential housing, but we will have retail and mixed-use components.”

Construction during the first phase will focus on the northeast corner.

“We’re trying to make not necessarily a town center but a livable community on the west side of downtown,” Donalson said. “We’re very bullish on Lakeland and downtown specifically. The metrics we’re using on-demand are that you have all of these businesses coming in.”

Donalson’s ascension as a respected leader in the project management space has coincided with explosive growth in downtown Lakeland. The city’s population is now at more than 120,000 people, signaling an increase of more than 20 percent in just a decade.

“WE’RE TRYING TO MAKE NOT NECESSARILY A TOWN CENTER BUT A LIVABLE COMMUNITY ON THE WEST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.”

Taylor Ard East of These

WRITTEN BY JULIANNE WALLER PHOTOS BY DAN AUSTIN DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT & JON SIERRA

Walking through downtown’s farmer’s market on a Saturday morning, East of These stands out as a cute, colorful booth with products like brightlypatterned headbands, hair bows, and big scrunchies—but there’s more to the shop than meets the eye. In addition to creating ethically sourced products, owner Taylor Ard, 35, has used her experience as a domestic violence survivor to create flexible job opportunities for female survivors of domestic abuse, emotional abuse and homelessness.

hen East of These began, that team included just two people: owner Taylor Ard and her friend, Jessica. As Taylor recalls, the shop began very organically. Jessica had recently bought a large amount of fabric, and she asked Taylor to teach her how to sew. It didn’t go so well.

“Within five minutes of teaching her how to thread the machine she was like, ‘I’m not going to be able to do this,’” Taylor recalls, laughing. “So we just came up with a plan for her to get her money back and started making some simple things for our community.”

From there, the turban-style headbands Taylor made gained more and more popularity and the business just kept growing. Though Jessica moved to Tennessee, Taylor kept up the work and officially launched East of These in 2020.

East of These has grown and evolved into what Taylor calls “a local brand [that] specializes in small handmade textile clothes.” In addition to hair accessories and baby products, the shop creates custom branded, handmade items for businesses. The success has led Taylor to rent a space for the shop in Catapult, an entrepreneurial marketplace in downtown Lakeland, as well as have a consistent presence in Lakeland’s many markets.

Creating and selling accessories began as a way for Taylor to help her friend and bring joy to the community; but she ended up helping herself in the process. When Taylor started the business she was recovering from an abusive relationship, and she found healing in the work.

“It helped in getting back on my feet and combating verbal abuse that I’ve [experienced]

Taylor and her team create beautiful, ethically made goods that represent their love for Lakeland and the people in it.

over the years,” she says. “It’s very therapeutic [to] take something that has very little form and create something out of it that someone values.”

Taylor chose to share that gift of healing with others by hiring female survivors of domestic violence, emotional abuse, neglect and homelessness. The business name is a nod to the phrase “the least of these” from the Bible, which refers to anyone who is marginalized, impoverished or in need.

“When I was at my lowest, it was very difficult because I have always prided myself on being self-sufficient, and I wasn’t anymore,” Taylor admits. “Experiencing people helping me and having very little choice in that was very humbling. It definitely set me up for wanting to help others.”

Taylor’s help doesn’t end at employing survivors—she also creates a flexible work environment that supports their recovery. For example, one employee is a graduate from Gospel Inc., a Lakeland nonprofit that provides work opportunities and homes to those who have previously experienced homelessness. The employee is now self-sufficient in part because of her flexible full-time job at East of These.

“[Another] one of our ladies is recovering, and she’s a single mom of three,” Taylor says. “We’ll watch her kids. It really is like a family here—it’s not just them working for me, it’s like, how can we holistically help [each other]?”

East of These is also environmentally conscious. Products sold at East of These are handmade, ethically-sourced, and locally produced. For

"It's very therapeutic [to] take something that has very little form and create something out of it that someone values."

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POWERING CONVENIENCE

example, the majority of their products are printed in North Carolina.

“It’s sustainable and we only print exactly what we need,” Taylor says about the process. “As far as our waste, we make products out of our scraps [and] try to repurpose them. Everything is paid for with fair wages.”

Additionally, the unique prints featured on popular items like headbands and oversized scrunchies are frequently crafted by local artists and designers. East of These has worked with many artists in the community, such as Gillian Fazio, Bump Galletta, Rebekah Firmin, Gaby Escalera and Tate Krupa; but Taylor hires independent artists from all around the country. Since she has lived “all over the place,” artists and artisans are easy to find – and social media helps fill in the blanks.

