MARCH - APRIL 2013
SPRING TRAINING / THE MOSAIC OF US / CALLING ALL TRUCKS COHABITATION / VICTORY IN CENTRAL LAKELAND
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
22 MARCH - APRIL 2013
DEPARTMENTS MARCH - APRIL 2013
16 18 100 106
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR EDITORIAL BIOS EVENTS PLAY BALL!
The Detroit Tigers call Lakeland home
ON THE COVER
SPRING TRAINING / THE MOSAIC OF US / CALLING ALL TRUCKS COHABITATION / VICTORY IN CENTRAL LAKELAND
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THE LAKELANDER
The final shot of the day turned out to be one of the favorites from our Shelter photo shoot. We situated the vintage bar cart, now transformed into an interesting vehicle for various plants, in a warm corner of the wood-paneled library. The light filtered perfectly through the large windows, and the globe, paired with a piece of weathered wood, lent a well-traveled look to our vignette. See more of this beautiful home and learn how to transform your own interiors into a spring-inspired green space on page 58. Photography by Penny & Finn
Dow n t ow n L a k e l a n d : Dale Dreyer, Community President of Central-West Polk 500 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 100, Lakeland, FL 33801 863.683.2300 L a k e Mi r i a m : Juli Surface, Branch Manager 4719 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33813 863.648.0900 Ba r t ow : Anita Stasiak, Branch Manager 1375 North Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830 863.533.0475
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
30 54
42
FEATURES PEOPLE
CULTURE
22 DAVE STEELE GIVES US A HIGHER EDUCATION Polk State College’s associate vice president schools us
42 COHABITATION Lakeland’s public art
on the college’s mission, education’s challenges, and the triangle of destiny
TASTE 30
CALLING ALL TRUCKS!
Taking food to the streets
38 RECIPES Food-truck dining at home 10
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
66 SHELTER
SPORT
54 VICTORY IN CENTRAL LAKELAND How one family uses their backyard space to teach their
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58
PHILANTHROPY
children (and themselves) about where food comes from
GET THE LOOK
Bring a little of the outdoors into your home
STYLE 66 SPRING TRAINING A little inspiration to warm up your spring style
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A NICHE OF HIS OWN
One Lakelander’s journey to entrepreneurial success
92 THE MOSAIC OF US Mentoring: the grout of a rich and sustainable community
roviding quality care lies at the heart of all we do. Watson Clinic’s cardiology department features a highly experienced team of specialists working together to treat every aspect of a patient’s condition from prevention, diagnosis, treatment and surgery to rehabilitation and follow-up care. Featuring board-certified cardiologists, electrophysiologists, a pediatric cardiologist, and Lakeland’s only cardiovascular surgeons, our team is internationally recognized as leaders in the field of innovative cardiac care. We’re dedicated to bringing you a better experience, the most advanced clinical research, and the latest breakthroughs in technology and treatment. Watson Clinic is setting the pace for heart care in our region - one patient at a time.
Wellness is a journey. Let us be your guide. Appointment Scheduling: 863-680-7490
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PUBLISHER Curt Patterson ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Jason Jacobs, Brandon Patterson
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EDITOR Jackie Houghton CULTURE EDITOR Adam Justice MEN’S STYLE EDITOR Mark Nielsen PEOPLE EDITOR Adam Spafford PHILANTHROPY EDITOR Brooklyn Lindsey SHELTER EDITOR Rachel Plating SPORT EDITOR Jarrett Smith TASTE EDITOR Logan Crumpton WOMEN’S STYLE EDITOR Courtney Philpot COPY EDITOR Laura Burke OFFICE MANAGER Deb Patterson ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Annalee Mutz
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Jason Jacobs Molly Dodd
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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 sis prohibited. The Lakelander is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.
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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 EDITOR
H
ow exactly do you create a city magazine that a community wholly embraces? How do you produce a product that is creatively fulfilling for everyone who has agreed to come along for this ride? And precisely how do you find content, issue after issue, that keeps your readers intrigued or at the very least interested? All questions I am asked on a regular basis. You know, I’m not entirely certain of the answers as there’s no proven formula to be found. However, what I can tell you with great certainty is that these questions are what keep us churning. We are sincerely about the business of making something good for all and for the continued success of the folks who share their gifts with us. Perhaps that is what has touched me most about the making of this most recent issue — the lovely spirit of my team of editors, photographers, contributors, and other creative minds that collectively brought this issue to life. Each person brings such talent, but also friendship, kindness, and the transparency to allow us to expose their gifts and share them with you. They open themselves to scrutiny as well as praise by being a part of this venture, which is both a personal and professional sacrifice. They spend countless hours finding sources, discussing ideas, scouting locations, revising articles until I am satisfied, and missing dinners and events for shoots, fittings and the like, just to be a part of The Lakelander. And I would like to say thank you for all of these things and more. We so look forward to what you all will come up with next. As we have now published our fourth issue, we have also moved our location into the middle of downtown, taken on a handful of interns, and are finally settling into life as city-magazine producers. Store owners are graciously opening their doors to us for photo shoots and goods, and our readers are flagging us down to share story ideas. And we love it. Finally, we are feeling a bit at home in this position, and we couldn’t be happier. Happy reading, Jackie Houghton
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EDITORIAL BIOS
BROOKLYN LINDSEY
PHILANTHROPY EDITOR In 2007 Brooklyn Lindsey moved to Lakeland to work as the middle school pastor and Saturday night campus pastor, alongside her husband, at Highland Park Church of the Nazarene. Wife of Coy. Mommy of Kirra and Mya. Pastor to teenagers. Advocate for giving and partnering. Community leader. Dreamer. Ideator. Over the past decade, she’s authored six books, and shared with thousands of students and youth workers locally and across the United States. She and her family love living and giving in Lakeland. Find out more on her blog: www.brooklynlindsey.com or follow on Twitter: @brooklynlindsey
ADAM SPAFFORD
ADAM JUSTICE
PEOPLE EDITOR
CULTURE EDITOR
Adam Justice is a Virginia native who moved to Lakeland in 2010 to become the curator of art at Polk Museum of Art. He received his B.A. in art history/museum studies from Radford University and an M.A. in art history at Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously he was the chief curator at William King Museum in Abingdon, Virginia, and also served as the director of the Southwest/Blue Ridge Regions for the Virginia Association of Museums. Additionally, he taught art history at Virginia Commonwealth University, Rappahannock Community College, and Virginia Highlands Community College. While being the curator of art at Polk Museum of Art, he is also an adjunct professor of art history at Florida Southern College. He currently serves on various boards, including the Downtown Lakeland Partnership, Polk Vision and Polk Arts Alliance, and is involved with various service and civic organizations.
Adam Spafford came to Lakeland in 1999 to attend Florida Southern College and, except for a 20-month graduate school stint in Massachusetts, has been here since. When he’s not writing page-turners for The Lakelander, he trades stock and index options.
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JARRETT SMITH SPORTS EDITOR
Jarrett Smith lives in Lakeland with his wife, Diana, and their two children, Everett and Orion. A graduate of Florida Southern College, Jarrett is president of Maximize Social Media LLC in Lakeland. A few mornings a week he can be found running early classes at CrossFit Lakeland.
EDITORIAL BIOS RACHEL PLATING SHELTER EDITOR
Rachel Plating is the mother of two sweet little girls and married to Mr. Fix-It ( Jack). She was born and raised steeped in Southern Bluegrass and sweet tea. An accomplished musician and designer, Rachel and her family fell in love with Lakeland while attending Florida Southern, and they just couldn’t stay away! When she’s not chasing a two-year-old or feeding a newborn, you can most likely find her creating idyllic spaces for her family and friends.
LOGAN CRUMPTON
MARK NIELSEN
TASTE EDITOR
MEN’S STYLE 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.
Mark Nielsen moved to Lakeland at the age of 12, moved away at 21, and came back just five years later. He attributes his interest in style to his career in design, translating the aesthetics and principles of design into fashion. Mark doesn’t sit still for long, and is currently building a café racer, has shaped a couple surfboards, maintains three blogs, and pursues a hobby shooting medium-format film. An accomplished designer, his work has been featured in such international design publications as HOW, Communication Arts, and Print, as well as the New York Times Magazine, and others. Over the years, he has also added photography and filmmaking to his resume, winning awards for cinematography with his twin brother, Michael. Mark currently holds the role of creative director at Publix and lives in Lakeland with his wife, Jill; their daughters, Andie and Bridget; and a German shorthaired pointer, Charlie.
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.
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PEOPLE
S
DAVID TEELE
GIVES US A HIGHER EDUCATION
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POLK STATE COLLEGE’S ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT SCHOOLS US ON THE COLLEGE’S MISSION, EDUCATION’S CHALLENGES, AND THE TRIANGLE OF DESTINY story by Adam Spafford | photography by Tina Sargeant The Lakelander: Please give us a brief personal history as well as an educational/ professional history. What led you to your current role at Polk State? What drives you? Why do you do what you do? David Steele: I guess my first real job was counting lingerie at a Macy’s in Atlanta. I haven’t always been sure since then whether I’m working my way up or down the workforce ladder. I worked full time through my undergrad years, and early on had the opportunity to work in public affairs for a chamber of commerce and economic development group. That provided me with a wonderful background in public affairs and community development and, frankly, it convinced me that building coalitions was important at many different levels and that I had some aptitude in that area. Because the organization for which I worked was a small one, I also learned a lot about marketing and strategic communication, and hardly a day goes by that I don’t somehow reference lessons I learned in that role almost twenty-five years ago. The technology has changed, of course, but the fundamentals remain the same. Other stops along the way have included working in information technology (software and web development and training), marketing and communications roles, serving as president and CEO of another chamber of commerce, and the opportunity to serve as executive director of Purdue University’s Center for International Business Education and Research in their business school. Prior to accepting my current position at Polk State, I worked for five years for the University of South Florida on the Lakeland campus. That’s the job that brought me here from Savannah.
My educational background includes a B.A. in history from Ashland University (Ohio) and an M.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame. I’ve also completed doctoral coursework in political science at Notre Dame and in communications at USF. Finding time to complete a dissertation in either discipline has been the challenge!
