The Lakelander- Issue 84

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RE TIREMEN T LIVING

Would you like to be healthyhearty?and

After all, they say we are what we eat. At The Estates, that means nutritious, delicious meals every day. Chef Samir Labriny sees to it. He’s our new dining director, nutritionist, and farm-to-table specialist, creating dishes that emphasize taste, help preserve memory, and invigorate life.

Chef Samir’s dining program is just one of the reasons residents choose our active and fulfilling Life Plan Community. And we’d like to prove it to Polk County older adults.

Be our guest for a special healthy cooking demonstration prepared and hosted by Chef Samir. Call for details!

Pickleball

The pickleball revolution has come to Central Florida, and the community of enthusiasts is multiplying by the day. The game is adored by people of all ages, backgrounds and athletic abilities, which is part of the reason it is America’s fastest growing sport. How has Lakeland embraced the sport, where can you get plugged into the pickleball community and how are the city and investors handling its explosive growth?

Skincare

New Year, new you, right? If you’re looking for skincare advice from some of Lakeland’s top skincare professionals and recommendations for what products are most essential, then we’ve got you covered.

Mental Health

We all go through times in our lives where we are not OK. It is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is something that collectively we need to acknowledge and work together to find solutions to. Learn how local professionals have identified gaps in mental health care and are working diligently to address them.

End of Life Care

At some point every person is faced with the looming loss of a loved one. By knowing your options and being equipped with resources before that moment comes, you allow yourself to be more present in the precious moments ahead.

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LOOKING FOR HELP? WELCOME TO THE CLUB

We all need therapy.

Stated in a less blatant fashion, we all need healthy ways outside of ourselves to relieve tension and stress, to find healing and to overcome challenges that are an inevitable part of the human experience.

Sometimes we need a massage or a facial, a hot bath, or someone to show us the right exercises and stretches for our ailment. Other times we need a friend or group of people to listen. And sometimes we need a guide such as a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist.

We are wonderfully and fearfully (and complexly!) made. Recent research indicates that a single piece of brain tissue, which is about the size of a grain of sand, contains 100,000 neurons and 1,000,000 synapses. No wonder we don’t have it all figured out.

When you feel overwhelmed or your health is at-risk, give yourself permission to take a deep breath and

realize there are thousands of other people in Lakeland trying to take a deep breath as well, and then find resources and information that can help.

We need to uproot the stigmas that depression, hurting hearts and unraveled minds are reserved for people who simply don’t have it all together. Life is neither simple nor easy.

Our goal in this issue is to show you that no matter your age, your income or your history, there are communities of people to connect with, ways to overcome worry, places to find healing and a variety of options to get healthier and be well. The more whole you are, the more complete we all are.

As the Christian Standard Bible version of Scripture says in Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

It is imperative that you take care of yourself and that we take care of each other in a way that is empathetic, honest and points toward hope.

RJ Walters EDITOR

NO PROBLEM. NO SICK DAYS?

No other store does wellness like Chamberlin’s. We have all the vitamins, supplements and truly natural remedies you need to make every day a healthy one. Plus, with our Goodness Gurus around to show you which immunity products are right for you, you’ll get the time and attention you deserve to find exactly what you’re looking for.

The latest issue of the Lakelander Magazine is just out and featured 8 of my photographs including the cover. 3 full spreads too. That's pretty cool.

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We are currently featured in the Made issue of The Lakelander Magazine, available now!

This special holiday issue of the @lakelandermag showcases some of Lakeland's most beautiful or handmade gifts for the season. We are honored to be a part of such a thriving small business community!

We may be biased, but we also think that cigars make the best gifts! Come in now for cigars and accessories to give your favorite smoker this year.

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CONTRIBUTORS

DR. ALEX RICH

Dr. Rich is Associate Professor of Art History at Florida Southern College and Chair of the Department of Art History and Museum Studies. He holds the George and Dorothy Forsythe Endowed Chair in Art History and Museum Studies. He is also Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Polk Museum of Art and Director of the Melvin and Burks Galleries on campus.

He earned his Ph.D. in Art History from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and his A.B. from Dartmouth College. Before moving to Florida in 2014, Dr. Rich taught previously in both the History of Art Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York and in the City University of New York system.

JORDAN RANDALL

Jordan Randall is a 27-year-old photographer/writer from Upstate New York, and a graphic design graduate from Southeastern University. In his career, Jordan has worked with artists such as Bastille and Andy Grammer, and author Sadie Robertson. You can find more of his work online, @ imjordanrandall.

DIEGO DE JESUS

Diego is a senior English major at Florida Southern College and currently a staff writer 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.

WRITTEN BY DIEGO DE JESUS DESIGNED BY JON SIERRA PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL

ichard Wills was at his son Erik’s cross-country practice at Holloway Park and noticed some of the local college runners were barefoot on the trail. He decided he wanted to try it himself.

After a good day of rain, when the earth was soft, Wills ran loops around Holloway Park barefoot along the well-manicured trails and was inspired to design his upcoming sneaker, the Holloway. It will be part of his brand, First Ray Athletics, which he established last year.

“It was like scales fell from my eyes,” Wills said. “I was awash in sensory experiences coming from my feet, which I had never felt before. I realized that my feet were doing all sorts of things that I never noticed that they did in shoes.”

Running is a tradition in Wills’ family, including joining his father on nightly runs as a child and getting his own son involved in cross-country racing. Wills established a business that stemmed from this generational tradition.

Wills is the former owner of FITniche, a specialty store that sold a slew of running products. His intention was originally to develop the Holloway and sell it in FITniche’s three locations, but that was before Fleet Feet purchased the business in 2021.

Wills’ curiosity about launching his own shoe line only grew with his passion, and he saw FITniche’s sale as a sign to begin the process.

After his ethereal moment at Holloway Park, Wills wanted to replicate the comfortable sensation of running barefoot on soft earth on roads and sidewalks while wearing shoes. He purchased many

sneakers hoping to achieve some semblance of the same experience, and he couldn’t find one that provided adequate cushioning.

The sneaker’s design encourages the foot to do anything it would naturally do barefoot on earthen surfaces on artificial surfaces such as concrete and pavement. It has a very intricate design with a plethora of meaning behind it. Wills asked the late Ed Holloway–Holloway Park’s namesake–if he could name his prototype after Holloway, and he received his permission.

On the sides of the Holloway are Holloway Park’s coordinates of its longitude and latitude.

Wills has been working on the Holloway for more than a year at Catapult, where he’s used the Makerspace to modify existing prototypes. The Holloway is entirely funded by Wills, thanks in part to the proceeds he earned from the sale of FITniche.

He began by consulting with many professionals and conducted extensive research about the structuring of the foot before he started. Everything from the design down to the fabric intends to replicate the experience that began Wills’ endeavor.

“The first thing I did was I began reaching out to people in the industry I knew, just looking for advice,” Wills said. “I started off with all these medical professionals in exercise physiology wanting to understand why we lift our toes, what the foot was doing and how it works.”

Wills found most people were helpful and liked to share what they were passionate about. He learned everything he knows now by simply asking, even people at other sneaker companies who will eventually be his competitors.

Interestingly, Wills found that there was little to no research done on the biomechanics of the foot. What he found would be the primary focus of the Holloway’s design.