“I just reach out to different people,” she explains. “[For example], there's a girl who’s viral on Instagram who sells handlettered stuff on her Etsy shop, so we engraved her hand lettering on velvet scrunchies.”

Clearly, Taylor has a lot to be proud of. But in her opinion, the biggest success yet has been employing a team of incredible women.

“Outside of that, working with amazing businesses like Bonnet Springs and Born & Bread has been great,” she adds. “[And]

"We're trying to grow our brand into clothing and home— something that has a really strong brand identity, but offers more."

Director of Operations Ashley Gruber (right) and Production Manager Katie Boll (left) help Taylor carry out her vision for the business.

we’re going to be opening our little shop in the location where The Poor Porker used to be.”

Taylor is also very thankful for the store’s farmers market presence, which has doubled in size and sales for the company in the past year.

“We have an amazing community that comes out every week and shops with us, so we’re really grateful for those relationships.”

As the shop continues to make its mark on Lakeland, Taylor hopes that in the future East of These will expand in scale and products—and the new location is a great start.

“We’re trying to grow our brand into clothing and home,” she says. “Something that has a really strong brand identity, but offers more.”

East of These is so much more than a business. Just like its team of incredible women, the store carries a story with it—a story of healing, and a story of the ripple effect of kindness. Not only Taylor’s kindness in crafting a healing environment for her employees, but the love and dedication those employees put into crafting products that bring so much joy to others. East of These products are paying kindness forward.

eastofthese.com @eastofthese

Taylor has become an incredible resource for other women in the community who have gone through hard times and are looking for light in the darkness.

Performance Gold

From classics to contemporary, the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra’s 57th season features six concerts, a chamber music series, and a fully-staged opera. Tickets start at $26 and students are free.

Cori Rose Handmade

THE MAKER

Several years ago, Nicole Turner was working at Southeastern University, living the working mom life, when she had an “ah ha” moment making a donut charm out of polymer clay for one of her three daughters.

“From start to finish it was such a fun medium to work with and the finished product brought so much joy to me and my little one,” she wrote on her Instagram account.

Not only did her girls inspire her to start experimenting with clay and to bring out her creative side, today they are incredible sidekicks for her growing business.

Nicole is married to Ben Turner, the pastor of Strong Tower Church.

THE PRODUCTS

Her brand is named after Nicole’s middle name, because simply put, she loves it that much. Fans love her products just as passionately based on her evolution from Instagram startup to local market regular to a full service website.

Many of her earrings showcase the natural beauty and colors of clay, but other products are filled with splashes of bright color. Likewise, she creates everything from traditional mini studs to elegant custom design shapes and patterns.

Cori Rose is always showing off new products via Instagram and its website, but Turner also takes custom orders and builds curated collections for weddings, special events, retreats and more.

Garrett Wayne Co

THE MAKER

At only 17 years old, self-taught leather maker Garrett Wayne has started to make a name for himself in the world of accessories. A student at Lakeland Christian School and a graduate of the University of YouTube, Garrett continues to perfect his craft and produce wallets, belts, dog tags and other leather products at a higher standard. For more on this young entrepreneur, check out our Q&A with Garrett on page 95.

THE PRODUCTS

Garrett’s designs are made by hand with a careful and creative intentionality behind them.

Through wallets, belts, laptop pads and other leather accessories, Garrett provides his clientele with strong, well-designed products that don't just look great, but last. And with a strong focus on continuing to expand his brand beyond just leather, Garrett continues to push boundaries of what he can create for customers with his own two hands.

BLACK DRESS BELT PRICING VARIES MAHOGANY DRESS BELT PRICING VARIES SUNDAY WALLET $62

@garrett.wayne_

Noel Rosa New Sound Acoustics

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY DANIELLE DOUGLIN

usic has been a part of Noel’s life for more than 30 years. Born in the projects of north New Jersey, Noel has been playing in front of crowds for as long as he can remember. Getting his start as a drummer in the local church band when he was younger, Noel grew comfortable playing in front of others—friends and strangers alike. Through confidence and determination, he and his band landed a record deal with CBS Records shortly after high school, which propelled him forward in his music journey. Though, it hasn’t come without its challenges.

Following a car crash in the 1990s, Noel’s ability to play the drums became challenged. After two years of physical therapy and speech therapy, he returned to

music. Shortly after his return, a new friend pushed Noel to pick up guitar. Once Noel did, his newfound talent took off running. After winning various guitar playing competitions, it was as if Noel had been playing guitar his entire life. Watching him play now in his mid-50s, his skill remains evident.