My highest priority and greatest motivation is my family. My wife, Shannon, and daughter, Savannah Grace, are the loves of my life, and nothing else even comes close. One of the things I love about Lakeland is the extent to which I feel like it has given me a chance to impact the
environment in which my family lives. In other words, I feel like my civic activities are a way of investing in my family, if that makes sense. The scale of our community and the dynamics related to that scale allow engaged parents to make impacts we might not be able to make in larger or less engaging communities. And I would say something similar about why I cherish my role at Polk State: Every day at work, I feel like I am absolutely making an impact on my daughter’s future and on the future of her generation. When I’ve been asked in interviews what I wanted out of life, I used to say, simply, “To be relevant.” As I’ve matured, I’ve become very focused; I want what I do professionally to be relevant for Shannon and Savannah Grace. Here in Lakeland and at Polk State, I feel like that’s possible. That’s priceless to me. TL: Describe your role at Polk State. How do you spend your time? What are your overarching goals, and how are you accomplishing them? DS: My team is the Office of Communications and Public Affairs. We are responsible for marketing, media relations, government affairs, strategic communications, and brand management. I often point out that we are not mission critical, but we have the privilege of supporting a lot of folks and units who actually are mission critical. The president [Polk State President Eileen Holden] began pulling this team together when she hired me, almost two years ago. Since then, we’ve gradually rounded out the roster, and I’m thrilled with the pieces we have in place now. I absolutely love the group we have on board. Because our unit didn’t exist for the first forty-seven years the college existed, THE LAKELANDER
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I DREAM OF A TIME WHEN OUR STATE WILL INSIST ON HAVING A “TOP 3” COLLEGE SYSTEM AND A “TOP 3” UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
I’m very sensitive to the fact that the college truly can survive without us. I feel like it’s our job to provide tangible value to those folks without whom the college could not exist. If we do that, we will have “earned our keep.” In terms of overarching goals, I consider the work we do on the college brand to be as important as anything else we touch. And you could make a case that everything we do is somehow branding-related. When we think about the brand, we’re not simply thinking about logos and mascots, colors and fonts, and taglines. It’s about how we establish and manage the way that the college — including our core programs and services and our graduates — are viewed in our region. For decades the college has been known for its accessibility, the fact that we’re local and amazingly affordable. But the part of our story that has often been overlooked is the excellence that our faculty, our students, our staff, and our alumni represent. Some of our programs rank among the nation’s best. Our alumni have led everything from church choirs to massive, international corporations. Our faculty care deeply about student success and are as dedicated to academic rigor and integrity and the transformative power of knowledge as any you would find anywhere in the nation. To me, Polk State’s brand is the magic that exists when you put access (which incorporates both our unbeatable price-point and our expanding geographical footprint) together with excellence and a relentless commitment to serving our communities. That’s what I call “the triangle of 24
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destiny,” and it’s what makes me so proud to be a Polk State Eagle. We are where the action is, whether the economy is up or down. As for my days, they vary widely. I spend significant time in Tallahassee during the legislative season. I also spend a lot of time working with our team and colleagues throughout the college on issues like design, strategic communication, community relations, media strategies, and organizational developments. Every day is different, and every day is very, very busy. TL:What is Polk State’s history? DS: Polk State was founded as Polk State Junior College back in 1964, so we’re already gearing up for an extended celebration of our 50th anniversary next year. As part of the Florida College System, our institution exists specifically to meet the needs of the communities and employers of our service area, Polk County. We’ve grown from students that were counted in the hundreds to over 20,000 students today, and every single time we have expanded our degree offerings or our geographical footprint, that expansion has been a direct result not of “blind ambition” by the college but rather a response to community needs. As of this interview, the largest number of our students are involved in two-year degree programs (associate’s degrees), but our fastest growing group of students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees, each of which was established to fill specific needs in the local workforce. In addition, we offer a wide range of workforce-related
training, in collaboration with local employers and industry associations, and we also have two amazing charter high schools [Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate and Polk State Lakeland Collegiate] with a third set to open in the fall [Polk State Pathways Collegiate] and a variety of pre-collegiate programs for youth, such as “Kids in College” and our robotics programs. TL: Why is Lakeland a great fit for Polk State? Why should we be happy about this marriage? DS: Polk State’s Lakeland campus opened in 1988, and today it is our largest campus and the source of much of the college’s recent growth. If you counted only our Lakeland students, we would still be the largest college or university in the county — and yet because our early history was focused on the county’s east side, most folks even in Lakeland don’t realize what a significant presence we have become here in Lakeland. We have a lot of exciting stuff going for us on that campus, but I think the emergence of our programs in Health Sciences and in Business & Technology have a lot to do with why we are, in fact, such a great fit for this community. What is Lakeland cultivating as economic development niches? Look at the health science corridor. We have the academic programs to support that. Look at the IT clusters. We have the academic programs to support that. Look at the entrepreneurial sector. We have the academic programs to support that. Look at the supply chain, distribution and logistics cluster. We have the academic programs to support those. Polk State is a great fit for Lakeland for the
same reason we’re an awesome fit for the county: We’re quick to respond to the needs of local industry, and we’re the only institution that exists only to serve these communities. The other colleges and universities in our area are wonderful and diverse. I’m absolutely thrilled our county supports them. But their niches are not geographically focused in the same way as ours. That’s why I think that all of our institutions continue to thrive. We’re putting our hooks in the same pond, but we’ve baited our hooks differently, and we’re after different fish.
Polk State student Dominique Newkirk (left) and David Steele
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TL: What are the future plans for Polk State — additional programs/ degrees, growth? DS: In the next several years we expect our number of students served to level off a bit, but I know that the president will continue to cultivate an entrepreneurial sensibility at the college. I don’t imagine we will have a large number of new programs added to the mix, but I’m sure we’ll have some — and you can be sure that they will be carefully matched to available jobs in the local workforce. I think the most dramatic changes will have to do with how we compete for students and the impact that makes on the culture here in Polk County. We are going to continue to make a strong pitch that we should be the first choice for many of the community’s students, as we offer practical degree options in flexible formats and very small class sizes with unbeatable prices. I know you’ve heard me talk about the fact that over ninety percent of our students leave the college without student loan debt. That’s amazing! Think of what that means for them and for their families, and for the communities that dream of keeping them here at home. When you’re not saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in debt, you’re able to make much different choices than you might otherwise, and you’re in a great position to contribute to the local economy. Our degrees are absolutely worth borrowing money to attain, but the beautiful thing is that in most cases you don’t have to borrow that money. You can save it for a car or a house or for seed money to start your own business. From a facilities standpoint, our Bartow location will be opening later this year, and that will have a significant
impact on the southern part of the county. And as USF’s need for space on our Lakeland campus decreases, we look forward to expanding our offerings on that campus as well. We’ve been very limited because of our space situation there, so we’re “chomping at the bit” to complete that Lakeland transition. We’re also hoping the legislature will complete the funding cycle for our center for public safety, which will be located right in the middle of the county, on land adjacent to the sheriff ’s headquarters and EOC. That project won’t be completed this year, but as it evolves, it will transform the way that first responders — law enforcement, fire, and EMS/EMT — are trained, and it will position our region as a hub of state-of-the-art public safety training. We’ll be a magnet that will serve the state and beyond. TL: What, in your view, is the state of higher education generally? What about the ever-increasing tuition costs we hear about as well as other good things/bad things? DS: In many respects, higher education is in transition, as it has been for a long time. We continue to seek the balance between preserving the heritage that has made our nation’s colleges and universities the envy of the world with the practical demands of a changing world. What made us great may not necessarily be what keeps us great. And, of course, we have to balance that past and present with a mysterious future. At Polk State we have what I call the luxury of focusing simply on our region’s workforce needs. Those institutions that also have significant research missions have another layer of challenges, and they are inherently slower to respond to changing needs. On the other hand, they produce some of the vital innovations that institutions like ours will ultimately incorporate into our curriculum. I think Florida is in a particularly difficult situation, however. We’ve spent too long boasting incredibly low tuition while also providing incredibly low levels of state funding. Most experts expect to see low tuition offset by higher levels of state funding, or high tuition used to offset low levels of state funding, but here in Florida, we seem obsessed with “cheap,” and, as a result, the city of Pittsburgh has twice as many AAU universities [the
The mission
of a lifetime B e G i n s @ L C s AcAdemicS
ArTS
engaging, challenging curriculum 94+% of graduates pursue college Test scores exceed local, state & national averages
Award-winning band program Private piano lessons comprehensive choral music program musical production & play each year
The School
honors/AP courses
county’s oldest & largest K4-12 non-public Fully accredited extensive co-curricular program Non-denominational Biblical Worldview
AThleTicS 42 teams in 13 sports, grades 6-12 20 State titles outstanding on-campus stadium and gym 68% of students participate
call Julie rice, director of enrollment, for a tour today. 1111 Forest Park Street, lakeland | 863-688-2771 | www.lcsonline.org |
commuNiTy iNvolvemeNT ongoing volunteerism at many local ministries elementary students minister in retirement communities Students and teachers actively tutor, mentor and serve
David Steele with his wife, Shannon, and daughter, Savannah Grace
most prestigious university designation] as our entire state does. We’re trailing Pittsburgh. Can you believe that? No offense to the Steel City, dude, but that shouldn’t be acceptable. And while Florida’s system of state and community colleges has long been the envy of the nation, we’re now seeing a renewed push to cut funding for the very institutions that have already proven their value, by almost any measure you can imagine. We’re about to be the third largest state in the Union, right? Well, I dream of a time when our state will insist on having a “Top 3” college system and a “Top 3” university system. Let’s set high quality goals and then figure out how to afford the dream. You can’t get “Top 3” products at “Bottom 3” prices. And I think most of us have enough appreciation of how markets can work that we can envision “customers” being willing to pay for world-class education. I think most folks intuitively get the incredible value of education. But, sadly, right now, the opposite approach is grabbing headlines here in Florida: Pick a low price, and then hack away at quality in order to hit that target. TL: What more needs to be done at the primary education level to prepare students for higher education? What more needs to be done at the higher education level to prepare students for working? DS: I can’t overemphasize the importance of early childhood education. And it’s impossible to 28
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contemplate that topic without also recognizing that we have a plethora of issues that are tied up in “the early childhood experience” for many, many of our most vulnerable kids. You can’t tell a hungry five-year-old kid to pull himself up by his own bootstraps. You can’t wonder why a homeless six-year-old girl isn’t getting her homework done. You can’t wonder why a kid whose dad is incarcerated seems to have a discipline problem. Honestly, if you think about all the different social pathologies that are impacting early childhood education right now, it can be overwhelming. I know that there are many, many compassionate, bright, focused educators in our county, and I know there are also many public and private groups that are doing their best to tackle manageable pieces of this huge puzzle. But for me to sit here and comment on how many math classes should be required in high school or which works of classic literature should be on a middle school reading list while we have toddlers we already know won’t be ready for their first day of school when it’s time ... that’s just crazy. People gave Hillary Clinton grief when she quoted the African proverb: “It takes a village.” But while we laughed, things got worse. And now I’m not sure you could say even a village could handle this task. But a county? Yeah, maybe we can handle it, working together as a county. But it’s a complex problem, and we’ll end up needing to
try a variety of approaches. Some will work, and some won’t. But we’ve got to keep trying, because we’ve got to acknowledge that we can’t afford the cost of failure. As for changes in higher education, I think that we’ll continue to see moves toward more diverse approaches to teaching and learning, as colleges and universities catch on to the model that the private sector has provided. Traditional lectures will become extinct, and rigid disciplinary boundaries will disappear. The institutions that respond most quickly to these dynamics will be the ones that truly thrive in the decades to come. TL: What do you think about Lakeland? DS: When my wife and I moved here over seven years ago, we planned to be here for a year or so — two at the most. So much for plans! Lakeland turned out to be an incredibly hospitable community. We have cherished the friendships and opportunities this community has produced for us, and we have taken great joy in every chance we’ve had to invest back into our adopted hometown. While it’s true that our proximity to two major metropolitan areas was an early bonus for us, it’s also the case that we find ourselves increasingly embedded right here in Polk County. And now, of course, we’re thrilled to be raising our daughter here. It won’t surprise me a bit if her first sentence is our college tagline: “We are Polk!”
TASTE
Taking food to the streets story by Logan Crumpton photography by Philip Pietri
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“Good taste transcends all trends.” Nowhere does this saying hold more weight than in the world of food. Nothing has been trending more strongly in recent years than mobile food vendors, and with good reason. As a general rule, the advantages of dining at these restaurants on wheels are innumerable. You will find, more often than not, that this avenue of dining is a cheap, fast, and adventurous way of enjoying quality fare. You will also come to realize that, once you seek them out, these vendors offer everything from simple yet perfected regional cuisine, to more complex, unfamiliar, and boundary-pushing ethnic fare. There have been food carts and stalls in business, in some shape or form, for the better part of a century in most corners of the world; however, the concept is still in its infancy in the Lakeland area.