It’s a common assumption that the toes lift up while the foot travels through the air to prevent stubbing them on foreign surfaces, but Wills found this not to be the case. Wills found that the toes, like many major muscle groups in the body, including the quads and calves, undergo a process called pretensioning.

Pretensioning is where muscles tense up slightly and mitigate impact force, allowing the rest of the body to relax and spread out the impact to other muscles. This process also causes muscles to generate higher peak reaction forces and faster reaction times in each step.

“As your foot lands, your toes are up,” Wills said. “They come back down one toe at a time in an accordion-like fashion that spreads out the impact force over a slightly longer period of time, pushing it into different directions as well.”

The sneaker’s sole is divided into three rays. Each ray roughly aligns with one or two toes and supports each part of the foot while guaranteeing the mitigated impact force of soft dirt on artificial surfaces, recreating that original sensation as much as it can.

Wills found that 50-70 percent of all runners sustain injuries yearly, and this statistic has remained stagnant since the 1970s. Although he admits he can’t guarantee it, he hopes the Holloway will help bring this statistic down.

“No other shoe company builds shoes like this,” Wills said. “No shoe company

starts from the foundational premise that they’re going to only encourage or allow the foot to do what it’s naturally already designed to do.”

A men’s version of the Holloway is set to be sold in retail this year, with factories in Vietnam and South Korea producing prototype models of the sneaker. Two dozen volunteers will be testing out these prototypes for six weeks.

After their feedback and some design revisions, Wills will prep the product for market and also begin further development of a women’s version of the shoe.

Wills has utilized the Makerspace at Catapult to make much of his vision come to life.

After its final revisions, 3,600 pairs of the men’s Holloway will be shipped from Vietnam to Lakeland and sold in Central Florida retail stores. Will estimates they will be priced from $165 to $185.

“I hope I bring something to the world that is valuable to many other people,” Wills said. “I hope people think it looks great. I hope people think it feels great. I hope that it improves people’s biomechanics so that maybe even people are less likely to get injured due to running.”

First Ray’s website and social media will launch soon so patrons can purchase the Holloway and stay updated on the brand’s progress.

“I hope that it improves people’s biomechanics so that maybe even less people are less likely to get injured due to running.”

A sneaker that was used as a test dummy, a professional mold and the latest prototype show the evolution of the Holloway.

WRITTEN BY DR. ALEX RICH DESIGNED BY JON SIERRA

a proven fact that visiting a museum can make you healthier. I’m not saying this just because I’m the director of the museum and want you to come visit us, I say this because it is true. I see it daily—and decades of data and audience feedback support it.

Art connects. Art frees us from selfobsession and isolation. Art makes us feel for one another. Art changes us. Art makes us healthier.

The Polk Museum of Art has been transformed from its earliest iteration in 1966 (with farm animals) into an accredited Smithsonian-affiliated academic community museum. It offers programming that invites creativity and conversation, as well as worldclass, didactic exhibitions that aim to present insight into the worlds of others and to give visitors the ability to see the past, present and future in new ways. This may sound very high-brow, but every aspect of a museum like ours is “curated” to boost your well-being.

Entering a museum is an invitation to take a step back, to see our lives in the larger context of time, and to place it into perspective.

Our diverse spring slate of exhibitions, which includes our blockbuster, long-planned “Edward Hopper and Guy Pène du Bois: Painting the Real” and our eye-opening “Lauren Austin: Life in Quilts” shows, speak to this point. These exhibitions, alongside our galleries dedicated to student artwork, African and oceanic art, and our “Hungry Planet” and “Material World” exhibitions, open your eyes and minds.

LOOK CLOSELY AND THINK CLEARLY

When most of us think about art museums, we may think of spot-lit rooms filled with Old Masters or Van Goghs or Ancient Egyptian art. We may recall field trips or rainy days spent with our grandparents or even that one incredible work of art that has stuck with us our whole lives (my artworld North Star is the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art). Rarely, though, do we think of the effects of museums on our personal well-being.

But museums offer accessible means to support our minds and physical wellness. Museums are sites for inducing awe and curiosity (emotions that monetarily detour us away from stress and preoccupations). Museums inspire social interaction (“Let’s go see that new Rodin show at the PMoA!”), critical thinking (“Why is that art?”), and understanding (“Wow, the way she painted this makes me feel her pain!”).

Art pushes us to think deeply, observe critically, and enjoy multiple and diverse perspectives on the world. I see the impact this can have with my art history and museum studies students when we venture to the Polk Museum. Looking at “real” art firsthand can be illuminating and restorative.

As the Polk Museum College begins foot expansion director reflects and wellness benefits

The Polk Museum of Art offers free admission to attendees who can peruse their impressive and constantly rotating exhibits. The museum also offers a variety of paid and free courses for people of all ages to explore their own artistic expression and become more educated about art.

Museum of Art at Florida Southern an $8 million, 14,000-squarelater this year, its executive reflects on the often unrecognized health benefits art offers.

A PRESCRIPTION FOR FLOURISHING

Museums like ours offer programs that enhance people’s health while also motivating at-risk populations (individuals with dementia and seniors, people with autism, depression, or suffering from loneliness, etc.) to find relief and joy through art. Studying art has long been identified as a means for improving literacy skills, but the benefits of visiting art museums have also increasingly become the focus of medical and psychological studies. Museums have been cited as forums for turning “ill-being” into “flourishing” and as actual prescribed locations by physicians to improve patients’ health.

Whether you are young or old, admittedly artistic or less artistically-inclined, the Polk Museum of Art strives to be a “medicinefree” health incubator and creative outlet for general well-being.

OLD-SCHOOL (ANALOG) RELIEF

How long can we spend staring at computer monitors or phones? While museums are leaning into the newest technologies, museums are also great ways to extract your eyes (or your kids’ faces) from screens.

Museums tend to be peaceful places. Our team at Polk Museum of Art works diligently to make every visitor’s experience worthwhile and stress-free. In our burnout, always-on culture, we too infrequently take a moment simply to stop. We spend many hours stressing about work, scrolling through social media and catching up on endless email.

As museums navigate toward the future and continue to embrace new technologies, it can sometimes come as a refreshing surprise when simple connection through art can be the best medicine of all.

Studying art has long been identified as a means for improving literacy skills, but the benefits of visiting art museums have also increasingly become the focus of medical and psychological studies.

SOCIAL FITNESS A HOPEFUL, HEALTHY FUTURE

Recently, I was coming out of a meeting at the Museum when a senior couple stopped me. They were excited to see me, although I had never met them. During the pandemic, they had watched our programs on Facebook Live and become fans of the Museum and the efforts we made to connect even when the physical space of the Museum was closed. The couple was from Orlando and didn’t even know the Museum existed prior to the lockdown but found refuge and creative escape in the conversations about art we offered online. They explained that they came to rely on us, to open their minds and their worlds, and to feel connected. And, when they finally felt it was safe, they came to see us in person; the respite through connectedness we aspired to offer virtually was matched by that which we offer at the Museum itself.

I like to call what this couple experienced “social fitness.” In the space of a museum, social fitness works in tandem with creative, physical and mental fitness. My conversation with this couple had not yet concluded when a young boy greeted me with the most wonderful grin, and shouted excitedly, “I know you!” Abashed and not quite sure how to reply, I smiled and greeted the young man and his mother.

