The 863 Magazine - July & August 2014

July/August

2014

www.The863Magazine.com

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Letter from the Editor Apropos of Nothing Practice makes perfect, but getting married multiple times might not be what that refers to.

Nevertheless, Beckett reflects on his nuptials.

By Jamie Beckett

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Play Lakeland’s children’s museum offers a variety of hands-on exhibits for littles to explore and learn from, stimulating all five senses.

By Eric Mohrman

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The Games We Play As temperatures rise, teaching kids to recognize when they need a break or a drink is key to staying safe — and alive.

By Merlisa Lawrence Corbett

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Savor Summertime is traditionally grilling time. And deliciousness happens when non-traditional items—like pizza—are thrown on the flames.

By Mary Stein Hurst

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Chill Infusing water with various combinations of sliced fruits and veggies is a refreshing and healthy way to boost water’s flavor.

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Cover: Treasure From struggles with alcohol to creating a niche in upcycled art, Lakeland’s Kimberly Wyant has lived a difficult yet fruitful life.

By Andrea Cruz

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Non-Profit Spotlight LE/AD: Lakes Education / Action Drive

Explore Find out what’s happening in July & August.

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July / Aug. 2014

From the Editor

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ummertime and the living is hot! Even though I’m not a native Floridian, I endure the intense heat with gratitude because it makes the cooler weather that much more refreshing.

Sometimes, in order to know what you do want, you have to know what you don’t want, which can mean having to trudge through heated trials.

And perhaps inspiration can be found in the victories of life.

Lakeland artist Kimberly Wyant is one to be admired. As a very young woman, she was an alcoholic and her parents discouraged her creative talents. She found a way to triumph both challenges and enjoys a fulfilling life helping others to see the joy around them through art. Read her story beginning page 12.

Children find joy quite easily at the Explorations V in downtown Lakeland. The children’s museum has three levels of hands-on interactive exhibits meant to stimulate the five senses. Page 8 has all the fun facts.

Stimulating your taste buds this issue is our Summer Grilling feature. Find the delicious details on page 10, and related recipes page 20.

Getting too overheated can be a recipe for disaster.

Read about how to recognize the warning signs and stay cool, especially while playing sports. Story page 9.

Hydration is certainly the best way to keep cool, but some people simply don’t like the taste of water and choose unhealthy sodas instead. Check out page 11 for tasty ways to flavor water naturally.

We would like to say a special thank you to all of our 863 readers, advertisers, and contributors for all your support this past year. It is a labor of love and a work in progress that hasn’t always been an easy thing to pull together each month, but it has always been worth it.

Happy first birthday to The 863 Magazine! And a big thank you to Carissa Hughes, owner of Gourmet Goodies in Winter Haven, for the beautiful birthday cake.

Our Non-profit Spotlight for the summer is LE/AD, or Lakes Education / Action Drive. Read about how they keep the local lakes healthy on page 18.

-Andrea Cruz, editor Andrea@The863Magazine.com

Publisher | SERGIO CRUZ Editor | ANDREA CRUZ Contributors | JAMIE BECKETT

MERLISA LAWRENCE CORBETT ANDREA CRUZ MARY HURST ERIC MOHRMAN

Cover Designer | DEBORAH COKER Ad Sales Rep | SERGIO CRUZ Sergio@The863Magazine.com 863-258-3561

Cover photo: Artist Kimberly Wyant repurposes odd items into wearable art; her talent has helped to repurpose her life. Story page 12. Special thanks to Gourmet Goodies of Winter Haven for the fun 863 birthday cake. Photo credit: Andrea Cruz.

The 863 Magazine is independently owned and produced in Winter Haven, Florida. For more info: www.The863Magazine.com.

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July / August 2014

Apropos of Nothing

An Editorial by Jamie Beckett

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elieve it or not, I’ve been married a lot. I don’t mean I’ve been married for a long time. No, that’s not my thing. I mean I’ve been married a lot. As in, if you see me at a wedding there’s a really good chance I’m the groom.

I’ve been married so many times that when my son was about five years old he once commented, “Wow, dad you get married a lot, huh?” There were three of us in the room when he said that. There was me, my son, and an older gentleman who was two days away from officially becoming my father-in-law.

My son was right, of course. I can’t very well fault him for stating the obvious.

I do get married a lot. I maintain that the exact number of marriages I’ve entered into is nobody’s business but mine, and whomever I happen to be married to at the moment.

But to give you a sense of the situation, let’s just say I’ve been married enough times that an official from the Clark County Marriage License Bureau once reached out to me about appearing in a television commercial they were planning. I declined, of course, but certain hotels in that city still offer me a special discount. One even has

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July / August 2014

a newlywed weekend package plan named in my honor.

What happens to me in Vegas generally involves a wedding ring, three to five really exciting days, and a protracted legal proceeding.

Of course, I take little responsibility for my plight. I’m an American after all.

Nothing I do is my fault. I’m pretty sure that’s in the Constitution. You can look it up if you want to.

No, I blame television for creating the conditions that caused me to fall prey to MMD (multiple matrimony disorder). When I was young and television was still in black and white, I was often encouraged by random strangers to settle down after kindergarten to watch the mid-afternoon movie. In our neighborhood this was considered a suitable replacement for hiring a trained babysitter. Then again, giving a kid a shot of brandy before naptime wasn’t considered out of the question back then, either.

Things were different in the old days.

Mom smoked unfiltered Camels while making dinner and sang the low parts of show tunes as the soothing tobacco smoke reworked her vocal chords. Dad said, “Good morning,” before leaving for the office every day, and often greeted us with a semi-cheerful, “Hiya, Butch,” when he got home. I can’t remember him saying much more than that. He was a man of few words. Still is. He still calls my youngest sister “Butch,” too.

Anyway, the mid-afternoon movies often featured 20 year old films made by established stars. Actors like Mickey Rooney, Lana Turner, Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day, and Clark Gable filled my head for many years.

By the time I was 7 years old it seemed perfectly reasonable that an adult would be married 4, or 5, or even 6 times. I asked my folks about fidelity and longevity in marriage, but Mom was in her

Old Man River phase that year, and Dad just continued to say, “Hiya, Butch,” as he headed for the wet bar in our rumpus room.

This topic is on my mind a lot these days because my son, that wonderful little boy who has such a way with words, is getting married. He’s grown up now, of course. He’s 30 years old. That’s about the age I was when I was getting married for the third time. He’s just getting started.

This is marriage number one for him. He says this is it. She’s the one. He’s getting married once, for life, and that’s that.

I’m not entirely sure where I went wrong. Maybe we didn’t let him watch enough television. Maybe the history of Hollywood just never took root in his brain the way I’d hoped it would.