“Four years after picking up the guitar, I entered a competition and got ranked second in the state of Florida,” shares Noel. “From there I started entering more competitions, and I grew into being more of a singer-songwriter. I soon got picked up by Takamine Guitars, and it wasn’t long before Martin Guitars came knocking. So I respectfully turned down my endorsement with Takamine and went with Martin. And then now I’m, of course, touring with my own guitars.”

If something stopped you from being able to do what you love, would you lay it all to rest, or would you take matters into your own hands, and invent a new solution yourself? Noel Rosa, founder of New Sound Acoustics, bravely chose the latter.

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In 2009, Noel experienced an injury to his spine while on stage. Once again, Noel’s ability to do what he loved was in jeopardy. After trying to push through for a bit, he quickly realized that in order to keep going and doing what he loved, he would need to innovate something new.

Noel needed a lighter guitar—one that didn’t weigh 9 pounds. He needed one that would be less stress on his back, and allow him to play on stage without being in chronic pain.

After realizing such a guitar just didn’t exist––at least not to his standards––New Sound Acoustics was born. When faced with the tough decision to stop playing or pivot, Noel channeled that bold spirit from his youth, and he chose to invent something entirely new.

It was something he knew he needed, but he never expected so many others to need or want it as well.

“I definitely knew I had something,” said Noel. “I had the beginnings of an idea. So while I was on tour––I think I was in Wyoming––I sat down in the hotel room at the end of the day, and I made a list of everything that I hated about guitars.”

Jumping into his new venture, Noel approached his friend Ken Bailey, a Plant City guitar shop owner at the time, with his needs.

“Ken is a wonderful man. I told him I don’t want to learn how to build a traditional guitar. I just want to learn how to build my guitar. And we jumped right in.”

Music has been a part of Noel’s life for more than 30 years. Born in the projects of north New Jersey, Noel has been playing in front of crowds for as long as he can remember.

The NRS-Koa Thin Body is an exotic guitar made with rare wood and a craftsman’s touch.

“I told him I don’t want to learn how to build a traditional guitar. I just want to learn how to build my guitar. And we jumped right in.”

Deciding the first test for his new design would be at the Orlando Guitar Expo, Noel and Ken built five guitars to showcase to the local guitar playing community.

However, before arriving at their first expo, they sold all five guitars. Noel quickly called Ken in a panic to ask for his help creating more. So they created another five, and in short order they sold out again. “Then I went to a second guitar show. Where I won an award for best new innovative product,” explains Noel. “From there I just kept selling out at guitar shows.”

Crafted with intentionality, Noel’s guitars are set apart from others in the industry, weighing just 3 pounds, with zero feedback on stage.

Crafted with intentionality, Noel’s guitars are set apart from others in the industry, weighing just 3 pounds, with zero feedback on stage. A guitar from New Sound Acoustics—which start at $2,200—provides a quality product combined with the ease of comfortability to help avoid back or shoulder pain

Noel’s guitars also feature a tuner and auxiliary port for headphone usage.

Additionally, the sound hole is in the rear, laser cut through the wood, keeping the continuity of the grain and of the wood as it flows through the build of the guitar.

Another innovative way New Sound Acoustics sets itself apart from other guitar makers is by collaborating with Viable Lumber, based in the St. Pete/Tampa area.

The NRS-Sunburst model is crafted with Bear Claw Sitka Spruce wood.

DISCOVER THE LANDS OF

“Instead of going out and ordering these trees from South America or wherever they‘re cutting rain forests down, these are trees that have already fallen or are getting knocked down here locally,” Noel expresses. “It‘s a piece of Florida in every guitar. I think that‘s cool.”

It’s no secret that since the invention of the guitar, there have been countless redesigns and configurations throughout the years. There have been guitars designed with the intention of being lighter before Noel came along, and more will try after him. But Noel wasn’t here to reinvent the wheel. Of course—nothing‘s new under the sun. He just aimed to make the wheel better. If you’re ucky enough to pick up one of his guitars for yourself, you’ll see that he has.

“Instead of going out and ordering these trees from South America or wherever they’re cutting rain forests down, these are trees that have already fallen or are getting knocked down here locally,” Noel expresses. “It’s a piece of Florida in every guitar. I think that’s cool.”

Rosa puts his passion into practice at the Makers Space in Catapult Lakeland downtown.

Velázquez Cigar Company

THE MAKER

In 1989, Enrique Velázquez-Mora and his wife, Car men Santiago, embarked on the adventure of creating top notch Puerto Rican cigars, and six years later that dream became reality when they opened a factory in the town of Florida, Puerto Rico.

In 1998, they moved their production facility to the Dominican Republic because of the ongoing effects of destructive hurricanes in Puerto Rico.