He explained: “I just saw you on the TV screen” I giggled, realizing he had just visited our permanent installation of African and oceanic art and watched the videos on display. I introduce each of the videos, so seeing me in real life was jaw-dropping to this young man. He couldn’t wait to regale me with all he had learned so far at the Museum and where he was headed next. Filled with awe, the boy described to me with precise detail what he had seen (the big torn painting with the chariot race in our “Von Wagner Code” exhibition) and loved (the familiar looking Florida landscapes in our “Art of the Highwaymen” exhibition) and how excited he was to see more.

I was so proud to see in action the benefits of the environment our team works to build day in and out, with exhibitions and materials that emphasize close-looking, individualized exploration and collective thinking in quiet spaces for contemplation and social engagement.

The Polk Museum of Art will continue to lean deeply into being an incubator for social and creative engagement, fitness and well-being. Our new building will provide a salve for thousands of students and visitors, most of whom will have no idea that their well-being is improving by the minute—with no-cost admission and no insurance card to show at the door. With six additional galleries and multifunction spaces, the expanded Museum will offer visitors respite and escape through art and art programming.

We will continue to grow, expand and diversify our exhibition and class offerings so people can discover something new about others and about themselves during every visit to the Museum. We will help you gain a new appreciation for art and make you feel better along the way.

Is art an anathema to cure all? Certainly not, but visiting a museum is a great way to start feeling good.

I promise.

“We will help you gain a new appreciation for art and make you feel better along the way.”

Built by Publix associates for Publix associates.

Publix Super Markets Inc. founder George Jenkins was known for his generosity and encouraged a “people helping people” culture. He wanted Publix associates and their families to be at their best financially— at every phase of life. In 1957, Mr. George saw his dream come true with the establishment of Publix Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU).

PEFCU continues to honor Mr. George’s mission by supporting Publix associates’ personal financial needs at every step of their journey. PEFCU was built by Publix associates for Publix associates.

Federally insured by NCUA.

At George Jenkins High School on Jan. 21, the club is celebrating its 50th anniversary by hosting a running festival with multiple races from 7 a.m. to noon for runners of all levels to participate.

WRITTEN BY DIEGO DE JESUS DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

ounded in 1974 by John F. Scimone, the Lakeland Runners Club is one of the oldest volunteer-based running clubs in the United States. This month, the staff, volunteers and members are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bringing people together through running.

It is one of the only runner’s clubs that has lasted this long, but it wasn’t always as active as it is today.

Seventy-eight-year-old Will Strouse is the oldest and longest-tenured member, and he has seen a bevy of changes to the club since he joined in 1984.

“It was designed to be focused on runners and running and the running community,” Strouse said. “But over the last 40 years…from my perspective, the runners club is no longer for the running community, it’s part of the community.”

Strouse remembers when the club was maledominated and geared toward faster, more experienced runners, but that isn’t the case today.

Now, the club has fostered a culture of acceptance and inclusion where everyone embraces runners of all experience levels. New runners gradually traverse farther distances and as the club grows it is continuing to make a more positive impact in people’s lives.

The club currently has almost 600 members, and in 2022, 766 people participated in weekly training groups. It wasn’t overnight booming growth. It was a steady process built on the club’s strong foundation.

Runners say being part of this club has pushed them to new heights and made them run distances they never thought they could when they first started.

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POWERING CONVENIENCE

Lakeland Runners Club President Michelle Hoffert calls herself a “born-again runner” since she started racing again in 2013 as a way to feel strong and autonomous. Running for her is a great activity that allows her to set goals and work toward progress.

“As stubborn people, runners, we’re probably not very good at saying ‘no’ when we get asked to do things, especially when it’s for the community that’s helped us grow,” Hoffert said. “I hear consistently across members, and across board members, that the club gave something to them, and they wanted to give that back.”

The Lakeland Runners Club always has a place for volunteers who want to help the club grow. They’re always looking for ways to innovate and expand their presence while

including the community —all people have to do is volunteer for their events.

“There are things like writing a newsletter monthly,” Hoffert said. “Everybody is busy with work and family. It takes a lot of hands, so if anyone has a particular gift, we have a place for them to help.”

The club’s philosophy is that everyone of all ages and walks of life should be able to participate in the same race.

“In no other sport can a 78-year-old run with a 6-year-old and feel comfortable. Both parties feel comfortable. I don’t know of any other sport that has that,” Strouse said.

Club Treasurer Sarah Kozul started running in 2010 as part of a resolution for her 40th birthday. Running was one of the few things she found continually challenging, and could also meet great people along the way.

“I think there’s a long history of giving back in running in general. Running raises the most money for charity of any sport in the world,” Colville said. “It’s just a great way

“I HEAR CONSISTENTLY ACROSS MEMBERS, AND ACROSS BOARD MEMBERS, THAT THE CLUB GAVE SOMETHING TO THEM, AND THEY WANTED TO GIVE THAT BACK.”

of bringing the community together and have a lot of people thinking about a specific or group of causes.”

The Lakeland Runners Club hosts a slew of races annually, and each race helps support a local cause.

Last year, there were 3,163 total registrations for the club’s races, including the Summer Sunrise Watermelon Series, which has raised $107,500 in scholarships since 2011 to support community organizations. As the club grows, there are new developments, including a Saturday group run that’ll start on Jan. 28 at Black and Brew at the Lakeland Public Library. Anyone interested in participating in upcoming races should mark their calendars for this March for a brand new race that the executive board has in store, but has to divulge details on.

WRITTEN BY VICTORIA BARDEGA DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

magine the encouraging power of a home-cooked meal delivered to the door of an elderly woman who is alone and whose family lives out-of-state. Or imagine the difference it makes when a senior citizen facing cancer has the security and companionship of a friendly face to offer rides to and from chemo treatments.

For the last 40 years, VISTE––locally known as Volunteers in Service to the Elderly––has stood in the gap to meet the great needs of our senior citizen community for residents 70 years and older.

Led by an incredible team of local volunteers, they have exceeded their mission “to enable elderly persons to remain safely and independently in their own homes.” Since 1983, this community-based non-profit has provided quality care services for elderly residents and their caregivers in the Polk County area.

President Steve Bissonnette said the organization’s longevity proves the power of a community that has consistently rallied behind it to support such an essential cause.

“Our organization started as a grassroots initiative when the Director of Catholic Charities, Ed Kren, and 14 men stepped forward to provide transportation to the elderly in our community––serving around 30-35 seniors to take them to doctor’s appointments and grocery store shopping,” Bissonnette shares.

This one-of-a-kind organization was founded in and solely operates out of our beautiful Swan City. Currently serving over 4,000 seniors from 70-107 years of age, they now offer additional life-changing support, apart from transportation, including supplemental grocery boxes, hot meals, and contracted at-home based care for families needing professional assistance––all at no charge.

Through community fundraising and strategic partnerships with local food banks, churches and other nonprofits, VISTE has empowered many at-risk senior citizens with holistic programs so they can continue living in the comfort of their home.

“This 40th anniversary is not only significant for us but for our whole community,” Bissonnette said. “We are only here because this community cares enough to engage and to care for seniors that need a safety net.”

As a volunteer-driven organization, VISTE is always looking for people like you to step up and get involved. If you are ready to make a difference, sign up now to volunteer at viste.org.

“WE ARE ONLY HERE BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY CARES ENOUGH TO ENGAGE AND TO CARE FOR SENIORS THAT NEED A SAFETY NET.”

ewbies and veterans agree that pickleball is a blend of ping pong, tennis and badminton.

