The Lakelander - Issue 95

95

40+ CATEGORIES

of the businesses & people you LOVE FEATURING

DR. KAZMIER HULBERT HOMES MAYDAY ICE CREAM CLEVELAND HEIGHTS AGNINI FAMILY DENTAL

award hand crafted by

ROBERT BERGA NZA

Urgent Care just for you.

This holiday season, make sure you get the care you need, right when you need it. Our two convenient Urgent Care locations offer accessible and affordable care right in your neighborhood, so you can get back to spending time and making memories with your loved ones. From flu shots to colds, infections, and sprains-we treat patients ages 2+ with no appointment needed.

Not an LRH patient? Not a problem. We welcome all patients to receive care even if they are not established with LRH. So come on in, we’ll take care of the rest!

HOURS: Monday - Friday 8am to 8pm I Saturday - Sunday 8am to 5pm OUR URGENT CARE LOCATIONS:

Pablo Campus Urgent Care 130 Pablo Street (Near Southgate)

Lake Miriam Urgent Care 4710 Florida Avenue South

COMMON CONDITIONS WE TREAT: • Asthma • Bronchitis • Cough & cold symptoms • Earaches • Flu symptoms • Minor back & shoulder pain • Minor medical concerns • Minor trauma, burns or lacerations • Seasonal allergies • Sinus infections • Skin rashes • Sprains • Urinary tract infections • Yeast infections

How to use a QR code: 1. Open your smartphone’s camera.

2. Hold it over the QR code.

3. Click on the link that pops up.

Your Health. Our Promise.

myLRH.org/UrgentCare

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Keeping People Grinning Agnini Family Dental has a long family history of putting people first.

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Ole’ Fashioned Links that Never Grow Old “The Heights” is a oneof-a-kind municipal golf course with a tradition worth celebrating.

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Creating Lifelong Confidence Dr. Faeza Kazmier loves to see people confident in who they are, and knows precisely how to achieve that.

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Built to Last How did Mark Hulbert build a foundation for success that he turned into a company that has built nearly 1,800 homes?

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An Artisan Twist on an American Favorite Mayday Ice Cream has the science of good ice cream down and loves showing off their experiments.

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2023 Lakelanders’ Choice Winners Dream Center of Lakeland wants to be the “intersection of everything” in an area of town that has long been searching for a new identity.

MASTHEAD

ISSUE 95

PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING

CREATIVE

Curt Patterson

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

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ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OPERATIONS

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

Jason Jacobs

EDITOR, CONTENT STRATEGIST

Jonathan Sierra EDITORIAL

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DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jordan Randall

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DISTRIBUTION

Gabriela Andrews

David Heideman

RJ Walters

VP, FINANCE Deb Patterson

Diego De Jesus Adam Spafford

GENERAL COUNSEL Ted W. Weeks IV

The Lakelander is published 12 times annually by Lakelander Media, 1505 Florida Ave. S, Lakeland, FL 33803. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission of The Lakelander is prohibited. The Lakelander is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.

THE LAKELANDER

“ Trust in th e Lord with all your h ear t , an d lean n ot on your own un derstan din g. In all your ways a ckn owledge Him, an d He will direc t your paths.” Proverbs 3:5- 6

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CONTACT Lakelander Media, 1505 Florida Ave. S, Lakeland, FL 33803 Customer Service: 863.701.2707 • thelakelander.com

EDITORS NOTE

A CHOSEN GROUP OF LAKELANDERS, CHOSEN BY LAKELANDERS

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LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

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ife isn’t all about winning.

I have a lot of 7th place gymnastics ribbons that served as motivation to put in more hours at the gym, I have been rejected by more employers than I will ever be hired by, and I fail enough at life to recognize that only God’s strength can pull me up and out most of the time.

But, let’s be honest, it feels good to come out on top—to be told you’re the best and to stand above the rest. That’s why trophy cases exist and it’s usually a result of striving for excellence.

The first ever Lakelanders’ Choice awards are a collective declaration of what thousands of Lakelanders think about the services, products, people, businesses and organizations they use and engage with everyday.

It’s part popularity contest; c’mon, Taylor Swift was recently named Person of the Year by “Time” magazine. It’s part about who wanted it most because some businesses urged their fan bases time and again to vote. And it’s partly imperfect science because voting for the contest required access to the internet, and also an awareness that the contest was happening.

Yet, it was the choice of Lakelanders, and at The Lakelander, we’re all about serving and lifting up the people who call this place home.

In all, nearly 3,400 unique individuals cast 50,557 votes in 44 categories.

We ensured every ballot was cast by a unique email address and we reviewed irregularities in the voting.

Every winner in this issue was given a hand-sculpted wood award, made by Lakelander Robert Berganza at Catapult, and each winner and first- and secondrunner up should be proud that they are valuable and memorable in the eyes of their neighbors.

The Lakelanders’ Choice awards are not: The Lakelander staff ’s opinion of what is best, proof that one business is head and shoulders above the competition, or a certifiable recommendation to use or not use a business or service. I expect you will find at least a few surprises inside these pages, but most people enjoy a good underdog story.

The Lakelanders’ Choice Awards are simply a way for us to check the pulse of our city, acknowledge the hard and quality work of businesses and people that make us proud of where we live, and stir up a little healthy competition.

Life isn’t all about winning, but no one wants to be surrounded by losers, either.

RJ Walters EDITOR

THE LAKELANDER

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

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COMMENTS FROM LAKELANDERS

18 THE BUZZ

THE BUZZ

CONTRIBUTORS

AUTO ACCIDENT?

CONTRIBUTORS GABRIELA ANDREWS

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

ISSUE 95

Gabriela is currently a college student in Lakeland. As a graduate of Harrison School for the Arts’ creative writing program and daughter of two public educators in Polk County, she has grown up loving Lakeland and looks to give back to her community.

For exceptional Chiropractic Care after a vehicle accident, contact Dr. Abraham and the professional team at New Hope Chiropractic in the Lake Miriam Publix Plaza.

DO N ’T I G N O R E YO UR INJURIES.

We would love to evaluate and treat you!

If not studying, she loves exploring new book stores, going to the beach, window shopping, making playlists, spending time with her little brother and writing.

ADAM SPAFFORD Adam came to Lakeland in 1999 to attend Florida Southern College and, except for a 20-month graduate school stint in Massachusetts, has been here since.

When he’s not writing page-turners for The Lakelander, he trades stock and index options.

THE LAKELANDER

EMILY STARLING

Dr. Abraham New Hope Chiropractic

Emily is a senior at Florida Southern College who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in communications with a focus in advertising and public relations. She has experience in journalism, digital marketing and design, and she is currently the vice president of the college's Florida Public Relations Association chapter.

Phone: (863) 682-1170

She has aspirations of one day moving to a big city and working in marketing for a company like Converse, one of her personal favorites.

4788 S. Florida Ave. Lakeland, FL 33803

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May you have the

HAPPIESTof

HOLIDAYS

TeamHubbert.com | 863.243.4024

METRO

LOCAL

Written by Diego De Jesus Photos by Jordan Randall Designed by Emily Starling

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

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Union Hall Now Home to PersianAmerican Fare

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DSC03218.jpg

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From kabobs to salads and tacos to ube ice cream, one Lakeland couple is working hard to bring locals a world of flavor

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easts of Persia, a food truck known for its signature Persian-American fusion food, is now open on a regular basis at a more permanent home outside of Union Hall.

Farhad Rahmani is the mastermind behind Feasts of Persia, unifying the recipes from his homeland of Iran with an American twist. Since their location change, he’s been in the kitchen working his culinary alchemy.

The Rahmanis, who started their mobile food truck in December 2022, plan on adding more traditional options for kabob cuisine such as the incorporation of saffron and white rice with upcoming Persian-Hispanic infused taco days— which will be on Tuesdays because who doesn’t love “Taco Tuesday”?

“I was a backyard barbecue kabob kind of person, just serving friends and family,” Farhad said about his cooking prowess prior to opening the food truck in late 2022.

But he has created handheld versions of some Persian favorites, as well as added his special recipe Feasts of Persia sauce to the mix. There are “friendly” and “feisty” versions of the sauce depending on a person’s love for heat.

Farhad said he started messing with some fun concoctions to test out with customers and a contingent of them said, “You need to bottle that!”

The sauce is a nice addition to the burgers or kabobs, but also works as a dressing on salads and a dip for fries.