Fast forward to 2021, the Velázquez’s, including two of the Velázquez’s four children, Magaly Ritter and Manuel Velázquez, designed and opened a cigar store at 812 Main Street in downtown. Magaly said everyone in the business is either “blood family or you have worked with us so long you have become family,” and together they jump every hurdle in their way.

THE PRODUCTS

The family’s goal is to be accessible to cigar newbies, while also appealing to longtime cigar aficionados.

For example, beginners might take a liking to hints of coffee and chocolate offered in the Robusto Habano, while premium cigars like the Torpedo Doble Capa have flavor profiles that are both bold and creamy. The components of these finely crafted cigars come from a variety of countries including, but not limited to Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

You can purchase products either in-store or at https://www.velazquezcigarcompany.com.

TORPEDO

Fresh blackberry kombucha is just one of the bright, refreshing options available in store.

Owned by 3rd-Gen Lakelander Locally Produced & Distributed Refreshing Health Benefits

WRITTEN BY DIEGO DE JESUS PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY DANIELLE DOUGLIN

Krazy about Kommunity

"I believe with my background in nursing for 25 years and doing holistic nutrition, there are so many health benefits, and that's the educational portion of my business. A lot of people don't know that just by consuming fermented foods that there are so many health benefits to the body, to anyone."

Krazy Kombucha has made its home in Dixieland along South Florida Avenue for nearly a year, selling its locally-brewed kombucha tea with many flavors to choose from and mix.

At the front, customers are greeted by either Wendy Johnson, a third-generation Lakelander, or her best friend, AJ Jackson, behind a glossy butcher-block bar, ready to serve their signature kombucha on tap ranging from their Mermaid Lemonade to Spirulina Mint.

Since Johnson's business was featured in The Lakelander in 2019, Wendy Johnson has continued her passion-driven mission of serving kombucha, serving quality products that help her customers' gut health.

"I believe with my background in nursing for 25 years and doing holistic nutrition, there are so many health benefits, and that's the educational portion of my business," Johnson said. "A lot of people don't know that just by consuming fermented foods that there are so many health benefits to the body, to anyone."

Kombucha caught her attention and she saw the demand for more healthy drink options—specifically kombucha— that no one else was providing locally. Johnson started Krazy Kombucha in 2017 and is still the only kombucha distributor in Lakeland.

Krazy Kombucha originally set up a tent every Saturday at the Downtown Lakeland Farmers Curb Market, they shared kitchens with various restaurants and, at one point, they brewed their kombucha at Catapult.

Johnson still sets up the same tent every Saturday, but much has changed in the past five years.

Johnson was looking for a place for her business to finally call home, where staff could easily control the variables that determine the condition of the kombucha they brew by the keg.

She started talking to a realtor about available properties in Dixieland. There were many candidates, but at first none seemed to be the perfect fit.

"This particular piece came up open here, and I wasn't even going to look at it because I thought it was too small and it wasn't going to work," Johnson said. "But I came and looked through the back window and was like in my gut, 'This is it!'"

The property was a price the business owner could afford and had just the right amount of space for Krazy Kombucha to brew its signature kombucha.

Their kombucha is brewed for three weeks and requires extensive attention to detail. The freezer, where they keep all the kegs, is one of their prized accomplishments as a business.

It's a process that includes three stages that allow the scoby, or the fermenting bacteria in the kombucha, to consume as much of the activating sugar as possible—removing the sugary taste for the product to be healthier.

Johnson starts off brewing tea such as green, white and black tea for the natural antioxidants. All her kombuchas have the same base of this tea with less sugar in the first ferment.

Customers can enjoy a refreshing beverage from Krazy Kombucha at the market on Saturdays or by stopping by the taproom from

AJ Jackson

Wendy Johnson

According to Johnson, other kombucha distilleries use 1 cup of sugar per gallon. Meanwhile, Krazy Kombucha has cut that amount to three-quarters of a cup while maintaining an appealing taste with tangible health benefits.

From there, the brew ferments for 10-15 days. Johnson checks the Ph and alcohol content of the brew in large glass containers to ensure better taste and quality. This step in the process is what Johnson believes makes her kombucha different from other brands.

"I don't know their [other brand's] processes. I won't even begin to act as I do, but I really believe that the first ferment in all glass containers makes a difference in the flavor."

Success—Made in Lakeland

Jason Burns ’03,’05,’20 & Lis Burns,’03 Founders, Access Church

Jeremy Reyes,’18 Founder, Purpose Beyond Profit Camilla Escalera, ’18 Registered Nurse, Lakeland Regional Health

Christin Strawbridge, ’17 President, Catapult

Flavoring is the next step. There's an assortment of flavors to choose from, including multiple herbal and fruit options to mix and match together for a unique taste.