But how many people do you know who are changing their work schedules, and even careers, to make space to play more tennis?

How many investors are pushing full throttle to build the next ping pong megaplex?

How many retirees are devoting their energy and time to training badminton players?

This is not a deep dive into the origin and rules of a game that was contrived on a whim by a congressman and businessman in Washington state in 1965; it is an acknowledgment that a cultural movement is taking place, local fans and players are multiplying by the day, and that the growth of pickleball is explosive and exciting, yet also introduces dilemmas related to the number of places in Lakeland available to play a sport that was mostly regarded as an activity for seniors a decade ago.

Google pickleball and you’ll find out that the name of the game either comes from the term “pickle boat” in the sport crew or in honor of a

family dog named Pickles, but you’ll also learn about Major League Pickleball—which boasts teams owned by global celebrities like Tom Brady, Heidi Klum and Lebron James—and that an estimated 36 million people played the sport in the past 12 months, making it America’s fastest growing sport.

In Lakeland there are currently pickleball courts at Woodlake Park, Kelly Recreational Complex, Lake Parker Park, Simpson Community Center and Grasslands (exclusively for members), and as you will read, Lone Palm Golf Club is slated to open a members-only 14-court complex this spring.

Bob Donahay, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Lakeland, recalls a moment about five years ago when his department’s deputy director Pam Page showed him a magazine highlighting pickleball, declaring, “I want to build this in Lakeland.”

The growth of the sport, especially among traditional “non athletes” and the younger population, make it popular lunch table talk from school cafeterias to executive level gatherings.

One of the most endearing aspects of the game is its accessibility and inclusivity, and one way to appreciate the phenomenon is to understand the wide range of characters and backgrounds that seemingly tie neatly together on a 44 feet by 20 feet court.

WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT & JON SIERRA

the accidental addict

Kendra Schwada offered to dog sit for a friend while she and her husband, Paul, were on an extended stay in Estes Park, Colo. in 2021.

When she opened the door to her friend’s home, Kendra saw an odd shaped paddle hanging on the wall. Her friend explained it was for a sport called pickleball, and she offered to let Kendra borrow her paddles while she was out of town.

Players at the nearby pickleball courts were very friendly and willing to show Schwada

the ropes, and before long the 47-year old was back in Lakeland making pickleball playing friends, finding a doubles partner—roughly 90 percent of pickleball games are played as doubles—and entering tournaments.

She played softball and volleyball at Olivet Nazarene University in the late 90s, but then didn’t play any sports for almost two decades as she focused on coaching her daughters and attending their games.

Now she plays pickleball every chance she gets, and she even opted to shift careers to have a more flexible schedule that allows for her to stoke the flames of her newfound passion.

“It has changed my life,” Schwada said. “I’ve made tons of relationships in the community, and since I was new (to Lakeland), I didn’t have hardly any. My best local friend is my playing partner, and it’s just been wonderful in every way.”

She may not have played sports for nearly 20 years, but her competitive drive never disappeared.

Schwada and her playing partner, Lakelander Tiffany Kitchens Cook, won the first ever tournament they entered, and just last month the duo finished second in their division at the Hertz National Championship in Orlando.

She calls herself fierce on the court and friendly off it. One fellow pickleballer took note of her love for the sport when he visited Lake Parker last year. He happened to be an owner of Phantom Pickleball, based out of Davie, Fla., and he was so impressed with Schwada that he asked her to become a sponsored player, meaning she dons their apparel and plays with their gear while also offering feedback on the equipment. It was a great match for Schwada because Phantom is an up-and-coming company who supports the Special Olympics—something Kendra and her husband have an affinity for.

“I’VE MADE TONS OF RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SINCE I WAS NEW (TO LAKELAND), I DIDN’T HAVE HARDLY ANY."

In Lakeland, many pickleballers know of the 250+ member GroupMe messaging thread devoted to playing at the Woodlake pickleball courts. David Bailey remembers a time when he was one of just four people on those messages, a space for he and his Woodlake tennis buddies to casually set up pickleball games.

Bailey was a dedicated tennis player for nearly three decades, but health challenges— including overcoming cancer and two back surgeries—took their toll.

A stranger introduced him and a few friends to the sport at Woodlake, and he quickly found it was less physically demanding than tennis and a cool way to stay active with friends.

He took such a liking to the sport that he earned his International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) certification years ago, and still today the 63-year-old retiree hosts 5-10 training sessions per week for local players, which include kids as young as 11 and players of all skill levels.

"THE MORE EXPERIENCED PLAYERS...THEY'RE LOOKING A FEW MOVES AHEAD, WHILE THE (INEXPERIENCED) ARE MORE ABOUT RIGHT NOW, HERE'S A BALL AND I'M GOING TO HIT IT."

Local pickleball players will find that Bailey has been an encouragement to many new players over the years—Schwada included—and he is a great person to talk to understand the true nuances of the sport.

“There’s a lot of strategy involved in pickleball,” he said. “The more experienced players kind of know how to place ’em, they’re looking a few moves ahead, while the (inexperienced) are more about right now, here’s a ball and I’m going to hit it.”

He said much of a person’s success in the sport is predicated on finding ways to force their opponent into making mistakes, and that’s why it is not always the stronger, faster athletes who win.

Both Bailey and Schwada said they have enjoyed seeing local college students pick up the sport, and their energy and passion has helped make it a cross-generational experience in Lakeland.

“It’s the only sport where everyone can play,” Bailey said. “Probably the oldest guy who plays out [at Woodlake] is 80…and there can be a 15-year-old and they can actually play with each other.”

David Bailey is an IPTPA certified pickleball player who has been a staple at Woodlake Park courts for years, and who is passionate about teaching others of all ages about the sport.

the chemist

If Schwada represents the rejuvenated athlete and Bailey represents lifelong athletes who have fallen in love with pickleball, Trish Jenkins stands tall for everyone who grew up in a sport-obsessed culture, but never really found their place.

Jenkins was one of eight siblings, and admittedly she was the least athletic in her family. Several of her sisters became physical education teachers, another was a semiprofessional basketball player, and she, well she was a career chemist who once took a half-credit tennis course in college.

But the 67-year-old who is married to former Publix chairman and CEO Howard Jenkins, stumbled into pickleball less than two years ago at a mobile home park in Naples, and soon after she was hooked on a sport that she calls “an equalizer” because it is inexpensive to play and creates social interaction among all demographics.

“You bring your skill to the court and you socialize,” she said. “I have met people on the court who design skyscrapers in New York City, and I have met people on the court who dig ditches for graves. It doesn’t matter—we’re all out there, and it’s really fun to hear these stories and these life experiences.”

The pickleball community touched her so deeply that within months of learning the sport she proposed a plan to build Lakeland’s first private pickleball club. She and family and friends went on a whirlwind tour of some of the largest and most lauded pickleball complexes in the country as a research project of sorts. This May, a pickleball complex with 14 courts, pro shop, locker rooms, sports bar and restaurant will open at Lone Palm Golf Club. Her father-in-law and Publix founder George Jenkins founded the club

Trish Jenkins stands on the property where construction crews are diligently working on the 14-court private pickleball club at Lone Palm Golf Club.

in 1964, and she and Howard are part owners. Patrons at the restaurant will even be able to watch the action on the courts on their own devices via closed-circuit technology.

