You’re never a number here. You’re someone with a story. And that’s where we begin.
FEATURES
48 THE QUIET POWER OF RESILIENCE
Thalia Vila understands what it means to struggle, but she’s built to power through to make a difference. In life, and in the kitchen, this Lakelander is cooking up incredible results.
60 THE CORE FOUR
Doing a marathon just for the fun of it? Kind of crazy. But doing a marathon to build camaraderie and do hard things with friends? We found a group of women complete up for that.
74 LOCAL GOODS FOR THE GREATER GOOD
Check out a few of the freshest offerings of the iconic Farmers Curb Market to inspire your journey to a more sustainable lifestyle and a healthier future you.
84 FIND YOUR FIT
Most of us want to be healthier and feel better. This trio of locals is not only helping people meet their wellness goals, they are glad to reveal how they have met many of their own.
PUBLISHER
Curt Patterson
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Jason Jacobs
VP, FINANCE
Deb Patterson
BOOKKEEPER
Bechard Bookkeeping
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Reese Sesser
GENERAL COUNSEL
Ted W. Weeks IV
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Curt Patterson | 863.409.2449
ADVERTISING SALES
Sharon Blackburn | 813.789.4361
LAKELANDER
CREATIVE SERVICES
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CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
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DISTRIBUTION
David Heideman
EDITOR, CONTENT STRATEGIST
RJ Walters
LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Allie Brinton
DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER
Jordan Randall
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITORIAL
Victoria Sheppard
Holly Cain
Lauren Lawson
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jack Portune
Landon Davis
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Maddy LaRock
The Lakelander is published 12 times annually by Lakelander Media, 1505 Florida Ave. S, Lakeland, FL 33803. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission of The Lakelander is prohibited. The Lakelander is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.
“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
ecently, my 15-year-old son was talking to me about deciphering his spiritual gifts. He was intrigued by the difference between talent and gifts, working to develop a theology of what it means to know God and understand your purpose by better understanding your design.
He said he believes one of his spiritual gifts could be “service” because he finds purpose in helping others, and he experiences joy when he is able to put a smile on someone’s face by doing good.
First of all, that made my heart sing, and additionally, it made me think about each of our overall wellness journeys—physical, spiritual, emotional and relational. The heart of wellness truly is service, to each other, for each other, and at its best, with each other.
As you dive into our annual exploration of health, fitness and wellness you will find a plethora of people, products and stories that aim to make people feel better and smile— whether it’s scientifically verifiable or just relationally beneficial.
Sometimes wellness looks like a group of women training for a marathon together, rooting each other on and sustaining each other when it gets hard; other times it looks like trying an alternative up-and-coming therapy to treat a nagging injury.
The food we eat matters greatly, and it’s fun to go behind the counter to connect with chefs who are as passionate about people’s health as they are about cooking up tasty meals.
And it’s always revealing to glean wisdom from professionals who wake up each day motivated to help others be more active and feel more energized by hearing how they have found success and overcome barriers on their
own journeys. That’s why we offer insights from a professional trainer with a propensity for creating personalized solutions, a fitness instructor with a resume chalked full of ways she helped people live healthier, and the owner of a local meal prep business who knows what it means to drastically change eating habits to help keep weight off.
While I don’t necessarily agree with every bit of advice I heard during interviews and photoshoots for this issue, I was deeply inspired by how if you want help or are seeking guidance on how to have to a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle, the people are there and they are waiting for you, preparing for you, and even praying for you, Lakelanders.
Keep actively pursuing your goals and don’t be surprised at how many people will come alongside to support your long-term health.
RJ Walters EDITOR
flpoly Mar 10
We are proud to announce the official launch of Florida Poly Collegiate Athletics! Beginning this fall, Phoenix teams will compete in men’s and women’s soccer, cross-country, basketball, baseball, and softball. A new era of competition begins now!
kitty_cat_lounge Mar 04
Come unroll your mat and melt into a dreamy evening with the sweetest little fur angels at Kitty Cat Lounge. Spaces are limited, and pre-registration is required. Come stretch, sip, breathe… and let the kitties do the rest.
thejuiceboxlakeland Mar 05
Say it with me, eating clean is the highest form of self respect!
Jack Portune is a Florida-based photographer originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. With more than five years of experience behind the lens, he’s captured everything from collegiate athletics at the national level to largescale events. Jack works with pageant organizations at the state and local levels, including the Miss Florida Pageant, in addition to partnering with organizations like Goodwill.
His experience includes everything from graduations, engagements, and senior portraits to banquets and corporate events. Whether behind the camera or designing visuals, Jack brings intention, creativity, and a passion for storytelling to every project.
HOLLY CAIN
Holly is a proud Lakeland High School alum and graduate of University of South Florida who has established herself as a premiere sports journalist, and one of the finest NASCAR writers in the history of the sport. She was the first woman to receive the Bob Russo Founders Award, an honor given for “dedication to motorsports” while showing “courage and providing inspiration in the face of personal adversity.”
She has worked at large daily news outlets including The Tampa Tribune, Dallas Morning News and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. She is a published author of several books including “NASCAR Mavericks: The Rebels and Racers who Revolutionized Stock Car Racing.” She loves the beach, being a mom and David Bowie.
VICTORIA SHEPPARD
Victoria completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations and Journalism from Southeastern University and brings over a decade of professional editorial experience alongside six years in marketing. She previously interned with Darling Magazine and has avidly contributed to high profile publications like The Magnolia Journal, The Everygirl, and Propel Women.
Specializing in brand identity, strategic digital presence, and social media management, Victoria helps businesses refine their voice and build meaningful online engagement. With experience in professional photography, she brings a strong visual perspective and storytelling-driven approach to every brand she serves. She is a proud Lakeland native and loves supporting local businesses through content creation.
$100 OFF your rst month of GLP-1
ILLUSTRATION BY DANIELLE DOUGHLIN
Since the 1430s, when Johannes Gutenberg famously invented the modern mechanical printing press, people have flocked to places where the newest educational, informational and, of course, fantastical and whimsical books are available.
In an age where information is at our fingertips, and even being broadcast into our ears and minds at warp speed, a self proclaimed “kooky collaboration” of literacy lovers come together each year to celebrate a love for reading and the value and impact of independent bookstores.
On April 23-25, the 5th Annual Lakeland Book Crawl will take place. It will feature seven local establishments that will be offering special deals, and the Book Crawl will culminate with an After Party at Union Hall on Saturday, April 25, which is National Independent Bookstore Day.
People can snag a Lakeland 2026 Book Crawl Passport from Bookends Used Books, and at each store they visit they can get their passport stamped, increasing their odds of winning a prize at the After Party.
The goal of the annual crawl is to bring booksellers, book lovers, and the greater Lakeland community together for serendipitous encounters.
Here is a list of the participating stores and the specials they are running during the Book Crawl.
Bookareaderville
Inklings Book Shoppe
No Covers
Pressed Books & Coffee
Unbound Bookery
Engineering Common Sense
How Hard Work, Revealing Research and a Relentless Will Built a Development Empire
BY RJ WALTERS | PHOTOS BY JACK PORTUNE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARPER REALTY FL
Sitting in his office filled with artifacts that range from homemade art to honors for admirable accomplishments, Robert Harper III sips on office coffee out of a Styrofoam cup at the same desk he’s probably worked behind for decades. At first glance you wouldn’t know he’s a Lakeland Realtors Hall of Famer, and the proud developer of more than 300 subdivisions, most of them in Polk County, but if you pull up a chair to converse with him, his stories prove there is often more than meets the eye.
He’s a candid and gifted narrator—so it’s no surprise to find out he’s currently drafting an autobiography that has the working title “A Florida Cracker,”—and if you spend time with him, you will soon recognize the 84-year-old Lakelander is the unique blend of a wise engineering mind mixed with a generous spirit and an indomitable will to fight for what he believes is right.
IT STARTED WITH GRUNT WORK
The foundation of the story for the founder and owner of Harper Realty FL begins with the hard-earned lessons of Harper’s youth. Growing up in a “little old house” on Lake Parker, he learned the value of work early on, delivering The Ledger newspaper from a bicycle, and eventually a Cushman scooter.
The importance of independence was reinforced by his father, a World War II bomber pilot.