Their signature Kabob Burger has been featured in publications like the The Ledger and LKLDNow, as well as on television, where Rahmani was filmed

“I was a backyard barbecue kabob kind of person, just serving friends and family.” doing what he loves on Spectrum Bay News 9 “Chef ’s Kitchen.”

Family is a core value for Feasts of Persia and for the Rahmani family who work the food truck. Farhad works alongside his wife Gianna and their two sons, Nikolas and Dominik.

Gianna is Filipina, and has introduced an ice cream dessert sourced from ube, or purple yam, a popular ingredient in the Philippines. The ube gives the ice cream a brilliant purple hue and a sweet creamy flavor, and the delicacy is actually imported from the Philippines.

At Union Hall, Feasts of Persia patrons can now enjoy spacious patio dining, indoor seating, a full-sized bar, and entertainment.

TO FIND OUT FEASTS OF PERSIA’S HOURS AND TO SEE THEIR UPDATED MENU, VISIT linktr.ee/FeastsofPersia

Chicken wings kabob, fries and Feasts of Persia sauce

“I’m dedicated to caring for you in an emergency.”

It’s not just an ID badge.

It’s a badge of honor.

At Bartow Regional Medical Center, the team members who wear this badge give you compassionate, high-quality emergency care in a safe and comforting environment.

Certified to manage heart attacks and strokes, you can count on our highly trained physicians and team members to care for you when you need care the most. At Bartow Regional Medical Center, we’ll make sure you get the extraordinary emergency care you deserve.

Learn more: BartowEmergency.org

23-2588141-0223

Joseph T.

Clinical Nurse II, ER

METRO

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

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THE LAKELANDER

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THE LAKELANDER

BEST DENTIST

LAKELANDERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

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THE LAKELANDER LAKELANDERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

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BEST

DENTIST

VOTED #1 DENTIST

KEEPING PEOPLE GRINNING WRITTEN BY ADAM SPAFFORD PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

IN

1979, MICHAEL AGNINI WAS practicing dentistry in Fort Myers when a pastor from Lakeland visited the church he attended and urged him to consider Lakeland as a new home for his young family and business. Dr. Mike accepted the invitation and joined an existing local practice before opening up his own on Kerneywood St. When his sons Drew and Matt, both fresh out of dental school, joined the family business in 2004, it quickly became clear that the practice was ripe for expansion. Through that expansion and then acquisition and consolidation over the years, in 2009 Agnini Family Dental took the form Lakelanders are familiar with today: a North Lakeland location at 1805 Lakeland Hills Blvd. and a South Lakeland office, which started on Oak Street, but now resides at 2410 S. Florida Ave. Other family members, including Dr. Mike’s wife

Donna and daughter Ashley, have also been a big part of the practice.

When Dr. Drew tells the origin story, though, he reveals that it nearly didn’t come together this way.

“Joining the family practice was not always the plan,” he says, noting both he and his brother decided fairly late in their undergraduate studies to pursue dentistry. “My dad never pressured us toward it, either. In fact, in the years we were growing up, the field of dentistry had become a bit mundane and I think my dad worried we’d find it uninspiring.”

But two auspicious things were about to happen. Dental innovation started increasing rapidly—something that provided a sort of renaissance for Dr. Mike Agnini Family Dental has been serving as he learned new techniques— Lakelanders since and Dr. Mike and Drew went 1979. on a dental mission trip to Zimbabwe, Africa.

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DENTIST BEST

"Rehabilitation patients often come in feeling hopeless. Perhaps another dentist said they needed to have all their teeth removed. I’ve often been able to give them other, less drastic options."

THE LAKELANDER

LAKELANDERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

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“I COULDN’T HELP BUT SEE THE IMPACT OF HELPING PEOPLE

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out of their pain and creating healthier mouths,” Drew says, sharing that’s when he changed his career path toward dentistry.

That personal commitment to individual care has helped position Agnini Family Dental as a community leader, especially in the last decade or so where an influx of corporate chain dental facilities have been opened in Lakeland.

“There’s room in the marketplace for that form of care, too, but I’m committed to fighting for our profession, so to speak,” Drew says. “We’re partial to our smaller, privately-owned model run by people raised and embedded in Lakeland. We form strong relationships with our patients.

Dentistry might be the only field of medicine where we see patients twice a year for preventive maintenance.”

Dentistry is such an up close and personal experience, and Drew jokes they can sense when a person’s comfort zone is being encroached upon much like the famous “Seinfeld” scenes with the “close talker” who has no regard for someone’s personal space.

Obviously, Drew and his team get to know their patients while also making them comfortable.

Drew said some of his most rewarding professional experiences are related to rehabilitation dentistry. For 15 years, he’s been perfecting the science and art of creating a comprehensive plan to restore and makeover unhealthy mouths. Rehabilitation involves solutions for long term health and function, as well as cosmetic work.

“Rehabilitation patients often come in feeling hopeless.

Perhaps another dentist said they needed to have all their teeth removed. I’ve often been able to give them other, less drastic options,” he says. “I recently had a patient in his mid-

80s whose teeth were worn to less than half the size of normal teeth. We worked out a plan to keep all his teeth. I saw him at his follow-up and he was grinning from ear to ear!”

Agnini Family Dental offers comprehensive dental services from hygiene and orthodontics to implant and surgical dentistry. Drew is proud to operate what he calls “an advanced general practice” where they can provide a number of specialties, including IV sedation.

“About 20 years ago we started doing some surgery that required sedation. An unintended benefit emerged as it opened up dental care to both special needs patients and those with extreme dental anxiety. Otherwise, both groups often forgo dentistry altogether,” Drew says.

But Dr. Drew is also measured in sedation’s application.

“I inform patients that sedatives can help a lot but it’s certainly not the whole answer. Sedation can even become a barrier to Dr. Drew Agnini loves care because people to help people achieve better oral might think they can health through neglect home dental proven care if they can just methods and be sedated a couple innovative technology. times a year at the dentist.”

Drew is passionate about helping people overcome their fear of dental work and getting them to a place where they can walk in and not use sedation. He jokes that sometimes he feels like a lay psychologist helping patients navigate their oral health options, but ultimately he knows the impact that a healthy mouth has on overall health.

“One of the simplest, and most effective, things someone can do for their cardiovascular health is treat any gum disease and maintain optimum oral health,” he says. “It can add 10+ years to your life."

Agnini and his team are committed to lifelong learning and investing in the latest technologies that can create better outcomes.

“We’ve become a full service digital dental practice using optical scans instead of those gooey impressions that you used to have to

LAKELANDERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

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DENTIST BEST ISSUE 95 LAKELANDERS’ CHOICE AWARDS THE LAKELANDER

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"AI will likely make its entry into dentistry, perhaps assisting in diagnosis."

Dr. Mike Agnini

take,” he says. “We use says it is beyond his wildest dreams digital imaging with that his entire family our 3D printers and would be working alongside him in milling machines to dentistry, yet that is create custom dental exactly the legacy implants from a block that has been built. of dental material.”

What the future of care looks like technologically at Agnini Family Dental is hard to say.

“AI will likely make its entry into dentistry, perhaps assisting in diagnosis.

A learning model could be fed with millions of x-rays to more easily or quickly identify a crack or decay, for instance. Dentistry generally will be more efficient and automated,” says Dr. Drew.

But certainly the practice’s commitment to keeping patients’ health first–in a comfortable atmosphere–won’t change at all.

AGNINI FAMILY DENTAL 2410 Florida Ave S Lakeland, FL 33803 (863) 682-1500 1805 Lakeland Hills Blvd Lakeland, FL 33805 (863) 682-1500

AgniniDental.com

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THE LAKELANDER LAKELANDERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

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BEST

DENTIST

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THE LAKELANDER

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS | ISSUE 95

BEST GOLF COURSE

VOTED #1 GOLF COURSE

OLE' FASHIONED LINKS THAT NEVER GROW OLD WRITTEN BY JOEL HELM PHOTOS BY MADISEN ELIZABETH DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

AS IT NEARS ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY, Cleveland

Heights Golf Course is an evergreen canvas for memory making, shot taking and enjoying the leisurely side of being a Lakelander. As a nod to one of the community’s finest mainstays, and the Lakelanders’ Choice winner for Best Golf Course, we “twisted the arm” of one local golf enthusiast to take readers on an adventure of a regular November day at “The Heights.”

C

leveland Heights Golf Course, perhaps today of all days, sure has the feeling of familiarity. Maybe it’s because so few faces here ever change, nor do the voices or booming laughter that surround the clubhouse. Most likely, however, it’s simply because I’ve been here 6,000 times (give or take a few) and I could sleepwalk my way to the first tee. Yes, “The Heights” is the winner of The Lakelanders’ Choice Best Golf Course as voted on by locals, and it is hands down my top local spot for golf. If we walked here from our house, golf bags in tow, I wouldn’t even approach my step goal for the afternoon.