Perhaps if I’d introduced him to a good lawyer earlier, when he was still young and impressionable, things could have been different. It doesn’t matter anymore. What’s done is done. The kid’s settling down and there’s apparently nothing I can do about it.

Kids. No matter how hard you try, no matter what kind of sacrifices you make for them, they end up becoming adults and going their own way. If only I hadn’t quit smoking all those year ago, maybe he could have become something.

Ah well, I still love him. Even if he does only get married once.

Jamie Beckett appears to be an average, everyday guy who just happens to hail from Arizona, Connecticut, New York City, and Central Florida. He wears many hats — pilot, mechanic, writer, politician, musician, stayat-home dad — often an odd combination of all those things. Frankly, we don’t care. At The 863 Magazine we just keep him around because we think he’s funny. That’s that. www.JamieBeckett.com

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Explorations V Children’s Museum Story by Eric Mohrman | Photos by Andrea Cruz

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he historic Kress building next to downtown Lakeland’s picturesque Munn Park houses an unassuming community gem called Explorations V Children’s Museum. Polk County’s only children’s museum offers a fun, stimulating, educational environment for local families.

Step inside and the expanse of ground-floor exhibits immediately signals a well-stocked, diverse approach to teaching kids about sciences, art and history. A dragon sculpture made of toys flies overhead.

This is one of three floors of interactive displays for kids up to age 12. They’re curated to inform and entertain while engaging the five senses (hence the Roman numeral in the museum’s name).

On the ground level, kids can hop in a police car, fire truck and hot air balloon, play astronaut in a space shuttle, plunge into Earth’s water cycle, put on their own newscast, theater production or piano concert, learn about Lakeland’s swans, and shop in the “Explore Store,” a kid-sized replica of a Publix supermarket,

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among other things.

The museum, located at 109 N. Kentucky Ave., strives “to provide a hands-on, fun-filled adventure in learning for children and their families,” says Brenda Paul, Public Relations Director for Explorations V. But the museum is more than the sum of its parts, and its effects can transcend an individual visit.

The institution commonly plays a pivotal role during the formative years, as Paul explains.

“We are often the very first museum children experience, whether it be the result of a field trip or a visit with parents, grandparents or other adult caregivers. That first experience is monumental in freeing a child’s curiosity and creativity and sparking a life-long love of learning.”

Such experiences have been part of Polk County life for almost a quarter-century now. Founded in 1991, Exploration V has already achieved a multi-generational status.

Lakeland resident Christine Santos remembers childhood field trips to the museum with her school. Now a homeschooler with three girls, ages 3, 6, and 9, she bought a family membership to visit the museum as often as her schedule permits.

She appreciates that all her children become engrossed, even with their age differences. “It’s three floors of things for the girls to play with, so it gives each of them things to do and they enjoy it. It keeps them occupied so long, it’s a little bit of a break,” the mother laughs.

Her girls are especially fond of the lower-level play area and exhibition called “‘O’ is for Oranges, From Seed to Our World.” The sprawling setup lets kids delve into various aspects of the citrus industry. They harvest oranges, send them off through pipes, operate a juice factory, and climb around and slide in a tree house (the latter being somewhat less traditional to working in the citrus business). “‘O’ is for Oranges” consistently comes in a close second after the “Explore Store” for favorite exhibit according to visitor surveys, notes Paul.

The lower level also features a toddler play area and historical exhibits about

Lianna Santos, 9, dresses up and pretends she’s a firefighter while in Explorations V, the children’s museum located in downtown Lakeland.

America, Africa, Asia, and Australia for children at the older end of the museum’s target demographics.

Echoing Paul’s reported exhibit rankings, when asked about her 7-yearold son’s favorite exhibits, Lakeland resident Lisa Royan responds, “He always loves the grocery store and the orange juice factory.” She adds, “There’s a really nice variety there, and even though it’s not a huge museum, they fit a lot of interesting things into it.”

The variety—and fitting it all in—fall under the purview of Eddie Kleissler, Explorations V’s Director of Exhibits and Facilities. He says some exhibitions are designed and built in-house and some are supplied by partners; “‘O’ is for Oranges” came from Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), for example.

When accepting displays from elsewhere, “There are challenges rehabilitating, altering and integrating these components into our museum, but it is well worth the effort to provide our visitors with new experiences when they return,” Kleissler says.

Temporary exhibitions are also key to providing fresh material. Kleissler tries to bring in two per year, looking for offerings online and through the Association of Children’s Museums and considering solicitations from groups that rent out displays.

He makes determinations based largely on age-appropriateness and Continued on page 16

In The Games We Play: Sports The 863

By Merlisa Lawrence Corbett Photos by Andrea Cruz

Heat-Related Illnesses:

Playing It Cool

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uring the first game of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, Heat superstar LeBron James had to be carried off the court due to extreme cramps.

The air conditioning had malfunctioned and temperatures inside AT&T Center soared to near 90 degrees.

Following the game, even after popping salt tablets and potassium pills, James still needed two bags of fluids via IV. Before James suffered the painful cramps, his team was ahead. They lost, 110-95.

The next day social media and sports talk radio exploded with commentary on James’ cramps. Some people questioned his commitment to his teammates and dedication to the game.

Fans tweeted jokes. They called James a crybaby, soft and weak.

As a mother of a young athlete, I found the reaction disturbing. Some of the comments from fans and journalists seemed to suggest that real men ignore warning signs and play until they collapse.

It’s a message that children hear too often. Despite all the public address announcements and safety posters, kids are called sissies, punks or babies for simply showing signs of heat-related illness.

It’s a dangerous, and potentially deadly message. Especially for children in Florida, where summer heat and humidity are intense.

How many stories have we heard about some child collapsing in the heat?

How heartbreaking, we say.

The Korey Stringer Institute reports that heat is among the top three reasons athletes die during sport. The University of Connecticut-based institute bears the name of a former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman who, in 2001, collapsed and died during extreme heat in practice.

Despite vomiting three times in a morning practice, Stringer, 27, soldiered on in 90-degree heat. He never sought

Polk County Schools operate assistance, until after practice. Despite under the Florida High School Athletic playing in the NFL, with professional Association (FHSAA) Heat Acclimatization trainers and medical staff nearby, Stringer policy, instituted in 2012. ignored warning signs. He died later that Although football practice garners afternoon when his organs shut down.

He did what so many suggested Continued on page 14 James do. It’s what far too many youth coaches tell players: suck it up.

Instead, our kids need to listen up. They need to understand the difference between lack of effort and the onslaught of heatrelated illness. They must be encouraged to pay attention to red flags that may suggest it’s time to take a breather, especially in the summer months.