Flavor is added to the keg before the first ferment. The keg is sealed and left to ferment for another 1224 hours at 75 degrees Fahrenheit— more time for the scoby to consume the sugar in the flavoring.

The keg is placed into a large refrigerator unit, or the "coolbot," and left to sit for three weeks, allowing it to get cold and bubbly.

"We like it to go three weeks

in cold storage because that slow ferment, the scoby in those kegs is eating up what sugar's in there," said Johnson. "Whether it's a little bit of cane sugar left or the fruit sugars I maybe put in for flavor. We want to give it enough time to eat up as much of that sugar as possible and leave us the beneficial acids and enzymes from that fermentation process."

Customers can enjoy a refreshing beverage from Krazy Kombucha at the market on Saturdays or by stopping by the taproom from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays or Saturdays.

Johnson still sets up the same tent every Saturday, but much has changed in the past five years.

DOU Bakehouse

THE MAKER

Diana Cortes and David Hernandez bring passion, expertise and flair to the pastry game in a way that is vivid and bright and that has helped build a business that is quite nice.

They started DOU in 2015 on the foundation of Diana’s pastry chef background and David’s economics and marketing skills. Diana hails from Colombia, where she initially studied business administration. But she was more excited by her favorite hobby of cooking and dreamt of turning that into a money maker.

She eventually landed on pursuing a career in the pastry business after training in Argentina, and what started as baking thousands of cookies a month has turned into a growing business that has established a strong presence throughout Central Florida.

THE PRODUCTS

You can’t walk by a display of DOU’s macaroons without feeling like you are being transported in the middle of a Dr. Seuss book. The colors pop and it’s unlikely you will be able to eat just one. They tout they are currently making more than 10,000 macaroons per week, but they also make handmade chocolate bars, cake pops fit for high-end parties and weddings, and many other exquisite pastries.

DOU says its business has boomed by selling wholesale to resorts in Orlando, cruise lines, hotels and corporate clients. Lucky for Lakelanders, they are also finalizing details for a local pickup spot near downtown that is slated to open in February 2023.

doubakehouse.com

@doubakehouse

POPS: MOIST ALMOND FLOUR CAKE DIPPED IN CRUNCHY CHOCOLATE AND TOPPED WITH CARAMEL GANACHE AND MALDON SEA SALT. TASTE

FRENCH MACARONS: GLUTEN-FREE COOKIES FILLED WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE. EACH COLOR HAS A DIFFERENT FLAVOR, AND EACH GANACHE IS MADE WITH NATURAL FRUIT PUREES.

Quinteassance

THE MAKER

Jonathan Thoresen has been serving up kava, kratom and herbal botanical tea blends for more than eight years. He made a name for the brand at festivals and concerts, and the Lake Wales native took the leap to open a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Lakeland in 2021.

Thoresen is not passionate only about providing a wide array of cultural experiences through beverages that originate from across the globe, he also takes great pride in offering a setting where people can relax, connect with each other and make new friends.

THE PRODUCTS

Simply put, Quinteassance has cornered the market on hot and iced beverages that originate from roots, leaves and plants.

Kava is brewed from the roots of a plant that is native to the Pacific Islands, and it is known for being a natural relaxer for a person’s muscles and mind.

Kratom is a beverage that comes from the extract of leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, and it has created quite a buzz because of some of its euphoric effects. Quinteassance offers up plenty of colorful, fruity and fun offerings as well, with a large variety of Boba Tea, kombucha, matcha, coffee and cacao.

quinteassence.com @quinteassence

SPECIALTEAS,

Josh Galletta A.K.A Bump STYLE TASTE CULTURE HOME

WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS PHOTOS BY DAN AUSTIN DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

ou could start with how he worked in youth ministry for 20 years, and how that experience serves as a backdrop for how he now connects with clients.

It is tempting to recreate scenes where he was a barista at Starbucks attempting to craft foam so “foamy” that a penny could rest on it and then tie in how the book “Quitter” by Jon Acuff inspired him during his transition from dabbling dreamer to professional artist.

You could dive deep into how he and his wife have experienced the hand of God at work and the blessing of supportive community the past 12 years following a near fatal bike accident that forever changed him as a husband, father, friend and creator.

There are many places to start to try and define the story and impact of Josh Galletta, the artist known as Bump, but inevitably you will reach the same destination—one that is rare, colorful and filled with possibilities.