Food trucks are just as appealing a concept for owners as they are for their patrons who seek them out. Many have been created by chefs who were looking to keep their dream of a career in food alive, without having to succumb to the pressures of being a typical restauranteur. The cost of opening a traditional brick-and-mortar eatery can be staggering. On the other hand, getting a food truck rolling can be much less of a financial burden. In turn, the lower the start-up cost, the more savings can be passed down to the consumer, leaving room to create inventive cuisine at a fair price. One of the main reasons food trucks deserve more of our attention and patronage is because they’re so flexible. You can grab a quick snack on the way home from a night on the town, or plan a whole day’s trek to take a culinary food tour around the world, all while still staying comfortably close to home. For years, if you wanted to get a bite by way of a food truck, you would likely have to stumble upon it by accident. There was no social media to guide you to these wonderful places without any effort on your part. No, it was real work. One day a truck might be set up in an empty parking lot next to a nondescript
convenience store. In passing you might have caught a glance and perchance broken into a taco dance. It was so delicious and cheap that you thought of going the next day. You may then return the next day only to find that the truck has mysteriously vanished, crushing your hopes and dreams of a perfect mobile meal. Then things changed. Someone began to emulate the concept made popular by the many street food hawker malls located in Southeast Asia. This method of organized chaos ultimately sprouted the food truck park. The concept of a food truck park is simple. In densely populated areas where food trucks are commonplace, there arose a need to find structure and stability in a mobile dining scene. In larger, yet eclectic, community-driven cities across the country, it is possible that a great number of trucks can be supported in a single stationary space or park. As with all things that trend, the hype built slowly over time and has blossomed into a full-blown revolution. What does this mean for Lakeland? Well, we don’t have the boom to support a food truck park — yet. What we do have is a community that can sustain a large
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gathering of trucks every once in a while. This means that we are blessed with monthly rallies consisting of fifteen or so of the best mobile food vendors that Central Florida has to offer. How did this come to be in our town? Each year a team from the Lakeland Economic Development Council (LEDC) takes a pilgrimage to a major U.S. city in order to get a sense of what makes that particular city so appealing and successful, with the plan of bringing back what is gleaned to our community. Last year San Francisco was visited for the special trip. Among other things, San Francisco has an impressive food truck following that can support over four hundred individual vendors. One food truck was hired to follow the crew around on their journey, serving up classic Indian delights every step of the way. It was so well received by the team that they knew the concept had to be translated into the Lakeland landscape. Coincidentally, at the same time, the Tampa-based company “Tasting Tampa” was looking for new cities to expand their already popular food truck rallies around the Bay Area. They partnered with the Downtown Lakeland Partnership (DLP) and, along with assistance from word-ofmouth online hype by local blog “Ylakeland,” the Downtown Rally was born. The entire city has embraced these rallies, which have been in rotation only for the last four months or so. Not only has it boosted vendors’ profits by giving them a new group of followers, but it also has resulted in proven added revenue to the shops and restaurants that call downtown home. Patrons have found these rallies provide a time for families and friends to eat great food and share quality time — and in this case, bites — together.
FOOD TRUCK RALLY TIPS 1 3
ARRIVE EARLY There will be lines.
2 SURVEY THE SCENE Explore your options - choose wisely.
ITEM #1
It’s number one on the menu for a reason. Go for it.
U M E NNER IN #1 W ood
#2 F ood #3 F od o #4 F ood #5 F ood #6 F
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VERY HUNGRY!
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Sometimes, though, food truck roaming can be serious business. Lines can grow surprisingly quickly and you may find yourself waiting more than noshing. One’s patience can wear thin if forced to wait thirty minutes or more for certain items. You have to combat these few negatives with a game plan. Use the following pointers to your advantage the next time you find yourself scrambling for some nouveau, deep-fried thing of beauty. You must arrive early and make a loop around the entire event. Decide how many food trucks you think you can realistically do business with. It’s imperative to realize right away that you won’t be able to visit fifteen or twenty trucks all in one evening. It would take three or four rallies to eat at every single one. Give yourself a reasonable goal of hitting up three or four trucks the first time or two. It would be a shame if you went away from your first rally suffering from sensory overload. Now here is where a bit of math and science come into play. Make a mental note — out of all the trucks, which are the ones that most appeal to your tastes? What do you crave? Choose those trucks and make them your first priority. Go ahead and get in line right away. Out of those that make the cut, look at the first item on their respective menu board. That is the
purveyor’s pride and joy, I can promise you that. This is your point of entry. By no means am I suggesting that the rest of the menu is unworthy. But if you wish to have a foolproof dining experience, go for the top spot. If the second item appeals to you as well, be my guest to work your way down. In the past, I’ve ordered five or more things straight down the list from one truck only to be awestruck by every dish. In the food game, we call this playing with fire, as this is the exception to the theory and not a consistently accurate outcome. Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to them, I have been forced to use my friends as test subjects in my evil food experiments. To test the theory, I left them to their own devices at a recent rally. Their orders were all over the place, not one being the first menu item. The outcome? A less-than-savory time was had. With all of this said, the most important rule is to always keep things fun and enjoyable. These food truck rallies can be a new way for you and your loved ones to spend quality time together in a relaxed atmosphere, while expanding and quite possibly elevating your knowledge of food. As a whole, food trucks deserve our attention as a seriously viable dining option, now, and in the foreseeable future.
For more information, visit:
tampabayfoodtruckrally.com/tasting-tampa-event-calendar or YLakeland.com.
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LAKELAND FOOD TRUCK BEST BETS
For a taste of authentic Mexican-style street food, look for the Taco Xpress truck parked permanently at 3147 Highway 98 S. There you can get a sampling of burritos, tortas, and tacos, all stuffed with bounteous amounts of grilled meats and fresh veggies. Don’t forget to get your tacos “all the way,” meaning onions, cilantro, and lime to squeeze on top. I understand it may read as being sort of basic, but keeping things simple in this case equals to a perfect marriage of flavors. Taco Xpress also sells the fiercely sought-after “Mexican” Coke, made from real cane sugar and bottled in glass to add a feeling of nostalgia as you enjoy your meal.
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Barbeque is beginning to overrun the landscape. However, finding great barbecue is nearly unmanageable. What is almost as inaccessible still is high-quality soul food. I stumbled upon Big Daddy’s Barbecue (820 E. Memorial Boulevard) by accident one sunny winter day while driving through town. I could see the smoked-meat signals puffing out of the vent of the enclosed trailer from blocks away. Nothing could keep me from pulling into the parking lot and sinking my teeth into the amazing smoked ribs lacquered with a sweet and tangy mustard-based sauce that I can only describe as liquid gold. Here you will also find Southern staples done to perfection, such as amazing collard greens, tender and juicy crispyfried pork-chop sandwiches, fried gizzards, and mini sweet-potato pies for dessert. Taco Xpress
Big Daddy’s
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The one drawback regarding the Lakeland food truck scene, other than there simply aren’t very many out there, is that there is a serious lack of an online presence to let the public know they’re even in business. How many are aware there’s a Jamaican jerk-chicken truck that travels to various locations on the north side of town? Or that there exists a garlic crab stand named Cooks Kitchen at 1605 W. Memorial Boulevard? Did you know that Becky’s Hot Dog truck sits downtown next to Munn Park ready for your business every Monday through Friday and at the Downtown Farmers Curb Market on Saturdays? These kinds of businesses live and die on word-of-mouth advertising. It’s up to us to seek out alternative local dining establishments to help them survive and hopefully thrive.
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TASTE | RECIPES
If you’d like to recreate the fun of a rally at home, here are a few ideas to try. Don’t think you have to do all of the work yourself, as you can prepare the main components in advance, and then set them out for your guests to compose in whatever manor they choose This way no one will have to yell out, “I’m in the weeds!”
AL PASTOR–STYLE TORTAS 1 1/2 pounds boneless pork rib chop, cut into 1/4-inch slices For marinade: 16 ounces pineapple juice 1 pineapple (1/2 cup fresh chopped pineapple for the marinade, and the rest of the pineapple slice into 1/4-inch-thick planks for grilling) Juice of 1 lime 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 1/2 small red onion, roughly chopped 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon chipotle powder 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander 1/2 teaspoons oregano Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until incorporated. Once blended, place pork into liquid and submerge completely. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinade set in the fridge for at least four hours and up to twenty-four hours if time permits. (continued) 38
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TASTE | RECIPES Set aside remaining preparation for the grill.