Speaking of afternoon, The Heights has specific times in which they allow golf carts, and I’ve apparently infringed upon that rule with my arrival today. I am exactly three minutes past the final posted golf cart departure time on the pro shop window, and the older gentleman in the cart barn must be persuaded to let me take one.

FORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE PRO SHOP GUYS HERE

know me, as well as my 12-year old son, Jackson, and know we’re fairly proficient golfers. But more importantly, at least to them, we always play fast.

We both make an oath to have the golf cart back by the required time, and my friend in the pro shop uses his walkie-talkie to tell golf-cart-gentleman that we’re allowed to go.

Back outside, golf-cart-gentleman begrudgingly agrees, but not before mentioning (twice) that the carts must be in by 5:30. As he brings us the cart, I now notice his U.S. Veteran hat, and suddenly feel bad for what I was thinking just a second earlier. I wonder aloud which war he served in. “Thank you for your service, sir,” I say. “Where did you serve?”

Not one for small talk, he looks me dead in the eyes, taps his watch, and replies, “5:30,” and walks away.

Maybe he served in all the wars, I conclude.

Now that we’ve got a seasoned war vet ready to come after us if we aren’t back by 5:30, Jackson and I bolt for the first tee. Within seven seconds we

throw our pegs in the ground, stripe it down the middle, and literally run back to the cart before our balls have landed. Finally, by the first green, we settle down to focus on our round of golf.

The Heights, as you may have gathered by now, is the epitome of a municipal course.

Built on a beautiful piece of property smack dab in the middle of town, The Heights has a storied history that dates back almost 100 years.

Originally a William Flynn design and part of an exclusive, high end development around Lake Hollingsworth, Cleveland Heights opened in the spring of 1925. Flynn, whose prominence in design brought many to try the new course in Central Florida, also designed national treasures such as Shinnecock Hills in New York and Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado.

Just two years later, much like so many other real estate developments during the Great Depression, the course folded and the city took

THE LAKELANDER

The Heights is the epitome of a municipal course, built on a beautiful piece of property smack dab in the middle of town.

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS | ISSUE 95

it over due to delinquent taxes. Fifty years later, nine additional holes were added to the existing 18, mixing and matching holes with Flynn’s original 18. Today, all 27 holes remain part of Lakeland culture with more than 60,000 rounds played annually at the course.

Fortunately for us, however, we arrived late enough that the golf course is relatively empty and we are flying through our first holes. We are on the “B” course, which runs mostly to the southern portion of the property and has few of the original Flynn designed holes. Our quick pace is aided by strong play from both of us, with Jackson desperately trying to beat Dad today.

He’s only a couple strokes back, which has taken me by surprise. I’m playing well, under par through five, and no dad wants to lose to his 6th grader.

“Can’t be long here,” I say to him on the fun, short little par-3 sixth hole, which is playing 127 yards into the wind today. It’s the shortest hole on the property, but it’s a blast in match play.

After he sticks it to 12 feet, he turns to me before I hit my shot and says with a smile, “can’t be short, either.”

I hit a good shot as well, but neither of us can make our birdie putts. After walking away with pars, we make our way to the longer par4 7th tee, arguably the toughest hole on this side. After a bogey from him here, followed by my birdie on the 8th, I finally put him away in our match with just one hole remaining.

It’s getting tougher and tougher to beat him, which, truth be told, couldn’t bring me more joy.

I’ve been bringing him to the Heights since he was a toddler. At just three years old he’d bring his entire set of four golf clubs, begin his hole 30 yards out from the green, and play all 18 holes with me. Naturally, The Heights has a special place in my heart because of this. I truly admire their commitment to support junior golf, the welcoming nature of a municipal course to kids,

BEST GOLF COURSE

Fun fact: Along Lake Hollingsworth, at the site where Lakeland Country Club now stands, is where the original Cleveland Heights clubhouse was located.

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BEST GOLF COURSE LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS | ISSUE 95 THE LAKELANDER

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and their pro-junior-golfer policy where kids under 13 don’t pay to play. It might not be perfect, but today, playing and competing with my kid on a beautiful day, it feels awfully close.

When we finish up on nine, both with nice pars, Jackson takes off his hat and extends a hand to congratulate me on my win. I can’t help but spend a moment on the green to take this moment in—to be thankful.

But Jackson points to his watch, smiles, and says, “5:29.” Not a moment to waste.

Laughing, we sprint back to the cart, putters in hand, curving around the driving range and arriving at the cart return. We yank the bags off the cart, grab our trash and toss it, and look at the time again.

5:31 As though he’d been waiting only for us, cart-barn-gentleman appears out of nowhere. He looks at his watch, and out of apparent habit, points at it.

“OK,” he says, caught off-guard, and drives off.

We keep it together until he’s long gone.

Then, I see Jackson looking at me with a goofy smile and pointing at his watch, and we can’t hold back laughter. “C’mon, bud, let’s go upstairs to the patio for dinner.”

And in his best cart-barn-gentleman voice, Jackson says, “OK.”

The 1916 Irish Pub on the grounds of Cleveland Heights is a great spot when you’re hungry, thirsty, or just want to hang out with friends, whether you're a golfer or not.

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS GOLF COURSE 2900 Buckingham Ave Lakeland, FL 33803 (863) 834-2377

clevelandheightsgolf.com

"I can't help but spend a moment on the green to take this moment in—to be thankful."

POWERI NG REL I AB L E I NNOVATI ON David thought it would be a typical day when he started work a week after Hurricane Ian, when a fault at the substation threatened to put all of downtown out of power. That's when the new substation automation kicked into gear to keep the power flowing. "Many of the improvements our team makes aren't visible to customers. When we can fix problems before they affect customers, that's when we know we're on the right path."

lakelandelectric.com

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THE LAKELANDER

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

BEST OF PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

VOTED #1 PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

CREATING LIFELONG CONFIDENCE WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

IF

SOMEONE WERE TO CALL DR. FAEZA

Kazmier a visual person you might think that was a bit crass since she is a plastic surgeon, but her journey from England to the United States—and from high school science class to being a revered medical professional—has been guided by what she has seen and the impact that has had on her.

Go back several decades, for example. She was a high schooler in Fort Wayne, Ind. and her AP Biology teacher Ms. Kampschmidt—whom Dr. Kazmier still stays in touch with—encouraged her to join a science exploration program where she would learn about the intricacies of the human body, such as chromosomal analysis, and where she vividly recalls witnessing an operating theater.

At that operating theater, Kazmier and her classmates sat in an auditorium, and through a glass window they witnessed a live open-heart surgery.

“It was a very inspiring, awesome moment to be able to see somebody working on another human, and being able to change that person’s life,” said Dr. Kazmier recently, sitting inside her office at Watson Clinic Women’s Center on Lakeland Hills Blvd.

I am honored and humbled by this award. Thank you all for voting, and for your generous support. It's a privilege to serve the needs of patients in our community.

Faeza R. Kazmier MD

863-680-7676 | WatsonClinic.com/Kazmier

BEST OF PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

DURING NEARLY 14 YEARS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

More than 17 years ago, Dr. Kazmier was on staff when Watson Clinic opened its Women's Center in Lakeland.

learning and training, Kazmier saw a lot. She saw how different types of doctors generally approached patients, she saw the difference between managing health issues and fixing them, and she saw herself as potentially pursuing a number of career paths in medicine. At one point she was on track to become an OBGYN, then she thought cardiology might be her calling, but during a week of plastic surgery observation her long term vision for her career came into focus.

She remembers seeing a cleft lip repair on a baby, a breast augmentation and a TRAM breast reconstruction, all in a day’s work.

“We saw things got fixed…and there’s nothing for [the patient] to see of the work that was done,” she said. “With plastic surgery, we’re shaping it, molding it, creating it—and that’s art.”

That experience led her to the University of Missouri, where she completed a general surgery internship and plastic surgery residency, and where she also met her husband, Dr. Peter Kazmier, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon at Watson Clinic.

The couple moved to Lakeland, and Dr. Elisabeth Dupont and Kazmier were the pillars Watson Clinic opened and built the women’s center upon.

More than 17 years later, Dr. Kazmier performs surgery as many as four days per week, and she has served thousands of Polk County residents over the years. She and her team do everything from breast lifts, enlargement and augmentation, to skin cancer treatment and reconstruction, to facial rejuvenation and skin care options that help people feel more confident.