Where do you start a story about an artist whose works are as integrated into Lakeland as quick rain showers are into the summer forecast?

Amidst a large crowd of endearing fans Bump gave high-fives, took pictures and signed autographs. This was at Willow Oak Elementary in Mulberry, of course.

He had connected with students at The Great American Teach-In previously, helping them envision lives and careers that likely seemed beyond their grasp.

The administration was so impressed with Bump that they asked him to design the cover of their yearbook.

This is the same artist who has earned work with mega corporations like Publix and recently had his work commissioned for an event at The White House, yet he gave this small task his full attention and respect.

“They asked me to come in and sign the books…I ended up staying for about an hour and a half, and I ended up signing like over 200 or 300 books,” he recalls with a grin. “And I end up drawing something in every single kid's yearbook, like hundreds of little flowers, dragons, robots.”

This is the type of spotlight Bump enjoys. He is, after all, the illustrator of local author Ida Mundell’s book “Goodnight Lakeland,” he has taught art classes to underserved youth through his sponsorship with Tombow, and he has filmed art lessons with organizations like Visit Central Florida.

The characteristics that help the 45-year-old unlock a child or teen’s creative potential or simply bring them

joy through his sketches are the traits that also made him an impactful youth pastor.

Galletta’s dad was a pastor and worked at a Christian radio station, a path Bump didn’t intend to follow. Bump said he remembers considering himself kind of a “Jonah” in a sense, not rebellious to religion, but also not super keen on pursuing a career in ministry.

Yet whenever he would go to some of his favorite hangouts, like skateparks or punk rock concerts, somehow he would end up in deep conversations that often led back to God.

So he reached out to a friend and asked if he knew of any churches that were hiring, and within a week Bump was a youth pastor. He helped grow a youth program from eight children to more than 100 regular attendees. Today, he reflects on how his ministry experience enables him to be consistently responsive and empathetic to his creative clients.

“Kind of part of the ministry is always being available to help somebody. We had, you know, kids get raped, abortions…they’re going through anxiety, depression…” he said. “It's like you gotta be in the kids' lives. And I think for me that transcended to my art and my business.”

"His imagination is wild, and i'm like, where did that even come from?"

- Bump's Wife, Mary

E ve ry D a y I’ m Hu st lin g

Bump, who is best known for fun and bold black-and-white illustrations that can both wow and charm, started really getting into drawing in high school, when he would create comics and illustrate personalized pieces to give as gifts.

Fast forward several decades, and drawing was not just enjoyable, it was a lifeline for him. After long days at work and spending time with his wife, Mary, and their kids, Emmersyn and Fynn, he would sometimes draw into the early hours of the morning.

“Part of my accident, with the PTSD, was I couldn't sleep without having, you know, flashbacks. So I would just draw whenever I wasn’t able to sleep.”

His drawings started to stack up, and pretty soon he and his family were setting up a tent at weekend markets as a profitable side hustle. He made more local connections in the art and business industries, and started to wonder if this hobby could become a full-time job.

He admits there were several times he was left scratching his head when local vendors or creatives wouldn’t divulge what they deemed “trade secrets” of making a living as an artist, but Bump’s DNA is to grind through the rough spots until they come out smooth.

Bump said he became confident in leaving his job in youth ministry to pursue his dream thanks in part to the collective wisdom he gained from many recognizable locals, including: Andy McEntire (Indie Atlantic and Concord Coffee), Mayor Bill Mutz, Steve Scruggs (Executive Director of the Lakeland Economic Development Council), Tim Cox (former Director of Creative Services for Publix) and Steve Madden (Madden Branded Goods).

“They all sat with me for coffee, one at a time. I'm like…what do you recommend I do?” he says. “And every single one of them is like, 'Pursue your art, do your art, do your art, do your art.'”

Bump said his first big break on the local scene was when he started partnering with Scout & Tag to sell custom Lakeland products. That domino falling led to referrals that set him on a path to do commissioned art like murals, corporate branding for large entities, and plenty of logo and custom artwork for small businesses and nonprofits.

If you ever stop by his home studio, you will be inspired, but you’ll also quickly realize that being a self-employed artist is far from luxurious. Bump creates the majority of his magic in a windowless room that covers just more than 100 square feet. He jokes that the fanciest piece of equipment he owns is “a 100 dollar lamp.” He has shelves of neatly organized vinyls, hundreds of Lego mini figures to chat about his designs with, and plenty of personal relics that remind him of who he is and where he’s come from.

One such piece that hangs on a board is an email from a Starbucks employee. It was a message asking him if he would be interested in designing a mural inside the Starbucks at Southgate. He was very interested, and it was one of his first highly visible projects.

