The Lakelander | July - August 2014

JULY - AUGUST 2014

USONIAN DREAM / SUMMERTIME STYLE / ALICE IN DIXIELAND MAYOR HOWARD WIGGS / SUMMER BARBECUE / LET’S PLAY

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THE LAKELANDER

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THE LAKELANDER

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

JULY - AUGUST 2014

DEPARTMENTS JULY - AUGUST 2014

18 NOTE FROM THE EDITORS 20 EDITORIAL BIOS 24 EDUCATION 112 EVENTS 114 HISTORY Dixieland Dairy Queen

ON THE COVER

Usonian Dream / Summertime Style / alice in DixielanD mayor Howard wiggS / sUmmer BBQ / let’S Play

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Home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, Florida Southern College recently completed construction on one of Wright’s 19 Usonian House designs. Though the Usonian House is currently a museum, it was originally designed as a residence for faculty. For this issue of The Lakelander, Florida Southern College graciously allowed our experts to stage the home as it may look should it be used for its original purpose.

Photography by Philip and Jessica Pietri. See more on page 38.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES TASTE

SHELTER

26 SUMMER BARBECUE

38 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S USONIAN DREAM

Without definitive objectivity, all you have is subjectivity

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As interpreted by Dr. Anne Kerr and The Lakelander

CULTURE 52 LET’S PLAY

Explorations V Children’s Museum disguises learning with a lot of fun

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PEOPLE 60 AN INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR HOWARD WIGGS

Leading in a time of change, challenge, and opportunity

STYLE 68 SUMMERTIME STYLE Five summer wardrobe staples for women and men

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PHILANTHROPY 82 THE ALICE O’REILLY STORY

How a Lakeland girl learned that true self-worth comes from giving back

90 CHANGE WON’T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU

How the United Way is engaging a community to better itself

FEATURE 98 ALICE IN DIXIELAND It’s good to be here

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THE LAKELANDER

Michael Clanton, Vice President & Commercial Lender and his wife Katie, are both natives of Bartow and live in Lakeland where they raise their family. Michael and his family attend Christ Community Presbyterian Church.  CenterState Bank employees are committed to the communities they serve and live in.

PUBLISHER Curt Patterson ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Jason Jacobs, Brandon Patterson Advertising ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Curt Patterson; 863.409.2449 ADVERTISING SALES Jason Jacobs; 863.606.8785 ADVERTISING SALES Brandon Patterson; 863.409.2447

Editorial EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Alice V. Koehler EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Tina Sargeant CULTURE EDITOR Elyse Justice MEN’S STYLE EDITOR Abdiel Gonzalez PEOPLE EDITOR Adam Spafford PHILANTHROPY EDITOR

Tara Campbell SHELTER EDITOR Rachel Plating TASTE EDITOR Logan Crumpton WOMEN’S STYLE EDITOR Courtney Philpot COPY EDITOR Laura Burke OFFICE MANAGER Deb Patterson ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Beatriz Salazar-Ruiz INTERNS Maggie Ross, Naomi Suchy

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

Contact Patterson Jacobs Publishing, P.O. Box 41, Lakeland, FL 33802 863.701.2707 www.thelakelander.com Customer Service: 863.701.2707 Subscription Help: jason@pattersonpublishing.com “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

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EDITORIAL

NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

A

Alice V. Koehler

Tina Sargeant

h, summer! Families gather, crickets chirp, lakeside barbecues abound, and the hustle and bustle of the school year eases as we relax into a new season. It’s the time of year when sunset hesitates and twilight lingers, giving us room to let the kids stay up a little later, to make celebrations last a little longer.

As May turned to June, and spring turned to summer, The Lakelander, too, entered a new season. We now stand, humbled and honored, to be entrusted with caring for and developing the vision of artful storytelling that has defined this publication since day one. We honor seasons past and celebrate the talent that brought this great magazine to life and the leadership that nurtured it.

It is undoubtedly an exciting and enlightening transition to embrace the new roles of co-editors. What a rewarding venture! To participate in the unfolding of the creative process for the many brilliant individuals who are our editors, photographers, designers, and assistants, to unite their words and images into one cohesive message and give Lakeland the gift of itself on these pages is a challenging delight.

Already, we see Lakeland with wider eyes. Our collection of stories, our incredibly talented, generous, tenacious people — our local flavor seems suddenly ubiquitous! In this issue, we celebrate summer, this new season, and this community that, together, provide for endless opportunities to enjoy our city. In these pages, we hope you discover something new and get inspired to savor your Lakeland.

We invite you to celebrate summer with us!

Warmly, Alice and Tina

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EDITORIAL BIOS

TARA CAMPBELL

PHILANTHROPY EDITOR Tara Campbell is a long-time Lakelander with a passion for serving others. A graduate of Florida Southern College, she is currently the team and outreach director for Access Church. In the past she has worked as the teen development director for the YMCA of Central Florida, the outreach teacher at the Polk Museum of Art, and a classroom leader at Parker Street Ministries. Believing firmly that only boring people get bored, Tara spends her free time mentoring middle-school girls in the Parker Street Neighborhood, teaching art lessons, and serving the community through several civic organizations, as well as enjoying all of the friends and culture that Lakeland has to offer.

LOGAN CRUMPTON TASTE EDITOR Logan Crumpton has been employed with the United States Postal Service for the last twelve years. Although he has lived nearly his entire life in the Lakeland area, he seeks out a world of food culture with the mindset of sharing it on a local level. Like many who have developed a love of food, he honed his skills in his grandmother’s kitchen, learning traditional Cuban and Italian classics. Pursuing more of a life in food has afforded him the opportunity of co-creating the food blog Eataduck, guest writing for online publications, as well as trying his hand as a caterer and private chef.

ABDIEL GONZALEZ MEN’S STYLE EDITOR

From a young age, Abdiel Gonzalez was inspired by design and art, and influenced by the colorful culture of his native Hawaii. After moving to Florida in his teens, Abdiel formed an award-winning dance company, No Confusion, received national recognition for his work, and had the opportunity to work with seven national recording artists. His love of fashion developed while earning a bachelor’s in business administration at Florida Southern College. Since then, he has managed multimillion-dollar retail establishments, designed stage costumes, and styled high-profile photo shoots. Currently, Abdiel runs Style Instinct by Abdiel, a styling and image consulting business. As a long-time Lakeland resident, Abdiel gives back by volunteering his talent to local production companies and teaches weekly dance classes at studios here in Lakeland.

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EAT BETTER, SMILE MORE, AND LIVE LONGER!

My mouth was in serious trouble. I had four teeth left in the top of my mouth and two of them were loose and about to fall out. Additionally, I had little to no bone left in the top because I had been without teeth for so long. My bottom teeth and gums were seriously deteriorating. I am a College Professor, Public Speaker, and a Leadership Development Expert. However, I was extremely self conscious because I teach my students the importance of the four first impression skills that people use to make decisions about you in less than 90 seconds. They are your handshake, your smile, your visual delivery, and what you say and how you say it when you open your mouth. My professional ambitions were being hindered by the condition of my mouth.

Now for the first time in years, since I’ve had all my teeth removed and my dental implants placed I don’t have to be selective with what I eat now. I can make healthier choices. The ease and comfort to chew what I want, when I want, has really empowered me to take control of my health. When people see me now, they are utterly amazed at how I look! My new smile has changed my whole outlook and I am not afraid to smile now. I am truly blessed and want people that read this to know and understand how caring the people are that work for Dr. Nerestant at Midtown Dental. My experience with Dr.Nerestant and Midtown Dental has really been phenomenal.

Like many, I often associate a degree of anxiety and fear with going to the dentist. However, from the moment I walked into Midtown Dental, there was an atmosphere of “We are family.” By the time I walked from the door to the receptionist desk, all anxiety was gone. I now feel like I’m a part of the Midtown Family.

What was really amazing to me was that even the young woman brought in to handle my IV sedation had the same attitude of the rest of the staff. To me, that says that Dr.Nerestant goes out of his way to ensure that everything and everyone connected with Midtown Dental portrays this attitude of caring and family.

My experience has been phenomenal. They can do it all. From the everyday cleaning, to full mouth dental implants while you sleep peacefully. I encourage people to not be like me. Be sure to take care of your oral health. It is so important to your overall health. I would recommend Midtown Dental hands down. I am extremely grateful to Dr.Nerestant and Midtown Dental.

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EDITORIAL BIOS COURTNEY PHILPOT

WOMEN’S STYLE EDITOR For as long as she can remember, Courtney has been doodling girls in dresses on any available paper, pad, or napkin. Born and raised in Lakeland, she attended FSU, where she received a degree in sociology and then earned a degree in fashion design and marketing from the Academy of Design in Tampa. After many years helping friends and family prepare for big events, she decided to turn her knack for fashion into a business. She created Style by Courtney, where she works as a stylist for personal clients, groups, photo shoots, and runway shows.

Eventually, she wants to design her own prints to be used in her own apparel line. Until then, she plans on spending time with her husband, Bryce, and daughter, Sydney, while sharing her fashion philosophy that “You don’t need a million bucks to look like a million bucks” with her clients and readers.

ADAM SPAFFORD RACHEL PLATING SHELTER EDITOR

Rachel Plating is a Florida girl through and through. Growing up she split her weekends fishing in the many lakes of Central Florida and playing bluegrass with her family on the lawn of her grandparents’ house in Eustis. When the time came to go to college, Florida Southern swept her off her feet with its ancient oaks draped in Spanish moss and the sleepy brick roads leading to and from the lakes around town. She and her husband met at FSC, and though called away from Lakeland for a time, they just couldn’t stay away forever. Three years later saw them moving back to this special town and making a home to raise their children among the community they love so much. When she’s not writing for The Lakelander, you can usually find her spending time with her family, making delicious meals, having art time with her kids, and playing music at church. When she is writing for The Lakelander, she can usually be found at Mitchell’s.

ELYSE JUSTICE

CULTURE EDITOR Elyse Justice loves old stuff. She studied historic preservation and art history at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, before receiving her master’s degree in the history of decorative arts from the Bard Graduate Center in New York City. She relocated to Lakeland in 2011 and works as Pinewood Estate coordinator at Bok Tower Gardens in nearby Lake Wales. She also teaches art history courses at Florida Southern College. Besides working amidst old stuff in an old house and teaching college kids about old stuff, she loves prowling through antique stores and visiting some of the best places Old Florida has to offer.

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PEOPLE EDITOR

Adam Spafford came to Lakeland in 1999 to attend Florida Southern College and, except for a twenty-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.

COREWEALTHADVISORSINC.COM

EDUCATION

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR THE SUMMER Avoiding summer brain drain

by Pamela P. Craven, Ph.D., Executive Director, Learning Resource Center

These five words bring expectant visions of everlasting FUN. However, it’s the second line of the 1970s’ song that gives educators concern. “School’s out forever.” From over 100 years of research and a few years of recent brain study, this is known: learning should never cease. So, while come May there is a deluge of warnings about summer brain drain, the facts are clear: every child does not regress — if activities, camps, classes, trips, volunteer and work experiences fill those school vacation days.

And, in reality, the child’s brain does not lose neurocognitive muscle, just flexibility, specificity, and agility.

Without opportunities for mental stimulation, social interaction, and communicative engagement during the summer months, though, here’s what we do know can happen during the summer break: • Children can lose two to three months of math and reading skills, with greater losses among lower-income children (National Summer Learning Association). Math is usually the biggest loser — there are few unintentional opportunities to do calculations, while picking up a book to read is more accessible.