sliced
pineapple
KIMCHI QUESADILLA WITH MUSHROOM AND RADISH SALAD
in
Remove pork from refrigerator and scrape off any stray garlic, pineapple, and onion that adhered to the meat. To cook the meat, set a grill on high and let it heat up. Once it has reached at least 400 degrees, place meat on the hottest part of the grill. You’re looking for nicely marked and charred pieces of meat. Since the cuts are thin, it will take only about two minutes per side, depending on how well your grill retains heat. Once cooked, remove meat and repeat for the reserved pineapple slices. Cook until pineapple has some marks but not too long so as to lose the structural integrity of the fruit. To make at least six tortas, you will need: french-style hamburger buns or kaiser rolls 1 can refried beans 2 ripe avocados olive oil juice of 1/2 a lime 1 large tomato, sliced thin 1 container prewashed baby arugula thick slices of Queso Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese pickled red onions and jalapeño (an easy pickle solution is equal portions of white wine vinegar and water with a pinch of salt and a whole garlic clove) butter at room temperature In a small bowl, smash the flesh of the avocado along with the olive oil and lime juice to make a rough paste. Heat a nonstick pan to medium temperature. Cut buns in half and place a small dab of butter in the pan. Place the buns face down on hot pan until toasted. Toast only one side to create a barrier of texture. Smear a layer or refried beans on the bottom inside of the bun and the avocado paste on the top inside of the bun. Pile on your desired amount of grilled pork along with a slice of the grilled pineapple atop of the beans. Then add the pickled vegetables, tomato, arugula, and cheese, in that exact order. Finally top it with the avocado-pasted bun top. Enjoy. Notes: If you don’t own a grill, you can use your stovetop to get a similar effect. Use a nonstick pan, turn the burner on high, and place pork slices in pan. Be careful to not overcrowd your cooking surface, as this will bring down the heat at a rapid pace. Once all of the meat is cooked through, repeat the process on the pineapple. Also, although it may seem like a large amount of ingredients simply for composing a sandwich, building depth of flavor is very important in street food. Developing a wow factor in the flavor department is a large part of what makes food trucks so appealing. 40
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For the salad: 8 ounces King oyster mushrooms, sliced thin (if you can’t procure these amazing fungi, you can use shiitake or crimini, which can found in almost any grocery) 1 medium daikon radish, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch cubes 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon sesame seeds 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon canola oil salt to taste Heat large nonstick sauté pan to medium-high heat. Add olive oil and wait until you see a touch of smoke. Add the sliced mushrooms and a pinch of salt. Pan roast for about ten minutes until you see the flesh of the mushrooms develop a crisp, golden exterior. Set aside to cool. Once cooled, add the remaining ingredients to a shallow bowl. Toss until the daikon appears to take on the color of the brown soy sauce–tinted liquid. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for up to twenty-four hours. For the quesadillas: 1 package premade flour tortillas 1 jar prepared kimchi (drained)* 8 ounces shredded yellow cheddar cheese 8 ounces torn fresh mozzarella 1 bunch of washed and stemmed cilantro leaves Sprinkle a handful of cheddar atop one tortilla. Then place two tablespoons of the drained kimchi on top of the cheese. Add the torn mozzarella and a few springs of the cilantro. Fold tortilla over and set aside. Repeat until you have assembled as many as you wish to prepare. In a nonstick skillet, heat butter on medium heat until it begins to slightly brown. Add quesadilla and cover for about three minutes or until the cheese has melted and the tortilla looks golden and feels crisp. Remove lid and flip quesadilla over. Cover again and heat until both sides are equally browned. Place in a warm oven on a baking sheet until all of the quesadillas are ready. As a complementary condiment: 8 ounces sour cream 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean savory chili paste)* zest and juice from 1 lime Scoop entire contents of sour cream into small glass bowl. Add gochujang directly in the center of the sour cream, giving a single stir so as to not mix it completely. This will allow guests to control how much or little of the spicy chili paste they desire to use with the sour cream. Add the zest and then the juice to finish. Cut the quesadillas in half, and serve alongside the mushroom and radish salad as well as the spicy sour cream. * Ingredient can be found at Gigi’s Market on Edgewood Drive
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CULTURE
Lakeland’s public art
story by Adam Justice | photography by Thomas K. Mack
Public art is a different creature. Unlike their museum or gallery counterparts, which are surrounded and protected by walls and interpretative text, public artworks are thrust into the broad sightlines of a vast public caught off-guard. The mere vulnerability of public art completely transforms its context. Just as a museum protects and preserves artworks from an inquisitive audience, it also protects the public from what may be perceived as an intimidating art experience. Public art literally deconstructs those barriers between art and audience and forces engagement, for better or worse. For that reason, it takes a courageous community to commit to a healthy and growing public arts campaign. Lakeland has long proven its penchant for progressive ideas that improve the quality of life for its citizens and visitors. Its continuing pursuit to exhibit attractive public art is a testament to that reputation. Over the past fifteen years, the City of Lakeland has partnered with various local arts organizations, including Platform Art and Polk Museum of Art, to make art an important part of its public identity. Downtown Lakeland is currently home to twenty permanent sculptures on display, from the Lakeland Center to the eastern portion of the Lake Mirror Promenade. These artworks have either been purchased from or donated by artists from around the world, including local and regional artists. 42
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Airwaves by Frank Holder THE LAKELANDER
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Spirit by Mark Hollis
The largest of these sculptures is the Tribute to the Spirit of Volunteerism by renowned sculptor Albert Paley. This fortyone–foot steel sculpture was commissioned by Lakeland and specifically designed by Paley to commemorate the dynamism and vivacity of the community’s strong commitment to public service. Its multiplicity of forms and colors were chosen by Paley to complement the classical design of Lake Mirror’s Promenade and reflect the colors of the natural landscape surrounding the lake. In October, Lakeland unveiled its most recent piece of large public art on the opposite side of Lake Mirror. The eight-foot bronze sculpture titled Mute Swan Protecting Her Cygnets by British artist Ian G. Brennan proudly welcomes downtowners to the Lake Mirror Promenade. Donated to the city by Sandra Trattner and Steve Wolfson in honor of their parents, this large sculpture captures the notoriety of Lakeland’s swan population, which originated from two swans gifted to the city by Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s. Additionally, in 2011 Platform Art worked with Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency on the Art in Agriculture project, which included a permanent installation of a ceramic mural along the Orange Street Bridge. Lakeland has also partnered with Polk Museum of Art to install ten temporary sculptures along Lemon Street as part of the 13th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition. This is the eighth year Lakeland has participated in the annual sculpture competition. Public art is the best case for supporting the argument that not all art can or should be housed and found within the confines of a physical structure; it makes us more aware that art can be found all around us at any given place and time. The presence of public art implies this awareness and connotes a community’s sense of pride by underscoring a positive quality of life through a creatively charged environment. By its very definition, public art enhances a community’s setting via its residents, allowing the public to become more engaged with their community by means of reacting to it. Although controversy can often become part of a public sculpture’s identity (as in the case of Lakeland’s Tribute to the Spirit of Volunteerism), that controversy only arrives as the public becomes more engaged and keeps community self-preservation at the forefront. Even if it means that public art serves a more sacrificial role in calling attention to the beauty of our surrounding community, I think it has succeeded in its purpose.
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Clients by William King 46
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Hudson by John Henry
Oracle 1 by Jerome Soble
No Ordinary Days
Coincidence
works by Louviere+Vanessa (January 19-April 13)
works by Maggie Taylor (January 19-April 13)
sponsored by Jonn & Elizabeth Hoppe 路 Kerry & Buffy Wilson Webb Tanner & Deanna Rhodes-Tanner
sponsored by
with special thanks to Joshua Mann Pailet and A Gallery for Fine Photography
The Muses Unidentified Icon #3 by Shawn Phillip Morin
Tyranny of the Innocent
Small Possible Worlds
Polk Museum of Art presents
Exhibition Reception Sponsored by 6pm Friday, January 18, 2013 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland, FL 33801 路 863.688.7743 路 PolkMuseumofArt.org THE LAKELANDER
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Barbara Allen by Carl Billingsley 48
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Tribute to the Spirit of Volunteerism by Albert Paley
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GUIDE TO LAKELAND PUBLIC ART Bartow Rd. Massachusetts Ave.
Kentucky Ave.
Tennessee Ave.
Florida Ave.
LAKE WIRE
Pine St. c
e
Main St.
o
LAKE MIRROR
Lemon St. f g h
k p
i
j
Orange St. a
b Lime St. d
l m n LAKE MORTON
a - Infinity by Albert Kristen b - Tier by Anne Melanie c - Clients by William King d - Airwaves by Frank Holder e - Crocodilis by Doug Makemson f - Oracle 1 by Jerome Soble g - Window by Robert Wick h - In Flux by Brett Hunter
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i - No Mommy, That One by J. Seward Johnson j - Out of Sight by J. Seward Johnson k - Tribute to the Spirit of Volunteerism by Albert Paley l - Hudson by John Henry m - Verde Voyager by Glenn Zweygardt n - Unidentified Icon #3 by Shawn Morin o - Mute Swan Protecting her Cyngets by Ian G. Brennan p - Barbara Allen by Carl Billingsley
Not Pictured on Map:
Spirit by Mark Hollis
Located on the Florida Southern Campus
Mute Swan Protecting Her Cygnets by Ian G. Brennan
MosierData We’re serious about the web
Infinity by Albert Kristen
www.mosierdata.com | 863.687.0000 Downtown Lakeland
Web & Graphic Design • Custom Databases • SEO • Mobile THE LAKELANDER
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SHELTER
VICTORY IN
CENTRAL LAKELAND
HOW ONE FAMILY USES THEIR BACKYARD SPACE TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN (AND THEMSELVES) ABOUT WHERE FOOD COMES FROM story by Rachel Plating photography by Penny & Finn
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*Victory gardens, also called “war gardens” or “food gardens for defense,” were planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, Canada, and Germany during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort, these gardens were also considered a civil “morale booster” — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. This made victory gardens become a part of daily life on the home front. (From Wikipedia, see verified sources below)
L
et’s admit it, we have few things in common with the pre-World War I and World War II lifestyle. We have little patience. Our attention spans are shorter than ever. We place great value on immediacy (think of the constant updates we receive on the actions of all of our friends via sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). If it can’t happen now, we don’t want to wait for it. We’ve also gradually become more and more disconnected from the food supply. Whereas wartime Europe/United States/Canada were cut off from import of produce by military force and government rationing, we choose largely to buy our food in boxes, bottles, and packets at the supermarket, and fast food reigns for most busy families. We tend to place more value on cost versus quality when it comes to food and have utterly lost touch with the feel of dirt between our toes. Our children know increasingly less and less about where food comes from. Backyard gardening is a way to bring back a little of that — show our children where food comes from, encourage us to slow down, put down the laptop or smartphone, and get our hands in the earth. Here’s how one Lakeland family has done just that.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about yourselves. Ted and Jessica Weeks: We are both native Lakelanders and have lived here all our lives, with the exception of time away for college and a brief stint in Clermont where we met. Ted is an attorney, and Jessica is a former elementary school teacher, now homemaker. We are active in our local church and enjoy neighborhood and community events. Q: What made you decide to try your hand at backyard gardening? A: [When we bought the house] there was much work to be done both inside and out. Before we moved in, we focused on the inside, and the yard sat untouched for several months until we came up with inspiration for various areas around the yard. Ted is the idea man, often pulling out an old drafting board and charcoal pencils to draw sketches of landscape ideas. The area where we have placed our kitchen garden is a fenced-in area next to our garage. It was greatly overgrown with weeds and separated from the rest of the yard, and we struggled to find its purpose. Past owners used the area for a dog run and even a chicken coop; however, we don’t have a dog (or THE LAKELANDER
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A properly prepared bed, ready for planting. Be sure to purchase a good top soil and mix with a layer of manure or compost to help give your plants a healthy start.
Jessica uses a measuring tape to ensure proper spacing between plants.
Tiny hands help to firmly pack the soil around each plant.
Ted and Jessica Weeks, with their daughters Marley (left) and Finley (right)
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Be sure to provide ample water — vegetables thrive on a daily watering. The more hydrated they are, the juicier and more flavorful your crops will be. Water early in the morning or after the sun goes down.
chickens, for that matter). Once we cleared away the dead wood and overgrown weeds, the area’s purpose became apparent. Located only a few steps from the kitchen door and receiving natural light from morning ’til night, a kitchen garden seemed like a perfect complement. A trip to Epcot, observing their various fruit, vegetable, and herb gardens provided the spark and motivation to get started. Q: Who designed and built the garden space? A: Ted came up with the design. Given the age and style of the home, he researched garden designs from historic neighborhoods from Boston, Williamsburg, and even England. As the overall design came into focus, the pea-gravel paths, brick Celtic-cross inner paths, raised beds, and plantings soon followed. For the sake of time, we had some friends help with the construction of the raised beds, but the rest we did ourselves: staining the beds with an eco-friendly organic seal, building the frame for the pea-gravel pathways, laying the pea gravel, planting the shrubbery that conceals the garden, and cutting and laying the brick around the raised beds. Ted was covered in red dust each evening after work from cutting each of the bricks. The final touch was an artichoke statue we found at a local architectural salvage store. Q: What plants have you had success with, and which species have not worked for you? A: We do not have green thumbs. In fact, we’ve purposefully selected many Florida native/resilient plants because they are low maintenance and require little attention. As far as the kitchen garden is concerned, we’ve found Peterson Nursery & Garden Center to be a great help in selecting vegetables that complement our lifestyles and garden space, which is a kind way of saying they’ve helped us choose vegetables to make us feel successful given our limited knowledge and experience. So far, we’ve had our best success with herbs and tomatoes. Anything we’ve tried to grow from seeds, such as lettuces, has been unfruitful. Q: What’s your favorite aspect of growing veggies at home? A: The idea of using the kitchen garden as a teaching resource for our kids is one of the predominant reasons for creating the garden. My favorite moments are when my children see a new tomato on the bush when it’s just begun to turn red, and they tell me it’s not quite ready yet. Or when I smell their hands after they’ve been playing in the garden and realize they’ve been snacking on basil. Sending them out to pick fresh oregano for our favorite recipe while I’m in the kitchen cooking. You can’t beat those kinds of experiences. Q: What advice do you have for someone who might want to try growing vegetables at home for the first time? A: Grow things that you love to eat first. Then experiment and be adventurous with things you might not think to buy at the grocery store. You might like the way it tastes fresh from the garden, grown with your own two hands. Do your research on vegetable gardening in Florida. There are several good books and websites which give very specific information about gardening in our climate. My gardening bible has been Guide to Florida Fruit and Vegetable Gardening by Robert Bowden.