“I was like, ‘Holy crap. man.’ I mean that's just like, I don't know how you top that.”

Top that he has!

One of his favorite pieces to date is a large canvas mural in the Publix Greenwise off South Florida Ave. that he collaborated on with local artist/storyteller Fred Koehler.

He said “it felt like Christmas” to be asked to do such a significant project for one of the nation’s most recognizable supermarket chains.

His son Fynn said one of his favorite parts of that mural are the hidden “easter eggs” that only a discerning eye can find. “He tries to sneak as much stuff in as he can,” Fynn said.

"...Every single one of them is like 'Pursue your art, do your art, do your art, do your art!"

C re at e S tu ff

The ability for Bump to add in the silhouette of a yeti or obscure reference to a favorite hero to a piece of art that will be seen by thousands is a perk earned through hard work, long consultations and projects of all sizes and profit margins.

His trademark home and business “portraits” can be found on walls and mantles throughout Polk County, and he admits that he has had to steadily increase the prices on those as demand has risen and he’s had other opportunities in the marketplace—whether it be T-shirt designs, murals or working on logos and branding with businesses.

He says trying to help others reach their personal and professional goals through art is all about a thorough creative process that is predicated on building a relationship first.

“It’s telling their story…I’m telling their life,” he says. “So I want to make sure they feel I’m capturing it, but also I want them to love it enough that they’re gonna put it on everything.”

As his wife tells it, watching him go from start to finish on some projects is like watching a real-life account of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, a short story turned movie where a man escapes his mundane ordinary life through vivid daydreams.

“His imagination is wild, and I’m like, where did that even come from?” she says of her husband of 20 years.

One stark difference between Walter Mitty, at least at the beginning of his story, and Bump Galletta, is that Bump is OK making other people the heroes in his story.

For several years he led and curated Lakeland Creative Makers, a collective of artists who would come together monthly to network and hear about successes and failures from business and creative leaders. What began as a small gathering of about 15 people with the help of fellow artists Sunny Balliette and Becky Yohe quickly grew to a group of more than 100 that ended up a catalyst for similar collectives to be started around the country.

The pandemic forced the group to be put on pause, but it invigorated the creative community and built lasting (and profitable) connections.

“The whole thing was just to motivate (people) and you’re trying to create a culture as well,” he said. “It’s not like you’re just providing a service…you want, when you can’t take on a job for some reason, to be able to say, ‘Hey, here’s four artists in town I would recommend.’”

Bump believes part of using his platform for the benefit of all includes leading open conversations with the city and other development agencies about the compensation artists receive on publicly funded projects.

In 2021, the city launched an initiative to bring more than 100 murals to Dixieland and downtown through the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency. Most artists love the opportunity to be able to make a lasting impression with art you can see from blocks away, but Bump and others have taken issue with the fact that commissioned artists are paid $5 per square foot. National rates are often $15-$40 per square foot for professional murals—and Bump said that he simply wants local artists to be part of the discussion from the start, instead of seeing a lot of out-of-towners take the jobs because they aren’t worth the time for some of Lakeland’s best talent.

“I felt like the way the city came up with the way they’re gonna pay and take care of the client, the artist, is not fair,” he says.

He brought the discussion to social media through the Creative Makers Facebook page, trying to gauge the temperature of other creatives related to the rate. The post got a lot of traction and was polarizing—so much so that Bump’s phone started blowing up with messages and calls, many from displeased decision makers who took the post personally.

Bump said city officials have mentioned they would like local businesses to pitch in to offset costs, and Bump and other creatives have explained that when you add up the time for planning, getting approvals for the work and scheduling lifts, etc. it makes it hard to walk away from other more lucrative day-to-day jobs to do one of these murals.

“I talked to all the artists in town about this…we all have a certain rate we go for, like we're all kind of in the same realm,” he says. “Some are a little bit more, some are less, but we're kind of in the same pocket and the city's not even coming to a quarter of that.”

Bump said he may have ruffled some feathers, but his priority is to take care of his family and also continue to have open, honest conversations with local leaders about the future of Lakeland’s art community.

One thing about the artist known as Bump is that he’s open to change, and as with most daydreamers, he acknowledges there are always possibilities on the horizon.

If you look long enough at Lakeland’s horizon line, and the buildings set along it, you will most likely see a piece of Bump, and you might just start to daydream.

To purchase Bump's art, request a personalized piece or schedule a consultation for his creative services, visit bumpgalletta.com or check out his Instagram

The Savvy Succulent

THE MAKER

Carly Snyder’s journey to found The Savvy Succulent was birthed out of a tough chapter in her life. After breaking multiple bones in an accident and experiencing the onset of a rare disorder referred to as CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), she was unable to walk and go about her regular activities for several months.