• These losses are cumulative, summer after summer (RAND Corporation).

• Two-thirds of the achievement gap between lower-and higher income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities ( Johns Hopkins University).

So, what is a parent to do? First, the Lakeland community’s calendar is bursting with possibilities, and here are a few suggestions: For the child who is struggling or needs academic help to be successful, Polk School District is offering free summer programs with transportation (see polk-fl.net). Supplemental Education Organizations like Learning Resource Center, Sylvan, and Huntington offer tutoring or small group classes.

For the child who is on grade level and would benefit from academic enrichment or enhancement, activities can be found at community-based programs (Boys and Girls Clubs, Polk State College, Polk Museum of Art, Explorations V, and Camp Fire USA). For additional options, go to The Ledger’s website (theledger.com).

And, parents can attack the “summer slide” and help to

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prepare their kids for the new school year at home, too. Here are a few recommendations: Encourage reading, both shared and independent. Request a book list from your child’s school or classroom teacher. Local bookstores will also have lists of recommended and popular books. Often class reading is mandated; allow choices among subject, genre, length, and variety. Promote reading at least 30 minutes every day, and model by example.

Visit the library. The public library has much more to offer than just books to enjoy; computers, music, storytelling, and book studies are available throughout the summer.

Talk to your child. During the school year, communication tends to be directional: “Do your homework; get in the car; go to bed.” Engage in conversations where you spend time getting to know what your child knows, likes, believes, or dreams. Share stories about family history or personal experiences. Listen to both questions and answers.

Write postcards or notes. Writing skills, more than even math or reading, suffer during long breaks from school instruction.

Write to relatives, friends on vacation, or to immediate family members (these won’t need a stamp).

Explore a museum. The Central Florida area is a treasure trove of fascinating family-oriented museums, including Polk History Museum, MOSI (Tampa), Wonderworks Museum (Orlando), the Orlando Science Center, and the two fine Lakeland museums already mentioned.

Plan a trip — real or imaginative. The journey could be as close as a local lake for fishing, as informative and healthful as a bicycle ride along one the trails, or as distant as a faraway exotic land.

Designate a Family Dinner Night. With adult supervision, children can plan a menu, prep the ingredients, and help cook the meal.

And, of course, play, play, play with your child — no matter what age. Whether it’s outdoor sports or indoor board games, the neurons will spark and positive relationships will strengthen.

Yes, summer can be a great break from the 180 days of rigorous schedules and structured curriculum, but it does not have to be (and should not be) a break from learning.

TASTE

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Without definitive objectivity, all you have is subjectivity

story by Logan Crumpton photography by Jason Stephens

THE LAKELANDER

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I am a self-professed lover of food, a gourmand, a bon vivant, to be precise. I seek out tasty food as if it were sport. When it comes to good-tasting food, I am an expert. This is not a seasonal addiction; it is a year-round pageant of which I strut my stuff for all to admire. In the fall, as the days grow shorter, I slave over risotto laced with roasted mushrooms. In the winter, I yearn for the comfort of a buttery baked pie to fatten me up. In spring, I look to crack into freshly harvested stone-crab claws. And, in summer, nothing beats barbecue — during midyear weekend afternoons, you can smell it in the air. I can even smell the scent of sweet smoke that has soaked into my clothes as I type.

Good barbecue usually requires two things: meat and people. Southerners, who spend much of their time outdoors, have graciously accepted the role as pioneers and innovators when it comes to cooking meat on an open fire. The past dictates that when school is out and summer is in, families and friends plan reunions and get-togethers centered around cooking outdoors.

My first memories of having a sticky, barbecue-sauce– covered pig rib in one hand while holding tight to a buttery corn cob in the other coincide with childhood memories of running through fields chasing after long-lost family members at my first family reunion.

Summer barbecues, to me especially, have been a long-running symbol of community, of family, and of mouth-watering, belly-filling food.

Several schools of barbecue thought debate the meaning of true barbecue. Is it a technique? A taste?

A sauce? Is it a particular series of steps to achieve the perfect texture? Most die-hard meat smokers define true barbecue as a region-specific art of slowly cooking meat under indirect low heat in pits using either wood or charcoal. Others, including me, have adopted a liberal interpretation on the matter. Meat doesn’t have to be smoked for the better part of a day to achieve an acceptable flavor profile. Actually, good barbecue doesn’t even require meat in some instances (albeit very, very rare instances). As long as you have a good deal of smoke imparted throughout, a moist interior with a contrasting exterior crust, you’ve got yourself barbecue no matter how long it takes and no matter what precise end flavor is developed.

In the great barbecue debate, one statement reigns true: once you cultivate an appreciation for the craft of good barbecue, however it’s displayed, you’re hooked.

The Lakelander’s staff has varying opinions as to their individual barbecue favorites just within our city limits.

While one place has stellar ribs, they might be lacking when it comes to brisket. Another restaurant might make the very best smoked chicken but completely drop the ball with the sauce or side items. No one ever agrees entirely, proving that great barbecue can be had virtually everywhere. According to the unofficial Poet Laureate David Lowery, “Now the world don’t move to the beat of just one drum. What might be right for you may not be right for some.” When it comes to barbecue, truer words have not been spoken.

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According to the unofficial Poet Laureate David Lowery, “Now the world don’t move to the beat of just one drum. What might be right for you may not be right for some.” When it comes to barbecue, truer words have not been spoken.

THE LAKELANDER

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left to right: Whiskey Bent’s Jared Hatcher, Adam Norman, and Chad Ward

While the South, including Florida, is certainly known for its love of good Southern food, many other regions are far more famous for their styles of smoked-meat cookery. Memphis, Austin, the Carolinas, and Kansas City reign as masters of the art of barbecue.

Until recently, Central Florida — including Lakeland — has been overlooked as a potential barbecue Valhalla. However, Florida’s barbecue reputation is on the rise. According to Trip Advisor, Florida is ranked as seventh on the list of Top 10 U.S. states for barbecue.

In fact, Florida is home to three of the best barbecue restaurants in the entire country: Captain’s Barbecue in Palm Coast, Poppa’s Barbecue in Clearwater, and Madd Jack’s Grillin’ Shack in Cape Canaveral. The fact that these amazing places exist so close to home makes me want to jump in my car and drive to one of those heralded smoke shacks. Closer to home, Lakeland proper is now host to a nationally recognized barbecue competition, the Lakeland Pig Fest, which attracts tens of thousands of

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die-hard barbecue fans from across the country. Additionally, a growing number of award-winning pit masters now call Lakeland home.

No matter what style you fancy, the finished product of true barbecue should bring forth rich depth, a ring of smoky flavor, and an immeasurable amount of moistness. The amount of time required to achieve these results, however, isn’t a luxury many of us have. So, we make a quarterturn in a different direction: grilling.

A functional grill can be a valuable asset if used properly. It can be used to mimic the key components that make barbecue so special. A good grill can be heated quickly, attain a high temperature, and reduce cooking times to just a few minutes for certain proteins. We love to see grill marks on a good cut of meat; they are, without question, aesthetically pleasing.

But, why are they pleasing to the palate?

Because those lines and that charred color equal flavor. Don’t be fooled by perfect uniformity, though. Sure, it looks pretty; but seemingly ugly, uneven marks

can produce a more consistent and even charred-flavor crust. With barbecue, as in life, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Substance always trumps style.

I am admittedly not an expert on grilling out, barbecuing, or meat-smoking, for that matter. I am however, hovering roughly at a savant-level expert at eating all that is good and smoky. Thankfully, for all of the amateur home cooks and general barbecue enthusiasts in Lakeland, Whiskey Bent BBQ Supply is here to guide us through the process. Whiskey Bent has received countless accolades and trophies for their work in the world of barbecue.

What started out as a hobby has recently morphed into a full-fledged Lakeland storefront. Within the walls of Whiskey Bent, you will find everything you need for all your barbecue requirements, including hand-forged cookers that are produced right here in our own city limits.

The following are some of Whiskey Bent’s ideas on how to tastefully mesh the art of barbecue with the ease of grilling for an ultimate outdoor get-together.

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TURKEY WINGS Generously inject 3 pounds turkey wings (approximately 8 wings) with a syringe of Butcher BBQ Bird Booster Herb Solution. Follow directions on the package to create the liquid for the injection. Make sure to place the syringe under the skin, deep into the muscle, and close to the bone until no further liquid can be retained. The wings should increase in volume at least 25 percent and retain much of their moisture even after cooking. If you think about the science of it, injections make sense, as you’re adding liquid into proteins. Muscle starts off being about 75 percent water in the first place. However, you lose much of that through processing. This

way, you’re trying to get back a better consistency while at the same time adding a concentration of flavors for a better final product.

Let sit for 1-2 hours refrigerated and rub with Oakridge Secret Weapon Chicken Rub. Place in an aluminum pan with 1/2 stick unsalted butter. Smoke at 250 degrees for at least 1 hour, then flip wings over and cook for another hour or until the turkey reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove from pan and place on direct heat at about 350-450 degrees for 5 minutes on each side until the skin is crispy.

BEEF SHORT RIBS WITH DR. PEPPER BARBECUE SAUCE Place three pounds of bone-in (optional, but preferable) beef short ribs in a high-lidded aluminum pan. Insert a syringe of Butcher Beef Injection into short ribs. Follow directions on package to ensure proper ratios per pound. Let marinate for 1-3 hours, refrigerated and covered. Pat dry, then rub with Texas Beef seasoning mixture. Smoke at 250 degrees for 2 hours. Flip over and add Hot Wauchula’s Grilling Sauce about 1/4 way up on the ribs. Smoke at 250 degrees for another 4-5 hours until tender. Use au jus to cover meat until just before serving. Then, remove from juice and slather with a generous amount of Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce. Place on a hot grill to form a final finishing glaze.

Dr. Pepper Sauce 16 oz Dr Pepper 1/2 sweet onion, finely diced 3 garlic cloves, minced 8 oz tomato sauce 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup white vinegar 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp coriander 3/4 tsp ground white pepper 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp chili powder 1 Tbsp grape seed oil Pour Dr Pepper into a medium-sized saucepan over mediumhigh heat and let reduce by at least half. This will take a good amount of time, possibly 30 minutes or so. In a separate sauté pan on low-med temperature, heat oil. Cook onions and garlic until softened, about 20 minutes. Once the soda has reduced, place the onion-garlic mélange into the liquid along with all other ingredients. Simmer for at least 1 hour or until the sauce has reached your preferred thickness. Remove from heat and let cool; then transfer to a glass storage canister and place in refrigerator for future use.

SKIRT STEAK WITH GRILLED GREEN ONIONS, EGGPLANT, & NUTA BARBECUE SAUCE Marinate 1-1/2 to 2 pounds of skirt steak with 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce for 1 hour. Pat dry, then rub with Texas Beef seasoning blend. Grill on direct heat at 400 degrees for 2 minutes per side; then remove and let rest for 7-10 minutes. In the meantime, place 1 bunch of green onions that have been cleaned and trimmed, along with 2 small eggplants that have been sliced into 1/4-inch-thick planks onto grill over direct heat for about 3 minutes per side. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper before turning. Serve with nuta barbecue sauce on the side.

Nuta is a traditional side dish with a fish and green-onion base, miso and mustard pushing the flavors forward. It’s as classic as they come, originating in Japan somewhere around the 17th century. To create a rightly distinctive barbecue sauce that’s sweet, salty, and sour, and that also pairs flawlessly with grilled beef, we removed

the main components and centered the attention on the sauce itself which is technically called a “sumiso.”