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rowing from seed can be tricky, even for the experienced gardener. If growing from seed seems overwhelming or requires more maintenance than you are ready for, purchase starter plants from a local nursery such as Peterson’s. This will cut your wait for harvest in half and bypass the delicate process of nurturing seeds to life. [Editor’s confession: I usually buy starter plants for my own garden beds, as I’m terrible at remembering to plant seed at the proper time.]
EASY-TO-GROW SPECIES TO PLANT IN MARCH/APRIL IN LAKELAND: bush beans pole beans lima beans summer squash tomatoes cantaloupe watermelon
EASY-TO-GROW HERBS FOR FLORIDA GARDENS: rosemary basil thyme oregano chives sage parsley cilantro dill For further planting guidelines/advice: PETERSON NURSERY & GARDEN CENTER (www.petersonnursery.com) THE FLORIDA VEGETABLE GARDENING GUIDE written and maintained by the UF Horticulture Department (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021)
*Sources: Victory Gardens Handbook of the Victory Garden Committee War Services, Pennsylvania State Council of Defense April, 1944,GARDENS FOR VICTORY, Written by Jean-Marie Putnam & Lloyd C. Cosper *web source: http://www.victorygardeninitiative.org
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SHELTER | DIY
GET THE LOOK
BRINGING IN THE GREEN HOW TO BRING A LITTLE OF THE OUTDOORS INTO YOUR HOME, WITH THE HELP O F T H E F I N E F O L K S AT T H E G R E E N H O U S E G A R D E N S T O R E
As with many pursuits, writing is an organic process. This article was Plan B. When we received our assignments at the beginning of January, we were going to do another home/ workspace design profile, in a similar vein to what we’d done in previous issues of The Lakelander. But, life being what it is, things didn’t line up, and for one reason or another we ended up back at square one, with a looming deadline and no ideas. As my editor and I kicked around the options, we settled on a “bringing the outdoors in” theme, with no clue as to how we would pull it off. We knew we needed plants — and homeowners willing to let us trample all over their house with said plants, props, and a photographer, and who wouldn’t mind if the focus was more on the vignettes than the home itself. Our big “idea” in place, and with a willing homeowner secured for the shoot, I went on a plant-finding escapade. We found all we had hoped for and more in Jarman Peacock, owner of The Green House, an incredibly well stocked and well curated garden store and nursery, located on Easton Drive in central Lakeland. I had emailed Jarman that morning to see if he would loan some plants for our shoot, but by the time I departed his store it was clear that if we wanted this project to be a success, we had to tap into his expertise. Jarman has a passion for teaching people how to incorporate nature into their environment, and he knows what will work. Even if you’re an experienced plant killer, he can help. Jarman is a Lakeland native who spent six years practicing in Miami as a landscape architect before moving back to Lakeland and opening The Green House. His nursery is filled with cultivars of all colors, shapes, and sizes, some of which I hadn’t seen since my grandad’s garden, and some I’ve never seen before. The Green House specializes in Florida-appropriate landscapes, but it also sells furniture and decorative items. Happily, Plan B ended up being far better than our original idea. 58
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A collection of plants liven up a seldom-used Florida fireplace.
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INDOOR PLANTS GUIDE We hope these photos inspire you to bring a little more of the outdoors into your home. All of the plants found on the following pages are available at The Green House Garden Store.
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Lakeland’s Premiere Nursery & Garden Center for over 10 Years.
• Orchids • Bromeliads • Bonsai • Succulents • Florida Natives Monday - Saturday 9am-6pm 110 Easton Dr. Midtown Lakeland
Lucky bamboo Dracaena sanderiana (left) is a very hearty plant. It will grow without soil, in a few inches of water. It prefers indirect light, which makes it a lovely and easy-tocare-for houseplant. Replenish your vase or container every seven to ten days with fresh water.
Facebook & Online @ The Green House Garden Store
863.683.9176
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Bromeliads. Brighten up a dim corner with these lovely, sculptural plants that come in all sorts of varieties. Make sure to use a container with proper drainage. Water thoroughly when the soil begins to dry out.
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Succulents and more Air Plants. Succulents have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. They are low maintenance, resilient, and inexpensive. Water when the soil is dry. They appreciate a good bit of light.
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Succulents and Cacti. If you have a very bright corner and not a lot of time, these plants are your best bet. They love bright light and only require water when the soil dries out. Make sure they have proper drainage to avoid root rot, as too much moisture is an enemy to their root system.
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Air plants Tillandsia need three things: air, light, and water. Bright, indirect light is best. They need no soil, so put them in any container you like, or none at all. Give your plant a good soak in a bowl of water once a week and it will thank you.
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The Zeezee Plant Zamioculcas zamiifolia (blue pot) is almost impossible to kill. It’s happy to go about three months between waterings. Jarman says this plant species has been around since prehistoric times. Clearly, it’s an expert in survival.
Money Tree Plant Pachira aquatica and Peace Lilies Spathiphyllum. Before you get too excited having a money tree in your home, I have to tell you: It doesn’t grow money. Sorry, folks. It is, however, a low-maintenance shrub which will grow as tall as you allow it (I have one about six feet tall in my dining room). Water thoroughly when the soil dries out. Keep in indirect light. This plant loves humidity. Peace lilies are incredibly resilient and a great choice for folks who may forget to water regularly. The plant will droop slightly to let you know it’s time for water. Many of you will be familiar with the white variety — we chose the red ones here, to add a little color in a sea of neutrals. Isn’t it cheery?
Orchids, Air Plants, Cactus, and Bromeliad all exist in harmony in a sunny enclosed porch room. Jarman recommends seeing orchids as an alternative to cut flowers. The initial cost is about the same, but an orchid can keep its bloom for several months. Brilliant. The Green House carries a wide variety of orchids.
Additional props provided by the editor, Pumpernaks, and the Black Swan Bazaar Black-and-white photography by Greg Allen and F.W. Van
The Green House Garden Store 110 Easton Drive | Lakeland, FL 33803 (863) 683-9176 | www.greenhousegardenstore.com
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STYLE
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A little inspiration to warm up your spring style story by Mark Nielsen and Courtney Philpot | photography by Michael Nielsen
W
ith a winter as mild as the one we’ve just had, spring may not seem like much of a big deal. But if you take a moment to look a little harder, you’ll find that it is very much an event. Leaves stop falling. Trees and flowers begin to bloom again. Days start to get longer. Light takes on a different quality. It’s the perfect time to open the windows and enjoy the spring air or spend quality time outside. So consider this your spring training, if you will — a time to reintroduce yourself to warm-weather clothing while still maintaining your individual sense of style. Because we don’t typically see an extended ease into
spring with cooler mornings and evenings as do our neighbors to the North, we don’t require multiple layers for very long and can simplify our spring wardrobe accordingly. For us, this means it’s time to step into a little more casual fare, to take a break from dressing up for parties and weddings, and relax at an afternoon at the ballpark or a morning at the market. Whatever your thing, we’re here to to tell you that shorts, skirts, sandals, and T-shirts are great options if done well. Follow our tips on the following pages, kick back a little, and enjoy the next couple of months outdoors while it’s arguably one of the most beautiful times of year.
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Tokyo Laundry Shirt (model’s, purchased at Bluenotes) Bullhead Dillon Skinny Chino Ducky Tan Pants from PacSun Hawkings McGill Jacket from Urban Outfitters. Similar one available from PacSun Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Core Ox Shoes
MEN’S CLOTHING TIPS Shorts are okay, and necessary as the temps start to rise. Try going for something a little slimmer, but definitely not skin tight. The length really depends on your height and build. I try to keep them right above the knee, maybe even a little shorter. Too short and you risk looking like Richard Simmons; too long, and you might look like a Korn groupie. My guess is neither of these looks are what you’re going for. When wearing shorts, go for the no-socks look. Those white anklehigh crew socks? Out. If you don’t like the idea of actually not wearing socks, you can find styles made specifically to be worn unseen. Converse sneakers are my favorite brand of all time. You can also choose Jack Purcell’s when you want to take it up a notch. Or go with a classic pair of Vans. Lately, I’m also in love with a few Nike models, like the Lunar Glide 2. Finally, you can go with vintage-inspired kicks like some designs from Nike and Asics. Just avoid the hyper rainbow gradient versions, and try to keep them fairly simple. But a color can be your friend, especially if it’s an accent. My rules on T-shirts are to keep them simple (surprised?) — no embellishments, glitter, studs, etc. I’m absolutely not against a graphic, but I try to pick something that looks classic or can stand the test of time. A solid tee is always a safe bet and can look great with the right outfit. Just know your size and remember you’re wearing this shirt out, not to bed. No mustard stains, please.
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When some people think of short-sleeve button-up shirts, they think of nerds and pocket protectors. Not these days, though. Short-sleeve button-ups can be cool when done right, meaning avoid the Hawaiian shirts, make sure the sleeves aren’t too long (they definitely shouldn’t reach your elbow), make sure it fits, and choose a modern pattern like a polka dot or plaid. Since evenings in spring can still get a little chilly, you may need to reach for a jacket. I like vintage-inspired varsity jackets. Don’t break out your old LHS varsity jacket, though. New designs are slimmer and shorter, which is what you want. Also, pay attention to little details when you wear a jacket. You don’t need to button every single button. Leave the bottom button undone, and the top two or three also. Remember, style isn’t just about what you wear, but how you wear it. Some guys aren’t sure what to do about sunglasses. First of all, if you’ve never invested in a good pair of Oakleys, Ray Bans, or the like, you’re missing out. The five-dollar sunglasses usually have no substance, and you tend to find yourself forgetting them a lot. Try to stick with something simple and classic — black or brown, even tortoise-shell. If you want some color, try a deep navy or dark green frame before opting for the day-glo orange. Also, not every frame works with every face shape, so you may have to try on many pairs before you find the right one.
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9-inch Stanton Short in Golden Beach from J.Crew AE Hoodie T from American Eagle Vans Authentic Shoes from Zumiez Timex Watch from Kohl’s 72
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Modern Amusement Park Solid Short from PacSun Shirt from Urban Outfitters (model’s) Detroit Tigers New Era 59FIFTY Cap from Lids
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It’s no secret that modern-day women are busy. While we’d prefer our weekends to be relaxing downtime, most women find themselves juggling multiple family and social activities. With that in mind, I would like to provide you with some casual spring options that can work for Saturday mornings at the market with your girlfriends, shuttling your little ones to practice, lunch with the family, and Sunday afternoon barbeque with friends.