“He made me buy my clothes starting in junior high...I had to have a job and I had to buy my clothes, and I had to buy my first car, and anything I wanted, I had to buy,” Robert recalls.
At the age of 16, Robert earned Senior Life Guard certification and worked at the Lakeland Municipal City Swimming pool.
His go-getter attitude carried over to his first real job at the City of Lakeland. He jokes that his official title on the electric utility pole crew was spelled “G-r-u-n-t.”
In time he advanced from the pole crew to a line crew, then to the electric meter department, all while attending night school to pursue an engineering degree. He had initially tried to please his mother by studying dentistry but “hated it.” In engineering he found his passion, and by around age 30, he was promoted to Engineer One, putting him in control of major electrical systems for the city’s entire distribution system. In that role he helped design and install the first underground electrical system for residential properties in Lakeland, a project he still grins about when reflecting on.
As Harper became intimately familiar with Lakeland’s utility systems and land maps, he also concurrently began his foray into real estate development. His first purchase was a 10-acre piece of swamp land, bought with “no money down and interest only.” While still an engineer, he began finding beautiful tracts of land and partnered with Bob and Carl Warnock, local furniture store owners, who gave him a small start with a 1/16th interest in a project. He worked with the Warnocks for years, and was able to eventually take the connections and experience and break off to start his own business.
With just six months remaining before he would become eligible for the City’s retirement plan, he took the risk to dive headlong into real estate and land development with attorney Bill Ellsworth, whom Harper refers to as the “smartest guy I’ve ever met.” Time would prove Harper to be quite wise himself, as the duo developed hundreds of subdivisions in Central Florida together, including neighborhoods like Lake in the Woods and Highlands by the Lake.
One of Harper’s most satisfying professional victories may be the story of the Overstreet Ranch, which became Colt Creek State Park. Charlie Mack Overstreet wanted to sell his 5,400 acres but insisted the land be protected. The state offered $4.5 million, which Overstreet refused. Harper, the developer, proposed to
WRITTEN
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“position” the land by designing a circular-tract, preservedwetlands subdivision, not with the intent to build, but to “drive the government agencies crazy” with its stunning and environmentally sound design. This two-and-a-halfyear process created value and leverage that resulted in the property being sold for $53.7 million and preserved as one of Florida’s nicest state parks. It’s a perfect example of his business ingenuity and land-management creativity working in harmony to preserve “true Florida.”
BATTLING BUREAUCRACY
Beyond the boundaries of a development plat, Harper’s most impactful work came in the legislative arena. His drive to protect the average family’s access to homeownership led him to become a passionate advocate against government over-regulation. He rose to become the President of the Florida Home Builders in 1995-1996, a role he used to fight for common sense in law, stating that many elected officials simply defer to “staff and bureaucrats” who create “all kinds of crazy ideas.”
Two battles stand out as hallmarks of his relentless researchdriven approach:
Questioning the role of HOAs in water management: In the early 1980s, Harper passionately fought the mandate for every new subdivision to have a Homeowners Association to maintain stormwater management systems. He argued that this turned the “maintenance of a precious resource, our water,” over to “a bunch of people [who] don’t know what in the hell they’re doing,” a concern that he says has since been proven
by the fact that today, “50 to 80 percent of these associations are now defunct.” He argued a government tax and a dedicated maintenance system was the only responsible way forward. Revealing the real impact of radon: Harper was appointed to the Governor’s Commission to study radon, and he made it his mission to challenge a proposal that would have placed expensive, extreme building restrictions on all of Polk County. The regulation was premised on the idea that reclaimed phosphate land in Polk County, which emits radon, would be a major health risk. He argued that applying the restrictions to the entire county would “kill our county” by raising the price of a typical home by 20 percent, effectively putting a “skull and crossbones” at the county line. As Harper probed and researched, he found a Miami Herald article that revealed affluent people living on coastal sand dunes were setting off radiation machines because sand dunes also emit radon. He sent this evidence to Senator Curtis Peterson, and his argument—that if Polk County had to be regulated, so did the coastal beaches—stopped the legislation, in his words, “dead on arrival”. His research also showed Polk County was in the bottom 10 percent of Florida counties for lung cancer rates, further dismantling the proposed restrictions. Harper’s insistence on going deeper than surfacelevel panic, using common sense and exhaustive research became his calling card of sorts.
George Lindsey, a former longtime Polk County Commissioner and a fellow real estate and development guru in Central Florida said this about Harper in a 2003 article in The Ledger: “He’s very tenacious and bulldoglike. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
The Harper Family Reunion in February in Lakeland was a celebration of four generations of family members.
Sean Harper and Robert Harper III
Robert Harper has developed hundreds of subdivisions over the years, including well-known communities like Lake in the Woods. When he wasn’t working, he spent much of his life with various hobbies, including oil painting and windsurfing. The painting shown is titled “Abigail’s Sky” in honor of his granddaughter.
A LIFE FULLY LIVED
Harper’s personal life over the years has largely been marked by trying new things, scratching his creative itch and giving back to the community he loves and to initiatives close to his heart.
“I have been blessed to the hundred thousandth degree,” he states. “I cannot, whatever I give back…I can’t outgive the Lord.”
Some of his favorite hobbies over the years have included singing, windsurfing and painting—which he got really into about two decades ago and continues to enjoy, starting with acrylic painting and eventually moving onto oil painting. He started by painting wine glasses—after his late wife, Amy, and some of her friends did that as a craft one afternoon—and he has an affinity for bringing to life Florida landscapes, nature scenes and some of his favorite spots from the globe that he experienced as a windsurfer. Robert created a portfolio of his work for people to enjoy at rfharper.org.
He was longtime friends with acclaimed artist Robert Butler, of Florida Highwaymen fame, someone he credits for stoking his love of art.
Harper is the proud father to four children who have all been successful in their own right: Robert Harper IV, Cheryl Michelle Harris, Jacque Evelyn Gilliand and Sean Harper, who is a broker at Harper Realty and symbolizes the next chapter of the legacy. Recently, Harper hosted a family reunion at his family home, a special time of celebration and reflection for the grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather of 13.
He gave away more than 20 of his original paintings to family members that weekend, and if you listen to his tales from decades of business deals, political involvement and adventures, you’ll realize Harper gives away life lessons instinctively.
If you ask him what he tries to impart on people who will listen, though, he keeps it simple: “Keep your nose clean, live life to the fullest, enjoy it. Capture opportunities that come your way, don’t be afraid to do something new and don’t put yourself in a box.
“I don’t know what ‘a box’ is, but I don’t want to get in there.”
Outside the box is where Harper has been a tireless advocate and creative problem-solver, one whose impact on the land and people will last for ages.
Real Estate | Construction | Roofing
The Harper family’s expertise encompasses all that is real estate in Central Florida.
How Physical Therapist Jeremy Baber is Helping Patients Through the Evolving Science of Pain Relief
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL | WRITTEN BY LAUREN LAWSON
DESIGNED
BY
MADDY LAROCK
Lakeland physical therapist Jeremy Baber is helping people overcome chronic pain, often after other treatments have failed.
For more than two decades, Baber has been asking a question that continues to shape his work: Why do some people recover effectively from chronic pain while others remain stuck in it?
The answer, he believes, often lies in the nervous system.
“Pain isn’t always coming from damaged tissue,” Baber explains. “Sometimes the brain continues sending protective pain signals long after the injury itself has healed.”
Today Baber focuses on restoring the communication between the brain and the body that allows movement to function normally. When that system becomes disrupted after an injury, muscles can stop activating properly, forcing other parts of the body to compensate. “Those compensations are often what people feel as chronic pain,” Baber says.
Tony Agnello, owner of Notta Gallery and Lakeland Air Conditioning, experienced that process firsthand. An avid pickleball player, Agnello dealt with persistent foot and shoulder pain before seeking Baber’s help. “The way I understand Jeremy’s work is that he helps reawaken muscles that have gone dormant after an injury,” Agnello says. “When that happens, other muscles and structures start overcompensating, and that’s often where the pain comes from.” Working with Baber helped him understand the source of those imbalances and begin correcting them.
“I’ve seen real improvement,” Agnello says. “If you’re dealing with pain that just doesn’t seem to go away, Jeremy is definitely the person I’d see.”