According to the Korey Stringer Institute the majority of heat stroke cases occur during the initial summer workouts “when athletes are neither prepared to cope with the environmental conditions nor the new physiological demands placed upon them during workout sessions.”

That’s why high school football coaches throughout Polk County are required to ease players into workouts.

They follow heat acclimatization guidelines similar to those recommended by the Korey Stringer Recognizing the signs of heat-related illness is imperative to staying well during Institute. the sumer months, especially if playing sports. Image credit: DepositPhotos.

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The Thrill of the Grill Delicious Dishes that Sizzle Story and photos by Mary Stein Hurst

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am Duncan, 8, sometimes wears his scratch-and-sniff “pizza shirt” when his parents, John and Heather Duncan, start the charcoal to grill outdoors. That’s because when Sam sees his mom making pizza dough in the kitchen, he knows it will go on the grill.

“We saw an article in a magazine about grilling pizza and we played with it, Eventually, we got our groove going,” Heather Duncan says. “And the kids love it. It’s a great thing to do for the summer.”

John Duncan uses charcoal on the grill that used to have legs but now sits atop a repurposed fire pit.

“I also put a few pieces of oak wood for a little bit of smoke flavor,” he says.

Heather Duncan says she usually makes cheese pizzas. She makes her own dough and sometimes buys her sauce in a jar and, of course, grated mozzarella cheese but advises cooking other toppings, like sausage, green peppers, mushrooms or onions ahead of time because the pizza won’t be on the grill long enough to cook them when they are

raw.

Her pizza dough recipe makes about five 10-inch pizzas, which she calls more kid-friendly. She coats both sides of the dough with olive oil before putting the dough on the grill.

John Duncan, a Lake Alfred city commissioner, does most of the grilling. He says when the dough starts to bubble, it’s time to turn it over. With both sides of the dough grilled, Heather Duncan tops the crusts with pizza sauce, and then adds cheese.

John Duncan covers the pizzas briefly to melt the cheese and they are done.

“It takes about one minute on each side for the crust and about two minutes covered for the cheese to melt,” he says.

Heather Duncan puts it simply: “You flip it, sauce it, cheese it, cover it and it’s done.”

Their daughter, Catherine, 11, says pizza night at their house is “the best.”

Bailey, who just turned 13, doesn’t say much; he just eats it.

Pizza isn’t the only thing the family likes on the grill. Steak is popular and the Duncans use a trick of her parents. Coating a room temperature steak in a mixture of cornstarch and sea salt, then freezing the steaks for 30 minutes, results in a crusted flavorful steak cooked to desired doneness with all the juices staying inside.

While the Duncans enjoy

grilling with charcoal, the owners of DARN Grills and Ranch Supply, 27999 U.S. 27 in Dundee, use and recommend a different kind of grill.

Co-owner Dawn Armstrong says she is lazy. The store on U.S. 27 sells Green Mountain pellet grills, which she says, are electric and burn sawdust pellets in a smoker-type grill with a stack. The lower the adjustable stack, the more smoke flavor the meat will have.

“The controls are digital so you can set a temperature,” she says. “It’s so easy.

You can smoke meat slowly or use it as an oven.”

She says the sawdust pellets come in three blends – a traditional oak and hickory blend, a Texas black oak blend with added mesquite, and a fruitwood blend of pecan, cherry and beech for a sweeter taste.

Richard Neale, her co-owner and fiancé, says he started selling the pellet grills when he worked at a hardware store in 2004. He and Amstrong often cook on the grill at their store so customers can sample some of the meat.

“You can literally set it and forget it,” he says.

The grills come in various sizes, ranging from medium and large to a smaller Davy Crockett grill made for tailgating or camping.

“It plugs into your cigarette lighter,” Amstrong says.

Cleanup is a snap. She says because the pellets feed into an auger, there is no flare up and it’s almost impossible to burn anything. A small bucket on the outside catches any grease and the pellets burn

FREE CANOLI Yum!

W/ Purch. of 2 Entrees at Il Forno Italian Restaurant Details page 21.

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Continued on page 17

Refreshing Infused Waters

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ow this is the original vitamin water. Naturally infused waters, like what might be found at a spa, are so easy to do and taste great; they are also a good substitute for soda. Many combinations of fruits and vegetables can be thrown together for a quick and different way to flavor water.

Here we’ve combined cucumber, lime, and cilantro. Other than the slicing, almost no other effort is made.

There’s no need to squeeze the inner juices out (although you can if you want). The simple act of cutting the items releases enough of the natural flavor.

Other combinations include: raspberry, mint, and lime; strawberry and mint; tangerine, thyme, and fennel; grapefruit, orange, and lime; lemon and ginger; orange and mango; pomegranate and lemon; pineapple, lemon, and mint... the list of possible combos is only limited by Infused water is delicious and refreshing. This batch contains your imagination!

sliced cucumbers, lime, and cilantro. Photo by Sergio Cruz.

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A Life Repurposed through

KRaP Art

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rtist Kimberly Wyant went through a lot of crap before she found success with KRaP. Her innate creative talent was wrought by a childhood marked with secrecy and alcoholism, her father’s and her own. Her parents didn’t understand her creative spirit. The path to artistic freedom took Wyant from boarding school to fashion design school and from go-go dancing on stage to costume design in film and television.

Wyant’s first memory of creating art is coloring on her bed sheets with crayons. Later, she transitioned to coloring on the walls, which frustrated her prim and proper mother to no end. But as she tells it, however, the Lakeland artist’s artistic talents didn’t really start flourishing until the age of 24 – when she quit drinking.

Wyant started drinking when she was just 14.

Very open about her past struggles alcoholism, Wyant, owner of Kimberly’s Recycled Art Projects (KRaP), says it’s all part of who she is.

“It was really hard to go through, but if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be me,” she says. “And all of it helps me to understand other people in the world. It makes me a better person because I get it. I get what they’re going through. I’ve been there.”

Her compassion is just one of Wyant’s varied qualities. A cheerful person, she’s rarely met a stranger, and her outfits are usually as enthusiastic as her personality. Known for colored streaks in her hair, flowing skirts, a signature hat, the occasional glittery lipstick, and a fair amount of tattoos, she’s often barefoot, always with a smile. Wyant is definitely comfortable with who she is, what she does, and with the path she’s travelled on thus far.

Painted Into a Corner Wyant, 48, was born in Santa Monica, Calif., to parents of well-to-do means.

The family, including her older sister, lived comfortably thanks to her father’s career designing defense weapons for

How Lakeland artist Kimberly Wyant used her creative talents to change her own life and the lives of others.

Story and photos by Andrea Cruz

the government. His job required a great deal of secrecy.

“We weren’t even allowed to see his office,” Wyant says. A career of highly guarded secrets bled over into his personal life, however, and Wyant says that her father, who passed away last summer, hid things from the family, such as his own struggles with alcohol.