LOOK #1:
WOMEN’S CLOTHING TIPS When I think of spring, the terms “effortless chic,” “easy breezy,” and “comfort” come to mind. For us Florida gals, that means embracing the beginning of warmer weather without sacrificing style. With that in mind, I have put together some tips on spring essentials and examples of looks that will allow you to do just that. Flip-flops. Save the rubber styles for the beach and pool. I can’t live without my Havaianas and Rainbows for weekends at the beach or a quick errand (in case you happen to catch me in Publix). But when I need a more pulled-together look, I opt for my dressier leather-sole flops or thong sandals. Brands like J.Crew, Old Navy, and Banana Republic have an assortment of styles and colors of leather-sole flats. Invest in a nude, tortoise, leopard, or snake-print pair — they go with everything. If you need a flat with a dressier tone, thong sandals have become very popular over the last few years and are available now in a variety of styles, colors, and stylish metal accents (see nude/snakeskin pair with gold accents pictured on model). If you need something a bit dressier than a flip-flop or thong sandal, try a wedge sandal. Not only do they come in an array of styles and colors, but many wedge sandals can give you the height without the discomfort that comes with a heel. If the wedge is something new for you, start with a neutral color in nude or classic tan, which goes with everything. Then go for a color such as bright pink or coral/orange. You’ll be amazed at the outfits you can pair with these colors. For a casual look, choose an espadrille, cork, or wood wedge. For a dressier option, go with a patent-leather style. The beginning of spring affords us the opportunity to grab a light jacket for cooler mornings and evenings. Save on closet space and money, and utilize some of your fall pieces, such as denim jackets, military utility jackets, and anoraks, which will work interchangeably within spring looks. A few exceptions to the rule — watch your fabric choices. Save the corduroy, velvet, wool, and suede for fall and winter. As you throw out the rulebook that says all seasonal pieces should stick to their particular season, you should do the same regarding the rule on when it’s appropriate to wear certain colors. Don’t save your white for summer or your army green for fall. Whether spring’s technicolors are your thing or you prefer the softer pastels, it’s all about creating balance through the combination of the light and the bright. For instance, combine vibrant pink with mint green, violet with emerald green, cobalt blue and turquoise, poppy red and linen, poppy red and nectarine, cobalt blue and chartreuse green. Bottom line: Mix it up and make your own rules. 74
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Let a maxi skirt or dress be the statement piece by keeping other pieces ultra simple. Here, I use a bright-orange sheer maxi skirt with a white tee, denim jacket, woven brown belt (this skirt has great pleated detailing, so to show that off I tucked the shirt in and added a belt to break it up), fuchsia necklace (love the bright pink/orange combo for spring), wide printed bangle to add print to the look, and nude/snakeskin thong sandals.
LOOK #2:
Try a color-blocked look by using the colored denim you’re seeing everywhere with a similar color family on top that will create a nice contrast. Here, I used a mint-green cropped straight jean (rolled the cuff once) with a dark teal green top, threw on a floral scarf to break up the solids, and a straw fedora to pull the casual look together. Pointed-toe leopard flats (you know how I love adding a little leopard) show a little print mixing.
LOOK #3:
Try a hard and soft look by pairing a feminine frock or maxi dress with a rugged jacket. Here, I did just that by pairing a short floral dress with a military-inspired, armygreen jacket. I used a rope-style equestrian belt to add emphasis to the waistline and played up the feminine-versus-masculine look with the shocking, electric-pink wedges and mintgreen day bag with edgy gold accents. To top it off, I introduced a turquoise (it goes great with bright pink) necklace and layered with a longer mixed chains/pearl necklace which plays well into the hard / soft combo.
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Orange Pleated Maxi Skirt from Halogen, Nordstrom White Tee from J.Crew Wide Brown Woven Belt from Lucky Brand Denim Jacket from Lucky Brand, Marshalls Fuchsia Necklace from Target Straw Bag-Vintage from local estate sale White, Gold Oversized Sunglasses from Vera Bradley, Peacock Antiques Thong Sandals from DV by Dolce Vita, www.shoedazzle.com
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Teal Top from MNG by Mango, JCPenney jcp Skinny Ankle-Length Jeans in Cascade Green from JCPenney Floral Scarf from Apt 9, Kohls Leopard Flats from Mossimo, Target Straw Fedora from JCPenney Gold Chandelier Earrings from Calypso St. Barth for Target Leather Messenger Bag from Marshalls Classic Wayfarer Sunglasses-Tortoise from Ray Ban
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Floral Dress from Lauren Conrad, Kohl’s Military-Inspired Jacket from LOFT Turquoise Necklace from Lucky Brand, Dillard’s Pearl Mixed-Chain Necklace from Hattie’s Branches Hot Pink Wedges from www.shoedazzle.com Mint Green Bag from Gianni Bini, Dillard’s Aviator Sunglasses from Michael Kors
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SPORT
a niche of his own one lakelander’s journey to entrepreneurial success 82
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story by Jarrett Smith photography by Tina Sargeant
ake a drive around Lake Hollingsworth any given morning, and you’re likely to see scores of Lakelanders out for an early jog in the cool morning air. Catch the right weekend, and you might find hundreds of runners taking part in one of the many local 5Ks held throughout the year. Recently, we sat down with Rich Wills, owner and operator of Lakeland’s first dedicated running store, FITNiche, to talk about fitness, entrepreneurship, and what’s on the horizon for his growing operation. The Lakelander: Let’s start at the beginning. Are you a Lakeland native? I promise The Lakelander won’t judge you if you’re not. Rich Wills: Yes, I was born in Lakeland. I went to Dixieland Elementary School through third grade. My dad was a Methodist minister, so we ended up in Englewood, then Fort Lauderdale. But then I found my way back to Lakeland and attended USF graduate school. TL: You’re obviously an entrepreneurial guy. Have you always been that way? RW: I’ve always had a very entrepreneurial drive. I just didn’t fully recognize it. Everyone in my family is pretty much either a preacher or a teacher, so I really wandered a lot before finding what I now know is my calling. I should’ve recognized this earlier, but I’m a slow learner sometimes. I always won my Cub Scouts’ sales contests. I detailed cars and sold cookies in high school before being shut down by the principal. I even started my own running, swimming, and triathlon coaching business. I’ve always gravitated toward finding my own ways to make my own money. That should’ve been my first clue that being an entrepreneur is what I really am. TL: At one time you taught at Lakeland High School, correct? RW: Teaching English and journalism at Lakeland High School was my first professional job. I was even introduced to the woman I am now married to there, though we just were married last summer. I enjoyed teaching, most of the time, but having lunch every day with Hazel Haley, Didi Bentley, and Alan Cleveland made me keenly aware that I didn’t possess the inner-calling that I think all great teachers have.
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TL: You also spent some time working for Publix. RW: I did. I was on the corporate side, helping departments develop their business plans. Every time a position closer to retail would open up, I’d apply for it, and I’d enjoy myself more. After a while I thought, man, if I don’t watch it, I’m going to work myself right into a store. Turns out, the corporate world was just never a great fit for me on the inside. I worked with lots of great people, and the company is obviously great in so many ways. I just wanted to be my own boss too much. Doing something on my own — over my last year at Publix — just became my driving passion. So, I’d get up at five in the morning and work an hour on my business plan. Eventually, I had enough of a plan, and I was able to secure a small business loan.
risk. I never like to go too far out over a ledge without having some sort of fallback position. You want to live to fight another day if things don’t go your way. And, things often don’t go your way due to circumstances or just a poorly executed plan.
much more competitive market. TL: What’s the FITNiche “secret sauce?” Why do you think your stores have done so well? RW: We have really great employees. They are hands down the reason why we continue to do well. They genuinely care about their customers, they’re good at what they do, and they’re passionate about the sport of running and fitness in general. It’s a real winning combination. Weth train them well, but most importantly, we try to only hire people who genuinely enjoy helping other people.
TL: Why a running store? Prior to FITNiche you were into triathlons and running, but why did you decide to turn that into your business? RW: My dad would come home in the evenings and talk me into going for two- and three-mile runs in the Camphor Drive area. It’s always been a passion. So, when I started putting the numbers together, I& thought, okay, IMPROVEMENT TL: You now have locations HOME INC. in Wesley maybe we can make this happen. But I didn’t Chapel and Hyde Park. Celebrating think Lakeland was big enough to support22 Years RW: Hyde Park opened last December, and a store that just did running. So, when we Service Wesley Chapel’s been open for about two and of Excellent TL: What advice do you have for the first opened up, we had all this home gym a half years. Whether your home is 10,000 sq. ft. or 1,000 sq. ft. Mike’s Painting is the would-be entrepreneurs out there? equipment — ellipticals, that sort of thing. right choice. Mike’s Painting has not only been serving our community RW: Believe you can do it, but research, But it turned out very quickly that there was TL: Do you plan to expand? Is Orlando a for over 22 years but has been the right choice for thousands of satisfied customers. Mike’s Painting brings the best of the best. Our employees research, research, plan, plan, plan. Even though quite a lot of demand for a running store, possibility? are drug tested and background checked and have a min. of 5 years I didn’t end up following my business plan — and the closest competitors were in Tampa RW: That is definitely the plan. We just have experience. Our reputation says it all! With our fully equipped trucks to our product knowledge Mike’s Painting will always ensure a professional I diverged from it — what I learned by going and Orlando. We had a really great market to make sure that we do things in the right job each and every time. At Mike’s we use no "salesmen." Mike himself through that process was really important. to ourselves. It was the perfect market in progression and at the right speed, so we don’t evaluates each and every job to make sure that you, the customer, is I developed an understanding of where the which to grow, expand, incubate, and learn. If get the cart before the horse. It’s a slow growth. always #1 and receives the quality and professionalism you deserve. bottom is and exactly what we have to do I’d started a running store in Tampa, I’m not We do well in one place. When we feel we’re Now Interest 1 enough Year to survive. For me, if you’re going to start a sure we’d Offering still be here. Now we’re in Tampa, for doing well there, we expand to another with Approved Credit and Signed Contract. business, it’s all about mitigating the downside after cutting our teeth in Lakeland, and it’s a location.
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LAKELANDER 87 MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION, THE FLORIDA DENTAL ASSOCIATION & THE POLK COUNTYTHE DENTAL ASSOCIATION.
TL: What is FITNiche’s contribution to Lakeland’s running community? RW: The bulk of the people coming into our stores are not hard-core runners or racers. They’re people who want to lose twenty pounds or run a 5K. We end up being the sensible first stop for people. One of the core principles of our company is that we give and share information as a gift. So, they come in for a pair of shoes, but they get so much more, because at every point along the way we’re giving them our advice. We really try to be an information hub. TL: Fitness-wise, it seems that Lakeland is starting to get some really interesting options. What do you think about that? RW: We’re getting healthier, and it’s cool to see. I have to give a good shout out to Rebecca Wroten at Haka Fitness. She was one of our original employees and she’s done tremendous things here in the fitness community. So have the CrossFit gyms. It’s the kind of community that — whether I owned running stores or not — I would want to live in. TL: Let’s talk Lake Hollingsworth. The FITNiche water coolers have been out there for years. And, of course, more recently, you’ve been a huge proponent of having public restrooms around the lake. Are these two things actually tied together? Was this a long-term strategic plan? RW: No, this isn’t a master strategy. The coolers were our original community outreach. I asked if it would be permissible for us to do it, and the city’s been gracious enough to allow us to do that. And I think it’s generated some good will and provided something helpful for people. The restroom issue isn’t about marketing at all, though. There’s a real need. I was surprised at what a firestorm the issue created for some of the nearby homeowners. I was encouraged, though, by a couple of alternative solutions that were proposed. Exploring a partnership project with Florida Southern College is a great idea. Also, former Mayor Buddy Fletcher suggested paving the field up by Common Ground Park on Buckingham, where public restrooms already exist. That would create more parking and encourage people to start and finish from there, and it could help ease some of the overcrowding that already exists. I like the way he thinks. And the homeowners brought up the issue that the parking lot at Lake Hollingsworth does need to be closed after hours, perhaps with a gate. These are all good ideas that have come as a result of our efforts. We do need to provide restrooms for the 2,000-3,000 pedestrians a day that use the path — especially for the elderly, the pregnant, and the moms with small children. It wouldn’t cost very much, and it’s just common sense. TL: So, what’s next? Are you looking into new ventures, or keeping your focus on FITNiche? RW: I always have business ideas floating around in my head, and I seem to possess a sometimes unhealthy “I think I can do that!” attitude. So there’s no telling what the distant future holds. For now, though, there’s plenty to do with FITNiche, and I do have a long-term vision for us. I’d like to see us in more communities. We have three stores — one brand new — and I think we can grow to seven to ten stores. But like I said, there’s plenty to do now with what we’ve got! 88
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SPORT
Rich’s 7 simple rules to becoming a better runner Go to a specialty run store (like FITniche, of course).