Dr. Kazmier says “everybody wants to look and feel younger,” and as a lifelong learner she is always combing through medical data and reading studies to see what is actually making a difference in that arena. She nods her head affirmatively when asked if the internet is filled with a lot of misinformation about her profession.

THE LAKELANDER

."..with plastic surgery, we're shaping it, molding it, creating it and that's art."

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THE LAKELANDER

GIVING & GIFTING ISSUE 94

WHERE YOUR

GIFT

MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Watson Clinic Women's Center 1400 Lakeland Hills Blvd.

Lakeland, FL 33805 (863)-680-7676

WatsonClinic.com/Kazmier

THE LAKELANDER

DR. FAEZA R. KAZMIER

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

Dr. Kazmier's parents were born in Bangladesh, and education provided a way out for them.

Faeza has passed a love for learning on to her four children.

understand his or her goals, explain the process and paint a picture of what the end result will mean long term.

“It’s incredible when I run into someone in the community and they tell me that I restored their confidence,” she said. “That’s what keeps me excited and motivated.”

What you will find when talking to locals or reading online reviews is that part of what makes Dr. Kazmier so beloved as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon is how she treats her patients with such class and care.

She said a book that had a definite impact on her career is the novel “Cutting for Stone” by Dr. Abraham Verghese.

“In that book, one of the questions that a surgeon asks a young surgeon is, ‘What’s an emergency care that can be administered by ear?’

And the answer is, ‘Words of comfort.’”

She says her job involves “caring for the whole person” and the more that she takes the time to get to know patients, the better she can understand and help them meet their personal aspirations.

And when that happens, it makes for a very satisfied, happy doctor, who is quick to credit God and her parents for the fact she gets to wake up every morning to a job she loves and finds purpose in.

Her parents were born in Bangladesh, and her father, Muhammad Rashid, experienced a very difficult childhood, but academic achievements provided him a ticket to opportunity that neither he nor his family has ever taken for granted. In fact, he is still at work in higher education, as a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Florida Poly.

Dr. Kazmier has passed along the importance of education to her four children, and she acknowledges that in many places around the world education and pursuing your dreams is only for the select few—but thankfully that is not the case in the United States.

As she processes how far she has come and the blessings she experiences through helping people find healing and hope, she says she remains in awe of it all.

“Every single time I operate, I always turn to my staff and say, ‘Isn’t it amazing that we can do this, and how we heal?' Our bodies are amazing.”

BEST OF PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

HER GOAL WITH A PATIENT IS TO TRULY

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BEST HOME BUILDER

VOTED #1 HOME BUILDER

BUILT TO LAST WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

THE LAKELANDER

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

M

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ark Hulbert has never shied away from the hard, and often taxing, process of becoming great.

He sets his mind to something, he devises a plan and he finds people to bring with him on the journey.

He focuses on the little details, and builds his reputation on consistently executing at a high level.

And when opportunities come, he’s prepared to rise to the occasion.

We’re talking about the esteemed Lakeland home builder’s obsession with fitness, of course.

You might know Mark as the guy who over the past quarter century has earned a reputation as one of Central Florida’s finest custom home builders, but the same work ethic and zeal for life that has helped him prosper his company also recently earned him the title of 2023 DEKA Fit World Champion.

Standing outside a house Hulbert Homes completed along Lake Hollingsworth in August, Hulbert gleefully grins like a child as he shows a short video he took in Dallas, Texas of his victory in a competition that includes 10 different disciplines including rowing, air biking, box jumps and more. “(My son says) I have a cardio addiction,” the 57-year-old says. “My son calls it CrossFit for small people because I'm, you know, [small.]”

Sure, he might appear slight of stature next to some of the towering homes he has constructed across Polk County, but his accomplishments, his generosity to reinvest in the community and his love for making an impact wherever he goes is no small feat.

Hulbert Homes constructed this home on Palmola St. near Lake Hollingsworth for Gary and Connie Ralston. The couple moved into the home in August.

HOME BUILDERS DIRECTORY MADE | ISSUE 93 THE LAKELANDER

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"I said, 'I was just looking at your hitch, man.' He goes, 'I've got another one at my house.

You wanna come over, take a look at it?'"

Mark Hulbert has been drafting plans for homes for more than 26 years, and Hulbert Homes has constructed nearly 1,800 homes in that span.

JUST A HOBBY TO HELP HIS FAMILY Hulbert’s first career was in the health physics field, specifically dealing with radiation safety, and funny enough, he initially ventured into home building as a hobby.

His brother Billy, who owns Hulbert Construction in Crystal River, was already building homes for a living, when Mark got the idea from a friend that he should build his own home to build equity and give his family a better life.

So he bought a lot off of Ewell Rd. for $10,000, and with his brother’s help, he built a home for about $55,000. He enjoyed the process so much that a year later he sold the home and built another one right next door.

When Mark’s wife, Linda, who is Vice President of Hulbert Homes, became pregnant with the couple’s son, Kyle, she nudged her husband to consider getting a contractor’s license, in part because she wanted to be able to stay home for a year.

Mark started closely inspecting the work of other local builders—everything from how miters fit together to materials used—and he realized he could compete.

“I got sucked into this realm of my excellent builder brother, and I was confident I knew how to build a house,” he says with a smile, noting that his brother is an “old school” builder who is hands-on all the time.

Technically Mark needed more experience to be able to take the licensure test, but Tom Joyner III of Joyner Lumber wrote him a recommendation letter and other friendly Polk County colleagues helped him expedite the process.

At that point, all he needed was someone to trust him to build their home.

TWO MEN WITH ASTRO VANS At a now-defunct Lakeland hardware store called Scotty’s Mark saw an Astro van, just like his, with the kind of hitch he dreamed of. When he saw the owner, he struck up a conversation.

“I said,’ I was just looking at your hitch, man.’ He goes, ‘I've got another one at my house. You wanna come over, take a look at it?’”

Within a few hours, the guy—Mike Cox— was underneath his van, and he started welding and installing a hitch to Mark’s Astro.

While Mark wondered to himself how he was going

The design of this home was created

by Connie Ralston, owner of Liv Designs Co. Learn more at livdesignsco.com.

MESSIEH ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC

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BEST HOME BUILDER THE LAKELANDER

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

Sitting in Gary and Connie Ralston's home that his company built, Mark shares how he is honored recognize the mark he has made on the community.

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to pay for the hitch, he and Mike struck up a conversation about how Mike was designing his dream home, looking for just the right builder. Mark was still waiting for his contractor’s license to arrive in the mail, but made enough of an impression to peak Mike’s interest.

“The trouble was his wife (Alana) did not want to hire me because I was a guy with no license, but we hit it off,” Mark recalls. “Then I brought him over to the house, showed him my work and told him the whole story.”

Soon after, Hulbert and the Coxs identified a lot in Summerland Hills off of Clubhouse Rd., and his first build commenced. That was in 1997—and nearly 1,800 home builds ago.

THE VALUE OF A CLEAN JOB SITE Hulbert recalls how he and Linda would check on that job daily, making sure it looked pristine and was on schedule. He was still working his other job, but treating the home as if it was his only gig. It turns out that Summerland Hills was host to the Polk County Builders Association Parade of Homes that year, and Hulbert, a brand new builder on the scene, had a product good enough to take home several awards.

In 1998, Hulbert Homes built seven homes, and that number grew to 16 in 1999.

Today, the company builds around 70 homes per year, and has recently expanded to outside of Polk County with its selection as a preferred builder for a development in Palm Coast.

Hulbert has never wavered from the essentials of continual communication with his clients, and the importance of keeping a clean job site.

Don Geller was so impressed with how tidy Hulbert kept his job sites years ago, when he was deciding on a builder for his next home, that earned Mark his business.

Hulbert Homes went on to build Don and his wife, Linda, a 4,000 square foot home, an 8,000 square foot home several years later, and finally a house in Grasslands when the couple decided to downsize. All three of those homes were Parade of Homes winners.

“They only live in award-winning homes,” Hulbert says, with a hint of disbelief. “That story is unheard of because it all stems from a clean job site.”

KEEPING PACE WITH TRENDS Hulbert says the process of building a home is nearly the same as it was decades ago, but the construction of the homes and the technology has drastically changed in the past 10 years.

When you walk into the home of Gary and Connie Ralston on Palmola St., with a breathtaking view of Lake Hollingsworth off their front porch and second-level balcony, you can see how Hulbert Homes builds modern homes with efficiency, a spectacular aesthetic and a personalization that comes back to the distinct dreams of every homeowner.