She sees the venture as a step toward a new chapter for the club, noting traditionally Lone Palm has been a place where guys come and golf and talk business while their wives or significant others might enjoy lunch or play a game of bridge or cards.

“I think it's more of an investment in people than it is material. It's a good family building mechanism,” she said. “The club is getting a little aged, and now we're gonna be able to bring in families in a much more cohesive manner.”

At the beginning, only current Lone Palm Golf Club members will have access to the new facilities, but later

this year the general public will have the opportunity to become members of the pickleball club. She beams with joy when she talks about Nate Jager, a pickleball trainer and coach from St. Pete who is moving his family to Lakeland so he can become the club pro at Lone Palm. Jenkins said he has connections with some of the highest ranking pros in the U.S. and he will bring top-notch clinics and training sessions to Lakeland. And Schwada—whose passionate pursuit of sharing the sport with others mirrors Jenkins' in many ways—is slated to be the club’s assistant pro.

Jenkins is also hopeful about hosting small tournaments and getting a variety of youth programs off the ground in the long run.

Schwada said it will be a huge win for the local pickleball scene if Lone Palm can run high quality tournaments, but it will take a lot of attention to detail to match some of the best Florida has to offer.

“I THINK IT'S MORE OF AN INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE THAN IT IS MATERIAL. IT'S A GOOD FAMILY BUILDING MECHANISM...”

Trish Jenkins, part owner of Lone Palm Golf Club with her husband, Howard, believes pickleball will bring new energy and excitement to the 59 year old club founded by her father-in-law and Publix founder George Jenkins.

Donahay said it’s phenomenal Lone Palm is “going big time” with such a huge investment in the sport. Meanwhile he and the city are hard at work on current and future investment in helping build capacity for players—both high-level veterans and casual hobbyists.

The city is installing lighting for the six courts at Woodlake Park and also hopes to convert three more tennis courts at Kelly Rec into eight new pickleball courts in the next 6-8 months.

In addition, Donahay and his staff have master plans approved for a 101acre park that will include pickleball facilities in rapidly-developing southwest Lakeland at Medulla and Pipkin roads. That park is tentatively scheduled to be complete in 2030, but Donahay would like to find financial means to speed up that timeline.

Still, some pickleball enthusiasts hope for more options quicker because it is becoming common at peak times to have to wait at least half an hour just to get in a match.

Schwada and Bailey are amongst a contingent of players who have voiced their concern to the city, and who think the most simple solution would be to convert the rest of Woodlake’s tennis courts to pickleball courts. Bailey said that could turn that space into a 30-court “pickleplex” that could at least provide some of the amenities and opportunities like more preeminent complexes people travel to cities like Daytona, Bradenton and Fort Myers to enjoy.

Donahay said "pickleball is truly a phenomenal sport” that he and the city have a strong affinity for, but it is also the city’s role to balance out the needs of tennis players and take into consideration all budgetary impacts of shifting athletic interests.

“Tennis actually pays us money; we get money from each one of the high schools and colleges that book time on our tennis courts, and we have USGA tournaments,” he said. “I tried to explain that if I take out some more tennis courts or convert more tennis courts to pickleball, then we start getting into cutting our local high schools, and I don’t wanna do that. What did tennis players in the tennis programs do to get the shorthand?”

Bailey says with a large enough venue in Lakeland he believes there is money to be made off of sanctioned pickleball tournaments, and he also sees value in the economic impact of being known as a place people want to travel to enjoy this burgeoning sport.

One solution Donahay has pitched to city commissioners in the past to help fund projects that meet the wants and needs of Lakelander is a Municipal Services Benefits Utility tax, something the county government has leveraged in the past.

The truth is the pickleball craze has come to Lakeland, and it’s playing out on portable nets in neighborhood cul de sacs and converted tennis courts at gorgeous parks.

What comes next?

Find three friends and grab some paddles while it all plays out—it might just change your life.

ou’ve probably heard more than once about the importance of a daily skincare routine. And if you haven’t, let us be the first to tell you—it’s important. Your skin is the largest organ on your body. It’s the first line of defense for our body and internal systems.

health, your beauty, and your self-confidence all benefit from a daily skincare routine.

A Q&A BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT PHOTOS BY DAN AUSTIN & JORDAN RANDALL

The Lakelander Asks

What products in that line are part of that daily routine, what is the process for an individual, and what is the why/results behind your recommendation?

Melissa Kinsey

C E Ferulic: a patented daytime vitamin C serum that improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, and brightens skin’s complexion.

H.A. Intensifier: a multibeneficial corrective serum proven to amplify skin’s hyaluronic acid levels.

Retinol 1.0: proven to diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin discoloration while minimizing breakouts and the appearance of pores.

Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen: combines broad spectrum UV protection with a potent blend of discolorationcorrecting and hydrating ingredients for brighter, more even skin.

Metacell Renewal B3: lightweight lotion that visibly improves these early signs of photoaging by increasing cell turnover to resurface skin, help reclarify and even skin tone, and improve the appearance of wrinkles and surface elasticity.

The Lakelander Asks

What is a skin care secret they want to share with the world?

Melissa Kinsey

Cycle your products during the week. This will help you address multiple skincare concerns. For example: I use a retinol product every Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday while on Fridays I use an exfoliating product containing an acid (such as glycolic or lactic). I’m currently using the Blemish+Age serum from Skinceuticals to address fine lines and pores! On Tuesday and Thursday evenings I use an anti-aging and hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid.

Sunscreen

Lightweight Lotion

Patricia Uiterwyk

The Lakelander Asks

What products in that line are part of that daily routine, what is the process for an individual, and what is the why/results behind your recommendation?

Patricia Uiterwyk

Gel Cleanser: A gentle, plant-derived gel cleanser that foams away oil and impurities and helps normalize skin

Liquid Exfoliant : Removes dull surface skin cells to refine and clarify skin

Invati Brow Thickening Serum : A botanical boost for thicker brows

Pore Refining Serum : Sweet clover stem cells and beta hydroxy acid minimize pores

Energizing Eye Cream : Visibly diminishes the appearance of dark circles

Renewing Radiance Cream : Visibly firms and smooths lines, instantly brightens skin

Daily Light Guard SPF 30 : Provides sheer, weightless defense against environmental aggressors that damage skin

Lip Saver : Organic jojoba oil nourishes and protects lips

Eyebrow Thickening Serum

Renewing Radiance Cream

Energizing Eye Creme

The Lakelander Asks

What is a skin care secret they want to share with the world?

Patricia Uiterwyk

Proper exfoliation for your skin type! Most undesirable skin care concerns can be addressed with proper exfoliation, or removal of dead skin cells.

SPF

CLIQUE

@cliquesalonandmedspa 5315 S Florida Ave. (863) 270-2915

The Lakelander Asks

Who are the aestheticians at your spa?

Racheal Santarpia

Our aestheticians are Julie Smith (aesthetician, full facial specialist) and Angelina Santarpia (aesthetician, full facial specialist.)

ACHEA L SANT RP I A

What line/brand of products do you carry for people’s daily skin care needs?

The Lakelander Asks Racheal Santarpia

We carry Skin Better Science medical grade skin care, an award-winning skin care line. Everything we choose to provide here at Clique Salon and Med spa was personally chosen by our team of licensed cosmetologists, aestheticians, nurse practitioners, and facial plastic surgeon medical directors with beauty and science in mind.