Although Wyant says she cannot remember much from her childhood, she does remember she always felt loved.

“We had an emotionally dysfunctional family, but we had a good life at the same time. It was a very weird combination.

Money can’t buy everything,” she says.

Besides the alcoholism hiding in plain sight, Wyant says much of the dysfunction came from a generation gap. Her parents did not see value in her artistic talents, and instead steered her toward being a secretary.

Ironically, this lack of support was

history repeating itself. Wyant’s own mother had wanted to be a lawyer, but her parents discouraged her. She eventually became a stewardess and a homemaker. Wyant reflects on this irony with a sense of acceptance. It’s just how things were back then.

There was also a lot more freedom back in the days Wyant was growing up.

Parents didn’t “helicopter” over you, she says, and so her drinking began quite innocently with neighborhood kids in fields and anywhere else they weren’t being watched.

Her anger at the lack of attention from her father was a major catalyst as well. And turning to the bottle was very casual in the beginning. However, it progressed – and not in a good way.

“I never had an off switch with the drinking,” she says. “It always got to the point of blackout when I drank. I was fine to a certain point but because I had no off switch I would just go beyond that point.”

Regardless of her drinking, Wyant continued creating art, much of it splatter, geometric, and abstract.

“I’ll never forget this. I was so excited; I had been up all night,” she says. “I wasn’t drinking, I wasn’t doing any drugs and I was super into this art that I was doing. I was in the garage in my parents’ house, and I was so happy with it and I went in to get my dad and show him what I had done.”

“He looked at the art, and he looked at me, and he goes, ‘You got paint all over the floor.’”

Her father’s reaction devastated Wyant. But, she says, that’s how her parents dealt with her talent.

After she and her roommate got kicked out of boarding school – for drinking – Wyant’s parents sent her to fashion design and merchandising school, and she somehow got talked into the marketing path.

“I don’t like that. I’m an artist,” she says. “I’m not numbers, I’m not marketing. I don’t want to do sales.”

Floundering, hurting people she loved, and knowing she was not making good choices, Wyant eventually attempted suicide by slitting her wrists. Fortunately, her survival was a wake up call and that’s when she quit drinking all together. She was 24 years old.

Sobriety and Embracing Her Art About a year into her sobriety, Wyant found a cool apartment for herself and started painting again.

“There was a post that went up in the center of the room and I started zebra striping that,” she says. Her former boarding school roommate came over, saw the zebra-striped pole, and took Wyant to an art store.

“She bought me a piece of art paper, some pencils, some watercolors, some pastels, and she sat me down and said ‘You need to start, do me a drawing.’”

From that Wyant created a series of faces, and not soon after had her first art show.

In between shows and commissioned work, to support herself, Wyant held a series of jobs, including waitress, bartender, GoGo Dancer, and costume designer for the other Go-Go dancers at the club.

Securing a casting agent, Wyant figured out whom to talk to, and says she was assertive in letting

the right people know what she could do. Eventually, she landed a gig as the snow monster in Power Rangers Storybook Adventures.

“I got to throw boulders at the Power Rangers,” Wyant grins.

Her television connections worked in her benefit and Wyant was offered and accepted a job in the creature department doing costumes. It was her very first job in film and television.

Wyant eventually became the department head for Fox Kids Network, which was the turning point for her and her father, who finally admitted that her artistic Opposite: A clay R2D2 in an old watch casing filled with glass beads on a endeavors could and did pay off. piece of stained glass with bike chain bails. Top: Handmade clay dragonHe was proud of her. fly necklaces. Middle: Bottlecap earrings. Bottom: Handmade clay rings.

In fact, Wyant says after she gave up drinking, and went through rehab, she and her father grew and healed together. His support for her and her art grew and he eventually became one of her biggest cheerleaders.

A concrete sculpting job at Universal Studios brought Wyant to Florida, where she met her future husband, Bryan. Together, she and Bryan travelled, taking jobs where they could, including working on the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, and Mardi Gras World in New Orleans. They even laid pipes at Kennedy Space Center. Eventually, Wyant became pregnant with their son and they settled in Lakeland.

KRaP Art While wayfarers, Wyant and her husband didn’t have much, so they made do with what they could find – often rescuing other people’s discards. Using her artistic vision, Wyant repaired, painted, and often repurposed items into something entirely different than their original, intended purpose.

Continued on page 19

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Playing It Cool, cont. from pg. 9

the most attention, the FHSAA’s policy is a requirement for all sports. They define the acclimatization period as the first 14 days of athletic participation. All athletes, even those who join the team after a few days of practice, must adhere to the policy.

Easing players into outdoor activities is a good policy even for children who don’t participate in organized sports. The same guidelines can be used for summer camps, family recreation, outdoor play, lawn maintenance or any activity performed in the heat.

Of course there are things parents can do to help prevent heat-related illness. Schedule outdoor activities earlier in the day when temperatures are milder.

Observe warnings from local weather forecast. Limit activity in direct sunlight.

Take breaks in shade or air conditioned areas. Avoid diuretic drinks such as coffee and caffeinated soft drinks.

Wearing lightweight, loose clothing in heat-friendly fabric also helps. Remember, in the heat, cotton is not your friend.

Educate your child on the warning

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signs and ways to treat heat-related illness, including dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Symptoms of dehydration may include dry mouth, thirst, low or no urine output; concentrated urine that appears dark yellow, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and cramps. Severe dehydration can cause nausea, vomiting, lethargy and even coma.

If you suspect your child is suffering from heat exhaustion, immediately move them to a cool place. Provide fluids.

Water is best, but you can also give them clear juice or sports drinks such as Gatorade. If they continue to show symptoms take them to see doctor.

Whatever you do, don’t dismiss complaints of fatigue. Never ridicule them for acknowledging that they suspect something is wrong with their body. In fact, applaud their maturity for recognizing they need to take a break.

You can also help by modeling sound judgment. Take breaks when you’re out in the heat. Explain the benefits of proper

hydration in the same way you tell your child why it’s important to eat spinach.

Use high-profile stories as teachable moments. Whether you are a Miami Heat fan, hater, or are indifferent to basketball, James modeled appropriate behavior.

It’s how we want our kids to respond at summer camp or football practice when we can’t be there to protect them.

We want them to ignore the namecalling.

If one day they feel nauseous and they hear a friend or even a coach yell “man up,” we want them to ignore the ignorant, listen up, seek help, and stay safe.

Merlisa Lawrence Corbett is a freelance writer who lives in Winter Haven. A former reporter for Sports Illustrated, she is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow her on Twitter: @merlisa or visit Merlisa.com. Have an idea for a local sports story? Email Merlisa@ The863Magazine.com.