Nuta Barbecue Sauce 4 Tbsp miso paste 2 Tbsp Chinese mustard 2 Tbsp ponzu sauce 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar 1/2 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp sesame oil Combine all ingredients in a sealable container. Stir vigorously until sugar has dissolved. Reserve an optional 3 Tbsp for smoked fish dip.

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SMOKED FISH SPREAD, NUTA STYLE (2) 1/2-pound yellowtail snapper filets 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 cup daikon radish, small dice 1/4 cup English cucumber, peeled then small dice 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced 1/2 jalapeño, seeded and minced 3 Tbsp nuta sauce (see recipe for nuta barbecue sauce) 2 Tbsp mayonnaise 1 tsp sesame seeds 1/2 tsp togarashi (or crushed red pepper), plus more for garnish Leave on the skin and generously rub Wicked Que Tangerine Pepper Seasoning Blend Rub onto the fish. Smoke skin-side down at 250 degrees for 15-20 minutes until flaky. Set aside and let cool (about 15 minutes) until it’s cool enough to handle. Remove skin and check for pin bones before gently flaking into small pieces.

See our recipes for delicious barbecue side dishes on thelakelander.com.

In a deep serving bowl, incorporate smoked fish with the garlic, radish, cucumber, onion, and jalapeño.

Gently stir in nuta sauce, mayonnaise, sesame seeds, and togarashi. Sprinkle additional togarashi over the top. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Serve with crackers as a supplemental addition. ***** While meat reigns sovereign in the barbecue world, the sides serve as an accompaniment to the main event and usually make up more than 50 percent of the plate. Poorly prepared sides can distract from deliciously barbecued meat. Conversely, good sides can make the meat taste better.

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WHAT DIFFERENTIATES BARBECUE REGIONS AND STYLES?

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST

California barbecue differentiates itself from other regions by way of cooking method. Due to the heavy winds on the California coast, this method combines coals from local oak with an open flame on the meat as opposed to the indirect smoke that most cookers in other regions use. The focus is on beef, explicitly that of tri-tip (the triangular portion of the bottom sirloin cut), which is generously rolled in salt, pepper, and garlic powder before the meat is placed directly on the grill. California barbecue doesn’t usually include a sauce; however, beans, salsa, and toasted French bread usually accompany a proper serving of tri-tip.

AUSTIN & TEXAS

In Texas, and most states toward the West, beef dominates barbecue menus, with brisket being the top rank. Typically, the meat is minimally seasoned and focuses on the quality of the meat itself. It’s often served on butcher paper alongside thick slabs of white bread.

You’ll also find a plethora of smoked sausages, a nod to the Europeans who settled in Texas and the Midwest during the late 19th century, bringing with them the art of encased meats.

MEMPHIS

Predominantly focused on the pig, mainly the ribs and shoulder. Look for a dry-rub technique with sauce either omitted from the presentation or served adjacent. Cole slaw is usually served alongside as a possible sandwich topping, since it cuts the richness of the fatty smoked pork.

ST LOUIS

St. Louis barbecue was made famous when the USDA formulaically created a butchery technique inspired by the city’s method of cutting pork spareribs into a perfect rectangle.

But, to think that is all that makes St. Louis special would be foolish. Truth be told, the city’s barbecue pros are using the whole hog more so than any others, including cheeks, ears, and even snoots drenched in sauce. St. Louis also bridges the gap between barbecue and grilling by rapidly smoking thinly sliced pork shoulder on high heat, creating a dish called “pork steak.”

WESTERN KENTUCKY KANSAS CITY

While there’s no particular protein preference when it comes to Kansas City barbecue, a dry rub is almost always utilized. A sweet and sticky, tomato-based, molasses-flavored sauce creates a rich glaze around the meat. Burnt ends are increasingly becoming a staple among the city’s smoke joints.

Western Kentucky barbecue is just plain weird.

You won’t find pork or beef on a Kentucky barbecue menu; instead, you’ll find mutton (old lamb). Moreover, western Kentuckians are ultra-precise on how the mutton is prepared (slowly smoked) and served (with a Worcestershire-based dipping sauce, potato salad, rings of raw white onion, and a slab of white bread). While the reason western Kentuckians started smoking mutton out of necessity, the ritual has remained and is slowly spreading across the country; lamb is popping up sporadically on menus across the States.

NORTH CAROLINA

The east and west sides of the state are vehemently divided when it comes to classifying barbecue from their state. If the North Carolina barbecue socialites had their way, they would prefer succession from each other. The westside style, referred to as Lexington barbecue, uses only the pork shoulder as its “canvas” and a tomato-based sauce as the “paint.”

SOUTH CAROLINA

One thing both Carolinas can agree upon is their unabashed love of all things pork.

Whether it be pulled, chopped, or left whole, a pig is the unequivocal subject of desire. While there are a few subregions inside of South Carolina that stray from normalcy, Carolina Gold (a mustard-based barbecue sauce) is characterized as the main source of salivation and salutations when slathering is involved.

FLORIDA

While Florida barbecue is still evolving and hasn’t yet developed a pinpoint identity, Floridians have a certain cache for combining many different cultures and styles with locally available ingredients to create something unique. Barbecue in Florida borrows a little something from each of the Southeastern states, with its emphasis on pork products. In recent years, Caribbean cooking and soul food have had great influence on menus and picnic tables across the state. Such influences include tropical fruits and spices married into sauces and rubs, as well as finding unique cuts of meat and side dishes only your great-grandmother knows how to make.

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SHELTER

Frank Lloyd Wright’s

Usonian Dream As interpreted by Dr. Anne Kerr and The Lakelander

story written and styled by Rachel Plating photography by Philip and Jessica Pietri

W

e’ve all heard about it: Florida Southern College is the largest single site of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the world. To some, that may mean nothing. But, to the thousands of tourists and architectural aficionados who visit Florida Southern’s campus each year, this place holds special meaning. Frank Lloyd Wright was among the world’s most famous and successful architects working in the 20th century. Some of his influential works include the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Fallingwater (a private residence in rural Pennsylvania), Taliesin (his private residence and place of work), and of course, Lakeland’s very own campus collection at Florida Southern College. Amazingly prolific, his professional life spanned more than 70 years.

Dr. Anne Kerr, current president of Florida Southern College, sat down with The Lakelander to share a bit of the history of FSC’s landmark campus and her unique role as not only chief administrator of a small liberal arts college, but also curator of a very important part of America’s architectural legacy.

The Lakelander: Dr. Kerr, when you first visited Florida Southern College as an applicant for the position of college president in 2003, were you aware that so much of the campus was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright?

Were you familiar with his work at the time?

Anne Kerr: When I was an applicant for the presidency, I was keenly aware that Florida Southern had the most important collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.

I had visited the campus previously and was amazed at the wondrous architecture that was used daily for the operations of the College to support the “living-learning” environment.

Although I, of course, knew of Frank Lloyd Wright’s fame as the greatest American architect, I did not know his biography in detail. I also was unaware at the time of what attracted him to design the campus. It took many years for me to fully study Frank Lloyd Wright, both the man and his work, to develop the profound appreciation I have for him and our campus. It has been a marvelous

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educational experience, and I am blessed to have the opportunity to study Wright’s genius and have these extraordinary examples to enjoy every day.

TL: What was the experience like for you and your husband, walking the esplanades and touring those buildings for the first time?

AK: [My husband] Roy and I were filled with a sense of wonder as we walked under the esplanades following my selection for the position. Roy has always loved art, so he was enthralled with the walkway coverings and was eager to learn how the cantilever system worked to support them. Someone told us that first day how the esplanade bases were fashioned to resemble the trunks of orange trees, so we were intrigued by not only their beauty, but also the symbolism of the architectural marvel. I think we experienced some of what Mr. Wright intended in that we were “sheltered” in this wonderful learning community. Certainly that first stroll under the esplanades added to the

wonder of joining this special community, and it is one of our most precious memories.

TL: As you settled into your new role as college president, you took on an additional role, that of curator of the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the world. What state were the buildings in when you found them? When did you discover the unfinished plans for the campus?

AK: Upon my arrival, I began to study the current state of the Wright architecture, knowing that our structures would be like those around the world, all needing attention. I have always enjoyed visiting historic sites and was familiar with other major restoration projects, especially those at Williamsburg, which was near our home in Richmond. I knew that we would need to initiate a formal assessment of each of our Wright structures and hire a preservationist architectural firm to advise us on the best methods to restore and maintain our Wright buildings and structures.

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During the process to select a preservation architect, I learned so much about the condition of our structures and began to develop plans to enhance them. We were indeed fortunate that the Getty Foundation funded a full restoration plan for our campus and enabled us to hire Jeff Baker, a principal with the notable historic preservation firm, Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker. Jeff continued to teach me about the campus and was the person who showed me some of the designs for our campus that had not been built during Mr. Wright’s tenure on campus. I also had the privilege of visiting with Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer, the archivist at Taliesin West, who also showed me designs for our campus. It was a thrilling experience to see these grand designs and imagine what they would have looked like had they been built. These imaginings with Mr. Baker and Lynn Dennis, who manages our Wright programs at Florida Southern and who is our resident Wright scholar, led to the dream to construct one of our unbuilt Wright designs.

TL: What can you tell us about the relationship between Ludd Spivey and Frank Lloyd Wright?

AK: They were both visionaries and dreamers…two very strong personalities engaged in a relationship that was much like a tug-of-war. It was point/counterpoint on everything from construction materials to invoices. It’s obvious that they had an enormous respect for each other, but neither one wanted the other to have the upper hand. I would have loved to have witnessed one of their lively exchanges!

In the end, both Wright and Spivey understood they were literally building their legacies, and both overlooked the other’s idiosyncrasies and faults. They were patient with each other, and the campus could have only been built because of their close relationship.

TL: Who built the original buildings?

AK: Students provided most of the construction labor on the Annie Pfeiffer 42

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Chapel, The Seminars (three buildings), and the former E. T. Roux Library (now the Thad M. Buckner Building) under the supervision of Mr. Robert Wehr, a professor of industrial arts at the College.

Students worked on the construction three days a week and attended classes three days a week. Additional local craftsmen and workers were hired to supplement the student labor, and local subcontractors provided electrical, plumbing, roofing, and carpentry work for the buildings. Professional construction crews

replaced student labor on subsequent building projects beginning with the Administration Building in 1946. A local contractor, Mr. B. E. Fulghum, was brought in as the construction supervisor under the direction of Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice Kenneth Lockhart, who also oversaw the construction of the Industrial Arts Building (now the Ordway Arts Building).

Apprentice Nils Schweizer replaced Mr. Lockhart to oversee the construction of the Danforth Chapel and, together with his brother, Hans, the Polk County Science Building.

TL: Several sources have mentioned Frank Lloyd Wright’s status as a “green” thinker far before the concept existed in the mainstream.

What made his designs so distinctively local and “green,” for lack of a better word?

AK: Mr. Wright’s concept of “organic” architecture reflected a vision that any structure should grow out of its site like a plant. He strove to conceive designs based on the characteristics of a particular place and to use building materials from the site itself, or from nearby sources. The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel is a perfect example of

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For Frank Lloyd Wright, the Usonian House represented a new landscape in our nation

that was unique and free of historical architectural conventions.

this. The first test blocks for the Chapel were made from sand dug from the site itself.