The Lakelander Asks

What products in that line are part of that daily routine, what is the process for an individual, and what is the why/results behind your recommendation?

Racheal Santarpia

Skin Better Science Oxygen Infusion Wash: A great cleanser with slow releasing AHA’s and an infusion of oxygen to purify and refresh my skin.

Trio Rebalancing Moisture: Used daily in the morning, this moisturizer uses a high-performance, triple-action formula that delivers hydration without the weight of other moisturizers. The results are healthier looking skin, improved appearance, suppleness, visible improvement in the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

What is a skin care secret they want to share with the world?

The Lakelander Asks Racheal Santarpia

The skin care secret that I want to share with the world is Morpheus8. Morpheus8 uses microneedling with radiofrequency heat energy, and this device is scientifically proven to remodel, and rebuild collagen. The results are wonderful, revealing a younger looking you with improved collagen, texture and tighter skin.

AlphaRet Overnight Cream: Delivers remarkable results without the side effects historically experienced with retinoids.

EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream: Reduces puffiness, lines and darkness in the skin around the eyes.

Sunbetter Advanced Mineral Protection Compact SPF 68 Tone Smart and Sunbetter Tone Smart Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF75: Both of these provide a high level of protection in a creamy lotion with a hint of color, that acts as a primer under makeup or in place of light coverage foundation, oil free.

Body Oil

What products in that line are part of that daily routine, what is the process for an individual, and what is the why/results behind your recommendation?

The Lakelander Asks Charline Fulbright

New Groove facial cleanser (Farmhouse Fresh) Restorative Cream Flat out Firm Peptide Serum (glo SKIN BEAUTY)

C Shield Eye Restore Cream (glo SKIN BEAUTY)

The Lakelander Asks Charline Fulbright

What is a skin care secret they want to share with the world?

Honey heel Glaze for your heels and toes. It’s great for every skin type. It actually made The “O List (Oprah’s Favorite thing)

Bakuchiol Butter

THE MEDICAL SPA AT WATSON CLINIC KRIS T Y WILKES

1755 N Florida Ave. (863) 904-6204

The Lakelander Asks

What products in that line are part of that daily routine, what is the process for an individual, and what is the why/results behind your recommendation?

Kristy Wilkes

Here are the ZO® products that should be applied as part of a daily skin care routine:

Cleanser (Gentle Cleanser): You should never go to bed without removing your makeup. This cleanser can be used to remove impurities and refresh the skin.

Toner (Complexion Renewal Pads): These pads help to balance the PH of the skin, control oils, refresh skin cells, and unclog the pores.

The Lakelander Asks

Who are the aestheticians at your spa?

Kristy Wilkes

Our licensed aesthetician is Kristy Wilkes.

The Lakelander Asks Kristy Wilkes

What line/brand of products do you carry for people’s daily skin care needs?

The Medical Spa at Watson Clinic carries ZO®, SkinBetter Science®, and SkinCeuticals® skin care products.

Growth Factor Serum

Firming Serum

Toner

Moisturizer

Antioxidants (Illuminating AOX Serum): This excellent product minimizes skin damage by protecting the skin from free radicals, such as light, UV Rays, and pollutants. The result is brighter looking skin with a subtle, soft focus finish.

Moisturizer (Daily Power Defense): This moisturizer visibly reduces signs of premature aging, accelerates barrier restoration and extends the hydration of your skin.

SPF (Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF50): This lightweight sunscreen protects you from UVA/UVB rays as well as the high energy visible (HEV) blue

light you find on computer and cell phone screens. You should apply this product every day, even if you aren’t leaving your house.

For optimal skin health, it’s important that you consult with an aesthetician every four weeks for targeted treatments and products that can address your unique skin care issues and needs.

The Lakelander Asks Kristy Wilkes

What is a skin care secret they want to share with the world?

Consistency is key. When you practice patience and trust the process, you will be pleasantly surprised with the results. Also, I am a firm believer in overall wellness. What you eat and drink will have an impact on your skin, so it’s important to maintain a healthy diet. Seeking the care of a licensed aesthetician on a regular basis is crucial as they can help you maintain the healthiest skin possible.

Wrinkle + Texture Repair

Cleanser

Cleansing Gel

Restorative Eye Treatment

Overnight Cream

The Lakelander Asks

What products in that line are part of that daily routine, what is the process for an individual, and what is the why/ results behind your recommendation?

Michelle Wilson

Skinbetter Science Cleansing Gel: A mild, foaming gel cleanser that gently and thoroughly cleanses the skin and removes makeup.

Skinbetter Science Alto Advanced Serum: A super-potent antioxidant serum that helps shield the skin against the effects of internal and external free radicals.

Alastin Restorative Eye Treatment: Designed to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream: (Only to be used at night!) A nighttime cream that provides visible skin rejuvenation with little-to-no irritation.

Skinbetter Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment: Will help bring moisture and hydration balance back to the skin without leaving a thick film.

Alastin SilkShield All Mineral Sunscreen: This sunscreen includes a peptide blend that provides anti-aging benefits even after the sun goes down.

The Lakelander Asks

What is a skin care secret they want to share with the world?

Michelle Wilson

Procedures done at the spa, while valuable in anti-aging, pale in comparison to the results that can be seen with a clinically strong, medical grade skin care regimen. We actually tell our clients that treatments produce around 20 percent of their results, a good home regimen is the other 80 percent. We are very good at recommending products to each individual to deliver the results they desire.

All Mineral Sunscreen

A LOOK INSIDE THE CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS IN POLK COUNTY

WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS ILLUSTRATIONS BY JON SIERRA PHOTOS BY DAN AUSTIN

magine waking up in a strange place, jarred by the overwhelming darkness and uncertainty of where you are. Eventually you realize you are trapped in a large brown paper bag—but the directions on how to get out are written on the outside. For many people, and maybe for you at some point—even right now—this illustration brings form to abstract feelings or complex, sometimes traumatic experiences.

The analogy is something Alice Nutall learned in her early days of studying behavioral health. It has stuck with her, especially as she has played a pivotal role in assessing mental health needs and gaps in service for people in Polk County to ultimately bring muchneeded resources and innovation to advance the well-being of youth and adults alike.

Nutall is the AVP of Behavioral Health Services at Lakeland Regional Health, and helped author the comprehensive “Behavioral Health Strategic Plan Development & Sequential Intercept Mapping” in 2021 in partnership with Polk Vision. She also was instrumental in

developing the plans for the brand new Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Wellness at LRH, which opened last October. She and her colleagues at LRH are passionately committed to leading the charge to change stigmas and outcomes related to mental health.

She says the analogy of the brown paper bag should remind people that reaching out for help is always a good place to start when you feel the darkness pressing in or are unsure how to get out of a difficult situation.

“Your tools and your insight and your thought process alone is not gonna be able to get you out of it,” she said. “So, at a minimum, you're gonna need to talk to a friend or a loved one, or read a book or an article. But a lot of times if it's something that's really impacting your daily life, you need to talk to the next level provider.”

She said a person’s goal when evaluating their mental health or walking alongside a loved one experiencing mental health challenges should not be to figure out a comprehensive long-term solution right away, but to carefully look at first steps to better understand what help a person needs.