Your Stuff :: 863 Readers’ Art

the Native American Beading: Keeping Spirit Alive

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aving a self-described “high strung” personality, Jack Ridolf of Winter Haven has found a way to make the stresses of daily life disappear. He relaxes by creating items influenced by the Native American culture.

Working with leather, beads and feathers, Ridolf says he has always had a strong interest in Native American history, culture and crafts since he was young.

“I made my first headdress at 9 years old,” he says.

Largely self-taught, Ridolf says he’s derived some guidance along the way from Native American craft books, which give step-by-step instructions to make simple replica pieces.

Although he is not Native American, Ridolf says Native American works inspires him.

“I try to put my own interpretation into each piece that I create. I have tremendous admiration and respect for Native Americans,” he says. “I find that my craft keeps me in tune with a history and culture that is weakening with each generation.”

At one point, Ridolf had a mentor who was Lakota Sioux.

“He taught me a few tricks and also got me started in beadwork,” Ridolf says, and adds that the mentor

was a ceremonial dancer.

“I was honored to make his dance regalia, a fully-beaded vest, moccasins, belt and knife sheath,” he says.

There are many various methods of beading. Most of Ridolf’s work is done in the tradition of the Sioux, and is called lane or lazy stitch.

Tools of the trade include nymo thread, beading needles, beeswax, #11 seed beads and scissors.

Ridolf gets his supplies from a variety of sources, including pow wows, tanneries and specialty Native American craft suppliers, typically located in Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming.

“I have crafted a variety of Native American crafts and have recently started to make contemporary handbags,” Ridolf says. “The patterns and styles are my own.”

Ridolf attends craft fairs primarily for the purpose of showing his work, and maintains that his goal is to simply show it, not necessarily to sell.

“I have, however, taken custom orders for handbags and baby moccasins, which make for a very unique baby gifts,” he says.

Jack Ridolf can be reached at 631-987-5858.

Various items created by Winter Haven resident Jack Ridolf include baby moccasins (lower left), a headdress (lower right), and an intricately beaded purse (upper right).

Got art?

Let us know!

Send your poetry or images or other art to Andrea@The863Magazine.com.

www.The863Magazine.com

15

Children’s Museum, cont. from pg. 8

relevance to the museum’s mission. Of course, practicalities like the space and funds available factor in, too.

A large-scale exhibit called “Turtle Travels” is slated for 2015. It includes a 12-foot by 24-foot board game to teach children about challenges turtles face, like habitat fragmentation and the international pet trade. It also features a Crittercam showing swimming loggerhead sea turtles, information about turtle anatomy, a crawl-under aquatic tank for close observation of turtles and more.

Dedicated temporary exhibit space is on the museum’s upper level. There’s also plenty of cool stuff to look at, including a children’s art gallery, a giant kaleidoscope and a close-up view of the Dragon of Toys. An array of scientific and puzzle exhibits fill out the floor.

The Adventurer’s Room is upstairs as well, used for birthday parties and other events. Explorations V hosts birthday parties for up to 10 children, even providing a number of themed options.

Royan had her son’s fourth birthday party at the museum. “It was great, we had a lot of fun, all the kids who came loved playing at the museum, and the museum staff was really helpful.

Everybody really enjoyed it,” she says enthusiastically.

Explorations V also offers a variety of community programs, such as the themed daily programs that begin each weekday at 10:30 a.m. They’re free to members or included with the $7 admission price.

For example, Terrific Tuesdays focus on fine and gross motor skill development and school readiness for preschoolers, while kids learn about and make healthy snacks on Wacky Wednesdays. Fun Fridays are for exploring creativity through crafts.

Paul points to “After School with the Arts & Sciences” as a great asset the museum offers local families. “The program not only allows students to explore the museum’s exhibits, but also to participate in structured activities presented by museum staff and/or local artists and scientists, as well as receive homework assistance,” she says.

Monthly homeschool sessions are held, covering an array of science and culture topics for homeschooled kids ages 5 to 12. Tutoring and test preparation assistance are also available for students of all ages. They can get help preparing for end-of-course exams, SATs, ACTs, FCATs and PARCCs. Additionally, the museum offers spring break and summer camps. The latter include Storybook Camp for kindergarten readiness and weekly themed camps for kids ages 6 to 12. More than 60 children participated in the first week of summer camps this year, according to Paul.

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While the museum is hard at work serving the community, it depends on community members, private and corporate donors, sponsors, local and state organizations, and volunteers to keep it going.

“Our community continues to support Explorations V through its attendance and membership,” says Paul. She encourages area residents to take advantage of membership, which provides many benefits and “offers families the ability to visit the museum for an entire year for one low price, beginning at $70 per year.”

Explorations V participates in the Florida Children’s Museums Reciprocal Program, so membership also means free admission to other state museums (often with some restrictions). The Children’s Museum of the Highlands in Sebring, Tampa’s MOSI, Great Explorations in St. Petersburg and a number of other institutions all around the state participate.

Explorations V Children’s Museum is an important Polk County educational and cultural institution.

To learn more about the museum, exhibits, programs, membership, birthday parties, sponsorship and other opportunities, call 863-687-3869 or visit ExplorationsV.com.

Top: Mika Santos, 3, likes to push the siren and watch the lights go around; she has to stand on her tippy toes to see.

Middle: Nadia Santos, 5, pretends she’s a patient in the museum’s play healthcare room. Bottom: Christine Santos looks on while her three daughters go through the cashier line. Their father, Tony Santos, is playing the part of cashier.

Grilling, cont. from 10

down to a fine ash.

“I use a shop vac to clean it,” she says. “I cook pizza on it, cookies, almost anything.”

She says she plans to start a ladies night in late July or August so women can learn to be grillmasters,” she says. “I think I’ll call it Barbecue and Wine.”

Armstrong says they both prefer to use rubs on their grilled meats, not sauces, though they also sell a variety of them at their store.

“We like to let the flavor of the meat speak for itself,” she says.

No matter what mode of grilling – charcoal, wood, pellets, or propane – Raul Hernandez, owner of RKY Seafood, 175 Ave. A in Winter Haven, says fish on the grill is the healthiest.

Though he sells fish and seafood, there are only certain types of fish he recommends for grilling because they have firm flesh and won’t fall apart on the grill.

John and Heather Duncan of Lake Alfred grill pizza in their backyard. They make the dough from scratch and pre-cook He recommends grilling all the toppings except the sauce. The personal-sized pizzas are perfect for each of them and their three children. salmon steaks, grouper, mahi mahi, tuna and swordfish because they are cut in steaks and won’t fall apart on the grill.

“Flounder and tilapia you bake or fry,” he says. “Cod you fry for fish and chips.”