Martial arts instructor Jae Choe had a similar experience after years of suffering from chronic back pain. “I’ve seen chiropractors, physical therapists and spine specialists,” says Choe, owner of Karate Beyond. “This is by far the best form of relief I’ve experienced.”
Biofrequency patches are electron-charged adhesives are technology Baber utilizes to restore feedback to the brain and help prevent acute injuries from developing into chronic pain.
Stories like these reinforce Baber’s belief that chronic pain is frequently driven by disrupted communication between the brain and body rather than structural damage alone.
AN UNEXPECTED CAREER PATH
Baber didn’t originally plan on entering the health and wellness space. As a senior studying finance at the University of Florida, he remembers realizing he was on the wrong path. “I was miserable,” he says. “I knew it wasn’t what I was supposed to be doing.”
A suggestion from his girlfriend’s mother at the time pointed him toward physical therapy—a field he knew little about. After volunteering in the Gainesville hospital system, Baber quickly felt he had found the right fit. “I knew right away,” he says. “I wasn’t stuck behind a desk. I was working with people.”
Before applying to physical therapy school, he was warned the program was extremely competitive.
Helping the brain communicate with the nervous system
“I’ve seen chiropractors, physical therapists and spine specialists,” says Jae Choe, owner of Karate Beyond. “This is by far the best form of relief I’ve experienced.”
“Someone told me not to bother applying because it was really hard,” Baber says with a laugh. “That made me want to do it even more.” About a year and a half later, he received his acceptance letter.
FROM BROADWAY TO PAIN SCIENCE RESEARCH
After graduating from the University of Florida, Baber moved to Atlanta and began working with NeuroTour Physical Therapy, a company that provides care for touring performers. The job exposed him to a unique side of the profession. Baber worked with touring productions including “Wicked” and the Broadway show “Movin’ Out,” helping performers stay healthy through physically demanding schedules.
It was also where he met his future wife, Allison Jay, a professional ballerina and graduate of Harrison School for the Arts. Their shared connection to movement—hers through dance, his through rehabilitation—became central to their relationship.
The couple later moved to New York City, expecting to stay two years. They ended up living there for eight. During that time they welcomed two children and raised a family in a onebedroom apartment in Brooklyn. “It was memorable,” Baber says with a smile. “A little cramped, but memorable.” Raised in Panama City, Fla., Baber and his wife—who attended Southwest Elementary School and Southwest Middle School after her family moved to Lakeland when she was 10—ultimately chose the Swan City as a family-friendly place to call home.
New York also shaped the next phase of his professional journey. After spending the first 7 years of his career in outpatient orthopedics, Baber accepted a position at chronic pain center where most patients had already tried physical therapy multiple times without success.
“In a typical clinic you might see a few patients who didn’t respond to therapy,” he says. “In this clinic, about 80 percent of my caseload had already failed therapy two or three times.”
The experience challenged the traditional treatment models he had learned. “It forced me to realize the standard approach wasn’t designed for chronic pain,” Baber says.
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Over the next 16 years he immersed himself in pain science research, traveled the country learning from the top experts in the field, exploring ways to retrain the brain’s control of movement to relieve pain. He learned that the number one pain generator in the body is not your muscles and joints, it is actually the brain. That work eventually led to the development of Rekinetics™, an exercise system designed to restore communication between the nervous system and the body.
More recently he has incorporated tools such as his proprietary biofrequency patches designed to stimulate sensory nerves
after an injury. The goal, Baber says, is to restore clearer proprioceptive feedback to the brain and help prevent acute injuries from developing into chronic pain.
While Baber continues working with chronic pain patients, he has also become increasingly focused on prevention. “Every chronic pain condition begins as an acute injury,” he says. “If you can restore how the body communicates early on, you may prevent that pain from becoming long-term.” That philosophy has led him to work with younger athletes as well. “I’m especially passionate about helping middle- and high-school athletes avoid injuries that can follow them into adulthood,” he says.
WORKING WITH THE BABER METHOD
Baber currently sees clients inside Body Prescriptives Massage & Wellness, located at 1625 S. Florida Ave. in Lakeland.
His practice focuses on active adults dealing with chronic pain as well as serving young athletes seeking injury prevention or recovery from nagging injuries.
Initial consultations are $200, with follow-up visits priced at $150 for 55 minutes or $80 for 30 minutes. Most singlearea pain issues resolve within four to six visits, while more complex cases may take eight to 10.
Prospective clients can learn more at BaberMethod.com or follow @BaberMethod on Instagram and Facebook.
After nearly 25 years in physical therapy—from Broadway tours to developing his own treatment systems—Baber says the question that first sparked his curiosity still drives him. “How do we help people move freely again?” he says. “And how do we help them keep moving that way for the rest of their lives?”
Hopeful Medicine
How Local Pediatricians Find Joy and Purpose in Caring for Children and Their Parents
Imagine a job where you get to hang out with some of our community’s smallest, most amusing people all day—giving the sad ones a reason to smile and the happy ones cause to jump up and down with glee. That’s the life of a pediatrician.
Lakeland Regional Health pediatricians think they have the best job in the world because the rewards include building meaningful relationships with patients and caregivers. These relationships are built around their health journey but often turn into bonds that epitomize the genuine love the doctors find in helping parents and their kiddos navigate life.
“Every day that I am blessed to work with children and their families is a win,” says Dr. Nicole Hinds of the Grasslands Campus. “Those moments are even more special when the time spent counseling yields positive outcomes that benefit the entire family.”
LRH pediatricians care for children at the Grasslands Campus and Imperial Lakes locations in Lakeland, as well as the Winter Haven Central office. LRH also operates the area’s only Children’s Emergency Department at the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children.
Dr. Hinds says LRH Pediatrics offices are full of “warm hearts, magical tools, and fun treats.” Decorated in bright colors, the offices are adorned with hand-drawn thank-you notes, piles of books and toys, candy, and stickers. Around every corner, you’ll find children telling funny stories and giggling or simply waiting for a trusted voice to help them navigate a challenge they are facing.
No matter the need, or the hour, LRH pediatricians pride themselves on being accessible. They take turns serving as the on-call pediatrician in the evenings and weekends and seeing patients at Saturday appointments, which are available at the Grasslands and Winter Haven locations.
Dr. Humam Alabsi, of Imperial Lakes, says, “Ideally, the pediatrician should be someone who listens carefully to both the child and parent and provides timely care when needed. It’s also important that the office has friendly and supportive staff, creating a welcoming environment that makes visits less stressful for both children and parents. This combination helps ensure a positive, trusting relationship.”
REWARDING WORK
A primary goal of pediatricians is to help their patients thrive, and often that includes being in their lives for at least 18 years.
“Interacting with children, seeing their smiles, and making them laugh when they are nervous about shots is a daily win for me,” says Dr. Janelle Peery from Imperial Lakes. “I also love when we can turn a bad school situation around by treating ADHD successfully. It’s very rewarding to see a child completely change from failing to making straight A’s.”
Dr. Peery knew she wanted to work with kids after spending summers as a church camp counselor. Like her, many of the pediatricians were inspired to care for children when they were still kids themselves.
Up top: Dr. Tamara Pistoria, Dr. Shachi Patel, Dr. Nicole Hinds, and Dr. Christina Chen-Milhone from Grasslands Campus. Bottom left: Dr. Humam Alabsi, left, and Dr. Janelle Peery from Imperial Lakes. Bottom right: Dr. Susan Sandoval, Dr. Melissa Blackburn, Dr. Raul Alvarez, and Dr. Alina Stanica from Winter Haven Central.
With over 30 years of experience in real estate and more than 50 years as a proud Lakeland resident, I am dedicated to serving my community with integrity and a commitment to excellence. I take pride in helping people navigate the buying and selling process, ensuring they feel confident and supported every step of the way. My goal is to provide the highest level of service, combining deep local knowledge with a passion for making real estate dreams a reality. Whether you're buying your first home, selling a property, or investing in the future, I am here to guide you with honesty, expertise, and care.
Dr. Christina Chen-Milhone, who sees patients at Grasslands and the Morrell location, says her pediatricians were major influences in her life.
“Growing up with a chronic condition myself, I experienced how my own pediatricians supported me and my family,” she recalls. “They were some of my role models, and I wanted to be like them and give back to the community I grew up in.”