Your tools and your insight and your thought process alone is not gonna be able to get you out of it

Leaders Are Working to Address the

Most Prominent Struggles

Polk Vision is a local non-profit that brings together organizations, businesses, government and individuals to help bring positive change to Polk County. In 2021, Nutall and Holly Vida, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Central Florida Health Care, co-chaired a task force with Polk Vision to produce a comprehensive plan with the goal of improving the quality of life of Polk County residents by addressing behavioral health needs in the community.

The 261-page report, which can be viewed in full at polkvision.com, is a comprehensive survey and research analysis of the mental well being of people in Polk County, the needs that are present and the gaps that exist to meet those needs.

Diverse Data to Solve Complex Problems

“One of the things that was so cool about the Polk Vision study was all the different people we talked to that don't work in behavioral health,” Nutall said. “If you go and ask all the dentists in town… what do we need to do with dental care? They're gonna have really good advice, but what about all the people that don't brush their teeth? What if we went and talked to them?”

The study included the experiences and opinions of experts, but also included people who are struggling and a number of specialized, often underrepresented populations—including more than 300 incarcerated inmates.

They also tapped into data and anecdotes from the child welfare system. Nutall said she can’t shake one specific comment that epitomizes why she is passionate about her work.

“One comment was from a homeless youth…and it was like, ‘I don’t have mental health concerns now, but I’m sure I will soon.’”

The Tangible Truth About Recovery

The numbers can appear grim and seem insurmountable, but there is always hope. Hope is intangible, it is often spiritual, and it can come and go. But Nutall said one of the biggest revelations of her early career was that there is also a science to it.

“I just was transfixed by this concept of how chemistry and biology could translate into human emotion, and that through knowledge and understanding of the science behind it, and things as simple as eye movement, that you could influence and assist people to better cope with life and relationships,” she said. “A lot of what happens in the spaces of mental health, substance abuse and trauma, the real differing factor in recovery versus living in a place of darkness is hope.”

Nutall gained a great deal of empathy and understanding about the role hope plays when she worked at a crisis center for survivors of rape and sexual abuse. She learned that even in the worst situations neuroscience provides pathways toward healing and restoration.

A Building Built on Research and Best Practices

Nutall said traditionally behavioral health facilities have been underfunded, meaning professionals take the spaces that are most affordable and accessible and work to convert them to best meet patient’s needs.

With the Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Wellness—the $46 million facility spurred on by a transformative gift from Jack and Tina Harrell—this was not the case.

She says the 80,000 square foot building is a grand, cutting-edge facility staffed by professionals who are driven to change generational legacies in our community.

“It brought together all the best practices that we could find. We read them all, and then some of 'em we threw away and some of 'em we rewrote…” she said.

For example, nurses have unobstructed views to entire hallways of patients—rare for wings as large as in this facility— and features like telehealth technology and ability to contain infectious diseases are in place.

The facility incorporates a lot of natural light, high ceilings and open spaces for patients to enjoy tranquil settings.

Leading-edge Therapeutic Technology

The right prescribed medication can be a Godsend, but medicine is not always the answer, especially when it comes to effectively treating depression.

At its new facility, LRH offers Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as alternative options to traditional medication and therapies.

ECT uses electrical current to stimulate brain activity and essentially redefine healthy pathways of neurological activity that may have been impacted by trauma or illness.

“It's very much the leading edge of where psychiatry is,” Nutall said. “We can intervene on that specific part of the brain and people have remarkable recoveries. But in order to engage in those treatments, you really need to be close to home.”

Patients come in three mornings a week for several weeks to several months, with medical professionals closely monitoring the results and progress.

TMS involves short sessions where an electromagnet is used to deliver magnetic pulses to specific areas of the brain. It can treat depression, obsessivecompulsive disorder and other brain-related conditions.

WHERE TO GET IT AND HOW TO OFFER IT

The Power of Being Present

It’s cliche but true: whenever someone commits suicide there were likely dozens, if not hundreds, of warning signs and points where someone could have intercepted those signals and had a life-changing conversation with that person.

Nutall said oftentimes people who love a person the most are shielded from those warning signs, so it’s up to others, all of us included, to recognize harmful behaviors—like coming to work drunk or being noticeably more aggressive or withdrawn for prolonged periods of time—and then thoughtfully and carefully talk to the person.

“It’s not like you need to go in full blazing and throw a manual at them or say come on, ‘I’m calling 9-1-1,’” Nutall said. “It's very simple, it’s ‘If you ever need anything, I’m here. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Push Against the “Rock Bottom” Mentality

“So often…like with people with substance abuse…if you wait for someone to hit rock bottom, it could be lethal, right?” Nutall said. “The term is kind of a nebulous term. It

could be very destructive to property or communities of families.”

Often times rock bottom is the point where people contemplate or even attempt suicide. Nutall noted that statistically just 1 in 25 suicide attempts are successful, leaving a wake of hurting, vulnerable individuals in our community.

Nutall said being human means at times we’re not going to feel perfect and our emotions constantly fluctuate. It’s at the point where your feelings and thoughts start to impact your day-to-day life or you feel unable to find joy that you need to make the courageous and wise decision to find resources, make a phone call or talk with someone you can confide in.

“You don’t have to drop out of school or lose your job or housing, or lose your marriage or family,” Nutall implores. “Your whole life doesn’t have to explode for you to put it back together again.

One way to help ensure the people you care about don’t hit “rock bottom” is by saying something as simple as “Are you OK?” or “Would you like to talk?” if you notice that someone is obviously in distress or seems to be in a pattern of abnormal or self-destructive behaviors.

Embrace Telehealth

One positive coming out of the pandemic is the technology for telehealth has improved and people’s trust in it has increased.

Nutall said about 60 percent of LRH’s behavioral and mental wellness services are currently done via telehealth, and it’s an incredible way to get more people help quicker, often from the comforts of their own home.

“It’s also very streamlined and simple. If you can put in a DoorDash order, you can do a telehealth appointment,” Nutall said.

Telehealth can be a great option as a starting point for mental healthcare because people don’t have to be “seen” going in and out of a facility and can easily attend an appointment in their car during a lunch break. It has also been incredibly powerful in helping some children breakthrough who traditionally struggle to respond well in a traditional therapy environment. Nutall mentioned an example of an autistic child who had a successful evaluation on their iPad from underneath their bed.

"Your whole life doesn't have to explode for you to put it back together again."

BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY

Helping HANDS

Helping HANDS is an innovative jail transition program that provides extensive support for inmates returning to the community who have a psychiatric need or concern.

It is an example of removing silos and working collaboratively, as entities such as Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Polk County Fire Rescue, LRH, Tri-County Services, Peace River Center and others share data and information to best serve individuals.

“They have paramedics actually see them in the field after their release to help them make sure that they're staying on their medications and getting to their appointments. And through that they have case management type services,” Nutall said.

Participation is voluntary, but Nutall said most people who qualify for the services enroll in them, and they have proven to be successful from keeping people out of the hospital and staying out of legal trouble in the future.

Peer Recovery Specialists

The idea of peer recovery specialists is an ancient concept— and is very comparable to someone having a “sponsor” as they fight substance abuse—that essentially entrusts people who have gone through tough, usually life-altering, experiences to help others navigate those same hardships.

Peer recovery specialists have overcome challenges and also been certified through special training that gives them the tools to be peer counselors to others.

At LRH, peer recovery specialists work with nearly 200 unique patients per month.