But grilling is easy and quick and Hernandez recommends using a little butter and garlic or Goya Complete Seasonings.

Hernandez says people could grill on aluminum foil or use a pan with small holes but it’s not necessary.

“Grilled fish is absolutely the healthiest way you can eat,” he says.

Hungry for more? See page 20 for more grilling recipes, including the Duncan’s pizza dough, marinated tuna steaks, and grilled swordfish steaks.

Dawn Armstrong, co-owner of DARN Grills in Dundee, grills chicken wings on a pellet grill. Armstrong even uses her grill to bake cookies, and a shop vac cleans up after.

www.The863Magazine.com

17

Non-Profit Spotlight

B B

e a LEADer for a healthy environment.

Most folks would agree that lakes provide many benefits. They house numerous species of flora and fauna, provide a wide array of recreational opportunities, and increase the value and beauty of the landscape. But what some people may not be aware of is the fact that lakes and ponds have a life cycle.

Whether lakes live a long and healthy life or suffer an early demise depends very much on human behaviors such as paving, ground disturbance, over fertilizing and other activities. That’s where the Lakes Education Action Drive (LE/ AD) comes in. Our mission is to create an awareness and appreciation of our lakes and watersheds and to promote their protection and wise use.

LE/AD got its start in 1985 when the City of Lakeland was seeking a public lakes education program to help inform and educate citizens and visitors about the local lakes and what could be done to protect them. Since those early years, LE/AD has grown and continues to reach people through our Watershed Education Program. Lake clean-ups, workshops, special events and public speaking are just a few of the activities LE/AD provides to anyone and everyone who cares to learn more about our precious natural resources.

LE/AD is a non-profit organization and depends on memberships, charitable contributions and funding through various grants if we are to continue in our efforts to inform citizens about the importance of their everyday activities and how they can help or harm our watersheds.

Every person can and does make a difference when it comes to water quality and a healthy environment. Whether the difference is positive or negative depends on each individual. Polk County residents are fortunate to live in an area that is blessed with more than 500 lakes and

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water bodies. Within our boundaries are the headwaters to the Peace River and portions of the Alafia and Hillsborough River watersheds. These areas, which include our treasured lakes, rivers, ponds and wetlands, need our protection if we want our children and future generations to enjoy the same benefits as we do.

LE/AD’s goals include increasing public awareness regarding water resources, habitat loss, invasive exotic species, flood control issues from storm water runoff, pet waste issues, and how citizens can make a difference by adopting positive behaviors and understanding the issues concerning our watersheds.

For almost 30 years, with the help of funding from the City of Lakeland, Polk County, the City of Winter Haven, and our valued members, LE/AD has sponsored and participated in numerous educational and outreach programs such as: • Living at the Lakes Workshops – A series of free workshops that inform residents about lakes and what can be done to protect them.

• Lake Clean-ups: Participant in Project E.A.G.L.E. (Enhancing a Greater Living Environment), a county-wide lake clean-up. Lakes Appreciation Month – July of every year local residents choose a lake and clean it up and report the amount of trash picked up. Included in the festivities are environmental exhibitors and educational opportunities for kids and adults.

• Cardboard Boat Race Challenge: September of every year, participants design, construct and race a boat made from cardboard around a course in Lake Hollingsworth. Included in the festivities are environmental exhibitors and educational opportunities for kids and adults.

• Lakeside signage placed on various lakes in Polk County that inform visitors about the lakes, watersheds, stormwater runoff, plants, wildlife and other environmental factors regarding water bodies • Pet Waste Program – LE/AD has acquired funds to enable the City of Lakeland to install pet waste stations to be placed near lakes in an effort to reduce fecal matter in stormwater runoff.

• Speakers Bureau – LE/ AD is involved in presenting and speaking to school children, organizations, civic groups and others that request this service. LE/AD also attends various environmental programs

such as the Tenoroc Nature Fest, 7 Rivers Water Festival and others.

• Newsletters- LE/AD creates and sends out a quarterly newsletter. The Lakes LEAD/ER is sent to over 500 people each quarter. It includes articles from local experts about water quality and issues in Polk County as well as other interesting facts, upcoming events and how each person can help protect our watersheds.

July is a great time to enjoy Polk County’s lakes and water bodies. Of course, we value our lakes year round, but July is special because it’s Lakes Appreciation Month. The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) sponsors a nationwide Lakes Appreciation Month each July to draw attention to the value and importance of lakes and reservoirs. LE/AD is involved in our very own countywide lake clean up. Why not join in the fun and pick a lake to clean up this July? You’ll receive a gift card for your volunteerism and the joy of knowing you are helping the environment. Just get in touch with us and we’ll get you registered! You pick the time and the lake.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the term lead as “to guide on a way especially by going in advance; to direct on a course or in a direction.” LE/ AD depends on people like you to do just that by joining in the quest to educate and reach out to others. It doesn’t take a lot of effort and the benefits are countless. Leave the planet better than you found it, become a LEADer today by filling out the membership application available on our website at www.le-ad. org or email us at lakeseducation@ hotmail.com or call Corine at 863-2215323 for more information about how to get involved.

Tell Us

About a Non-Profit

Andrea@The863Magazine.com

KRaP Art, cont. from 13

Stopping for a time in San Antonio, they checked out Wimberley, Texas, a nearby artisan community. Wyant’s husband bought her a booth in an artisan market, and they filled it with her upcycled treasures. And it was her husband who came up with the pausecausing business name of “KRaP.” “He said crap. You need to call it crap -- Kimberly’s Recycled Art Projects.

Crap with a k,” she says. At the time, they laughed about it but decided to go with it. She says she has no regrets, and loves every time someone gets a kick out of it, too.

Andrea Mills, owner of Massage by Andrea, says creativity is Wyant’s forte.

Not only does Mills offer Wyant’s pieces for sale in the spa, but the artist’s murals add a special ambiance to the place.

Mills’ favorite is a lotus flower, and adds that her spa clients are in awe of Wyant’s talent.

“They enjoy seeing these unique pieces of recycled art projects that she creates. They get a kick every time we tell them the name of her business is KRaP,” she says.

In addition to paintings, furniture, sculptures, and wind chimes, much of the other functional art Wyant creates is jewelry. Her supplies often include fused glass, ceramic, and beads. But she is best known for her bottle cap earrings and pendants, and more recently, for her bicycle-inspired, wearable art.

Beth Geohagan of BeFly Bike Tours says she wanted to encourage kids’ creativity with bicycle parts as part of her tours, and put out a call on Facebook for an artist that could make it happen.

She says the respondents overwhelmingly recommended one person: Kimberly Wyant.