WHOLE FAMILY CARE
Pediatricians care for parents, too, celebrating first steps and healthy milestones with them and supporting them when their children are under the weather.
Pediatricians blend science with compassion, says Dr. Tamara Pistoria from the Grasslands Campus. “Pediatrics is not simply about diagnosing ear infections or managing asthma. It is about standing beside families in some of their more stressful moments: the anxiety of their first fever, the uncertainty of developmental milestones, the relief when a diagnosis is understood. It is about reassuring parents who are doing their best and reminding them that they are not alone,” she says. “Pediatrics is hopeful medicine.”
Like many parents, pediatricians wish they could fix everything. They acknowledge they can’t, but they try anyway.
Dr. Shachi Patel brings relentless positivity to her practice at Grasslands and it has been hard for her to see a clear uptick in mental health issues among children.
“It feels like a silent epidemic,” she says. “Adverse life conditions, trauma, and abuse affect children’s cognitive ability and learning and cause emotional dysregulation and anxiety disorders.”
With that recognition, Dr. Patel took it upon herself to complete a mini fellowship on mental health for pediatric primary care.
FINDING THE RIGHT PARTNER
Drawing on their expertise as pediatricians and their own experience as parents, the doctors say they know raising kids is hard.
Dr. Pistoria says often simple things like having dinner as a family, reading together, and maintaining consistent bedtimes can make a significant difference in long-term outcomes.
“Raising healthy kids is less about controlling every outcome and more about cultivating a home where love, stability, and steady habits live.”
Dr. Peery calls parenting one of the hardest jobs. “It is important to pay attention to your child’s needs, encourage their talents and hobbies, and let them make some mistakes,” she says.
The physicians suggested parents think about their own priorities and philosophy of parenting when they meet with potential pediatricians. They suggest parents look for a doctor they connect with—one with whom they are comfortable speaking freely, who will listen to both the parents and the child and get to know the whole family.
“You’re not just choosing a medical expert,” says Dr. Patel. “You’re choosing someone who will partner with you through every stage of your child’s health. Modern parenting is collaborative, and great pediatric care should be, too.”
‘‘You’re not just choosing a medical expert,’’ says Dr. Patel. ‘‘You’re choosing someone who will partner with you through every stage of your child’s health.
Modern parenting is collaborative, and great pediatric care should be, too.’’
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Prodigious Hands
Celebrating the Vivid, Complex Art of a
Cuban Legend
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL | WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOTTA GALLERY
Gonzalo Borges is a simple man, content to gaze at trees across the road or simply follow much of the same routine he has for more than seven decades. His hands might be a bit shakier than they were in earlier years, but they are no less well honed compasses for bringing lines, colors and textures to life on a canvas in a fashion that is intriguing, and even mesmerizing.
Like many Cubans, his story is one of resilience and overcoming the odds, and like many of his fellow countrymen, the Havana-born 90-year-old has strong words against the oppressive regime he grew up under , while also fondly recalling the rice and beans, the palm trees, the countryside and the beautiful women that are etched in his memory.
Somehow, some way, on a journey that included a stint in New York in the 1990s—where in 1995 he was honored with a Hispanic Heritage Month award by then-mayor Rudy Giuliani—stops in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and many years living in Miami, he ended up in Lakeland in 2025.
Now, this April, the acclaimed painter and draftsmen will be an anchor of the inaugural Fuego Festival in Downtown Lakeland, a vibrant new cultural celebration being hosted by Notta Gallery, with the likes of Nineteen61 and Ybor City Cigar Festival.
Notta Gallery co-owner Katie Webb and her husband, Andy, could not believe their good fortune when Borges and his partner, Josefina Montilla, unexpectedly walked into their studio earlier this year. Now, they are even more excited for the community to get to know the legend and embrace his work. At the free April 17 festival, attendees will have the opportunity to see a comprehensive retrospective exhibition of Borges’ work, while dining on tasty bites and enjoying drinks and cigars that represent Latino culture.
7911 Lake James Blvd
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Homes Featured by Clark Realty, LLC
As Katie puts it, Borges work has a “soulful presence” that cannot be faked and that requires a special gift that couples deep thought and innate creativity. Andy correlates looking at a piece of Borges’ work to the experience of eating a wellcomposed gourmet dish or listening to a masterful symphony, in part because the amount of details that are folded into work that critics classify as simultaneously anthropological, historical, autobiographical, ontological, psychological, and spiritual.
SKETCHING SERENDIPITY
Standing behind his original 4 foot by 8 foot oil painting masterpiece “Revelation” at his North Lakeland home on a recent afternoon, Borges is quiet, but the room is filled by his warm expression and fondness toward our conversation about the painting’s symbolism fills the room.
This particular piece, crafted in 1995, features The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and is packed with details that are commentaries of religious and political affairs of the day.
Like many of his works, the humans in this piece of art have only one eye each.
“I have not yet understood people or humans in their totality,” Borges remarks. “There is something always hidden.”
What is not hidden is Borges’ inordinate talent, which is especially powerful to behold when you know more of his story.
Borges grew up in a family with few resources; his mother worked a grueling, low-paying job as a tobacco destemmer in the Partagas factory. After his father passed away when Borges was only eight, the responsibility of contributing fell to the young boy. He was forced to sell newspapers and magazines, utilizing public transit to traverse the city.
Yet, this humble, demanding childhood held a glorious crown. At age 11, the young newspaper vendor was drawn daily to a specific spot where he would stop to watch the work of Vincent Cremades, a master of fresco painting. One day, Cremades saw the boy’s keen interest and offered to mentor him.
Borges, still a child, became part of a team restoring and creating frescoes for churches across Old Havana—including the Merced, Montserrat, and Caridad del Cobre. He worked alongside masters, soaking up the technique that would define his life.
This trajectory was cemented when, at 16, a moment of profound validation arrived. The renowned Cuban painter and teacher René Portocarrero declared to the young artist: “You have prodigious hands. Do not deviate from the course of art. At your age, it’s difficult to have the technique and skill in painting and drawing. You were born to paint and that is your destiny.”
It is a decree Borges has carried with him, never forgetting those words.
UNLOCKING SOME MYSTERIES, CREATING OTHERS
Borges’ art is, by his own admission and by the assessment of critics, a sprawling, multifaceted world. His work delves deep into myths and legends, sociopolitical issues, and the complexities of human nature, often portraying women, a love for nature, and the power of unseen forces.
Josefina describes it as surreal and semi-abstract. It is through this lens that Borges translates a world he still seeks to fully comprehend.
A significant, yet often confusing, part of his artistic and cultural background is the syncretic nature of Cuban religion, a blend of Catholicism and the West African Yoruba religion, known as Santería. It is a tradition that found a fascinating compromise after the arrival of Spanish Catholics, who merged their own saints with the orishas (deities) of the Africans. Borges, a self-avowed Catholic, who grew up immersed in this complex, magic-religious reality, explored these mystical figures and traditions extensively in his art.
You can’t look at his art without also recognizing signs of the time, often representing oppression, conflict or new ways of thinking. For a man born in 1936, it might even seem surprising that you can find references to Bitcoin, NFTs and modern idioms in some of his newer art.
As much as he loves parts of the Cuban culture, he states unequivocally that he will never go back to his home country. The oppression of the regime—which he tried to flee from in 1965, but ultimately had his visa denied to emigrate to Mexico—is a part of his story that clearly caused significant pain that he chooses to distance himself from.
In 1991, he finally emigrated, arriving in New York City with the grand, Cubanborn idea of painting huge commercial murals. What he found was the stark reality of Western commerce: enormous photographic banners plastered to skyscrapers. He recalled feeling small, realizing his masterful hand could not compete with the speed and scale of a machine.
However, his prodigious skill quickly
“I have not yet understood people or humans in their totality,” Borges remarks. “There is something always hidden.”
found a new market. His first job was painting banners for local businesses. He was hired on the spot by a man from the Dominican Republic after painting a sign for a fruit and vegetable business. The owner was so astonished by the semi-abstract yet beautiful depiction of the produce that he commissioned Borges for over the years.
Wherever he has lived, his art has made an impact. In 2004, at the age of 69, the first comprehensive exhibition of his work in the Dominican Republic took place at the Museum of the Royal Houses in the Colonial Zone.