Unfortunately, the soil on the site was found to be contaminated from the use of fertilizer over many years, and the sand was determined to be unsuitable for making strong blocks. However, the sand that was used came from a location a few hours’ drive from Lakeland, making it a regional material. On many of his other projects he attempted to use stone, wood, and lime for mortars that came from local sources, reminiscent of his “desert masonry” at Taliesin West. Interestingly, his concept of using regional materials has now been revived for sustainability reasons and is a part of the LEED certification system. So, Mr. Wright was about 60 or 70 years ahead of his time.

TL: Your first newly completed design from Frank Lloyd Wright’s original campus plan was the Water Dome presiding over the entrance to the Roux Library, and most recently, The Sharp Tourism and Education Center across the street from 46

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the library and administration buildings. Also known as the Usonian House, for whom was this home originally intended?

AK: The Usonian House was conceived as an example of what a typical faculty house could be at Florida Southern College. It was not designed for a specific individual. All we know is that Mr. Wright laid out sites for 19 houses and, based on the sketches he drew, each would have been different, or there would be several models of varying sizes. He estimated there would be an average occupancy of four people per house. We don’t know if our house would have been on the small, middle, or high end of the occupancy scale, but we believe that it would have been on the smaller end.

TL: With a design by one of the world’s most renowned architects in hand, and on a site well known and regarded by craftsmen and architects alike, Florida Southern could have chosen to work with any number of artisans from all over the world. But you chose to keep things local. Why? What was the process like working with many different crafts persons?

AK: We actually did work with artisans from around the world on the construction project. Most notably was our master stone mason, Mr. Ken Uracius, from Brookfield, Massachusetts. He is a restoration mason and vice president of Stone & Lime Imports Inc. Mr. Uracius has worked in masonry restoration and in commercial and

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industrial masonry construction for more than 30 years. He has been a student and supporter of traditional masonry building techniques for in-kind repairs and rebuilding projects. Mr. Uracius was directly involved in rediscovering the history and reproducing the manufacturing techniques for historic natural-cement materials.

He is reintroducing this traditional masonry and concrete material for use in restoration.

We also found truly masterful craftsmen in our area and were gratified that they were excited to work on this new Wright masterpiece.

We were impressed with their workmanship and are proud to feature their contributions to this project. Lakeland has attracted and nurtured artistic talent in so many areas, and we were glad that we found so many wonderfully talented individuals to work on this important project.

Among these were Tom Sharrett, who was our wood craftsman; Ron Bearer Jr., who made the nearly 5,000 pieces of stained glass for the textile blocks; and Ken Berman, who installed the glass.

TL: Can you tell us about the term “Usonian?”

AK: The word Usonian appears to have been coined in the 1860s, evolving from an earlier term, Usona, that was proposed as a more reflective identifier than America, a union of

e n j o y

y o u r

States. Mr. Wright preferred to use the adapted term Usonia, thereby making Americans, Usonians. For Frank Lloyd Wright, the Usonian (American) House represented a new landscape in our nation that was unique and free of historical architectural conventions.

TL: A couple of years ago, you had the privilege of visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and place of work, Taliesin East in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Can you give us a window into that experience? How did the trip inform your vision for Florida Southern?

AK: One of my most memorable experiences was being hosted for a dinner in Frank Lloyd Wright’s home in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Mrs. Imogene Johnson and Dr. Fisk Johnson were the hosts for the evening, and they both share a great appreciation for Mr. Wright’s work since they lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home and, of course, SC Johnson’s headquarters building was designed by Wright and is one of his iconic structures.

Having dinner in a home that had welcomed so many fascinating individuals during Wright’s life was a moving experience. I sat there and thought about the many topics of conversation that would have surfaced, the opinions of art

and history, as well as the varied perceptions of life and the world from those intellectuals whom Wright would have hosted for dinners such as the one I was attending. I think I must have been a totally boring guest that night since I was so caught up with imagining what life was like during Wright’s years in that gorgeous home.

The setting was magical, and those around me were engaged in lively conversations about such topics as archeological discoveries, foreign policy, manufacturing around the world, the power of the media, early childhood education.

The list of topics kept changing rapidly, which was truly in keeping with Wright’s enjoyment of ideas and conversation. Wright’s houses were designed to gather people together for great conversation and enjoying meals together, so we certainly followed his preferences that evening.

As I thought about that night so many times following my return to Lakeland, I wanted to share that type of experience with my friends, and then that dream expanded to share it with others who appreciate Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. Thus, after much contemplation, the dream was born to build a house similar to the Spring Green home that many could visit and enjoy. And yes, some will even have the pleasure of dining in the Usonian House.

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TL: As FSC’s campus establishes itself more and more as a destination, what is the college’s role in the community? What is your vision for the future?

AK: Florida Southern has been an integral part of the greater Lakeland community since it moved to the city in 1922. It is our goal to continue to serve the community with superb educational programs for undergraduate and graduate students, also attracting students to our community from around the world. We are proud of our reputation as a premier, private college and will continue our focus on pervasive excellence in every academic program. We also enjoy serving the community through our Festival of Fine Arts, our Center for Florida History lecture series, as well as many other programs that enrich the cultural and arts offerings for our neighbors. We have also expanded our strategic goals to include becoming one of the “top 10” cultural tourist destinations in the United States through our Frank Lloyd Wright tours and upcoming programs on the famous architect. We have many plans

for the future to attract increasing numbers of tourists and individuals who want to learn more about the fascinating life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Certainly, it is a great advantage to be located in beautiful Lakeland, Florida, with outstanding hotels and restaurants to support our goals!

SOURCES

* Editor’s note: I had the privilege of visiting with Dr. Kerr in preparation for this article, to discuss the subject matter and settle on a creative direction for the spread. As she related her experiences at Taliesin East, I was struck with the idea to style and present the Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center in its original intended use, as a home for a faculty member, rather than in its present state as a museum. Dr. Kerr graciously agreed and let us dream up a vision of the Usonian House, as lived in by a young FSC professor right now, in 2014. It was truly amazing to see (and feel) this iconic building come alive with objects, artwork, and furnishings. Many thanks to FSC for giving The Lakelander this rare opportunity. — Rachel Plating

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Original Paintings/Artwork/Photography Students and faculty of the Florida Southern Art Department Artisan Wooden Bowls Larry Plating Black and White Photography Jason Stephens Special thanks to Paul Dimbath, owner of the 1932 Chevrolet Deluxe Sport Roadster

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CULTURE

s ’ t Le

useum M ’s n ildre h fun C f o V t s o l n atio t th a Explor learning wi graphy by Tina Sargean es hoto disguis tory by Elyse Justice • p s

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“I am bored.” This time of year, these three small, deceptively simple words can drive any parents to their wits’ end. Your entertainment budget, if it exists, has been stretched to its thinnest by the magic cocktail of themepark visits, beach trips, vacations, camps, and anything else you’ve concocted to prevent those words from being uttered aloud. As the hot, humid Florida summer languishes on, so does your family’s increasing irritability. The daily afternoon deluges disrupt pool time; the mosquito bites appear to grow closer together. You could swear that just last week you saw a little bit of your child’s brain start oozing out of her ears as she watched Frozen

for the millionth time. Before erupting into a Louis C.K.-style rant about the infinite nature of the human mind, take a short trip downtown to Explorations V Children’s Museum, an organization offering an indoor, air-conditioned, and entertaining opportunity for parents and children to connect through learning.

While most museums are tied to a certain discipline or subject, Explorations V, like many children’s museums, covers many subjects within its walls. Historically, museums have been closely aligned with broad-based educational goals, tracing their roots to wealthy Renaissance scholars’ private studios

which were used for housing and studying their collections of natural history specimens, antiquities, and art. Because these often amateur scholars’ interests varied so greatly, no single word could adequately describe the spaces that they eventually showed to visitors and competed to fill with greater and grander finds. Invented to serve this purpose, the term “museum” comes from “seat of the Muses,” the nine goddesses of Greek and Roman mythology who preside over the arts and sciences, ranging from flute playing to astronomy. Children’s museums, in their varied subjects, most closely resemble these scholars’ early endeavors.

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Generally, children’s museums cover such broad ranges of subjects in order to encourage curiosity and playful learning. Careful strategizing successfully incorporates fun, excitement, and educational goals, typically within a decided pedagogical model. Museum staff members understand different types of childhood learning, from infancy to elementary school, and finetune exhibits to serve these different age levels and needs.

Additional programming provides further educational opportunities. At children’s museums, the idea is to increase common skills in mathematics, science, and the arts, or help foster creativity and critical thinking rather than educate solely on one specific subject. A more recent goal has become connecting parents and children in active ways, assisting parents in helping their children reach academic achievements.

Museums and libraries, particularly children’s museums, have received greater attention as debates about American education continue to rage and the importance of supplemental educational experiences gains increasing cultural significance. Children’s museums occupy an even greater role in discussions of summer learning loss. While summer may provide a welcome respite from the daily grind of school, programs, and activities, it often also engenders the loss of knowledge attained in the previous year. Studies show that each summer break can eliminate one to two months of a student’s academic knowledge, if not more. Typically, children whose parents engage them in informal but educational summer activities, such as music lessons and summer camps, do not suffer the same losses. Summer learning loss also plays a large role in the increasing achievement gap among children from lowincome families who can’t afford the time or finances requisite for participation in these opportunities. An incredibly complex issue without a simple resolution, summer learning loss has certainly presented children’s museums with an even greater need to offer meaningful learning experiences to a wide range of audiences.

Explorations V Children’s Museum provides Polk County parents with a supplemental educational resource in their backyard, of particular value when considering the length of the drive and cost of related institutions in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Orlando. First developed in 1989, a group of volunteer parents and professionals, under the leadership of Krista Yurchak, surveyed children’s museums and created educational outreach activities covering various subjects to gauge community support.

If you’ve begun to feel a little uncomfortable with the amount of television your children have watched this summer, or if you want to actively prevent them from losing the knowledge they gained during the school year, engage them in activities that feel more like fun and less like lesson time.

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Since opening its doors in July 1991, the museum has aimed to provide “a hands-on, fun-filled adventure in learning for children and their families.” Its name reflects the organization’s goal of engaging its visitors with all five of their senses, leading to a richer experience. Today, Explorations V is housed in Downtown Lakeland’s Kress Building. It contains three floors of exhibit spaces, with the lower floors comprised of permanent installations that stimulate activity, and temporary exhibits in the upper floor that bring new subjects to the region.

Complementing Florida Sunshine State Standards for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade classroom education, the exhibits at Explorations V offer a simple, accessible point for parents to assist in their children’s learning process. Ranging in topics from weather systems to orange-juice production, 56

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the displays showcase the history, industries, and activities that are particularly unique to this area. Because of this regional nature, the exhibits have strong potential to help parents reconnect with facts or ideas while out in the community. For example, the information found in a display about Lakeland’s swans provides good talking points for a trip to feed the ducks around Lake Morton.

Fun lessons learned while “shopping” in a child-sized Publix can be reiterated on the normally mundane, if not challenging, trip to the grocery store. “Born Learning” stations, one of the many outcomes of Explorations V’s successful relationship with the United Way, assist parents by explaining talking points for conversations that will help their children learn in a relaxed manner, as well as giving further suggestions for how to create daily learning opportunities. Pamphlets alongside each station can be taken home for

further study. Of course, the exhibits are also fun! As Georgann Carlton, the museum’s chief executive officer, says, “Children love this place. We hear ‘Wow!’ and ‘Cool!’ and laughter every day. There’s nothing like the sound of happy children — it’s contagious.”