Geohagan met up with Wyant at her studio and they assembled little packets with chain and bottle caps.

“So the kids were able to make key chains and bracelets,” Geohagan says, “and that’s how she started what she calls the ‘Off the Chain’ collection.”

“There is a piece of bike chain incorporated to almost everything that she does now,” Geohagan says laughing.

The Art of Being Happy Selling at the downtown Lakeland market each Saturday, Wyant gained momentum and soon found the need for a separate space for her artistic endeavors. Her husband suggested she rent the unused part of the barbershop next to their home.

Together they created an art gallery and a studio workspace for Wyant, who

loves being so close to home for the sake of her 13-year-old son, Logan.

Like many artists, Wyant often loses track of time while creating art. She cites many late nights in her studio when, before she realizes, it’s 3 a.m.

“I’ve gotten so into it, taking things apart, it’s to a point where I literally have to force myself to stop,” she says. “It’s a rush.”

Inspiration pops up randomly, and Wyant says she is easily distracted. While working on a piece, a new idea might come to her and she’ll stop what she’s doing, quickly laying out the parts for the inspired project, and then return to finish her original project. Her art makes her happy, and she hopes it makes others happy, too.

“I think that I can bring happiness to people, and I want to do that,” she says.

“It’s very egotistical to think that I could do something to make other people happy because people have to make themselves happy, but if I could do or be something that brings joy to people around me, whether it’s because they’re laughing at me or laughing with me, or having a new experience because they’ve never met anyone like me… whatever emotional experience I’m giving people, I like giving them that.”

Geohagan sees Wyant as a magician artist. Having asked Wyant to paint her BeFly Bikes logo on a painting, she was surprised when Wyant called her the same day to say it was finished. And it was affixed with special bicyclerelated parts.

“Not only can she do (art) beyond what you’re expecting, but she adorns it with special things and she does it almost instantaneously,” Geohagan says. “I had never seen anybody produce amazing artwork as fast as she does.

She meets every deadline, and on top of it she takes care of her family and all of her animals. She is a powerful woman.”

Geohagan says Wyant’s art is like her personality: Bright, happy, colorful, and honest.

“It’s like looking at your best friend,” Geohagan says.

a connection to the winged creature in that overtime she, too, has emerged and transformed her life into a thing of beauty.

Mills describes Wyant as a free spirit woman, who loves openly, treats everyone the same, and cares with every being of her body. She believes that Wyant’s life struggles have encouraged her to thrive with passion and determination to be the loving, caring artist that she is now.

Wyant’s gallery, located at 2619 S. Lincoln Ave. in Lakeland, also features the art of other local artisans, including Holly Johnson with Mudhutpottery Pottery; Connie Buyens of Melt My Heart Studios (fused glass, large plates, stained glass and recycled glass art); Wayne Wiggins with hand-turned wood bowls, vases and pens. Sallie Henry with hand-sculpted fairies, paintings, murals and faux finishes.

In addition to her gallery, Wyant’s pieces can be found locally in her booth each Saturday in downtown Lakeland, as well as two other Lakeland businesses: Bent’s Cycling and Massage by Andrea.

For more info visit KrapArt.com or call 863-860-1711.

Metamorphosis Wyant’s husband likens her to a butterfly, and she feels

www.The863Magazine.com

19

Grilling, cont. from pg. 17 The Duncan’s Grilled Pizza

Yields: Five 10-inch pizzas Dough: - 1 pkg. dry yeast - 2 cups warm water - 2 tsp. sugar Mix yeast, water and sugar with a fork and to that, add: - 2 cups whole wheat flour - 4 cups all-purpose flour - 2 tbsp. olive oil Let rise until dough doubles in size. Divide dough into five parts. Roll out with additional flour on board to keep dough from sticking.

In separate bowl, combine: - 1 cup olive oil and 4 tsp. garlic powder Brush rolled out pizza dough on both sides with olive oil blend and place on grill for about a minute. When crust starts bubbling, flip over. Add pizza sauce and top with shredded mozzarella cheese and cover for about two minutes. Pre-cook any additional toppings to add before topping with cheese, if desired.

-Recipe from John and Heather Duncan of Lake Alfred.

Marinated Tuna Steaks

Yields: 4 servings - 4 tuna steaks - ¼ cup olive oil - ¼ cup dry white wine - 1 tsp. finely shredded lime zest - 1 tbsp. capers, drained and rinsed - ¼ cup shallots, finely chopped - Salt - Freshly ground black pepper - Lime wedges Place thawed tuna in a shallow baking dish. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients except lime wedges, set those aside.

Pour mixture over tuna, completely covering. Cover in refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight, turning steaks occasionally. When ready to grill, remove tuna, patting dry, and reserving marinade. Set marinade aside for use later. Grill uncovered over medium to hot coals for 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until tuna flakes easily with a fork. Brush with reserved marinate while grilling. Serve with lime wedges.

Grilled Swordfish Steaks

Yields: 6 servings - 6 swordfish steaks - 1 cup olive oil - 1 tbsp. crumbled dried marjoram - 1 tbsp. crushed bay leaf - 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped - 2 tbsp. crumbled fresh basil - 1 tsp. celery salt - 1 tbsp. coarse-ground black pepper - Juice of 1 lemon - Fresh dill Combine all ingredients except swordfish and dill. Mix thoroughly.

Pour mixture over swordfish and refrigerate for at least two hours, turning several times. Cook fish uncovered on medium-hot coals for 5 to 6 minutes per side, basting with marinade while grilling.

Garnish with fresh dill and serve.

-Tuna and swordfish steak recipes from a “Guide to Classic Cuisine” cookbook by Pfaelzer Brothers, a purveyor of specialty meats, poultry and fish.

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Mention or Check-In! Tell ‘Em The 863 Sent You and Support Local Business!

S

ave money at these businesses by either mentioning you saw them on The 863’s No-Cut Coupon page, or use your smart phone to check in to the location on a social media website like Facebook or Foursquare. Restrictions may apply. No-Cut Coupons from this issue expire August 31, 2014.

Four Purls Yarn Shop 331 3rd Street NW Winter Haven 863-662-8288 Free Knitting or Crochet Class

Rupertan Lawn Care & Landscaping Design - Build - Maintenance 863-206-7047 Free estimate

Pizza and Pasta 3615 S. Florida Ave. Lakeland 863-607-6030 Free Cannoli w/ 2 entrees

Little Studio Interiors 60 4th Street N.W., Winter Haven 863-299-1099 Purchase $125 from in-stock Spartina product line, & receive a Boutique Snap Wallet or a Linen Snap Wallet FREE ($56.00 value) while supplies last.

S&W Cabinets 3951 Dundee Rd, Winter Haven 863-325-8255 FREE 36” Vanity ($750 value) w/ min. purchase. Call for details.