With the encouragement of friends she started making faux plants and arrangements. It was a healthy creative outlet that gave her purpose, and eventually she opened an Etsy store where she has now made more than 550 sales.

THE PRODUCTS

Snyder’s goal is to create realistic, maintenance free products for people who are not blessed with a “green thumb” (which she admits she is not), but love decorative pieces that can enhance the look and feel of their home. Her products include orchids, succulent arrangements, faux plants and trees, centerpieces and custom wreaths.

DOUBLE STEM WHITE REAL TOUCH ORCHID IN GLASS HURRICANE VESSEL, 8” ROUND X 25” TALL, $95

18” ROUND FAUX SUCCULENT TABLE ARRANGEMENT IN MATTE GOLD VESSEL, $135

THE MAKER

Rebekah Firmin is a Lakeland native who is an author and illustrator who accentuates the beauty of the natural world and of life through her work despite the hardships that are inevitable. She lost her father to cancer at a young age and she continues to spread hope in the midst of her own battle with connective tissue disorder.

This year marked her first year as a full-time artist and she has made valuable connections with local businesses including Scout & Tag and Pressed LKLD.

THE PRODUCTS

Most recently, Firmin published the children’s book “My Little Mockingbird.” Her synopsis of the book is: A little mockingbird becomes overwhelmed by the noises of the world and learns how to tune its heart to the song of its creator who sings, “You are loved, you are never alone, and all that was lost is being restored.”

MockingbirdArtist creates Lakeland landmark prints, as well as custom illustrations of houses, couples/families and anything that can bring life to someone’s home.

Her Etsy shop includes nearly 80 different custom products.

LAKELAND LANDMARK PRINTS, STARTING AT $7.50 ORANGE CITRUS MUG, 11 OZ. sold at Scout & Tag and Pressed LKLD

MY LITTLE MOCKINGBIRD BOOK , $20

@MockingbirdArtist ETSY | @MockingbirdArtist

Garrett Wayne is our 2022 Lakelander MADE Apprentice, which honors an up-and-coming businessman or businesswoman who is entering the market with big ideas and memorable products. He is the owner of The Garrett Wayne Company, a handmade leather goods startup that you can learn more about on page 51.

JR : Why leather goods? What got you started and what has kept you going?

GW : I had seen some stuff online. I thought it was interesting, but I didn’t pick it up. Later, I was looking to make a business of my own. I found a leather dog leash, I told my dad, “I think I could make this, and make it cheaper too.” So, I did! I have kept going (even though I am sold out of leashes for now, maybe again in the future) because I have created a vision of how I can build this brand beyond leather.

JR : Where do you find/take inspiration from for your products?

2022

GW : I have taught myself through trial and error, but also learned a lot from YouTube. The mix of styles from the community on YouTube, and from what I see some from my favorite brands has inspired me. Lots of my design is from my head, just what I have envisioned. I also find inspiration in other people’s products.

JR : How much care and intentionality goes into creating each individual wallet or belt?

GW : Lots! I make all my products completely by hand. I scrap lots of products for mistakes that I make, and maybe it just doesn’t look right. I’d feel terrible to sell a product that isn’t made with my quality. There is a process, I try to repeat every in the same why so that I can maintain that quality.

JR: What's next? Any new products or designs you'd like to play with in the future?

GW: I really have a great design for a new wallet in my head, I haven’t drawn it out yet, but I’m so excited to get started in designing! It should be slim, yet cash friendly, something people don’t see everyday.

WRITTEN BY JORDAN RANDALL

1952

A float carrying Miss Santa Claus Bowl and her court passes through the intersection of Main Street and Florida Avenue during the annual Santa Claus Bowl parade in Lakeland, Florida. The Santa Claus Bowl was an annual event held in Lakeland, Florida the weekend after Christmas. It brought together four youth league football teams from around the country for a sort of youth league national championship. In addition to four football games, the young men enjoyed a weekend of activities ranging from a Santa Claus Bowl parade to trips to local attractions, to the awards banquet.

Enjoy a New Year of Good Health

Watson Clinic believes in the promise of new beginnings. Since we first opened our doors over eight decades ago, we've promised and delivered world-class healthcare to generations of families throughout our community, and transformed countless lives in the process. As we enter another exciting new year, we're here to help you fulfill your resolutions for a healthier tomorrow. For all your healthcare needs, call 863-680-7000 or visit WatsonClinic.com.