Beyond the regional exhibits, special exhibitions give parents a chance to expand their children’s horizons to new ideas.

Currently, the museum’s second floor houses a special exhibition about Russian artist Marc Chagall. Small stations at a child’s scale display images of Chagall’s work and explain some of his ideas while providing activities to help children relate. Activities range from trying weaving skills on a miniature loom to using shapes to suggest animals in a composition. Accompanied by plentiful reading materials, adults may gain just as much knowledge about an artist who is sometimes misunderstood.

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EXPLORATIONS V CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 109 North Kentucky Avenue Lakeland, FL 33801 863.687.3869 explorationsv.com

While the museum’s exhibits certainly help foster an educational connection between parent and child, its program offerings also support different modes of learning. Daily programs target preschoolers and prepare them for school, engaging them in fun activities to enhance literacy, creativity, and skills in mathematics and science. Funded through Disney’s Helping Kids Shine grant, the After School with the Arts & Sciences program offers low-income children bus transportation to a safe environment in which to complete homework, have a healthy snack, and participate in art, science, and outdoor activities.

Explorations V hosts camps over school breaks, as well as during the summer. Daylong camps for older children center on 58

THE LAKELANDER

activities based in STEAM education.

Carlton explains, “STEAM Adventure Camp engages elementary children in Foundational Life Skills: working memory, emotional control, sustained attention, task initiation, and organization while participating in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics activities, and helps them achieve academic success through targeted tutoring.”

Another summer offering, Storybook Camp, offers school readiness and literacy programs to low-income children registered for kindergarten, primarily increasing vocabulary skills. Not to be limited to children’s programming, Explorations V has also recently begun Financial Fitness for Families classes, funded in part by the United Way, at various

locations throughout Polk County. Through this program, free tax preparation is also available from February through April.

If you’ve begun to feel a little uncomfortable with the amount of television your children have watched this summer, or if you want to actively prevent them from losing the knowledge they gained during the school year, engage them in activities that feel more like fun and less like lesson time.

Explorations V gives Lakeland’s parents, especially those feeling overwhelmed with taking on this challenge, an excellent starting point in this process. Explorations V can spark conversations and foster a learning environment for your children that will enliven them beyond the walls of school and carry them through the summer.

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PEOPLE

AN INTERVIEW WITH

Mayor Howard Wiggs LEADING IN A TIME OF CHANGE, CHALLENGE, AND OPPORTUNITY

STORY BY ADAM SPAFFORD PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUSTIN PRICKETT

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THE LAKELANDER

The Lakelander: Tell us a little about your history and why you call Lakeland home.

Howard Wiggs: I grew up in Mulberry and began working in Lakeland in 1981 managing a branch bank for Flagship Bank. I met a lifelong Lakeland girl, Linda Bagley-Wiggs. We fell in love, built our home in Lakeland in 1985, raised our family here, and continued to build our 62-year-old business, Bagley Idea Pros. We have four children. Two are in Lakeland: Braxton is an attorney with Pansler Law Firm, and Kimber works in admissions at Florida Southern College. Our son Johnny is the head baseball coach at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, and our son Chris is in Virginia.

I also fell in love with Lakeland’s people, history, and outstanding quality of life.

TL: What motivated you to run for office?

HW: I began elected leadership positions in the seventh grade when I was vice president of the Beta Club. That continued throughout my school years, including being elected to sophomore class president and to Key Club president, among others. I believed that my passion for helping improve the quality of life for the folks in our city, my commitment to finding ways and ideas that will make that happen, and my 21 years as a Lakeland city commissioner made me a viable candidate for mayor.

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“I believe we are on the threshold of moving from good to awesome.�

TL: What is your philosophy of governance?

HW: There are some critically important components to effective governance: caring about the citizens, citizen engagement, government transparency, absolute integrity by elected officials, servant leadership, support for employees, emphasis on customer service, commitment to finding the best way to lead rather than insisting on demanding our own way of doing things, admit it when you mess up, and learn from your mistakes.

TL: Many people would say that there is stark polarization and gridlock at all levels of our political system. What do you think is most needed in our political discourse?

HW: Respect for one another even when disagreeing, and recognizing who we all are working for — our citizens rather than ourselves. When we focus on our bosses, the citizens, we can put aside petty differences that divide us when we need to be coming together.

TL: How will we find common ground?

HW: When men and women with pure motives sincerely pursue doing the best for their constituents, I believe they will find more things upon which they agree than things upon which they disagree.

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THE LAKELANDER

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TL: We remain quite anodyne at The Lakelander, yet I have to ask about the issue that much of your campaign focused on — the LPD. How do we restore trust in our local law enforcement? What have we learned?

HW: We first recognize that the vast majority of our police officers are good, honest, caring, competent professionals.

If we, as leaders, can’t believe and trust in our officers, we can’t expect others to trust.

We tell our officers that words, whether they come from City Hall or from police officers, won’t change attitudes. It will take walking the talk every day. It will take being professional and dedicated, even when we’re having a bad day, and it will take time. We didn’t lose trust in a day and we won’t regain it in a day. And, it will take forgiveness from our citizens because they are the ones we’ve let down.

TL: What is your responsibility to those you govern?

HW: Honesty, integrity, transparency, selflessness, respect, pure motives, humility,

admitting when we’re wrong, learning from our mistakes, looking for the best ideas, an attitude of service, and sometimes, asking for forgiveness.

TL: What do you think citizens’ responsibilities are to each other?

HW: Many of the same things; primarily, respect and empathy.

TL: You’ve owned your own business for many years. How does Lakeland become stronger economically?

HW: Again, there are behaviors, characteristics that are universal in attracting, whether it be attracting a person or attracting businesses, and most of those mentioned [in previous responses] will be helpful. More specifically, we need to evaluate city processes and attitudes toward businesses. Businesses won’t go to or seek out areas where they aren’t appreciated.

We need to continue our emphasis on education and training. Good-paying, hightech jobs demand an educated workforce.

And, they must have folks who are trainable.

We have to do things that attract bright professionals: inclusiveness, searching for new useful ideas, adoption of cutting-edge technology, interesting community activities including a vibrant night life, arts and cultural opportunities, great restaurants, and neighborhoods, appreciation of our churches and synagogues, good schools and public/government services that are inviting and customer friendly. All of these things are either already here or are certainly possible, and they will result in a stronger economy.

TL: You’ve been quite involved in the community over the years. How do you suggest Lakelanders become more engaged?

HW: All they really need to do is look around; there are opportunities everywhere. And frankly, if they have any confusion or concern or disconnect, they can call me. I’ll be happy to help them get connected/engaged. Actually, engagement is one of the most important goals of the task forces that are in the process of being implemented.

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TL: What are your predictions for Lakeland’s future?

HW: Extremely positive. I believe we are poised on the threshold of moving from good to awesome. We are gaining concentrations of medical technology, higher education, cutting-edge logistics, and all sorts of other technology applications. We have smart, passionate citizens who love Lakeland. Working together, we will be awesome! #LoveLakeland

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THE LAKELANDER

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STYLE

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THE LAKELANDER

SUMMERTIME STYLE Five summer wardrobe staples for women and men

story by Courtney Philpot and Abdiel Gonzalez • photography by Tiffani Jones • Hair by Joshua Vasquez, Evolve Hair Studios THE LAKELANDER

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1. DENIM CUTOFFS From lace-trim to 1980s’ whitewash, you’ll find denim shorts in an abundance of styles and colors this season. While high-rise is the current rage, be conscious of your body type and what works for you before donning these dramatic, flirty cutoffs. Invest first in a standard cut, style, and color/wash that will work for a variety of occasions.

Whether your summer plans include weekends by the lake or playing at the beach, you’ll likely encounter a bathing-suit conundrum this season. The solution to this fashion puzzler may be already hanging in your closet.

For your bathing-suit and boating looks this summer, think outside the box. Think unconventional. To achieve cool, unique, waterside looks, opt for classic staples paired with trendier pieces. It’s all about the styling.

Inspired by festival-chic looks similar to that of Coachella — the annual Indio, California, spring music festival that has gained as much global recognition for its fashion influence as it has for its musical lineup — our Lakelander style team put together some looks that will take you from the desert to the docks, from the sand to the streets.

Here are a few tips to keep you in style this summer, wherever your plans may take you.

2. WHITE OR CHAMBRAY BUTTON-DOWN These easy-to-come-by, classic wardrobe staples make great swimsuit cover-ups. Grab your significant other’s white buttondown for an oversized style, or tie up a tailored denim version for a chic poolside look. For a classic summer look, pair denim cutoffs with a white button-down. To add some punch, throw on a head scarf and turn the look into boho chic.

3. KIMONO-STYLE WRAPS AND JACKETS

This festival-inspired option makes a great suit cover-up for the beach, lake, or pool. For a casual look, pair a kimono wrap with your bikini and cutoffs. Or, drape one over a maxi dress for a more resort-inspired look. There’s much to love about kimono wraps, including their versatility and staying power. They’re virtually seasonless; with the simple addition of a knit scarf, this cream kimono-style wrap (see page 73, top right photo) would easily transition into fall. The Lakelander’s style team suggests investing first in a neutral color to complement the more vibrant prints in your wardrobe.

4. SCARVES

This summer staple ranks at the top of The Lakelander’s style team’s list for its multifunctional use. Tied sarong style, it quickly becomes a swimsuit cover-up. Wrapped around the bust, a scarf transforms into a top, creating a trendsetting look when worn over a suit and denim cutoffs. Add style to any summer look by fashioning a scarf into a head wrap or a turban. Invest in two sizes: one large sarong style size for suit cover-ups, wraps, and top options, and one square style for head and neck options.

5. BOLD, GRAPHIC, FLORALS AND EXOTIC TROPICAL PRINTS

Give a little nod to the 1960s by picking up one of this summer’s hottest trends — graphic florals and tropical prints. While there are many dress and suit options to give you an instant head-totoe look, we recommend choosing separates as they offer the most opportunity to wear bold prints for a variety of occasions.

Try wearing a chambray floral crop top paired with high-rise denim shorts for a lakeside, boating look. To turn it into a dressy summer party option, pair the top with white pants or a highwaisted midi skirt and a jacket.

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White Button-Down (George for Walmart) Denim Cut-Offs (Free People) Red/Pink Color-Block Silk Head Scarf (vintage, local estate sale) Gold Ray-Ban Aviators (Nordstrom) Green Resin Bangle (Trina Turk)

THE LAKELANDER

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Tribal Monkini (Mossimo for Target) Ivory Fringe Wrap (Muche et Muchette; Hattie’s Branches) Black Oversized Sunglasses (Prada; Sunglass Hut)

Knit Shawl (Hattie’s Branches) Brown Wide-Brim Felt Hat (Hattie’s Branches)

Floral Crop Top (Mossimo for Target)

Multi-Colored Graphic Print Scarf (Mossimo for Target) Gray/White Printed Denim Shorts (Urban Outfitters) Gold Chevron Cuff (Versona) Layered Bangles (Bourbon and Bowties, Hattie’s Branches) Black Sunglasses (Target)

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FOR MEN

Blue Oxford (CPO Provisions; Urban Outfitters) Printed Cotton Shorts, (Koto; Urban Outfitters) Chambray Blazer and Striped Sweater (The Gap) Tumbleweed Trunks (Katin; Nordstrom) Sunglasses (Ray-Ban; ray-ban.com)

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1. SOLID OXFORD BUTTON-DOWN This classic wardrobe staple isn’t just for the office or evening dinner parties anymore.