A FINAL CANVAS TO FILL
Borges still draws and paints every day, and although language barriers make communication unrefined, he enthusiastically shows off early sketches that eventually evolved into finished paintings.
He’s proud of what he’s accomplished, but asserts he’s not done.
“My career is not yet a victory achieved, it is a huge fight that I haven’t won yet,” he says. “Life transforms everything. The art of yesterday is not the art of today.”
The man, a father of five, is complex, yet simple.
When he was working alongside innercity youth in New York, he would teach children to simplify their work down to the fundamental geometric shapes—the rectangle, triangle, circle, and square—and then let them build their own world from those simple forms. Beyond technique, his guidance is moral: get away from what is harmful and lean into love.
The Fuego Festival and the exhibition of Borges’ work is more than just a celebration of Hispanic heritage; it is a momentous introduction of a global master of the canvas to the community he now calls home. It is an opportunity for a town to embrace a living legend, an artist whose vast, powerful, and intricate life story has been channeled into art for 75 years.
It’s the proof of a lifelong fight and enduring creative fire that still burns in Borges today.
Gonzalo
Borges
at Fuego Festival -
de Fuego April 17, 6 p.m.
Downtown Lakeland
A Hispanic arts and culture festival filled with art, vendors, Hispanic food and drinks, cigars and more. The free festival is brought to you by Notta Gallery and co-sponsored by Nineteen61 and Ybor City Cigar Festival. VIP exhibition access and a collector’s VIP experience can be purchased online at nottagallery.com
PHOTOS BY JACK PORTUNE
WRITTEN BY VICTORIA BARDEGA
DESIGNED BY MADDY LAROCK
Thalia Vila’s Recipe for a Life Rebuilt
thalia Vila moves with quiet intention at Catapult: checking a pan, taste testing ingredients, leading the energy in the kitchen without breaking rhythm. It’s the kind of movement that comes from muscle memory and care, the kind you only learn when food has always meant more than just providing sustenance.
This is how Resilient Meals is made in Lakeland—not frantically, but faithfully.
The meals are seed-oil free, cooked in olive oil, butter, or tallow, and built from whole ingredients. They’re lined up and ready to go, incredibly tasty and handcrafted with intention. From her delectable chicken teriyaki bowls to the homemade empanadas, Thalia creates delicious culinary eats that carry you through the day and are chalked full of nutritional value.
BUILDING FROM THE BEGINNING
Resilient isn’t just the name of her business. It’s her mantra and way of living out her calling. Thalia moved to Lakeland from the Dominican Republic in 2007 with her parents. They wanted me somewhere that felt like a community,” she says. “Somewhere people showed up for each other.”
She’s been here ever since.
Food has always played a central role in her life: her grandmother teaching her to cook, her dad in the kitchen, her mom pointing out, again and again, that this thing she loved might actually be a gift. As she got older, that gift sharpened into curiosity about nutrition, ingredients and the way food could support a body instead of working against it.
She prepared meals for herself long before it was a business. She paid attention. She traveled. She brought flavors home with her.
When Thalia met Jesse, who would later become her husband, they bonded over ideas and ambition. They tried things. Some worked. Some didn’t. They failed. They learned.
“We didn’t give up,” she says simply. They married in 2019 and built a life that was full of movement, from new ventures to new plans, with constant recalibration. When the pandemic hit and Jesse was laid off, he launched a mobile chiropractic practice that Thalia managed the business side of.
“I felt like something was missing in my heart,” she says.
And then her husband suggested meal prep.
At first, Thalia hesitated. Why meal prep? Why now? But once word got out about the service, coworkers Jesse’s patients started asking about it.
By 2022, Thalia was cooking 12-hour days out of her apartment, surrounded by family and friends who believed in her before there was anything polished
to believe in. Orders stacked up. So did responsibility.
“I treated it like a real business from the beginning,” she says. “I knew it deserved that.”
When she moved into Catapult, she called it a seed of faith. Growth followed.
“EVEN
WHEN IT GETS HARD, WE STAY”
Thalia was always creative. Jesse was the visionary. He understood systems, branding, and long-term thinking. He taught her how to build something sustainable without losing herself in the process.
As it came time to name the business, the word resilient felt earned.
“It was who we were,” she says.
“Business hadn’t gone our way. Life hadn’t gone our way. But we were still standing.”
In 2022, when Jesse was diagnosed with aggressive cancer, the couple continued to stay true to their business.
“Jesse used to say, ‘Even when it gets hard, we stay,’” she says. “That stayed with me.”
After Jesse’s death, Resilient Meals didn’t pivot. Resilience, Thalia learned, isn’t about powering through. It’s about grace. It’s about getting back up without rushing yourself. It’s about continuing to show up even when the version of life you planned no longer exists.
COOKING WITH INTEGRITY AND MEMORY
Today, Resilient Meals serves
Lakeland with the same integrity Jesse helped instill from the beginning. Thalia refuses to cut corners on nutrition. Meals are cooked the way she would cook for herself and for families across the community. The meals are fresh, never frozen, and are crafted to remain fresh for five to seven days.
The rotating menu offers a wide variety of flavors, with everything from spaghetti bolognese with gluten free pasta to pork stew to peanut butter energy bites. Meals start around $14 on average, with discounts provided to subscribers and with free delivery on orders $65 and over. Orders can be placed throughout the week, up until Thursday evening, and pickups are available at Catapult every Sunday and Monday.
Resilient Meals partners with local gyms like EYS, offers nutrition consulting and custom menu design, serves healthy snacks at Concord
Coffee in Lakeland and Winter Haven, and provides meals for everyone from bodybuilders tracking macros to families trying to eat well during a busy week.
“This is personal,” the 32-year old business owner says. “I’m feeding my [city].”
Her parents are an integral part of the business in the most literal way. Her mom cooks alongside her. Her dad helps with prep and logistics. What started as support became structure.
“If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t do this,” Thalia says. “I always dreamed of a family business. I think this is it.”
Thalia has provided more than 50,000 meals to date, and Lakelanders have rallied behind this incredible woman who is truly embodying her company’s mission.
“Community means showing up for each other,” she says. “This place does that. We are strong together.”
THE QUIET POWER OF RESILIENCE
Thalia wants to expand into other wellness concepts, into new spaces that carry the same heart. She’s always thinking about how to do better, how to serve more fully. But she’s not in a rush.
Her faith grounds her. Her family sustains her. And the business, born from love, shaped by loss, and carried forward with intention, continues to grow.
Resilient Meals is successful because the woman behind it lives what she built, and every meal that leaves her kitchen carries that truth with it.
Your Health, Your Story, Your Care.
Randolph’s Family Health & Wellness is a family-owned clinic that blends modern medical expertise with a personalized, holistic approach.
Guided by her Christian faith and deep love for others, Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner Amanda Randolph has created a place where patients feel comfortable, supported and genuinely cared for.
At Randolph’s Family Health & Wellness it’s about people caring for people. It’s practitioners like Kandy, Kasey, Blessing and Cynthia, and office staff like Danielle, Kaylee, Skyler, Michelle and Lynn who count it a privilege to help you reach your wellness goals and support you on your journey.
Whether you need general primary care, help managing a chronic condition, or support reaching new wellness goals, Randolph’s provides compassionate, comprehensive care for every stage of life. From primary care and weight management to hormone therapy, IV therapy and aesthetic services, our family of professionals is ready to serve you.
Our team takes time to understand your concerns, explain your options clearly, and create personalized care plans that support your physical and mental wellness.
Stop in today to experience healthcare that is focused on your goals, your lifestyle and your future!
863.333.0032 randolphsfamilyhealth@gmail.com
“It was who we were. Business hadnt gone our way. Life hadnt gone our way. But we were still standing.“
- Thalia Vila, on naming the business
The Lakeland Arts Association is happy to announce a joint venture to create a new arts complex in Lakeland. The Depot Arts District will be a dynamic, community-driven arts hub rooted in Lakeland’s historic railroad legacy.
Housed in a revitalized space, The Depot offers 35 affordable artist studios, three expansive galleries showcasing local talent, and multiple workshop rooms for art classes. Designed to support creative growth and sustainability, the campus also features a garden space for outdoor events, a retail area for artist-made goods, a re-use art supply store (coming soon), and dedicated programs for art education.