They can analyze your gait and safely fit you with shoes that are correct for your biomechanics. If you’re a woman, you should get a properly fitted sports bra there as well. The right equipment is essential for protection and comfort through the miles.
Increase incrementally.
Begin by running only 1-2 minutes. Then walk the rest of your workout at a brisk pace. Next time you go out, add 1-2 minutes more to the run segment. For example, you would run 3-4 minutes continuously on your second workout, and you would brisk-walk the remainder of it. Do this until you are running a continuous thirty minutes, and remember — you have to be able to smile and mean it! Do not increase the run segments by more than 1-2 minutes in length with each successive workout.
Exercise
with friends.
fact:
The Lakeland metro-area is the seventh most obese market in the nation, but we’re shedding that title and those pounds. The number of people running and walking in Lakeland is up significantly in recent years. Every day, more than two thousand people a day use the Lake Hollingsworth path for walking and running!
We’re all social creatures by nature, so find friends to work out with. Your longterm success rate increases with every friend you drag along.
Smile
and mean it.
If you’re doing things right, at least eighty percent of your workouts should be easy enough for you to smile and mean it the whole time. An easier effort actually burns more fat calories and produces more fitness. That’s one reason why our motto at the store is, “Get fit, have fun!”
Seek adventure.
Set a goal to complete a 5K in a different town. Go to a park or find a trail to do some of your workouts. Remember running through the woods and exploring new places as a kid? This is what you want to recapture to some degree in your workouts.
Stay light on your feet. Shorter, lighter, quicker steps are far better than longer strides or plodding steps that leave your foot on the ground for longer periods of time.
Exercise first thing.
Make your workout the first thing you do in some segment of your day. Do not plan on going home after work and then doing a workout. Your family and your couch just create too much gravitational pull most of the time. Instead, do your workout at the beginning of the day, at the beginning of your lunch break, or before you head home
Good luck! And remember, FITniche always loves to talk shop and share advice with new runners at the store, so stop by any time for a chat. 90
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Lakeland FITNiche
1421 Town Center Drive | Lakeland, FL 33803 (863) 619-5390 | www.fitniche.com
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PHILANTHROPY
THE MOSAIC OF US
Mentoring: the grout of a rich and sustainable community
story by Brooklyn Lindsey photography by Penny & Finn
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M “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
osaic art forms can be found in cathedrals all over the world. It’s a technique where small pieces of tesserae (stone or glass), varying in color and size, are used to create a pattern or picture. They tell a story that is usually rich in cultural or spiritual significance. The idea is that individual pieces, as they are gathered together, collectively tell a story, becoming more valuable and interesting than if they were to stand alone. Much like pieces of great mosaic art, people become rich when they come together, connected by the grout of lives shared and supported. Recently, we spent time with three Lakelanders who showed us what this richness looks like through the service of mentoring. These individuals, with their differing backgrounds, occupations, schedules, and personalities, each contribute to young lives in ways that will redirect their fears and reinforce their futures. Margaret Anne Wheeler, senior coordinator of community involvement for Polk County Public Schools, says that while the reasons for needing a mentor vary greatly, there are some common themes. In every school there are students living in a singleparent home, with multiple siblings, with a parent who may need to work at multiple jobs, or with parents who are themselves still learning or needing to learn. In every school it wouldn’t take long to discover students who have a family member who has been or is incarcerated, or who’ve had skirmishes with the law already. In every school, we see students with good potential experiencing chronic or situational crisis, some of whom have been abandoned by their parents or guardians. Even without some of these additional troubles, growing up is a challenge in and of itself. Many need some extra help through some of the swiftest changes that happen physically and emotionally during adolescence. Meanwhile, school officials report the positive effects of adult mentoring relationships — the very reason why we are sharing the current situation with our readers.
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MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS CAN CHANGE THE PREDICTED FUTURES OF MANY STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY It has been noted that mentored students in Polk County experience decreased discipline referrals by as much as thirty-four percent. Mentored students also increase daily attendance by as much as twenty percent. In essence, mentors help students take next steps in maturity, in behavior, in relationships, and in their education. Fewer absences equal better grades. Fewer referrals equal increased pride and social confidence. Mentors are the trusted advisors who enter into the lives of students to help make their goals a possibility. So what does a mentor look like, and what do they do exactly? How do we form a mosaic which says that our kids are valuable, and we’re not willing to sit around and let systemic issues, developmental challenges, or emotional hurdles rob them of a hope and a future? There are many faces to mentoring, and we’d like to peel back the layers of three Lakelanders who, by being themselves and opening up their lives, are making a difference through mentoring.
SAVANNA MINER Savanna Miner from Atco, New Jersey, is a college student at Southeastern University. She wanted to attend a Christian university and admittedly states, “What Jersey girl wouldn’t want to move to Florida?” We can’t disagree with her on that one. Now that she’s enrolled, she’s in class, going to work, heading to the gym, spending time with friends, and making time to mentor a student at Crystal Lake Elementary school.
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In the fall of 2011, Savanna received an email passed through to the student body about mentoring opportunities. In her response to the invitation, she met with Margaret Anne Wheeler, who introduced her to the idea and communicated about the special relationships that many mentors have developed with their students. Savanna was interested in finding a new way to invest her time in helping local youth, and she thought this was a great opportunity to share her life with a particular individual. For Savanna, the process began with an introductory meeting and was followed by paperwork and a background check. After that, she was contacted to determine what time she would have available that would work with one of the students in the program. Soon after, she was paired with Jenny. It’s been over a year since she started mentoring at Crystal Lake Elementary and has been with Jenny the entire time. She loves to see the smile on Jenny’s face every time she picks her up from her classroom. Savanna says Jenny has become like a little sister to her and she has enjoyed seeing her come out of her shell. She admits that it can be a little nerve wracking meeting someone you’d like to mentor for the first time. When Jenny and Savanna first spent time together, Jenny was quiet and reserved. Now, she is talkative and enjoys expressing herself and
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all of her talents. Jenny is also artistic. Savanna remembers the time that Jenny learned to draw an elephant because she knew it was Savanna’s favorite animal. This Jersey-girl-turned-Lakeland-local encourages others to get involved. She would tell them that being a mentor not only positively affects the student’s life, but also their own. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that just spending an hour with a young person can mean so much to them.” ERNEST JOE Ernest Joe has a contagious personality. Speak with him for a few minutes and you’ll be passionate about getting involved in mentoring, too. His drive goes deep, all the way back to his days as a student at Kathleen High School. Ernest graduated from Kathleen High School in 1975 and received a scholarship to Albany State College in Albany, Georgia. It was through this football program that he began to understand the value of mentoring relationships. While in college, he spent his summers helping kids in the city. He and his teammates learned from their coaches what it meant to give back. And he has been doing so ever since. 96
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Ernest began his teaching career in 1980 and became a coach soon after. In 1991 he became the head football coach at Kathleen High School where he coached the now pro football athlete Ray Lewis. Recently, Ernest watched from the sidelines at the 47th Super Bowl, cheering on his former student. There’s nothing but pride in his voice when he speaks of it. His successes led to administration work as the dean of students at Southwest Middle
School, then as the assistant principal at Lake Alfred Middle, and finally to becoming principal at Auburndale High School and then Teneroc High School in 2008. Ernest was promoted to the position of senior director of diversity management for the school district, where he stays busy with strategic planning, training, and equipping of leaders. What’s impressive is that he’s still actively involved in mentoring students. Investing in mentoring relationships is one of his highest priorities. When we asked what kind of person he looks for while recruiting mentors to work with young people in the school system, he emphasized the importance of being able to dedicate one’s time to being an effective mentor. Ernest learns lessons like these as he partners with Margaret Anne Wheeler and others on the Polk County Schools team to discover what it takes to develop great mentors. He asks these questions when talking to potential mentors: 1) Do you have some extra time, or can you make some extra time on a consistent basis? (Consistency is key.) 2) Are you willing to use your extra time to mentor a young person? 3) Are you willing to help a young person be successful?
Ernest currently mentors fifteen young men at Sleepy Hill Middle school. At the beginning of the 2012 school year, he asked the principal to identify five students from each grade level — sixth, seventh, and eighth — in order to put together a program. He recruited two individuals to assist him, Pam Haltman and Byron Williams (assistant principal), who meet with the group in the times when Ernest can’t be there. They help by pulling grades, letting him know what’s going on. Ernest will follow the boys until they graduate from high school. He will keep up with their grades. He won’t let them go until they’re ready to go. This is his personal commitment. So far, they’ve had five meetings to establish the characteristics behind their acronym, the Jaguar GENTS. Gentleman of character Education (becoming lifelong learners) Navigators (being able to overcome obstacles) Trust (believing in themselves and others around them who are trying to help) Success (for a future they deserve) Ernest’s son, Errin, plays football for Georgia Tech. Just like these boys from Sleepy Hill Middle School, Errin came out of the Polk County school system and achieved success. Errin spoke to the boys during a lunch this
semester. The GENTS asked questions about high school, college life, friends. Errin told them they have to search for good people to help guide them. Ernest admits, the first two meetings with the GENTS were tough. They had some learned behaviors that were difficult to deal with. But by the third meeting, the boys began to take their seats. They began to receive instruction. He told them, “I’ve got to be able to trust you, that you will be able to sit and listen, that you won’t be making noises when someone enters the room. You can do this.” That’s why he brought Errin in on the fourth meeting. They were ready to receive a visitor, to learn manners, and to sit at a table with a guest. Ernest recalls, “I’ll always remember the allcall at the school: ‘Teachers, would you please release the Jaguar GENTS to the media center.’ He told the boys, “It was powerful today, men. Today I was proud when I heard the allcall, when they made that announcement. You don’t have to get up and act out. You put your books together quietly and you leave. What does exiting the room look like and sound like? We should be ‘manable.’ Leave with pride. You are the Jaguar GENTS.” Ernest loves young people, but he expects the best from them. And while you may not have the time or ability to take on fifteen students as he
did, you might have the time and ability to invest in one. To this mentor, there isn’t another option. We all need to help our young people grab onto the future they deserve.