In fact, the one hanging in your closet could be paired with an on-trend summer short for a classic summertime look. Or, to channel summer music-festival days, simply tie the Oxford around your waist while sporting a tank top. For long days on the lake or at the beach, wear an Oxford with tailored swim shorts so you can easily transition from daytime seashore fun to a relaxed evening at the seafood shack.

2. PRINTED SHORTS Printed shorts, from sailboats and whales to florals and stripes, are this season’s must have for every guy’s summer wardrobe. When paired with the basic tees and polos that have forced their way into your closet, printed shorts add interest to your summer style.

If the sun and sand are making you feel adventurous, try your hand at the mixed pattern trend by pairing printed shorts with a striped shirt or a bold graphic tee. Remember, to successfully pull off this trend, one pattern must be bigger than the other.

3. TAILORED SWIM SHORTS What’s old is new again! The 1970s’ West Coast surf scene has made its way to 2014.

Shorter, tailored swim shorts have become the new standard for waterside wear. As classic gentlemen’s silhouettes continue to influence everyday modern menswear, guys want to carry that polished look to the beach and give their kneecaps a little sunshine.

Three keys to pulling off a slimmer swimsuit are: a) Pick a length and fit that’s appropriate for your body type. You want to feel comfortable. (There is such a thing as too short for certain body types.) b) On your way to or from the seashore, wear your swim shorts with a lightweight button-down or a classic polo to offset the length. c) Confidence.

Anchor Shorts and Mint Oxford (The Gap) Bracelets (Urban Outfitters) Red Gym Tee (stylist’s own)

Straw Hat (Nathan’s Men’s Store) Tribal Button-Down (Mr. Nice) Trunks (Globe) Flip Flops, rainbow (Urban Outfitters)

4. TRIBAL PRINTS AND STRIPES Season after season, striped tees and tanks have helped men usher in the summer season with ease and minimal thought. Stylish men instinctively reach for the classic Ralph Lauren striped polo when getting ready for an evening under the summer sky.

While this time-honored trend of the past continues to inspire today’s men’s fashion trends, 1990s’ native prints are also making a comeback. Navajo-inspired prints are just as easy to wear as nautical stripes and will add street cred to chinos and other classic American pieces.

5. HATS, NOT CAPS As you pack your carryall for your next weekend on the beach, you can finally give your worn-out baseball cap a break. Instead, take that straw fedora you’ve been waiting to wear. Classic headgear, whether it’s a fedora, pork pie, trilby, or Panama hat, will polish your beach look and add style to your evening suit and tie. To successfully pull off this look, follow these few pointers: • Sport a wider-brimmed, more structured piece • Look for a straw hat for the summer months; transition to felt for fall • Wear your hat slightly back on your head for a more casual look or tilted a bit to one side for a stylish summer night THE LAKELANDER

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Baseball Henley (Alternative Apparel) Sunglasses (Urban Outfitters) Bandana Trunks (Original Penguin; Nordstrom)

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THE LAKELANDER

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SHELTER

Special thanks to Bob McInerney for the use of his boat during our photo shoot.

THE LAKELANDER

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PHILANTHROPY

Alice O’Reilly THE

STORY

HOW A LAKELAND GIRL LEARNED THAT TRUE SELF-WORTH COMES FROM GIVING BACK

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THE LAKELANDER

As told to Adam Spafford Photography by Tina Sargeant

The Lakelander: Many Lakelanders know you, but for those who don’t, tell us a bit of your history.

Alice O’Reilly: I have only one claim to fame — I was the first baby born in Lakeland in the year of my birth. My daddy owned a number of stores in Lakeland, specializing first in feed, then in hardware, appliances, sporting goods, and housewares. What began as feed gently moved with the times. I loved being at the store on Pine Street, visiting with the customers, learning about the merchandise, and studying for my dream career in retail.

My daddy really didn’t encourage that business pursuit for me, as he saw the long hours limiting to women. But, at 16 I secured a job at Maas Brothers downtown and loved the fashion side of retail. I was hooked. I went on to the executive training program for Allied Stores. This was a big deal since I was the first woman admitted to the program. It was me and the boys. I moved to Tampa, and my real retail career began. I stayed with Maas Brothers (Allied) until Saks Fifth Avenue offered me a job in San Francisco, and off I went. After 11 years, as my parents were aging, I came home to be part of their lives.

When I returned to Lakeland, I went to work as a buyer for Rheinauer’s in Winter Haven.

I stayed with Rheinauer’s until my volunteer job at VISTE got into my blood. It’s sad but true that I had always measured my self-worth by how much money I made, always having been paid on a bonus system. As past president of the board, I was asked to chair the search committee for replacing Betty and Bascom Carlton who were retiring from VISTE. When I made the presentation to the executive committee, they said, “Great work, but we believe you should take the job.” I was furious. The search committee had worked for months; the job didn’t pay much money; and I had a job I loved at Rheinauer’s. When I arrived home and expressed my frustration to my husband, Frank, my [exasperation] grew, as he thought it was a great idea too!

But, after talking with my daughter, I realized then [accepting the position at VISTE] was the right choice for me to make. You see, I realized that I didn’t need to measure my self-worth by how much money I made. I came on board on January 1, 1994. This December I will complete my 20th year.

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TL: What is VISTE? AO: VISTE began 31 years ago to enable the frail elderly to remain safely and independently in their own homes. Today our mission is the same. Our first program was transportation, still the mainstay today. By providing transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and other necessary places, the elderly could maintain their independence at home. As the clients have aged in place, we have grown the programs to enhance aging in place.

When I came on board, we had 32 commodity clients and a couple hundred clients needing transportation. Last year, we served 3,939 clients. We made thousands of trips, delivered nearly 1,500 monthly food food boxes and 394 bi-weekly hot meals. In addition, 175 clients received housekeeping services; 87 clients received personal-care items. VISTE offers just about anything a client needs to keep them safe in their own homes.

To be a VISTE client you must be 70 years of age or older and reside in Lakeland, Bartow, Fort Meade, or Mulberry.

All of our services are free to clients, made possible by the community’s generosity. VISTE receives funding from several sources: United Way, GiveWell Community Foundation, private foundations, cities of Lakeland and Bartow, individuals, businesses, and our own fundraisers, including VISTEBall and our letter-writing campaign. Of these contributions, 88 cents from every dollar donated directly benefits VISTE programs.

We are so appreciative of the support we receive from so many.

TL: Tell us about your tenure at VISTE. AO: During my tenure, VISTE has grown in size, not only in the number of clients served, but in the types of services offered, answering the requests of clients. Over the last 20 years, I have done just about every job possible at VISTE. I have participated in every service we provide for clients and done every task I would ask a volunteer to do. One of my favorites is delivering birthday cakes to our clients who are 90 and older. They are so pleased to share their birthday with a real person. We bring a gift bag, balloons, cake, and smiling faces. As their birthdays approach, clients will call me and say, “I’m still here!” They look forward to the event every year.

Every day is different at VISTE. The work is so rewarding and gives you the feeling of Christmas every day.

TL: What are some of your favorite accomplishments from your time at the organization?

AO: To see the growth of VISTE over the past 30 years is amazing. We have grown from a small organization that provided transportation to 30 clients into a very unusual organization serving more than 4,000 clients in a variety of ways to meet the organization’s mission.

It wasn’t until I was asked to serve on the White House Council on Aging that I realized just how unique VISTE is. When I arrived in Washington, I was among the best of the best in the industry.

What I found, though, was that these other organizations only did one thing. They didn’t provide comprehensive services. For example, a transportation organization drove huge numbers of miles every day, providing a valued and needed service to aging citizens, but that’s all they did. Another delivered hot meals, thousands daily, but that’s all they did. VISTE truly enables the frail elderly to remain safely and independently in their own homes by providing transportation, hot meals, commodities, personal-care items, birthday celebrations, and social interaction with the volunteers.

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Be a part of what’s next.

11/20/13 9:28 AM

One of my greatest prides is our Thanksgiving meal delivery. We began with just 100 meals delivered by 100 volunteers. I knew if I could get people (mostly families) to deliver a meal, they would be more willing to volunteer again for VISTE. This year, VISTE will deliver 1,350 meals with the help of 1,350 volunteers. Some of the volunteers have been coming since their children were very young; now they’re in college or older. It’s such a wonderful gift to give to our community and clients.

I’m also very proud of my board. I remember when I was on the board in the 1980s, we begged people to let us use their name. Now, community members want to be asked to serve. Our board is very proactive in all areas of VISTE. TL: What is your hope for the future of VISTE? AO: Lakeland is a very giving community. We are so fortunate to have such a well-rounded community in schools, businesses, and individuals who volunteer and donate at VISTE. We have many schools with which we partner within the four-city area.

This is important because many young children today do not have grandparents in their lives. VISTE is proud to paint a little of that picture to their development, with the hope that as they mature they will give back once again, just as they did as youngsters.

We are always building our volunteer base, so we host volunteer training once per month to encourage the community to come out and see what we do. At training, volunteers can select where they think they will fit best. I always remember one man who sat through the entire training and then said, “I don’t think I can drive those people.” I said, “Well, we have other areas. What would you like to do?” He said, “I’ll do small THE LAKELANDER

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repairs on their homes.” Wow! That was great, because a handyman is a real prize. Our clients need assistance in changing light bulbs, leaky faucets, screen repairs, et cetera. There is something for everyone to do.

TL: Would you talk about philanthropy generally (what we can/should do more of, inspiring young people to get involved, why we should do it, etc.)?

AO: Most of us grow up learning from others, and we then live by example. If your parents volunteer and are active in the community, you probably will be too, but you have to be asked. We are fortunate to live in such a giving community. I’m always amazed when I speak to groups and ask about volunteerism, how few volunteer regularly. We are so fortunate at VISTE to have many volunteers who come five days a week or three days a week to work in the warehouse or deliver hot meals.

Many others have phone pals, or clerical responsibilities at VISTE. Some volunteers drive clients to Publix or a medical appointment.

We could not do what we do without volunteers.

We partner with many schools to introduce students to volunteerism in hopes they will make it a lifestyle for the future. Many speaking engagements have an end result of volunteers, clients, or money. The best would be all three! There are many ways to donate your time and talents or your treasures. Of course, we need all types of givers. Giving is something that comes with the “ask.”

Very few donations come to us without an ask, and then it becomes our responsibility to spend those donations wisely. If we prove to be good stewards, our donors will continue to donate when asked. Currently, VISTE spends 88 cents of every dollar on program. We are very proud of that.

My soft spot is for the elderly. When I took this job, some friends were puzzled as to why I would change careers for “old people.” It’s because they need an advocate just like children do, but they aren’t as cute as children. I painted a story for my friends of their own futures, and, with time, they got it. That picture is vital. People want to help; they just need a vision of how their gift will make a difference.

I’m very proud of the fact that everyone still takes my phone calls after 20 years of asking this community for so much support. They never say no. That’s a treasure I won’t forget.

TL: What are your plans for your post-VISTE life?

AO: I’m not sure what my post-VISTE life will be like. I’ve always worked and enjoyed every job. I know my grandchildren will see more of Frank and I, and I won’t miss any events in their lives. I’m looking forward to the next chapter, whatever it is. I’m very confident that VISTE’s future is secure with the strong staff, volunteers, and supporting community.

TL: How can our readers get involved with VISTE? AO: To sign up for volunteer training, or to donate to VISTE, please visit viste.org.