In addition, The Depot provides professional development resources to help artists thrive creatively and financially. By fostering collaboration, education, and opportunity, the Depot Arts District is a vital cornerstone of Lakeland’s cultural and economic landscape.
Contact Jodi for rental Information at 863-661-7313
Photo by Sherry Ross
WRITTEN BY HOLLY CAIN
PHOTOS BY JACK PORTUNE AND PROVIDED BY CAMI BAUGH
Cami Baugh’s voice fluctuates with emotion, and a smile literally lifts her cheeks higher and higher with each sentence she shares about one of the most powerful experiences in her 25 years of life.
The recent Southeastern University graduate insists that a year ago she was unable to even run around Lakeland’s famous three-mile Lake Hollingsworth path. And now, it’s all wonderfully debatable if she is prouder of the amazing physical achievement of completing the 26.2-mile Walt Disney World Marathon this January or the experiences she shared with the “Core Four” group of friends she ran it with side-by-side-by-side-by-side after training together for nine life-changing months together.
These four members of the selfproclaimed “Core Four”–Lakelanders Baugh, Ida Mundell, 41, Haley Smith, 29, and Caylyn Gilbert, 34, who met, not on a running trail, but attending ACCESS Church—are seated at a long table in the Lakeland Public Library on a rainy winter afternoon just weeks after the big run. Alternating between big laughs and poignant cries, they are all eager to share how running the marathon became such a life-changing experience.
The “power” they received from completing the marathon wasn’t from crossing the finish line, but instead from the dig-deep journey it took getting to the starting line.
“I’ve been telling people—and it sounds so dramatic—but [completing the marathon] was probably one of the
top three moments in my life,’’ Baugh explained. “The process of physically, knowing that I can do this now, that I’ve trained and that I’ve put in the work. You had to trust the process of ‘I can’t do it today, but I know eventually I will.’
“Then the other side was really emotional because we all trained together for nine months,’’ she said, her voice breaking. “And between the four of us, we did so much ‘life’ with each other.”
Upon reflection, Baugh recognizes that “the real gift was training” with her three friends because together they got to experience the highs and lows of life, and training for a marathon.
“It’s not about the running,’’ added Mundell, as Baugh paused and wiped away tears sharing the impact of the group on her life.
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Clearly, it is about so much more. Often you will hear long distance runners speak about experiencing a “runner’s high,”—a term that describes a euphoric reaction to great physical challenge. In the case of these four women, it’s a condition that has endured and changed them.
It took a very respectable six hours and 27 minutes for the Core Four to finish the famous race through Disney parks – but that’s essentially a sprint considering the longer-term benefits they all say they share in now. Their victory was the enduring sentimental medal of friendship.
“We didn’t have a time goal, but we wanted simply to finish and have fun along the way and to soak in everything,’’ Baugh said. “We crossed the finish line hand in hand, which was so special.”
It’s impossible to spend any time with this group without experiencing a lift in your step—an improved perspective, a sense of “YES I CAN!”
Mundell—a proud mother of four children spanning the decade of ages between 9 and 19—is clearly the “ring leader.” When asked for a single word to describe her, the others are quick and respond in unison, “Ida is Joy,” and that’s with a capital J.
26.2 denotes the number of miles a participant runs to complete the Walt Disney World Marathon, while 48.6 is the number of miles completed by participants who finish the marathon in addition to Disney’s 5k, 10k and half marathon.
Not only is Mundell the “marathon veteran” of the group having completed three previous races, but in overcoming her own set of challenges she was the de facto example of what it looks like to push yourself to do hard things.
In 2022, Mundell suffered a horrible injury while renovating a home in the Lake Morton Historic District. When she was removing a pair of old 600-pound radiators, the units fell onto and severely injured her foot. Already an avid runner, Mundell was suddenly sidelined for months. But not being able to run only motivated her soul. She started back slowly doing local 5k “fun runs” and in the three years since, has completed three full marathons.
“You gain discipline knowing you can stick to something,’’ Mundell said of her incredible recovery. “It’s the concept of never breaking a promise to yourself. Knowing that it was a goal even during my injury, I thought, ‘Well, I have to get better because I’m going to run a marathon.’
“But I’m way more moved by other people’s accomplishments than my own,’’ she is quick to remind. “The greatest joy of my life is that we just did that (marathon) together.”
It’s exactly the sort of powerful message that compelled her three other running disciples.
For Smith—a highly-respected special education teacher in the Polk County school system—the idea of running a marathon wasn’t something she had really considered. She had run a half-marathon previously and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment. But doubling that distance took some serious contemplation.
“It was hard to wrap my brain around that many miles, but I knew I could start and thought I’ll just show up and see what happens,’’ Smith said. “There are so many lessons I’ve learned from running, but a lot of it is consistency and that every step forward matters.
“Sometimes we have really good days and there are also really hard days mentally —and running was an outlet to just release. There are also times I don’t feel I am strong enough to do something, and so it’s really special that all of us could come together and I could show up not feeling I was strong enough and that didn’t matter because I could lean on the strength of my friends. And the joy of the Lord is our strength and I really feel the core of what our group is, is joy.”
Joy is the recurring theme. In these cases, it’s a byproduct of forming a deep friendship and the willingness to put in the hard work. And that’s where Gilbert comes in. As the owner of Lakeland’s CrossFit OCI Fitness gym and an
“It was hard to wrap my brain around that many miles, but I knew I could start and thought I’ll just show up and see what happens,’’ Smith said. “There are so many lessons I’ve learned from running, but a lot of it is consistency and that EVERY STEP FORWARD MATTERS.
Caylyn Gilbert, Cami Baugh, Ida Mundell, Haley Smith
accomplished bodybuilder, Gilbert was logically the right member of the Core Four to establish the training regimen.
“I think for me, doing hard things is at the top of my list,’’ Gilbert said. “I’m going to push myself to do anything hard, no matter what it is. But I also think I have a lot of people at the gym and in life that I want to show, it doesn’t really matter if it’s hard. That’s where I find joy.”
She thoroughly enjoys seeing other people succeed, and it also pushes her to stretch herself to the limit.
“Obviously, the process, that’s my fun stuff —I enjoy suffering, I enjoy hard things,’’ she said, smiling at the others, who started nodding and laughing.
Just as the discussion—which at times felt like motivational therapy—started to conclude, Mundell received a text she wanted to share. Yet another person the group had encountered during their own training was texting with news.
“She ran three miles today in the rain, the farthest she’s gone and wanted to let us know it was ‘beautiful,” Mundell said, also noting another friend had reached out earlier in the morning with news of a personal goal.
“It was an 18-minute mile and others might scoff at that, but we are so proud of her because it was her first mile,’’ Mundell said.
Jordan Bellamy, 30, is another Core Four disciple of sorts. He knows all the women— and their families—from church and has not only long admired their running goals and trained with the group, but took the inspiration and fitness he gained and competed in his own marathon.
“I think what I learned from them is the strong emphasis on just how much community matters—how many people are in your circle and want to push you to do hard things even when it feels unattainable—to encourage you or be realistic with you when it feels hard,’’ he said. “I think that’s one of the biggest things I was able to experience with them—just how big community is and continuing to meet your goals, not just with running but with everything.”
Mundell agrees: “That’s the beauty of running. Be far less concerned with the time of your pace. Forward is a pace. We just want people to know, they can.”
greater THE
For more than 20 years, Downtown Lakeland has been at its very freshest on Saturdays. Kentucky Ave. is jam packed from Lemon St. N. to Oak St. with friendly neighbors, strollers, cute puppies and dozens of vendors dedicated to offering fresh, locally sourced produce, meat, honey, baked goods and more.
Thousands of people flock to the market every Saturday of the year, minus the month of August. In a world where rising grocery costs are the reality and families are diligently
looking for easy options to eat more whole food, Lakeland has grown and cultivated a gem that is healthy in more ways than one.
There are dozens of vendors and literally thousands of products worth trying. Some are there on occasion where others are as constant as the Florida humidity.
Recently a couple of our team members went for a morning stroll (let’s get those steps in!) to visit a few booths operated by friendly locals who are making their mark on healthy living for Lakelanders.