Connie, who owns Liv Designs Co., designed and decorated the home to mix modern with mid century vibes. She credits Mark and his team for helping her and her husband—who is a managing partner at SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate—for helping bring their vision to life.

Mark Hulbert and close friends completed an Ironman competition in 2016, and he continues what his son jokes is his "cardio obsession."

The trademark clean lines and well lit spaces of Hulbert homes are found in both of these builds.

"...I'm lucky, I'm fortunate, I'm blessed to be right here in Lakeland."

“He took my design, tweaked it, and made it more financially reasonable to build,” she says. “Their team was very patient with me from the beginning…came up with solutions and was wonderful to work with.”

The laundry room of the Ralston residence includes a floor-to-ceiling wall of modern cabinets that seamlessly blend into the space. Hulbert said that he sees more and more customers invest money and time into laundry rooms.

“Years ago laundry rooms used to be stuck wherever, but now they have big countertops and little craft spaces and are multi-use because they are a big part of people’s lives.”

Hulbert said people are also focused on building garages to be more of a functional space, complete with more cabinets and spaces to accommodate their hobbies. Not everyone shares this opinion, but not surprisingly, Hulbert’s favorite room in his own home is the gym. His personal gym is backlit with colored LEDs, inspired by Tony Horton of P90X acclaim, and of course he has top-notch air flow and air filtration built in.

No matter what trends come into the industry, Hulbert Homes sticks with its 22-step “Proven Process” that it utilizes for each build—something Mark jokes is akin to a Candyland board that his clients are excited to work their way through.

THE PLACE THEY TREAT LIKE HOME When you spend time with Mark Hulbert, he’ll gladly talk about building homes and you might hear about his current workout regimen, but you always come away with an appreciation for his heart for Lakeland, and the people who live in our city.

The company’s philanthropic endeavors are ongoing. Several years ago Hulbert Homes built a home for single moms and their children on the campus of non-profit One More Child, and Hulbert will soon be building an apartment on the site of the non-profit Hope House in Bartow, where the House and Program Director will live.

Hulbert Homes has also supported a number of local ministries, including Idols Aside Ministries.

“We do this so we can help others—that’s our mission,” he said. “When you pour into something meaningful for the community it’s even more emotional… and when we were out there at One More Child and were painting and scraping the house, it was wonderful—it was a thing of beauty.”

He’s clearly grateful for the sustained success he has earned, but when you ask him what has made the difference, he always points back to the people of Lakeland.

“When you get to know people here in Lakeland, they're amazing. They all have great stories, have great families,” he says, and then pauses to try and find the right words. “I don’t know, how do you end up where you’re doing this? I don’t know, but I’m lucky, I’m fortunate, I’m blessed to be right here in Lakeland.”

HULBERT HOMES 5116 S Lakeland Drive | (863) 647-5815

hulberthomes.com

One Heart. One Purpose. Your Health.

Book an appointment at one of our 15 health centers today.

cfhc.org | 866.234.8534

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THE LAKELANDER

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

ISSUE 95

BEST ICE CREAM

VOTED #1 ICE CREAM

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AN ARTISAN TWIST ON AN AMERICAN FAVORITE WRITTEN BY JENNA MACFARLANE PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

HEN STEPHEN DIMARE

decided to open Mayday Ice Cream in St. Augustine, he wanted to deliver all the emotions ice cream inspires: delight, comfort, nostalgia and, of course, enjoyment.

Today, its location at The Joinery in Lakeland does just that—serving up dozens of flavors tucked in warm waffle cones and topped with homemade sprinkles.

Stephen first forayed into frozen treats by opening Hyppo Pops in 2010: a popsicle shop with a few locations serving up all-natural, gourmet popsicles. You can spot Hyppo in walking districts like Hyde Park in Tampa and downtown St. Augustine.

With a few years of experience under his belt at Hyppo, he recognized a gap in the market for high quality ice cream. Small-batch ice cream shops were popping up all over the US — but St. Augustine was missing out. So he connected with a pastry chef, developed a few ice cream flavors, and Mayday was born.

Now spanning 14 locations, Mayday delights hundreds of customers every day across the Sunshine State and Mississippi.

Mayday began with a very small team. They produced the ice cream themselves, in-house, testing flavors and trying new things to see what worked and what didn’t. When they began growing at a rapid pace, expanding to new locations throughout St. Augustine and Jacksonville, Stephen took it all in stride.

“WE WEREN’T EXACTLY PLANNING

Mayday's location at The Joinery is its only spot located in a dining hall. So far, Lakelanders have responded well to that decision.

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THE LAKELANDER

MADE | ISSUE 93

HOME BUILDERS DIRECTORY

BEST ICE CREAM

FOR THIS LEVEL of growth,” he says, crediting his team

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS | ISSUE 95 THE LAKELANDER

and support system who helped him think quickly without compromising on quality or experience.

Over the past 10 years, the brand’s philosophy has never changed. “I tell my employees that your job isn’t to sell ice cream,” Stephen says. “It’s to serve people.”

Surprisingly to most average ice cream enjoyers, it’s actually quite a complex science to develop high quality recipes. The best ice creams are both rich and refreshing; they’re distinct and flavorful without being overwhelming. Ice cream is built around balance.

That’s why Mayday uses the highest quality ingredients they can get their hands on. For example, they make the bases for Mayday ice cream with 16% butter fat (which is pretty much the highest you can get before the ice cream just turns into butter).

“Every single ingredient is the best, and the highest quality,” Stephen says, emphasizing that the desired flavor profile comes first.

Stephen and the team work with two family-owned Florida manufacturers to Coffee + Donuts, build the best flavors, and they deliver to Blueberry Toast Crunch and Gilleseach location on a weekly basis for the pie's Bourbon Pecan freshest ice cream you can get. are a few of the The process of developing, testing classics that Mayday fans love. and selecting final flavors is crucial to balancing the science and enjoyment of ice cream. First, the folks at Mayday propose flavor ideas, get samples made, and then the team decides whether or not the flavor will get sold.

“It can be very polarizing and emotional,” Stephen said, laughing, “What one person loves another might hate.”

So they try to keep the most fulfilling flavors, and save the rejections for potential future seasonal flavors.

(For example, a tested-but-ultimately-nixed flavor was the Grapefruit Negroni ice cream with straight vermouth—satisfying to some, offensive to others. I’ll leave it to you to decide!)

Today, going out for ice cream is a lighthearted, childlike tradition — but ice cream has a rich history from which Mayday takes its name.

“Mayday” was inspired by a period of time—World War II—that brought out some of humanity’s darkest days. With destruction all around, though, ice cream helped keep hope alive.

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BEST ICE CREAM LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS | ISSUE 95 THE LAKELANDER

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DURING THE WAR, AMERICAN PILOTS

flying over Europe took advantage of the frigid altitudes. They strapped buckets full of cream and sugar on the back of their planes, and let the plane’s movements churn ice cream. Once they landed, their ice cream was ready to share, and it often reminded soldiers of home.

Stephen says the response and support for the Lakeland store since its opening in 2020 has blown him away. It's Mayday’s only location in a food hall, and it’s the perfect spot for people looking for something sweet to end the evening. And as for Stephen, one of his favorite flavors is the Sunday Best Banana Pudding—a blend of fresh bananas with Nilla wafers and a hint of cinnamon. Mayday offers plenty of options for dairy free folks, too, and some boozy options for the 21+ crowd. Stephen described a seasonal ‘Cold Fashioned’ in which pureed

cherry sorbet, bitters and orange create a liquored icy concoction.

As for the future, Mayday’s on an exciting trajectory. Though they’re slowing down on opening new locations, they’re working on becoming more getting rooted where they are.

“We want to make sure we’re able to be faithful to the communities we’re in,” Stephen says. “Growth is healthy, but so is sustainability. We’re thoughtful about all of it.”

In the future, you can expect to see special flavors at each location— and you might even be able to get a Mayday Passport to try each location’s flavor (Strawberry Matcha at St. John’s in Jax, anyone?)

Ice cream, in its simplicity, is made to be savored, and it’s clear the folks at Mayday create it with all the heart and care they can.

“[Deciding on ice cream flavors] can be very polarizing and emotional.”

MAYDAY ICE CREAM LAKELAND The Joinery 640 East Main Street Lakeland, FL 33801

maydayicecream.com

WINNERS GUIDE LAKELANDERS CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

LAKELANDER'S

CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS GUIDE

Lakeland is home to a lot of proud "foodies" who aren't afraid to vote with their wallets and online reviews. Here are some of Lakelanders' favorite places to eat and drink.