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PHILANTHROPY

HOW THE UNITED WAY IS ENGAGING A COMMUNITY TO BETTER ITSELF

STORY BY TARA CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY TINA SARGEANT

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t’s hard to create lasting change. The most impactful and sustainable improvements to a community rarely come from focusing on obvious problems. Giving a meal to someone who’s hungry solves immediate hunger, but not the reason for the hunger in the first place. Providing medicine to someone who’s sick relieves the symptoms, but may not necessarily cure the ailment. Exacting true change requires commitment and dedication. If we desire growth and development, we must dive in and get our hands dirty. We must be committed to solving the root of the problem, to following the process through to completion. United Way of Central Florida is doing just that.

Historically, the United Way was an organization that helped nonprofit charities find funding for their programs. Started in Denver, Colorado, in 1887 by five concerned citizens, the United Way raised $21,700 in their first year to address their city’s welfare problems. By 1974 the United Way had raised more than $1 billion in America and Canada. More than 125 years later, United Way is still focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a difference in people’s lives (unitedway.org/ pages/history). However, the approach to difference-making has evolved from simple fundraising to purposeful and careful allocation of resources to specific community needs.

The United Way of Central Florida focuses on the areas of education, health, and income. In 2013 alone, 60,000 people in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties were connected with United Way of Central Florida programs and services that empowered them to build better lives for themselves.

Lakeland is full of organizations working hard to bring sustainable, positive change to our community: Girls, Inc.; Salvation Army; Peace River Center; Learning Resource Center; VISTE; and Alliance for Independence, for example.

These organizations, and many more, are digging into the issues facing our community and putting in tireless effort to help our community grow and evolve.

Aside from their desire to better the world around them, they all have one thing in common: they work with the United Way of Central Florida.

If you’re familiar with the investment and effort nonprofit work takes, you’re probably wondering, “How could United Way possibly reach so many people?” Sixty thousand is a massive number! The answer is actually quite simple and it makes a whole lot of sense. The United Way is in constant contact with the community around them. Working hand in hand with the people on the ground, the United Way is able to effectively and efficiently plug in resources where they are most needed.

Through teams of volunteers grouped into Community Investment and Community Impact Teams, the United

Way connects local needs to programs and services. These teams of volunteers bring myriad passions, perspectives, and skills together and help decide which programs receive funding each year. Through a strategic and well-thought-out process, they work with and monitor partner agencies and programs to ensure the United Way’s funds are used effectively for the biggest and most meaningful impact on our community.

BE BOLDER In 2013 the United Way of Central Florida raised over $9 million to give back to Polk, Hardee, and Highlands County through the Be Bold Campaign. With this money they made a substantial difference in the areas of education, health, and income. Additionally, these funds helped many people in crisis receive assistance through organizations that provide safetynet services.

The scale of the United Way’s impact is impressive. More impressive, however, is the organization’s vision to impact more lives through increased giving and accountability. Several United Way

contributors speak emphatically about the need to do more. The 2014 campaign, Be Bolder, will kick off in late August with a goal to raise $10 million.

“We have to Be Bolder to make a difference,” said Vice President of Community and Strategy for the United Way of Central Florida, Sherri Diaz.

“We raised more than expected last year, and we want to push even further, not shy away,” said Campaign Chair and Community Investment Team Volunteer, Jennifer Jonsson.

So, Lakeland, why should we care? Why should we get involved with and support the United Way? The answer is obvious: the work that the United Way does is necessary, and their ambitions for the future are grand but within reach. However, the goal is only reachable with the whole community behind it. The United Way of Central Florida needs our help to serve our families, our neighbors, our students.

EDUCATION Last year, the United Way of Central Florida helped over 25,000 children succeed in school. Children who are THE LAKELANDER

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THROUGH GIVING, ADVOCATING, AND VOLUNTEERING, YOU CAN IMPROVE LIVES, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, AND BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW. NO MATTER WHICH AVENUE YOU CHOOSE, BE BOLD. CHANGE WON’T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!

prepared for kindergarten or receive afterschool assistance are more likely to graduate high school, giving them a far greater chance of living successful adult lives.

Summer programs are particularly helpful for students, because children who aren’t involved in some type of academic enrichment over the summer can lose two to three months, and as much as half a year, of education in the three months they’re away from school.

Students who start at a disadvantage fall farther and farther behind during these months; their families often don’t know how to help them. Through organizations like the Learning Resource Center, Campfire USA, and Girls, Inc., more than 16,000 students received after-school tutoring, mentoring, or were a part of summer education camps.

Last year, over 9,000 children were involved in kindergarten readiness programs funded by the United Way of Central Florida. For every one month of participation in one of these programs, students gained an impressive five months of increased vocabulary scores. In addition to funding these programs, the United Way helps teachers receive training on better ways to work with children, identifies resources to give children the tools to build a successful future, and locates generous donors to supply books to children in need.

Through the 2014 campaign, the United Way is aiming to increase their After School Academic Assistance and Early Literacy Camps by 250 children each. This 500-student increase will cost $500,000, a small price to pay for the good it will do for our students and our community.

INCOME A holistic understanding of our community includes awareness that economic status is the number-one factor in a child’s academic success.

According to The Ledger, 94,000 people in suburban Polk County live in poverty (The Ledger, 2013). The United Way is keenly aware of the financial needs of this community. In response to these needs, over 3,000 Central Florida residents received financial training through United Way programs in 2013.

This increased financial success compounds to help more than 4,000 children find increased stability in their homes. Organizations like the Salvation Army help families in crisis get back on their feet through housing, academic assistance, and financial education programs. Families participating in Salvation Army programs have access to financial education classes where they are taught strategies on how to save money and improve their credit scores. While enrolled in these classes, children are also given access to this financial education, providing tools that will 92

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prepare them for their future. Children at the Salvation Army can participate in the HALO Center which, through the help of the United Way of Central Florida, provides free preschool and after-school care with highly trained teachers. These resources are important factors in closing the incomebased education gap for children in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties.

The 2014 campaign has a specific goal: to connect more than 4,000 households with Online Financial Education through programs like Income Counselors and the United Way’s Next Steps, a program that will match a family’s savings up to a predetermined dollar amount.

HEALTH According to the United Way of Central Florida’s website, Polk County

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is the seventh most obese county in the nation. Through the years, UWCFsponsored programs have helped residents in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties with many health-related concerns; in 2013, however, they focused their sights specifically on obesity and obesity-related health issues. Through organizations like VISTE, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, The Talbot House, and Peace River Center, over 15,000 people received services that helped them learn how to lower their body mass index (BMI), gave them access to medically necessary prescriptions, and provided treatment for mental-health issues and disabilities.

“A healthy community avoids much of the high, personal, and monetary costs of preventable illness. Healthy adults are less likely to need emergency treatment for preventable diseases and

illnesses, and are better able to care for themselves as they age” (uwcf.org). To this end, United Way’s Health Programs are working! In 2014 the Be Bolder health-related campaign goal is to invest in more successful programs in order to help more than 4,000 new clients through nutrition and exercise classes, and connect them with health care for chronic diseases

HOW CAN YOU BE A PART OF THE CHANGE? United Way’s success in creating sustainable social change depends entirely upon the people of the community in which it works. Anyone can be a part of the United Way. You, too, can Be Bolder!

There are several ways you can get involved in United Way of Central Florida’s 2014 campaign.

Col l ege f oo t b a ll is coming to Lakeland Become part of history at the Fire’s inaugural home game in our brand-new stadium on September 13, 2014, at 7:00 p.m.

For ticketing information and athletic updates, visit fire.SEU.edu or follow us on Twitter @SEUFireFootball.

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For more information about these programs, or if you need a referral to a program to meet your need, dial 2-1-1 or 863.648.1515; 1.800.881.UWAY (8929); or visit uwcf.org.

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abuse problems will get connected to healthy solutions that will help them lead happy, fulfilling lives.

ADVOCATE Champion the causes United Way is affecting. Be loud and be visible. Whether online or on the ground, lend your voice to the sound of social change. You have the opportunity to “advance the common good, whether you’re speaking out to improve education, income, or health, reaching out to members of Congress, or wearing a [United Way] T-shirt to show your support, you can help inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow” (uwcf.org).

GIVE Through Corporate Campaigns you and the people in your everyday workplace can give back to the greater community. You can also make individual contributions through Leadership Giving, Young Leaders Society, Toqueville Society, Legacy Giving, and the Women’s Leadership Council.

Starting a workplace campaign or joining one of these societies means more books will be given to children who need them. Senior citizens will receive nutrition and healthy habits classes, and people with substance-

VOLUNTEER Join a United Way Community Investment Team and be a part of the process. Community Investment Teams are comprised of volunteers from many different experiences, professions, and backgrounds.

These teams have the unique responsibility of analyzing program funding proposals, visiting agencies, monitoring programs, and making funding recommendations. CITs have the opportunity to get to know the programs to which the United Way gives.

Community Investment Teams see the

change, on the ground, that United Way makes in our community.

Become a ReadingPal, and work one-onone with children during the school day to improve their reading skills. ReadingPals give children a positive, encouraging interaction with an adult while also helping them prepare for a better future.

Become a money coach. Money coaches mentor and guide struggling families to financial stability in order to provide for themselves.

Visit the United Way’s website at uwcf. org to find out more about how to get involved. The possibilities are endless! You can volunteer on your own, as a family, or with a group of friends and colleagues.

The Lakelander challenges you to be part of the solution that brings lasting change to our city and our county.

Get involved today! While financial contributions are certainly important, it’s not all about the money; it’s about being bolder, diving in and getting your hands dirty. Through giving, advocating, and volunteering, you can improve lives, strengthen communities, and build a better tomorrow. No matter which avenue you choose, Be Bold. Change won’t happen without you!

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A L I C E

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story by Alice V. Koehler photography by Penny & Finn

H E R E

Dixieland is a treasure. The community, located in the heart of Lakeland, was the city’s first neighborhood to be developed south of downtown. Dixieland is home to 556 historic buildings, is a picturesque vision of Main Street America, and was once touted by its developers, Henry Carter and C.W. Deen, as “Lakeland’s fashionable suburb.”

Dixieland is an all-inclusive neighborhood where the best aspects of community thrive.

Dixieland mixes historic bungalow homes (more than 400 of them, to be precise) with an eccentric and unique shopping district, great food, a family park, an A school, and a diverse community of residents. Take a stroll down Dixieland’s South Florida Avenue, and you’re sure to be struck by nostalgic glee. You can easily envision couples strolling hand in hand, ducking into the proudly air-conditioned Vito’s, the classic Italian eatery that anchored Dixieland for 40 years (1958-1998). Memories of children gleefully skipping into Bomar Trophy Shop to collect proof of the season’s successes flood the mind’s eye. My heart warms thinking of families hurrying into the Dixieland Post Office, on a mission to send their care in the form of thoughtfully wrapped packages to loved ones far away.

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In Dixieland, old seamlessly mixes with new. Tradition mingles with vision. Community bubbles up from the sidewalks and seeps out of shop doors. Shopkeepers greet visitors with bright eyes and genuine smiles. Families commune in Dobbins Park for picnics and play dates. From August to May, the sound of children’s laughter fills the air as students walk to and from Dixieland Elementary — one of Lakeland’s last true neighborhood schools. Dixieland boasts a unique and inviting shopping district featuring vintage wares, high-end fashion, home decor, locally crafted art, good eats, cycling necessities, and so much more.