PHOTOS BY JACK PORTUNE WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS DESIGNED BY MADDY LAROCK
If you’re willing to wait for the food to put on the plate and enjoy the process of seeing life sprout right before your eyes, there are plenty of vendors like Dee Nursery at the market who are ready to fuel your vegetable garden dream or simply add a new herb or type of produce to your mix.
As common sense would tell, the summer months in Florida are only kind to a few hearty crops, like Okra, but fall, winter and spring are wonderful growing seasons for people in Polk County.
Take advantage of the expertise of staff at spots like Austin’s Backyard Garden or Peterson Nursery and Garden Center for specific advice on all types of plants and trees, and check out the incredible free resources provided by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
VITA PRODUCE
The expansive offerings of Vita Produce, anchoring the edge of Oak St. each Saturday, is an array of color and flavor ready to eat and ready to cook.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, here’s currently what’s in season.
FRUITS VEGETABLES
Carambola
Cucumbers
Grapefruit
Guava
Oranges
Papaya
Strawberries
Tangerines
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Cabbage
Eggplant
Mushrooms
Potatoes
Snap beans
Spinach
Squash
REGENERATION FAMILY FARM
Regeneration Family Farm in Lithia is the realization of a simpler, faith-driven life for founders and high school sweethearts JJ and Jordyn Maestas. It’s a testament to their commitment to family and regenerative farming, focusing on restoring soil and animal health. The Maestas family, including their four children, raises poultry by moving them across pastures daily, ensuring the chickens receive fresh, nutritious food while naturally fertilizing the land. This practice results in high-quality, ethically raised products like fresh chicken, bone broth and eggs, sold directly to consumers. They’ve recently added pork products like bacon, spare ribs and pork chops to their offerings, as well as dog treats. For the Maestas family, the farm is more than a business; it’s a way to serve the community, promote transparency in the food system, and build relationships, nurturing the soul of their community through hard work and love for Jesus.
regenerationfamilyfarm.com
MOYO BREAD
Sure, the sourdough craze keeps rising, but don’t forget about the chewy, crusty deliciousness of ciabatta bread, a rustic Italian product that begs to be dipped in oil or piled high with delectable meats. MoYo Bread, founded in 2018 by Andrii Moskalets out of Celebration, Fla. keeps it simple. He hand makes ciabatta breads, such as olive ciabatta, multigrain ciabatta and cranberry and chocolate ciabatta, while also serving up an everchanging variety of soft focaccia bread, baguettes and more.
moyobread.com
MIKRO GREENS MARKET
Microgreens are the small sustainable plants that pack powerful punches of flavor and health benefits. They are also the centerpiece of Karl Snow’s local business that he started to provide locals with access to nutrient-dense seedlings and that he hopes to expand to help community gardens thrive everywhere from neighborhoods to churchyards to schoolyards.
Mikro’s selection of microgreens continues to expand, and the business also offers fresh grass and greens options for pets. With Karl’s heart for building community, it’s no surprise that Mikro’s shows off customer-submitted recipes on its social channels, highlighting the plethora of unique ways that people are using microgreens to enhance recipes.
mikrogreensmarket.com
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS
ADVOCATES AND CO-LABORERS FOR YOUR WELLNESS JOURNEY
HEALTH & FITNESS COACH, SPORTS TRAINER
For Josh Corbett, health and fitness coaching is about more than lifting weights, jumping higher or running faster—it’s about providing clarity, kindness, and helping every person realize that “it’s never too late to try to heal, strengthen or mobilize.”
When you see Josh now, you encounter a strong, confident man of God. But his own story is one rooted in a dramatic transformation from a childhood filled with “eating Fruity Pebbles every day, multiple days at a time” and loads of fast food and microwave meals to thriving as a young adult who embodies the acronym he utilizes, HEAL, which stands for “Healthy Eating Active Living.”
Initially, a communications student at Southeastern University, he found his true calling in kinesiology after friends noticed his natural coaching ability in the gym. Despite early struggles with comparison to other students in the program, his perspective shifted dramatically when he became a manager at a local fitness studio.
It was there that the statistics and theory of fitness transformed into a profound, personal mission. “It started with seeing how much health and fitness had impacted their lives,” he recalls, citing clients with lowered cholesterol, better blood sugar, and a new lease on life. This realization—that he could facilitate real, tangible healing—was the catalyst for launching his own health and fitness coaching business.
Today, he says God has shown him that personal fitness training, group sessions and operating a Speed School at Sports for the One in South Lakeland—is more than a career, it’s the ministry God has given him.
“I offer to pray with my clients, and they always say ‘Yes,’” the 29-year-old says. “Everyone is going through something, and being well is more than just physical health. It’s been a beautiful thing”
We recently sat down with Josh to learn more about the personal training options he provides and what it means for him to live well.
THE LAKELANDER
If someone comes up to you who has come across you on social media or seen a banner with Coach Corbett on it and asks you what you offer, how do you answer that?
JOSH CORBETT
I call it health and fitness coaching because health, fitness and sport coaching sounds too long. So anything related to those. I have eight certifications, like nutritionist, corrective exercise, weight loss, specialist strength and conditioning, all sorts of stuff. If there’s anything that you need help with regarding getting your health in order I’m sure I know how, or I know somebody who knows how, [because] I’ve prioritized building a network of people who can fill in the gaps that I can’t.
TL What type of client is the right fit for your services, where it really is going to mesh well and they’re going to feel good about the long-term impact?
JOSH
Interestingly enough, as I was studying, all the books just kept saying, get a niche, get a niche—you want to find out who your ideal client is. I’ve worked with a lot of moms, whether married or single. I’ve worked with a lot of dads, I’ve worked with business owners…and there are kids that I’ve trained to do competitive sports. Because I was sort of a jack of all trades my whole life I think that’s what helps me out in this business—not picking a niche, but being effective in every area.
[With any client], I’ve made it my priority to ask: ‘How do I help you best?’ ‘What are things that you’re running into at your age and your gender and your position in life?’
TL
What are some of the main reasons you see clients coming to you?
JOSH
There is a gigantic fear of aging…so I’m trying to help people age gracefully, help them find some longevity, increase their health span. A lot of times we are starting to live into the high 80s, low 90s, some people are reaching 100, but they’re getting sicker and sicker, so they’re suffering until they die. Whether it’s aches and pains, whether it’s actual sickness or anything like that, I want to help people not get so old so quick. Longevity is one of the biggest words.
“I’VE MADE IT MY PRIORITY TO ASK: ‘HOW DO I HELP YOU BEST?’ ‘WHAT ARE THINGS THAT YOU’RE RUNNING INTO AT YOUR AGE AND YOUR GENDER AND YOUR POSITION IN LIFE?’”
MESSIEH ORTHOPEDIC
Less-invasive
TL
Let’s talk about the food part of it. Food is personal, it is emotional, it is obviously necessary sustenance. It takes a lot of effort to not just eat well, but eat right for the gains you are trying to make. Talk about how you engage with people when it comes to food.
JOSH
I couldn’t have said that better—eating well versus eating right. It’s huge. It seems like doctors agree the Mediterranean lifestyle is the top way to live, and the reason being is because you don’t have to really sacrifice anything. You have to portion and prioritize the right way, but you have to eat whole foods. You’re still allowed to have some processed food unless you’re very strict about it, but it’s so minimal that you’re not living off of it. The typical American lifestyle that we have now is the fast food line, the microwave meals that have stuff with super high sodium and a bunch of added ingredients that are completely unnecessary…and we just heat it up and eat it. You know what I mean? And a lot of it is not considered real food in most parts of the world.
So you see us getting sicker and sicker earlier and earlier, and it’s so avoidable. A lot of times I’m helping people break habits or identify patterns in their lives that are just like, ‘You need to replace this with this.’ It’s not always easy for them, and they will be like, ‘But I really like this!’ And I tell them that I don’t know if you like it so much as you’re addicted to it. And a lot of it is the addiction to convenience. So [I try to get] people used to the inconvenience of preparing a meal and not always having something that you’re super excited to eat, you know, or maybe get apples instead of fries and things like that.
TL
It’s often overwhelming to make significant changes. Where can someone realistically start?