Sal’s Garage 101 E. Central Ave., Winter Haven 863-875-8930 Free Tire Rotation w/ Oil Change for Only $17.95 (Castrol Oil)

Shelly Chopyak @ Profiles Etc. $10 off any $45 service.

Call for details.

316 Ave A NW, Winter Haven 765-524-5353 1:1 Tutoring Innovative Academic Solutions. Onsite available in most parts of Polk County.

863-660-3432 $10 off First Session

Tyler Floral Shoppe 225 East Lime St., Lakeland 1-800-643-5693 Free Monthly Bouquet for 12 Months w/ Purch. of $50 Flower Club Card

Sal’s Pizza 4660 E County Road 540A, Lakeland Highlands 863-816-5825 Free Bread, Salad, and Dessert w/ Purch. of Two Dinners

The Mission of Winter Haven

Making a Difference One Family at a Time.

For more info: 863-299-2348 or visit LoveMakingADifference.com

Mariposa Fused Glass Winter Haven $75 for Glass Fusing Classes Email Andrea@ MariposaFusedGlass.com for details.

THE SELF Center 2750 Hwy. 17 N. Winter Haven 863-875-5635 Buy One Massage Gift Card, Get Second 50% Off

Interested in a No-Cut Coupon? Contact Sergio Cruz today! 863-258-3561 or Sergio@The863Magazine.com.

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21

Explore :: July & August’s Happenings in the 863 FJuly 3: Rock N’ Freedom Fest – Celebrate Independence Day at this family friendly event. Bring the whole family and enjoy music, children’s activities, food and stay for the main attraction, the fireworks show.

Winter Haven’s Lake Silver’s MLK, Jr., Park at 7 p.m. The fireworks show starts at dark. Info: 863-291-5656.

FJuly 4: 4th of July Independence Day Celebration – The Lakeland Flying Tigers will host the 4th of July Independence Day Celebration at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Flying Tigers will take on the Tampa Yankees in a Florida State League north-division match-up. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the gates to Marchant Stadium will open at 4 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Advanced sale box seats are $7 and reserved seats are $6 and seniors 55 and over and children 14 and under receive a $1.00 discount. Parking is FREE. Info: 863-6868075 or by visiting LakelandFlyingTigers.com.

FJuly 4: Thunder on the Ridge – National recording artist, Michael Ray, will take the stage at 7:30 PM followed by the largest fireworks display in Polk County. There will be plenty of arts, crafts and food vendors, a beer garden and other activities on site.

Lake Eva Park in Haines City. 3 p.m. General Admission is free, and reserved seating is $12 per person, and offers seats directly in front of the stage. Info: ThunderOnTheRidge.com or call 863-421-3700.

FJuly 5 & Aug. 2: 1st Saturday Market in South Florida – Vendors, including produce, local artisans, food trucks, live music & more.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. In The Home Depot parking lot: 6335 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland. Info: 863258-3561.

FJuly 5 & Aug. 2: Antiques, Arts & Oddities Downtown Lake Wales, in Market Square between Park and Stuart Avenues. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Info: 863-412-6960.

FJuly 5 & Aug. 2: Cruisin’ Winter Haven – A car show and music from the 50s and 60s. A

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cruising display of all the cars at the end of the evening. Downtown Winter Haven 4 - 9 p.m. Info: 863-291-5656.

FJuly 11: Master Gardener Classes – Monthly gardening classes taught by a Master Gardener to be held the 2nd Friday of every month at the Mulberry Public Library from 9 to 10 a.m. Info: 863-425-3246.

FJuly 11 & Aug. 8: Dundee Food Truck Rally – Food trucks featuring delicious dishes ranging from seafood, Italian, Jamaican, Cuban and more. Ridge Plaza (Winn Dixie) 243 US Hwy. 27 South. 4-8 p.m. Info: 863-2583561.

FJuly 12 & Aug. 9: 2nd Saturday Market in Downtown Dundee – Vendors, including produce, local artisans, food trucks, live music & more. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in front of Dundee Town Hall. Info: 863-258-3561.

FJuly 12: Education, Health & Wellness Expo – This year’s activity oriented event will focus on healthy lifestyles, enhance public knowledge of various health risks, increase awareness of medical services available and provide safety demonstrations. A panel of doctors from the area will speak on key health topics and answer questions. A zone of goods and services for school age children, teens, parents and senior citizens will also be available. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 500 Third Street NW in Winter Haven. A free event for all ages.

FJuly 16 & 26: Watershed Ecology Kayak Tour – Join a watershed ecology kayak tour hosted by City of Winter Haven Natural Resources Division and UF/IFAS Polk County Extension. Enjoy a free day on the water learning about common lakefront issues, wildlife habitat, aquativ plant identification, and much more. Due to available kayaks, space is limited. Personal kayaks and canoes are welcome to join. Register at PolkNR.eventbrite.com.

FJuly 19 & Aug. 16: Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show – A 40-minute show reminiscent of

shows previously held at Cypress Gardens, featuring doubles, swivel skiers, barefooting and jumping. Free event held at MLK, Jr. Park on Lake Silver in Winter Haven at 6 p.m.

Pre-show begins at 5:16 p.m. Show begins 6 p.m. Snacks & drinks available for purchase.

Info: 863-521-2808.

FJuly 26 & Aug. 23: 4th Saturday Market in Downtown Winter Haven – Vendors, including produce, local artisans, food trucks, live music & more. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Across from city library. Vendors wanted.

Info: 863-258-3561.

FJuly 26 & Aug. 30: Lake Wales Car Show – Stroll and admire the antique, custom and classic cars of yesteryear while enjoying music, enchanting shops, and the unique restaurants of charming downtown Lake Wales, Stuart Ave. From 4 - 8 p.m. Info: 863207-3402.

FAug. 1: First Friday – An evening of free family-friendly entertainment, activities, live music, art receptions, a car show, and more. From 6-9 p.m. in downtown Lakeland.

FAug. 2: Baseball Card Show – Come buy, sell and trade with the Florida’s top sportscards dealers. All sorts of sports collectibles and cards available. Free admission. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Quality Inn and Suites in Lakeland. Exit 33 off of I4.

FAug. 12: Livestock & Cattle in Polk with Cow Camp Tram Tour – 2014 Extension Centennial Lunch & Learns: bring your lunch. 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. at Circle Bar B, 4399 Winter Lake Road, Winter Haven. Info: 863519-1041.

FAug. 20: Raising Leaders and Sustaining Communities – 2014 Extension Centennial Lunch & Learns: bring your lunch. 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. at Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland. Info: 863-5191041.

Send Your Community Event to Andrea@The863Magazine.com.