BEST FINE DINING 1st Place Winner Nineteen61 The downtown establishment has become one of Central Florida's most celebrated culinary delights, serving up Spanish cuisine with a Latin American twist. Its executive lunch menu and expanded catering means there is more to love than ever before.

THE LAKELANDER

215 E. Main St.

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Nineteen61.com

2nd Place Scarpa's Italian 3rd Place Bay Street Bistro

BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT

1st Place Winner New Moon Sushi

The sheer variety of traditional and modern Japanese dishes coupled with caring customer service make this a local favorite. Its sushi is a star, but its unique offerings like dynamic bento box lunches, a smattering of flavorful rolls and a fun cocktail menu are memorable as well.

4231 Florida Ave. S. NewMoonSushi.com

2nd Place Saigon Bistro 3rd Place Tsunami Sushi and Hibachi

BEST TACO SPOT 1st Place Winner Tapatio's

This throwback Mexican cantina with festive decor and bright murals serves up a massive menu of fresh and authentic dishes, just as it has for nearly 30 years. After enjoying the warm tortilla chips, patrons can chow down on the following types of tacos: beef tongue, pork, steak or Mexican sausage—and for those who can decide which to eat, there's always the Tapatio's 12 pack!

734 E. Memorial Blvd. | 6645 Florida Ave. S Suite #11 TapatiosMemorial.com | TapatiosToGo.com

2nd Place Mega Mercado 3rd Place Taco Bus

1st Place Winner Born & Bread

BEST BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH

If you've never waited in an hour long line for a "life changing" cruffin or treated yourself to a local hand-crafted specialty like the Nana’s Squash Croisstata, then what are you doing? Jenn Smurr created a craze with her European style bread and pastries in 2015, and she and her team haven't let off the gas since, including this year when the owner welcomed twins into her family.

1113 Florida Ave S. BornandBreadBakehouse.com

2nd Place Frescos Southern Kitchen & Bar 3rd Place Black & Brew

WINNERS GUIDE

1st Place Winner Fat Maggie's

BEST FOOD TRUCK

This food truck thrives by making dishes that are so appetizing that you can't look twice without giving in.

You can always expect oozing cheese, tender and sometimes caramelized meats, dynamite sauces and food fried to perfection.

Follow Fat Maggie's on social to see upcoming stops Facebook | FatMaggies

2nd Place Jimmy's Famous Seafood Express 3rd Place Feasts of Persia

BEST ICE CREAM LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

1st Place Winner Mayday Ice Cream

Apparently different and attention to detail matter to Lakelanders, even when it comes to classic desserts.

Homemade waffle cones and sprinkles, artisan seasonal flavors like brown butter chocolate chip and legit boozy sorbets and treats can't be beat.

640 E. Main St. Lakeland, FL 33801 MaydayIceCream.com

2nd Place Andy’s Custard 3rd Place Brusters

1st Place Winner

THE LAKELANDER

Palace Pizza Downtown

Earlier this year, owner Gio Moreillo let readers of The Lakelander in on a little secret: the only thing he's change he's made in 25+ years is the mozzarella—and that was 14 years ago. This classic downtown spot makes a star of the tomato and fresh dough, whether you're talking pizza, pasta or garlic knots.

114 S. Kentucky Ave. PalacePizzaDowntown.com

2nd Place J Burns' Pizza 3rd Place Il Forno Italian Restaurant

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BEST PIZZA

1st Place Winner Swan Brewing

BEST BEER SELECTION

The downtown brewery has established itself as a quintessential hangout spot with live music, food trucks, BOGO Thursday nights and nearly 30 beers on tap at all times. They are constantly changing it up with brews of all body types and flavor profiles like a good mad scientist should.

115 W. Pine St. SwanBrewing.com

2nd Place The Joinery 3rd Place Brass Tap

BEST HEAD CHEF 1st Place Winner

Marcos Fernandez, Nineteen61 The spirited Cuban American chef is as intriguing and beloved as his Latin food that has made him Lakeland and Florida famous. He's a risk taker and innovator who is always looking to create more mouthwatering options, and also pays careful attention to the brand he is building for his current ventures and whatever might be next.

215 E. Main St. Nineteen61.com

2nd Place Andrew Kippley, Scarpa's Italian 3rd Place Tina Calhoon, Frescos Southern Kitchen & Bar

1st Place Winner Cob & Pen

BEST BAR & GRILL

The iconic 96 year old Tudor house has proven its more than just a fun spot—it is home to some of Lakeland's tastiest food. It offers up scrumptious, elevated bar fare, flavor-packed brunch options and beer and cocktails that keep palettes happy and conversations flowing.

1221 Florida Ave. S CobandPenLakeland.com

2nd Place Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits 3rd Place Harry's Seafood Bar & Grill

WINNERS GUIDE

BEST COFFEE

1st Place Winner Black & Brew

The popularity of this 17-year old Lakeland staple is evident by how it has blossomed to three locations where locals indulge in fresh flavored bites, rich coffee drinks, fun teas and delightful baked goods. Ownership is quick to support community endeavors and is known for its perpetual generosity.

205 E Main St. | 100 Lake Morton Dr. | 4209 Florida Ave. S. BlackandBrew.com

2nd Place Mitchell's Coffee House

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

3rd Place Concord Coffee

1st Place Winner

BEST BARTENDER

Frankie Ambrose of Frankly Bartending Frankie Ambrose grew up here, and mentions the tutelage he received from Henry Tucker in the catering industry as instrumental in helping him building a successful private liquor catering company. He prides himself in knowing what locals like and how to serve their distinct needs.

THE LAKELANDER

(863)333-2263 Instagram | FranklyBartending

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2nd Place Lauren Barnhill of Mojo Federal 3rd Place Emerson Bamaca of Bar 61

VOTED BEST IN HOME Pride of ownership is alive and well in the Swan City, and these businesses lean into helping people get and maintain what they want.

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN 1st Place Winner Leaf & Light Design When locals are in the mood for something fresh or a totally new look for their space, they turn to Amanda Bass and Leaf & Light Design to inspire them or bring it to life completely. L&L is up for modern or vintage takes, and is revered for curating just what the customer envisioned.

LeafandLightDesignFL.com

2nd Place Hollingsworth Home Interiors 3rd Place Christian Lee Designs

WINNERS GUIDE

1st Place Winner Keller Williams Realty

BEST RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE CO.

Led by Operating Principal Chris McLaughlin and Team Leader Damion Boyce, KW Smart is the local franchise of a company with 180,000+ associates around the world.

KW Smart uses its deep knowledge of the local market and cutting edge technology to serve Polk County, and its agents are constantly giving back and making a difference.

218 E. Pine St. Polk.YourKWOff ice.com

2nd Place Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate 3rd Place Paige Wagner Homes Realty

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

BEST RESIDENTIAL REALTOR 1st Place Winner

Michael Boothby, Keller Williams Boothby relocated from the Northeast about five years ago, and after years working as an electrician, he has found success helping other transplants find places to call home in Florida. He is the team leader of the four-person ADAC Homes Team at Keller Williams.

508-341-2794 MichaelBoothby@KW.com

2nd Place Adrianna Darr, Keller Williams 3rd Place Yolanda Floyd, Paige Wagner Homes

1st Place Winner

THE LAKELANDER

Strawbridge Renovations

Founded by two friends, Vince Strawbridge and Nathan Bagget are passionate about construction in the way they were taught by family, which includes three generations who have served Polk County. They're on tap for your remodel, from kitchens and bathrooms to home additions.

StrawbridgeRenovations.com

2nd Place Waller Construction and Design 3rd Place Complete Kitchen + Bath

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BEST HOME RENOVATIONS

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2024

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TURED I EA

LOCAL EDUCATION. GLOBAL IMPACT. We know that knowledge is cultivated in the classroom, but tested in the real world. It’s why Florida Southern College has been named a leader in experiential learning year after year.

And the reason our graduates achieve a 98% placement rate post-graduation.

Immersive, hands-on experiences such as internships and research equip students to lead, succeed, and make an impact in our community and across the globe.

Learn more at FLSouthern.edu

BACHELOR’S | MASTER’S | DOCTORAL

WINNERS GUIDE

BEST LANDSCAPING

1st Place Winner

Creative Edge Outdoor Solutions Founded in 2002 by Lakeland natives David & Diana Golan, the company has grown to be a one-stop solution for all your outdoor needs, from landscape design and installation to lawn maintenance, irrigation services and more.