SHELDON KATSOFF Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Sheldon Katsoff moved to Lakeland ten years ago. He retired from his general manager position in 2008. If you ask him, he’ll tell you that his whole day is his hobby. He enjoys being able to do what
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he wants because he wants to, not because he has to. And in this new freedom, he has admirably chosen to mentor students. Sheldon has plenty of time to read, play bridge, putter around the house, play golf, track his investments, spend time with his beautiful wife, and exercise, but his number-one priority is to make a difference in someone’s day. When Sheldon retired he wanted to remain active, to be significant and make a difference. He was determined not to sit around and grow old. After seeing a notice in the Ledger that the Polk County School District was looking for mentors, he felt that this was something that could fulfill his retirement goals. Sheldon is now in his fifth year of mentoring. He mentors twelve students individually for thirty to forty-five minutes once a week. When asked his advice on what it takes to get involved, he speaks of having a heart for kids and a desire to get them on the path to becoming contributing citizens. It’s important to have a desire to see them stand on their own two feet. He says it’s easy to call the Polk County School District. He also mentions Margaret Ann Wheeler, saying, “Call her, and she will help you get involved.” Sheldon’s biggest reward has been seeing how, over time, the seeds he has planted are bearing fruit. The boys are getting it and are beginning to take responsibility for their lives and their futures. They are becoming responsible men. Knowing that he’s making a difference has added meaning to Sheldon’s life. Through Sheldon’s mentoring efforts, one of the boys in his group will be the first to graduate high school in his immediate family. Yet, Sheldon’s biggest challenge is accepting the fact that there are some boys he can’t seem to get through to. He hopes that in the future they will remember their discussions with him and the role model he tried to be. Webster’s Dictionary defines a mentor as a “knowledgeable trusted advisor.” Sheldon is positive that we are all knowledgeable from the life experiences we’ve had, witnessed, and read about. We are trusted and have values. For certain, the school district will run a background check to make sure their students are safe with mentors. Not only will they be safe, but they will also have a trusted advisor to learn from. Sheldon believes that mentoring is a natural extension of who we are, and it will continue to add purpose to our lives. The Florida commissioner of education chose Sheldon to be one of the winners of the 2011-2012 Outstanding School Volunteer Awards, an award given to volunteers who have shown tremendous dedication and meaningful commitment to quality education in Florida. We were there to see the boys whom Sheldon mentors, their deep respect for him, and the fruit that has yet to be harvested because he made an important decision to be a part of the bigger picture. THE BIGGER PICTURE Savanna. Ernest. Sheldon. Three people committed to one work, helping Polk County students achieve success. And there are hundreds of other mentors as well. We applaud their efforts and support their dedication. We wonder, maybe, if someone has helped you along the way. Their name is probably still clear in your memory. Perhaps then, you might be willing to join the ranks of the mentoring community and come alongside young people as these three are doing — to join in the work of becoming part of the mosaic. To learn more about becoming a mentor in the Polk County Public Schools (a district with 97,000 diverse students), please contact Margaret Anne Wheeler. Margaret Anne Wheeler Senior Coordinator, Community Involvement Polk County Public Schools P.O. Box 391 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 534-0636
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EVENTS CALENDAR
NOW THROUGH MARCH 29 DETRIOT TIGERS SPRING TRAINING Joker Marchant Stadium (863) 686-8075 www.tigers.com
NOW THROUGH APRIL 19 COINCIDENCE: WORKS BY LOUVIERE & VANESSA Polk Museum of Art (863) 688-7743 www.polkmuseumofart.org
NOW THROUGH APRIL 20 NO ORDINARY DAYS: WORKS BY MAGGIE TAYLOR Polk Museum of Art (863) 688-7743 www.polkmuseumofart.org
NOW THROUGH JUNE 9 FLORIDA ARTISTS
MARCH 12 A CHORUS LINE THE LAKELAND CENTER
Polk Museum of Art (863) 688-7743 www.polkmuseumofart.org
(863) 834-8100 www.thelakelandcenter.com
MARCH 1-17 (Check website for show dates) HELLO, DOLLY!
Lakeland Community Theatre (863) 603-7529 www.lakelandcommunitytheatre.com
MARCH 9 LAKELAND RAIDERS INDOOR FOOTBALL
MARCH 14 FOOD TRUCK RALLY DOWNTOWN www.tastingtampa.com
MARCH 15 WINE FESTIVAL OF CENTRAL FLORIDA Lake Mirror Promenade (863) 665-3846 www.winefestivalofcentralflorida.com
The Lakeland Center www.lakelandraiders.com
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APRIL 6th, 2013 Live Entertainment, contests, climbing wall, Popsicle stick sculptures, bounce houses, crafts, face painting, and more … Don’t miss the Magnify Credit Union World Ice Cream Eating Championship featuring Joey Chestnut
FloridaIceCreamFestival.org JOKER MARCHANT STADIUM * LAKELAND, FL
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• COMPUTER NETWORKS • PHONE SYSTEMS • SECURITY CAMERAS
863.860.5333 superiorbiztech.com
EVENTS CALENDAR
HOME GAMES March 9 vs Sarasota Thunder March 30 vs Florida Tarpons April 20 vs Miami Sting April 28 vs Chattahoochee Valley Vipers May 4 vs Corpus Christi Fury May 18 vs Missouri Monsters
1-855-Raider1 LAKELANDRAIDERS.COM
facebook.com/lakelandraiders
@LakelandRaiders
863.834.8111
LAKELAND’S PREMIER Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Robert Houghton, Hospital Director Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.
Summer Jenks Ashley Langford Kim Patrick Jessica Robinson
863.646.2995 pethospital.com 3710 Cleveland Heights Blvd.
•State of the art diagnostics •Lodging monitored by medical staff • Professional Pet Stylists & Pet Spa •Family owned since 1972 •AAHA Accredited WE ARE NOW OPEN UNTIL 10 P.M. WEEKNIGHTS
Mon.–Fri., 7:00 A.M.–10:00 P.M. Saturday, 8:00 A.M.–3:00 P.M. Sunday, 4:00–5:30 P.M. (Lodging Pick-up Only)
THE LAKELANDER 101
EVENTS CALENDAR
MARCH 16 FAMILY FEST
Edgewood Drive Multipurpose Field www.gfwclakelandjuniors.org
MARCH 21 COMEDY CENTRAL LIVE PRESENTS GABRIEL IGLESIAS - STAND UP REVOLUTION The Lakeland Center (863) 834-8100 www.thelakelandcenter.com
MARCH 29 DENNIS MILLER LIVE!
The Lakeland Center (863) 834-8100 www.thelakelandcenter.com
MARCH 30 LAKELAND RAIDERS INDOOR FOOTBALL
APRIL 6 CHILD OF THE SUN JAZZ FESTIVAL, URBAN TRIATHALON & 5K
APRIL 3 HAIR THE LAKELAND CENTER
APRIL 6 FLORIDA ICE CREAM FESTIVAL
The Lakeland Center www.lakelandraiders.com
(863) 834-8100 www.thelakelandcenter.com
APRIL 5 FIRST FRIDAY
Downtown www.downtownlakelandfl.com
Lake Mirror Promenade www.cotslakeland.com
Joker Marchant Stadium www.floridaicecreamfestival.org
APRIL 9 IMPERIAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MASTERWORKS 5 NO PLACE LIKE HOME The Lakeland Center www.imperialsymphony.org
WHETHER YOU'RE MOVING ACROSS TOWN OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE’RE HERE TO HELP.
(863)646-6683
TWOMEN.COM
• HOME AND BUSINESS MOVES • LICENSED, INSURED & BONDED • BOXES AND PACKING SUPPLIES • PACKING SERVICES
4406 SOUTH FLORIDA AVE #27 LAKELAND, FL 33813 102 THE LAKELANDER
USDOT 1654865 MC608908 IM1517
EVENTS CALENDAR
APRIL 9-14 SUN ’N FUN INTERNATIONAL FLY-IN & EXPO Lakeland Linder Airport (863) 644-2431 www.sun-n-fun.org
APRIL 20 LAKELAND RAIDERS INDOOR FOOTBALL
The Lakeland Center www.lakelandraiders.com
APRIL 22 50 SHADES - THE MUSICAL
APRIL 11 FOOD TRUCK RALLY
The Lakeland Center (863) 834-8100 www.thelakelandcenter.com
Downtown www.tastingtampa.com
APRIL 19-28 (Check website for show dates) BOEING, BOEING
Lakeland Community Theatre (863) 603-7529 www.lakelandcommunitytheatre.com
APRIL 28 LAKELAND RAIDERS INDOOR FOOTBALL
The Lakeland Center www.lakelandraiders.com
Esterline Landscape Company
AZTEC NECKLACE
HANDMADE $ 18500
Exceeding Expectations Tel: 813-752-3300 esterlinelandscape.com
SORRELLI NECKLACES • EARRINGS • BRACELETS • RINGS
ANDY THORNAL COMPANY 336 Magnolia Ave SW • Winter Haven, Floirda
(863)299-9999 • andythornal.com • Mon - Sat • 10am-6pm THE LAKELANDER 103
NEVER MISS AN ISSUE. SUBSCRIBE TODAY $20 FOR 6 ISSUES (1 YEAR) $35 FOR 12 ISSUES (2 YEARS)
• Lakeland’s city magazine • Beautiful, perfect-bound • Independently produced in Lakeland • Rediscovering the Lakeland you love • 100 pages | Bimonthly • Mailed to your door in a protective polybag 104 THE LAKELANDER
Helping YOU Find JOY!
thejoyfm.com LIVE ONLINE
weekdays 6 -10 am
➧
When it comes to your insurance needs, the Gow Fields Team has helped many to make the right call
FOR OVER 20 YEARS! “Being home for my family with the ability to make a six figure income is possible!” - Ashley B.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE LAKELANDER? CALL 863.701.2707
Visit us online or call for details
(863) 272-1745
Work from Home with Peace of Mind . No Selling . No Inventory . No Party Planning . No Risk
Empowering Successful Women Since 1985
FIELDS INSURANCE & FINANCIAL GROUP Auto | Home | Business | Life
229 North Florida Avenue | Lakeland, FL 33801 P 863 683 2816 | F 863 682 0580 www.gowfields.com WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST A Division of Fields & Company, Inc. Florida Insurance License #A083694
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HISTORY
PLAY
BALL! THE DETROIT TIGERS CALL LAKELAND HOME
“The Detroit Tigers and Lakeland, Florida, have had a longer continuous relationship than any other major league baseball team and its spring training home. The Tigers first came to Lakeland for spring training in 1934 and, except for a three-year interruption during World War II, have been here ever since. Prior to their arrival in Lakeland, the Tigers had led a nomadic spring training existence, training at ten sites in eight states during the previous thirty years. Until Tiger Town opened at the site of the Lodwick School of Aeronautics in 1953, the Tigers conducted spring activities and played exhibition games at Henley Field. They continued to play games at Henley Field until 1966 when Joker Marchant Stadium opened at Tiger Town. Those early Tiger teams stayed at the Lakeland Terrace Hotel in the downtown area of Lakeland. As the Tigers were moving their spring training headquarters to Lakeland, Dan Sanborn was beginning his career with the Ledger. Over the next seven years, Sanborn brought his camera to Henley Field every spring and captured on film the Tiger teams of Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Tommy Bridges, Barney McCosky, and Schoolboy Rowe as they got in shape for the American League season. He returned to Henley Field as a freelance photographer in the 1950s and continued to chronicle the Tigers as they readied for the season ahead. Sanborn’s photos of the Tigers evoke memories of a simpler time for baseball before television and big contracts, a time when fans really believed every team had an equal chance to get to the World Series, and the cry of ‘Play Ball!’ was still louder than that of ‘Wait ’till next year.’”
106 THE LAKELANDER
When it comes to your heart, choose your hospital wisely. Lakeland Regional Medical Center, the region’s leader in cardiac and vascular care, is proud to open the area’s first Hybrid Operating Room. This state-of-the-art operating room gives our patients new treatment options and gives our surgeons increased flexibility by coupling traditional surgical capabilities with the latest imaging modalities.
By investing in the newest technology, LRMC continues to set an elite standard of care for your health and for the wellness of our community.
Please visit LRMC.com/Hybrid-OR for more information.
1324 Lakeland Hills Blvd. / Lakeland, FL 33805 / 863.687.1100 LRMC.com / facebook.com/LakelandRegional THE LAKELANDER 107
Studio Aquatics is now FisH2O!
FisH2O (formally Studio Aquatics) is the spot to find the best selection of saltwater and freshwater fish and aquarium supplies in Lakeland. Whether you’re a serious aquarium hobbiest or just starting out, our in-store Aquatechs will answer your questions, provide expert advice and help you make the right decisions. Stop in and see what’s We Specialize In: Freshwater & Saltwater Fish Aquarium Supplies & Food Tank Installation & Relocation Evaluation & Maintenance
Located at 1419 S. Florida Avenue
Call 863-683-7333
For more info, swim over to goFisH2O.com 108 THE LAKELANDER
happening at FisH2O!