Many mental health organizations are looking for people willing to share their positive outcomes and be trained to help supplement the medical professionals, chaplains and other programs aimed to provide holistic care to people seeking help.

Nutall said not only are peer recovery specialists “some of the most inspiring people she’s met” they also are also making a statistically significant impact.

“Sometimes it’s as simple as connecting with someone who understands what it’s like to accidentally overdose on fentanyl,” she said ”If you connect with a peer before you leave, you're less likely to overdose again, you're less likely to die and you're more likely to get into treatment. Those are profound outcomes.”

"If you connect with a peer before you leave, you're less likely to overdose again, you're less like likely to die..."

Nutall said it takes millions of micro conversations and recalibrating the community one person at a time to better understand their role in addressing mental health and wellness.

“The main bullet point is if you

see something, say something,” she said. “There’s no wrong door at Lakeland Regional Health if you need behavioral health. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year… and we can help get you on a path and start the process of healing.”

If you’re a Lakelander, do yourself and our community a favor by saving the number to Lakeland Regional Health in your phone:

Sometimes it’s a short call or simple conversation that literally changes the course of your future or someone else's future— strengthening our community in the process.

Living with the End in Mind

AVOID CRISES IN END OF LIFE CARE

WRITTEN BY VICTORIA BARDEGA

ong-term care is often a stage in life we neglect to think about until we’ve found ourselves in the middle of very transformative circumstances––facing the unexpected journey of a sick loved one or experiencing physically debilitating health challenges of our own.

Taking the necessary steps to make a plan as an individual or a family can save you or your loved ones the hassle of having to make tough decisions in the middle of a crisis. From assisted living options to designating a power of attorney for you or a loved one’s care, there are many complex factors to consider and ways we can educate ourselves regarding the process.

Included in this realm of wellness arrangements is guardianship/guardian litigation, sickness, death, disability, planning for wills and trusts, government benefit planning and more.

Where do mom and dad want to live? What decisions would you want to make should you encounter a health crisis? Who is going to manage your finances? These are questions to ponder as you begin to navigate preparing your family for end of life or future assisted living situations.

Here are ways to think with the future in mind to help your family be set up for success.

According to VA Accredited Attorney Kevin R. Albaum, of Clark, Campbell, Lancaster, Workman & Airth, P.A., the ideal time to plan these decisions is in your 60s, if not sooner. Whether you are a parent needing to determine who will look after your children in the event of your absence, or you are needing to designate a power-of-attorney to distribute your loved one’s living will according to their wishes, talk openly with your immediate family about these decisions to set arrangements ahead of time.

Once you have sorted out these details or are needing assistance legally designating these family decisions for long-term care, consider meeting with a local attorney to ensure these decisions are legally documented––whether it be a living will designating division of assets or guardianship documentation expressing who will be responsible for dependents.

Attorneys who specialize in these matters are able to provide guidance and legal assistance to match your family’s needs. They will be able to help with your official designation of a power of attorney to ensure the correct decision makers are in place to carry out the family's wishes.

TO AVOID FUTURE STRESS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, HAVE THE HARD CONVERSATIONS NOW

We

Lydia Boyd Branch Leader

6419 S. Florida Ave., #103 Lakeland, FL 33813 863-450-3272

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SUPPORT THROUGH GERIATRIC CARE MANAGEMENT IS AVAILABLE

To assist an elderly or sick loved one, geriatric care management provides exclusive one-on-one support to families and their dependent loved one by engaging them with helpful resources to guide them through stressful decisions for end-of-life care. These licensed social workers assist and work to alleviate family caregivers by advocating for senior patients and giving helpful medical referrals and planning assistance to families.

In Polk County, All About Aging, a geriatric care management group, offers this with their mission of giving patients “quality of life, quality of care and peace of mind.” From around-the-clock support to health management at home, their team creates solutions for families locally who are functioning as caregivers for a loved one.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are alone and need assistance, or your family gets burnt out from caregiving, this would be a great opportunity to call and learn more information. Learn more at allaboutagingllc.com

THERE ARE MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR QUALIFYING VETERANS

For our brave women and men who have served our country, there are a variety of assistance programs offering medical and financial support to veterans needing assistance. This covers everything from living arrangements, caregiver programs offering compensation and medical teams dedicated to caring for all health needs.

Lakeland’s VA Clinic, located at 4237 South Pipkin Road, offers advanced medical treatment for veterans, including but not limited to mental health care, primary care services and lab services.

Each veteran is designated a social worker and medical team to oversee their care and offer support through education of Veteran Affairs resources.

CONNECT WITH AN AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS.

They are available to guide you through questions regarding living assistance and government aid to help with the cost of proper care. Many families miss out on government funding because they simply don’t know about it.

There are currently 11 agencies of Aging and Disability Resource Centers in the state of Florida, and the Department of Elder Affairs provides programs designed to engage with senior citizens locally. These programs and resources give a ton of insightful information for seniors and their families, such as connecting them to helpful referrals and qualifying financial assistance programs.

Both the Department of Elder Affairs and Aging and Disability Resource Center can help find out more information on what’s currently available with the criteria necessary for qualifying.

EXPLORE

ASSISTED LIVING OPTIONS IN THE AREA.

Nearly 1 in 5 Polk County residents are age 65 or older, and there are a growing number of facilities that provide quality assistance and housing for an elderly or incapacitated loved one.

Places, such as Estates At Carpenters, located at 1001 Carpenters Way, are designated to create positive living experiences surrounded by medical care professionals to help rehabilitate their residents to a good quality of life.

In addition to their health care unit, they have independent living apartments with communitydriven amenities, such as a heated swimming pool, salon for self-care and engaging cultural events. Their residential team is available to offer tours and answer questions about enrolling your loved one to live at their facility. It is common for residents to naturally transition into the health care unit should they need rehabilitation or have specific needs that require medical attention or service.

PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE CARE OFFER SPECIALIZED AT-HOME CARE AND SUPPORT.

If you are a caregiver with a loved one needing medical assistance, palliative care or hospice care might be an option to consider that you may be qualified for. VITAS Healthcare, located at 115 S. Missouri Ave. Suite 350, or Good Shepherd Hospice, located at 3470 Lakeland Hills Blvd., are both highly rated centers that give care at-home for your loved one as they journey through end-of-life.

While palliative care focuses on treatment and care support whether the patient is continuing treatment or not, hospice care provides medical support and care for patients who have decided to no longer continue treatment. Hospice will partner with caregivers to provide ways to keep patients comfortable at-home.

As caring for a sick family member can take a stressful toll on a family emotionally, it can also be physically demanding, which is where hospice or palliative care is able to step in and provide relief and medical care.

The goal is to help guide the family through those final moments and to keep the loved one comfortable as much as possible.

WHEN YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL.

Whether you are interested in finding more information for your family or are wanting to be proactive by making a plan, taking a step is a phone call or an email away.

It can truly put you and your family at ease to think through these options and to know what you ultimately wish to do when a crisis or life altering change takes place.

Our lives are so ever-changing. Remaining proactive protects you and the ones you love most.

CIRCA 1920s

Members of the Cleveland Heights Golf and Country Club participate in lawn bowling on the club’s greens. Tennis courts and the clubhouse can be seen in the distance. The clubhouse, built in 1925 has been home to the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club since the late 1930s.

Courtesy of the Lakeland Public Library Postcard Collection

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