3010 Knights Station Rd. LawnCareLakelandTampaFlorida.com

2nd Place Perry’s Lawn and Landscape 3rd Place Prestige Lawns & Landscaping

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

BEST POOL BUILDER 1st Place Winner Griffin Pools

Griffin Pools has been building quality pools, spas, water features, and outdoor living areas in Polk, Hardee, Hillsborough, and Highlands Counties since 1975. The award-winning builders offer customers top-notch construction, technology, design features, and competitive pricing.

3404 Reynolds Rd. Griff inPools.com

2nd Place Goldsmith Pools 3rd Place Polk County Pools

1st Place Winner

THE LAKELANDER

Hulbert Homes

Fore more than a quarter of a century, Mark Hulbert and his team have proven themselves by paying attention to detail, innovating in design and home efficiency, and customizing houses to become the homes individuals and families dream of.

5116 S Lakeland Dr. HulbertHomes.com

2nd Place Southern Homes 3rd Place Ernie White Construction

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BEST HOME BUILDER

WINNERS GUIDE ISSUE 95 LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS THE LAKELANDER

VOTED BEST IN ART + CULTURE What is Lakeland? It's the sum of people, how they express themselves and what they love to spend their time doing

BEST BOOK STORE 1st Place Winner Pressed Books & Coffee Pressed is more than a book store—it has become a beloved community gathering space.

They constantly curate new and used books that span interests and genres, and their coffee bar roasts locally sourced Ethos and serves up local baked goods.

With regularly scheduled events including "meet the author" sessions and book clubs, people have many reasons to stop in and stay awhile.

213 E. Bay St

PressedLKLD.com

2nd Place Gospel Inn Bookstore 3rd Place Little Bus Books

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1st Place Winner Indie Atlantic Films

BEST VIDEO PRODUCTION CO.

Founded by Andy McEntire in 2006, the team of passionate and gifted storytellers made a name for itself at home with vivid videography of local organizations, schools and businesses. But it has grown to produce award-winning documentaries, compelling national commercials and captivating campaigns and projects that continue to engage people in fresh ways.

1037 Florida Ave. S Suite 106 IndieAtlantic.com

2nd Place NFocus Studios 3rd Place The Collection Media

BEST JEWELER 1st Place Winner Munchel’s Fine Jewelry

The family-owned retailer has been a Lakeland staple since 1982, and is a one-stop shop for bridal jewelry, diamonds and watches, as well as a buyer of gold, jewelry, coins and more. Their expertise and commitment to personally meeting each customer's need shines through their storied history.

3227 Florida Ave. S Munchels.com

2nd Place Foshee Jewelers 3rd Place Gaines Jewelers

1st Place Winner Lakeland Christmas Parade

BEST FESTIVAL OR EVENT

Camping chairs and blankets line the curbside of downtown Lakeland at dawn the morning of this annual holiday celebration. For the past 42 years, floats, bands, bikes, motorcycles—an even an occasional marriage proposal—have ushered Lakelanders into the most wonderful time of the year.

Downtown Lakeland

2nd Place Pig Fest 3rd Place Sun 'n Fun, Mayfaire by the Lake (tie) 79

WINNERS GUIDE

1st Place Winner

BEST VENUE

Bonnet Springs Park Event Center The exposed wood features, omnipresent natural light, delightful outdoor photo opps and ideal location near the heart of downtown have made this newer spot an instant winner for weddings, fundraisers, birthday parties, corporate events and more.

400 Bonnet Spgs Blvd.

BonnetSpringsPark.com

2nd Place Haus 820

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

3rd Place Union Hall

1st Place Winner

BEST GOLF COURSE

Cleveland Heights Golf Course The 27-hole, city owned course is where young golfers go to learn, casual golfers tee it up to realize dreams without leaving their day-to-day reality, and every regular tells scores greater than their score under par.

THE LAKELANDER

2900 Buckingham Ave. ClevelandHeightsGolf.com

80

2nd Place Lone Palm Golf Club 3rd Place The Club at Eaglebrooke

James Boley 863-400-7460 3615 S Florida Ave, Lakeland geico.com/lakeland-boley ¡Hablamos Español!

Limitations apply. See geico.com for more details. GEICO & affiliates. Washington, DC 20076 © 2021 GEICO

WINNERS GUIDE

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER 1st Place Winner Will Doyle, Will Power Fitness The U.S. Navy veteran is passionate about helping people dig deep to become stronger physically and mentally. He has trained pro athletes, seniors, amputees, children and all kinds in between. His 24/7 gym focuses on strength and conditioning, fitness and cardio, and health and diet.

1014 Walt Williams Rd.

WillPowerFitnessLKLD.com

2nd Place Scott Lamb, Vanilla Gorilla Strength Athletics

THE LAKELANDER

3rd Place Adam Hammid

82

VOTED BEST IN HEALTH + BEAUTY

Look good, feel good, live good.

These people and businesses have earned the trust of Lakelanders, in part, because people know how much they care.

1st Place Winner

BEST GYM

Just Move

Just Move runs four 24/7 athletic clubs in Polk County, where individuals can do their thing at their own pace, hop into group fitness classes, work with a personal trainer and more. Amenities like a juice bar, sauna and pilates studio help create the penultimate healthy living experience.

3625 Florida Ave. S. | 3195 US Hwy 98 N JustMoveSouthLakeland.com | JustMoveNorthLakeland.com

2nd Place Kelly Recreation Complex 3rd Place Will Power Fitness

BEST SALON

1st Place Winner Venue Salon

This Aveda salon uses cutting edge techniques, high quality products and dedicated professionals to provide Lakelanders top notch hair, skin care and waxing services. Their goal is to build lifelong relationships by matching an individual with his or her "stylist soulmate."

5035 S. Lakeland Dr. VenueSalon.com

2nd Place Clique Salon and Med Spa 3rd Place High Class Barber Salon

1st Place Winner High Class Barber Salon

BEST BARBERSHOP

Angel “JR” Maldonado has quickly built a dedicated client base by creating a welcoming place where friends can gather and converse about every facet of their lives, including the ups and downs. He and his wife, Enidza, recently opened High Class Academy to train aspiring barbers.

945 Florida Ave S. HighClassBarberSalon.com

2nd Place Gent's Classic Cuts 3rd Place Kirkland's Barber Shop

WINNERS GUIDE

1st Place Winner

BEST AESTHETICIAN

Emilee Silvestri, The Skin Boutique

Emilee is an Aveda Institute grad who is passionate about skin health and overall wellness. Her services range from skin treatments and lymphatic massage to body treatments to beautifying the lashes/brows.

464 W Pipkin Rd #2 Tsb. JaneApp.com

2nd Place Valerie Johnson, Skin & Tonic 3rd Place Melissa Kinsey, TrueMedSpa

1st Place Winner Agnini Family Dental

The family business started with Dr. Michael Agnini in 1979, and his sons, Dr. Drew and Dr. Matt, have grown it into a revered advanced service practice, complete with IV sedation, advanced imaging and more.

2nd Place Family Dentistry of Lakeland

ISSUE 95

2410 Florida Ave S. | 1805 Lakeland Hills Blvd.

AgniniDental.com

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

BEST DENTIST

3rd Place Smile by Dr. John Paul

1st Place Winner

Eye Specialists of Mid Florida

3350 Harden Blvd. eyesfl.com

2nd Place Eyes of Lakeland

THE LAKELANDER

Lakelanders trust this regional leader with their vision. The full-service specialist offers eye exams, cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, laser eye surgery, eyelid lifts, etc.

BEST EYE DOCTOR

3rd Place Clarkson Eyecare 85 85

WINNERS GUIDE

1st Place Winner Daydreams Day Spa

BEST SPA

Away from the hustle and bustle just outside at Lakeside Village, Daydreams provides a relaxing retreat with services that include massages, facials, nails, botox & more.

1463 Town Center Dr E. DayDreamsDaySpa.com

2nd Place Clique Salon & Med Spa 3rd Place True MedSpa

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

BEST CHIROPRACTOR 1st Place Winner Love Chiropractic

Drs. Steve and Tiffany Love, and Dr. Chris Terry, offer welcoming expert care to help people feel and function better. They offer industry leading services and have professional massage therapists on site.

5227 US Hwy 98 S. LoveChiropracticCenter.com

2nd Place The Joint Chiropractic 3rd Place New Hope Chiropractic

THE LAKELANDER

BEST PLASTIC AND 1st Place Winner RECONSTRUCTIVE Dr. Faeza Kazmier (Watson) SURGERY Dr. Kazmier is passionate about providing lifelong solutions and helping restore confidence in people.