Known to some as Lakeland’s “other downtown,” Dixieland offers an extension of how Lakelanders have come to define downtown. Traditionally, the word downtown refers to “the main business section of a city.” In Lakeland, it’s come to mean the parts of the city that are abuzz with activity as well. Downtown Lakeland boasts nightlife and community events, and is defined by official boundaries for development purposes. However, in the social realm, Dixieland is in fact another downtown hot spot. Its close proximity to Lakeland’s official downtown district only makes it that much more charming and inviting.

I’ve been following the work of Peter Kageyama, an expert in city-making and a passionate supporter of creative community development, for just over a year. In his book, For the Love of Cities, Kageyama discusses the economic impact of citizens’ emotional connections to

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their cities. Human beings invest, financially and emotionally, in what they love. Lakelanders who love Lakeland invest in Lakeland. Several Lakeland-loving groups have cropped up in the last year. The main topic of discussion? To simply be a source of inspiration and empowerment for Lakelanders to love their city.

Lakeland is a place worth loving, and Dixieland makes the city more loveable.

Our city is bubbling with potential to clear the hurdle between the Lakeland of yesterday and the Lakeland of tomorrow.

Desires to grow downtown, create walkable spaces, construct pet-friendly gathering spots, and encourage entrepreneurship are teeming to life.

Kageyama writes, “In asking ourselves how to change a community, we need to remember that any community is made up of millions of acts, positive and negative, which at a distance become the whole we perceive. Each of us contributes to that whole. Each of us makes or breaks the city in small ways every day as we lead our lives. When we throw our soda can or cigarette butt onto the street, we diminish our community.

Small things, like the grains of sand on a beach, make up the totality of a place... Have you ever thought about who really makes a community? About who makes the city a place you actually want to live? Of course, the official actors (mayors, planners, nonprofit leaders, educators, community leaders, and others) come to mind... Add to that the list of those who perform the necessary functions of keeping the city safe and smoothly functioning. But that still does not account for what ultimately makes a community. I believe that if you examined who really builds, contributes to, and essentially ‘makes’ a city, you would find that those citizens who have an emotional connection with their city make the difference.”

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While exploring Dixieland, you’re likely to stumble across Drica’s Favorites. Owned by the spunky, smiley, and smart Adriana Mellas, the quirky coffee truck boasts an array of delicious delights. Her selection of made-from-scratch pastries and high-end quality coffee drinks combine to make for the perfect early morning pick-me-up or afternoon pit stop.

To find Drica, visit dricas-favorites.com

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Subs ‘n Such In Lakeland, Lakelanders make the difference.

It’s Good to Be Here, a public artscape initiated by renowned artist and urban planner, Candy Chang, is a simple expression of love for her city, her New Orleans. New Orleans, we all know, is home to vibrant life and great tragedy, numerous vacant, dilapidated spaces as well as breathtaking architecture. New Orleanians span the income spectrum from the very wealthy to the extremely poor. On a mission to inspire her neighbors to love the city as much as she does, Candy took to the streets of her beloved New Orleans armed with a simple 25” x 10” stencil and a can of spray chalk to mark the words “It’s Good to Be Here” on the sidewalks adjacent to her favorite spots around town. “Public spaces are as profound as we allow them to be and have a lot of potential to help us make sense of the beauty and tragedy of life with the people around us” (candychang.com/about/). Our spaces, in Dixieland and beyond, have the potential to connect us as a community if we let them.

As I stand on South Florida Avenue in the heart of Dixieland, looking at thriving businesses adjacent to vacant buildings, buzzing traffic, and smiling shopkeepers, I see a community that celebrates history and future, art and business, creativity and commitment. I see possibility. I see Lakeland. And, I think, “It’s good to be here.”

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LAST FRIDAYS: ALICE IN DIXIELAND

Through the end of August, if you find yourself in Dixieland on a Last Friday you may think you’ve fallen through the rabbit hole. You’ll likely encounter Alice, the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, and a few others from the notable cast of characters. Hosted by the Dixieland Alliance, a partnership between the retail and restaurant establishments of Dixieland, Last Fridays are a fun way to explore Dixieland and get to know your city a little better.

Solve these riddles, and find the rabbits at each location to earn a free drink from Patio 850.

Visit Dixieland Relics to find their rabbit, Matilda: A hole is a hole A nook is a nook Matilda’s by someone Reading a book Stop into Levy’s Tire and Auto Shop to find their rabbit: Here at Levy’s you get more for your money Look for the rabbit Hiding bee-hind the honey Swing by Artist Rick Olivo’s studio and look for Walter: New to Lakeland?

Not sure what to do?

If you’re looking for Walter He’s hiding in a shoe Mr. Wigglesworth has taken up residence at Raven’s Relics: No bones about it Sweet Alice is best She lights up a room How sweetly she’s dressed Patio 850 has two bunnies, Wilson and Daisy: Search high and low On hand and on knee A rabbit named Wilson Might be in a tree Hours love minutes And minutes love hours A Bunny named Daisy Sure does love flowers SUMMER’S LAST FRIDAY DATES July 25 August 29

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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL NIELSEN

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Bent’s Schwinn Cycling & Fitness • bentscycling.com Butterfly Bistro • butterflybistro.com Casabella • Casabella of Lakeland Fat Maggie’s • fatmaggies.com Hattie’s Branches • hattiesbranches.com Hungry Howie’s • hungryhowies.com Junk Prince • junkprince.com Newtro Designs • Newtro Designs Petals Flower Shoppe Etc. • petalsoflakeland.com Reececliff • reececliffdiner Swift’s Shoe Repair • Swift’s Shoe Repair The Mad Hatter Antiques • The Mad Hatter Antiques Tucker’s Southside Package and Lounge • TuckersSouthside EL DiXi AND What’s New Consignment • whatsnewconsignment.com

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EVENTS CALENDAR

JULY EVERY SATURDAY IN JULY DOWNTOWN FARMERS CURB MARKET 8 a.m. – 2 p.m Downtown ldda.org JULY 18-19 MID-FLORIDA TABLE TENNIS TOUR JULY CLASSIC 2014 Simpson Park Community Center centralfloridasports.com JULY 20-27 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT Lake Mirror Theatre lakelandcommunitytheatre.com

JULY 25 CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE PRESENTS CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL: CHRONICLE The Lakeland Center classicalbumslive.com JULY 26 – OCTOBER 12 EXHIBITION REMEMBERING FLORSHEIM Polk Museum of Art polkmuseumofart.org AUGUST AUGUST 1 FIRST FRIDAY Downtown downtownlakelandfl.com

AUGUST 7 ELVIS LIVES! THE WORLD’S BEST YOUNG ELVIS The Polk Theatre polktheatre.org AUGUST 14 FOOD TRUCK RALLY Downtown tampabayfoodtruckrally.com AUGUST 15 CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE PRESENTS GREATEST HITS BY ELTON JOHN The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com AUGUST 22 “TERRA INCOGNITA” RECEPTION Polk Museum of Art polkmuseumofart.org

AUGUST 1 BOAT SHOW The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com

ADULTS: $9 • CHILDREN (12 & under): $8 WITH YOUR OWN SKATES: $7 • GROUPS (10+): $1 Discount Great for Birthday Parties,Holiday Parties and Groups!

CALL 863-834-5110 FOR PARTY INFORMATION

JULY PUBLIC ICE SKATING

JULY 9-12 10 AM - 12 PM 2 PM - 4 PM 6 PM - 8 PM 9 PM - 11 PM JULY 13 2 PM - 4 PM 6 PM -8 PM 9 PM -11 PM

JULY 14-19 10 AM - 12 PM 2 PM - 4 PM 6 PM - 8 PM 9 PM - 11 PM JULY 20 2 PM - 4 PM 6 PM - 8 PM 9 PM - 11 PM

JULY 21-26 10 AM - 12 PM 2 PM - 4 PM 6 PM -8 PM 9 PM -11 PM JULY 27 2 PM - 4 PM 6 PM - 8 PM 9 PM - 11 PM

GROUP INFORMATION CALL KAYLA GOFF AT 863-834-8137

FOR TICKETS OR MORE INFORMATION CALL

(863)834-8111

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR OUR FULL LISTING OF EVENTS AND PERFORMANCES! 112 THE LAKELANDER

24/7 TICKETING

TheLakelandCenter.com

888-397-0100

BOX OFFICE HOURS

Mon.- Fri., 9:30am-5:30pm

863-834-8111

Performers, prices, dates and times are subject to change without notice.

EVENTS CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER EVERY SATURDAY IN SEPTEMBER DOWNTOWN FARMERS CURB MARKET 8 a.m. – 2 p.m Downtown ldda.org SEPTEMBER 5 FIRST FRIDAY Downtown downtownlakelandfl.com SEPTEMBER 11 FOOD TRUCK RALLY Downtown tampabayfoodtruckrally.com SEPTEMBER 12 JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS SALE The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com SEPTEMBER 13 WILD CHILD WITH KATE CARNEY Polk Museum of Art polkmuseumofart.org OCTOBER EVERY SATURDAY IN OCTOBER DOWNTOWN FARMERS CURB MARKET 8 a.m. – 2 p.m Downtown ldda.org OCTOBER 3 FIRST FRIDAY Downtown downtownlakelandfl.com

OCTOBER 5 PC BRIDAL EXHIBIT The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com OCTOBER 9 FOOD TRUCK RALLY Downtown tampabayfoodtruckrally.com OCTOBER 10 CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE PRESENTS THE BEATLES: WHITE ALBUM The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com OCTOBER 12 ZOMBIE FEST Munn Park downtownlakelandfl.com OCTOBER 17 LAKE MIRROR CLASSIC AUTO FESTIVAL Lake Mirror Promenade lakelandchamber.com/events OCTOBER 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 AND 31 THE ADDAMS FAMILY Lakeland Community Theater lakelandcommunitytheater.com OCTOBER 25 PINTS FOR PAWS LAKELAND The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com OCTOBER 30 LAST COMIC STANDING The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com

THE LAKELANDER 113

HISTORY DIXIELAND DAIRY QUEEN The Dairy Queen in Dixieland was iconic. A central point at one time in Lakeland, everyone in town knew where it was. Back then, ice cream was a treat, and your grandma would take you there when you brought home a good report card. It was the local hangout, the reference point in directions, and the pride of Dixieland.

Thirty-seven years later, this iconic point became the original location of Subs ‘n Such, another Lakeland favorite. — Maggie Ross

Photo Courtesy of Phillips’ Photographers of Lakeland

EXCEEDING

EXPECTATIONS esterlinelandscape.com 813.752.3300 ph • 813.752.7055 fax

Lanscape Irrigation Maintenance

esterlinelandscape.com 114 THE LAKELANDER

Lighting Hardscape Consulting

Healthcare

Centered Around You Your little girl is becoming an adult and she deserves a healthcare provider that grows with her. That’s why Watson Clinic offers over 200 doctors, multiple locations and the area’s finest technology. We’ll design a wellness plan that works to

meet her individual needs. And, she can track her progress anytime through online access to medical records. It all adds up to a healthcare experience unlike any other. That’s because at Watson Clinic, patients are at the center of all we do.

Your Home for Quality Healthcare

VACCINES

ANNUAL CHECKUP

SPA SERVICES

CONTACT LENS EXAM

GYNECOLOGY SERVICES FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENT TIMES

| 863.680.7190 | www.WatsonClinic.com | Follow us on 116 THE LAKELANDER