She is known as an industry leader and continues to dive deep into new research and techniques to best serve Lakelanders, as she has for 17-plus years.

1400 Lakeland Hills Blvd WatsonClinic.com

2nd Place Dr. J. Scott Ferguson ( Watson) 3rd Place Dr. Gerzenshtein 86

G N YOU I H S I A W

MERRY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY Y P P A S! &H From your family at Publix Employees Federal Credit Union to yours.

PEFCU.com | @PublixCU | 1-800-226-6673

Federally insured by NCUA.

WINNERS GUIDE ISSUE 95 LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

VOTED BEST IN BUSINESS Lakelanders love to have a good time, but they also are always looking for the best places to invest their time and money, and help take care of their precious assets.

BEST BANK 1st Place Winner Bank of Central Florida The community minded, client-focused bank is well known for personally meeting the needs of its individual customers and businesses. The bank continues to give back to the community and loves the opportunity to help propel entrepreneurs and families forward toward their goals.

5015 Florida Ave S. | 724 Florida Ave S.

THE LAKELANDER

BankofCentralFlorida.com

88

2nd Place Citizens Bank & Trust 3rd Place SouthState Bank

WINNERS GUIDE

Assisted Living Facility Licenses: #AL11995, #AL12732, #AL5217, #AL7902

Make the Move!

Seniors in Lakeland have several options for accommodations, care, and locations with our 6 local communities.

Call Today to Speak to one of our Family Advisors!

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95 THE LAKELANDER

89 89

WINNERS GUIDE

1st Place Winner MidFlorida Credit Union

BEST CREDIT UNION

From its humble beginnings in Polk County in 1954, MidFlorida has grown to more than 60 locations around the state by providing convenience, competitive rates and innovative products, while maintaining its member-owned status.

Locations throughout Lakeland (863)688-3733 MidFlorida.com

2nd Place Publix Employee Credit Union 3rd Place Suncoast Credit Union

ISSUE 95

BEST LAW FIRM 1st Place Winner

LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS

Peterson & Myers

Since 1948, Peterson & Myers’ preparation and comprehensive knowledge of the law have made it a top choice for businesses, professionals and individuals across Central Florida. Their attorneys bring a practical point of view to the cases they handle, along with talent, experience and insight.

225 E Lemon St STE 300 PetersonMyers.com

2nd Place Burnetti Law 3rd Place Clark, Campbell, Lancaster, Workman, & Airth, P.A.

1st Place Winner

THE LAKELANDER

CPS Investment Advisors

CPS Investment Advisors offers full-service, holistic financial planning services that include investment management, estate & trust planning, risk management, cash flow and budgeting, tax services and planning, retirement planning, and 401(K) planning. CPS has been serving Lakelanders since 1975.

205 E. Orange St. #310 (863)688-1725 CPSInvest.com

2nd Place Clifton Larson Allen 3rd Place Tracy Kimbrough 90

BEST ACCOUNTANT

1st Place Winner Allen & Co.

BEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Florida's oldest investment firm continues to help locals build wealth and develop strong legacies by putting clients first and having staff that is wholly committed to the community they live in.

1401 Florida Ave S. AllenInvestments.com

2nd Place CP Investment Advisors 3rd Place Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors

BEST NON-PROFIT 1st Place Winner One More Child

One More Child has been providing Christ-centered services to vulnerable children and struggling families since 1904. In 2022, they served 236,492 children through its Foster Care, Anti-Trafficking, Child Hunger, Single Moms and Family Support programs.

1015 Sikes Blvd OneMoreChild.org

2nd Place SPCA 3rd Place KidsPack

1st Place Winner Bartow Ford

BEST CAR DEALERSHIP

Bartow Ford celebrated its 75th year in business in 2023, and the top 100 volume Ford dealer shows no signs of slowing down. Their professional service department, enormous inventory selection and community events, like Concert on the Lot keep people coming back for more.

2800 US-98 North BartowFord.com

2nd Place Regal Automotive 3rd Place Lakeland Automall

WINNERS GUIDE

BEST AC COMPANY 1st Place Winner

Payne Air Conditioning and Heating Since 1936, the pros at Payne have built a reputation of honesty, integrity and dedicated work ethic. They do commercial and residential work and are familiar with all makes and models of air conditioning units.

1048 E Oleandor St. PayneAir.com

2nd Place The Lakeland Air Conditioning Company 3rd Place Wards Air Conditioning LAKELANDERS' CHOICE AWARDS ISSUE 95

1st Place Winner

BEST VETERINARIAN

All Creatures Animal Clinic The clinic has been serving people and their pets with compassion and expert medical care since Dr. William Latter opened the practice in 1988. Staff become friends for life, with the clinic offering preventive care, therapy, diagnostic services, general health, hospitality services and more.

1019 W. Pipkin Rd. AllCreaturesFL.com

3rd Place SPCA Florida

THE LAKELANDER

2nd Place Cleveland Heights Animal Hospital

93 93

Located at:

The Strand Salon 2537 S. Florida Ave. Lakeland, FL 33803

m 863.604.7776 Q @carriejarahair

Carrie Jara Hair PROFESSIONAL STYLIST

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COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL/NATURAL GAS | LP/APPLIANCES-PIPING-REPAIRS

Edgewood Office 2140 E. Edgewood Dr. Lakeland, FL 33803 and Area Loca kel ti La

s on

Lakeland Hills Office

Al l

863-669-1212

1920 Lakeland Hills Blvd.

Lakeland, FL 33805

863-683-4661 Winter Haven Office 550 Pope Avenue, Suite 100 Winter Haven, FL 33881

863-293-2144 pediatricassociates.com

863.224.2354 INFO@ALTERNATIVEGASCONSTRUCTION.COM PO BOX 9461 WINTER HAVEN, FL 33883-9461

NO MATTER WHERE LIFE TAKES YOU, WE’LL BE THERE.

863.223.3164 twomenlakeland.com

Each franchise is independently owned and operated. | U.S. DOT No. 1654865 | FL IM 1517 | MC 608908

Vegan + Nontoxic gels & polishes · Sculpted gel · Gel-X paintnailbar.com 863.777.2947 1486 Town Center Drive Lakeland, FL 33803

Since 1972 We’ve treated them like family.

Marshall Jewelers New Location!

2058 E Edgewood Dr | Lakeland, Fl 33803

863.682.4725

• Comprehensive Medical Services • Professionsal Grooming & Stying • Comfortable & Spacious Lodging • AAHA Accredited 3710 Cleveland Heights Boulevard 863.646.2995 pethospital.com

marshalljewelerslakeland.com

HISTORY L A K E L A N D E RG S ’I VCI H NO GI C ATE NAD A ST W GEA I F|RTID ISN SSG UIESI SS9U S2 U E E9 59 4

ISSUE 95

1953 Queen of the Santa Claus Bowl Miss America Neva Jane Langley poses with the newly crowned Queen of the Santa Claus Bowl. The Santa Claus Bowl was an annual event held in Lakeland 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. The program includes rosters of the four teams participating, descriptions of local attractions and the host city of Lakeland, a schedule of events, rules governing the games, the names of officers of the National Boys Football Foundation, and a list of trophies to be awarded.

THE LAKELANDER

Courtesy of Lakeland Public Library

98 98

75 years of

EXPERIENCED MINDS handling

COMPLEX MATTERS Since 1948, Peterson & Myers has provided experienced legal advice to help our clients’ innovative ideas become a reality.

We believe each client deserves attorneys who create learned, practical, individualized solutions in a constantly changing and complex environment. Please call us or visit our website today for more information about our time-tested legal experience.

PETERSONMYERS.COM • 863.683.6511 • LAKELAND | WINTER HAVEN | LAKE WALES

Your Home for Quality

Healthcare

Watson Clinic is proud to be recognized as a Patient Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, one of the nation’s top patient advocacy groups. These recognitions were granted to the following six Watson Clinic Primary Care and Pediatric locations: • Main

• North Pediatrics

• South

• Bartow Family Medicine

• Highlands

• Plant City

This achievement highlights our commitment to putting the patient at the forefront of all we do.

When you’re committed to your patients, it shows.

Serving the Healthcare Needs of Central Florida Since 1941 863-680-7000 | WatsonClinic.com | Lakelander-Back-Cover #94 MadePCMH-NL.indd 1

10/24/23 1:38 PM