JOSH
My wife, Anna, and I both have this issue where we try to do too much at once—and then we drop everything. So walking is the best way to start just to make sure you get 8-10,000 steps a day. If you get an hour a day walking in at a decent pace, not like a grandma’s pace, you should be at about 8-10,000 steps. That alone will help you start to see some results within like a two week span, as long as you don’t change anything else. But if you start to decrease some of the fast food and the processed food on top of that, then you will see some of the results you’re looking for. The next step I would say is I would increase protein and fiber, and then decrease sugar.
I try to do a lot of nuts, and we stock up on protein snacks that are low in extra ingredients. There are the Archer brand beef sticks…the RXBARs are pretty good, although some have some sweeteners to watch out for. I still snack on some processed stuff, but it used to be sustenance for me, and now it’s a treat—that’s the difference.
OWNER OF JONESIN’ FOR KETO
Jonesin’ for Keto is more than just a meal prep service—it’s a passion born from a profound personal health transformation. Founders Suzi and Dave Jones embarked on a health and wellness journey where they made significant lifestyle changes to lose weight, when at their heaviest they weighed 309 and 365 pounds, respectively.
Years later, when Suzi found herself regaining weight, she made a firm commitment to a low-carb keto lifestyle, refusing to hit the 200-pound mark again. This renewed dedication to cooking and feeling great, combined with encouragement from a coworker, sparked the idea to relaunch the meal prep efforts in Lakeland. What had started organically in Orlando—cooking for family and friends—evolved into a small business that the couple operates out of Catapult.
Built on the philosophy of intentional eating, they emphasize making everything from scratch, using fresh vegetables and their own seasonings to avoid the additives all too common to processed foods. Their high-protein, low-carb meals, which cater to a broad audience including GLP-1 users and post-bariatric patients, reflect their personal success and commitment to sharing convenient, flavorful and healthier food with their community.
Find out from Suzi where she gets her inspiration and what changes you can make to experience similar outcomes.
THE LAKELANDER
How would you describe a healthy lifestyle?
SUZI JONES
I think being intentional about what you’re putting into your body. A lot of our weight came from processed foods. You think about what you’re eating and learn to do alternatives and eat as fresh as possible. Do fresh vegetables, do your own sauces like we do…it’s so easy to make your own type of Rotel cheese sauce and you don’t have MSGs or heavy salt.
And we try to walk 15-20,000 steps a day. Where we live it’s like a circle, but it all begins with being intentional.
TL What drew you specifically to the low carb lifestyle? I mean there’s a lot of different options out there in terms of either diets or lifestyles in general. Why keto?
SUZI
I guess it’s kind of funny. So way back in Arkansas, we worked at Outback. And back then, the South Beach Diet was big. I watched a lot of [regulars] doing keto and ...they wouldn’t order baked potato, they would do no croutons in the salad, that kind of stuff.
“I THOUGHT I DIDN’T LIKE CAULIFLOWER, I THOUGHT I DIDN’T LIKE BROCCOLI, BUT DEPENDING ON HOW WE COOK IT OR ROAST OR DO SOME SORT OF HEAVY SEASONING… IT TASTES GOOD!”
When I was ready to start something like that, it immediately came into my head. I watched what they ate and I’m like, ‘I can eat that.’ You learn how to do substitutes for stuff and I slowly learned how to like vegetables. I thought I didn’t like cauliflower, I thought I didn’t like broccoli, but depending on how we cook it or roast or do some sort of heavy seasoning…it tastes good!
TL Obviously you guys are a team. At what point did you realize that as part of living a healthier lifestyle you wanted to be doing this in the kitchen as opposed to just finding a meal prep service to make meals for you?
SUZI
I love to cook. So here’s the funny thing. We’ve been married 36 years. When we first got married, I literally could not boil water. I mean, I put some in a pot and forgot about it, and it boiled all the way down, literally!
I didn’t really cook a lot until I started the keto back in Orlando. And then I found out I really like to cook and I like to be creative. I enjoy the whole process, I enjoy finding the menus, I enjoy tweaking the menus, I enjoy shopping for them, I enjoy cooking.
TL
How do you guys determine your menu?
SUZI
[A lot of it] is based on what people like and what you also have seen be helpful. A lot of times we’ll do “The Best Of” menu—it’s like our crack chicken, our big mac casserole, our Mississippi pot roast, our chocolate peanut butter bars— there are certain things that are super popular.
We’ve always done just low carb, and that’s how we’ve [marketed] it…and now we’ve had a couple of my customers that are GLP-1 users and the portion size, like the meatballs, are just too much for them, so we went down to a smaller portion as well. We are for people who want low carbs, people who want high protein, and the smaller portions for GLP-1 users and post-bariatric [patients.]
And we make our own seasonings, like taco seasoning, and our own sauces. And we get our vegetables fresh… and we just started using farm fresh eggs.
TL
A lot of people want to eat healthier, but don’t really cook or just want convenience. It’s not easy to make long-term changes, but it’s very consequential. Share a little bit about what you’ve learned on your health and wellness journey.
SUZI:
I’ve learned how to substitute stuff big time. A lot of times it’s figuring out like cauliflower instead of the full fat mashed potatoes.
Another thing is people do like kind of heavy fat stuff and keto is heavy fat. There’s a reason—the whole point of heavy fat in your meals and people do like fat bombs and stuff like that is teaching your body to burn the fat. And then high protein to kind of balance that out.
And we use Swerve for all of our sweeteners instead of powdered sugar, sugar and brown sugar. You would never know though because there’s no aftertaste.
PURE BARRE INSTRUCTOR, LIFELONG WELLNESS ADVOCATE
Whitney Cabrera’s deep love of and expertise in health and wellness are rooted in a lifetime of personal practice, professional experience and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. Her journey began with a personal commitment to health, which she later channeled in a career as a trauma nurse, giving her a first-hand view of the consequences of lifestyle choices. She has also led wellness programs for corporations where she provided preventive and rehabilitative support.
She is a serial entrepreneur in the local wellness space, having founded a juicing company, and at one time she ran a prepared meal service, Whitney’s Kitchen. Her philosophy is focused on empowerment and root-cause analysis, stressing that every individual’s body is different and requires personalized testing for gut health, genetics and methylation. She remains actively engaged in current research, constantly adjusting her own health practices based on scientific data rather than trends, and she can’t talk about wellness for long without talking about Jesus.
The 62-year old, who once started one of Lakeland’s first boot camps at Gold’s Gym, loves this season of life, where her “retirement and anti-aging” plan is working as an instructor at Pure Barre. She and her husband, Mark, who is the CEO of Saddle Creek Corporation, have been actively involved in Lakeland since the late 90s, and Whitney’s core mission has always been to educate, stating: “I’d rather teach how to fish than bring you fish.”
We took the opportunity to sit with Whitney recently to learn a little bit about how she teaches people looking to live healthier, longer lives “how to fish.”
THE LAKELANDER
As someone who has personally and professionally made a commitment to be fit and live a healthy lifestyle, what are some of the things that have been most impactful for you, and how do you continue to try and live your best life?
WHITNEY CABRERA
I’ll tell you what—right now it’s information overload, and we don’t know what’s right, and I’m sort of in that same place. I believe you have to be wise and very humble, and be able to take a step back and say, ‘What’s the research showing?’ Not what’s trendy, but what is there published research articles on.
I used to really teach plant-based nutrition, and movement. I still think you need to have a lot of plants, but I think now you need more protein because you cannot get enough. I’ve made a shift. I’m watching my [blood panel] labs. I do labs every three months…I just watch it very closely. You’ll even see me eating a hamburger every once in a while now.
I can’t tell somebody, ‘You need to do this.’ You need testing, you need to know what your genetics say, I need to know what’s in your gut, I need to know how your body methylates food. Just because you’re eating it doesn’t mean you’re taking it into your cells. And the way you detox—maybe things are just circulating.
Many people can’t get rid of cholesterol so their cholesterol’s high. I think God’s super smart because now we need [cholesterol] for brain protection for Alzheimer’s stuff. You only get it two ways. You’re either gonna eat it or your body’s gonna make it. Some of us make a lot of it…it’s hereditary.
[And recently, the FDA] literally flipped the Food Pyramid. I was super happy with that because that’s way closer to what we need to be doing, especially because everybody has insulin resistance issues…and that’s just from your body not functioning what it’s supposed to.
TL
As someone who is very health-conscious, how did you raise your children to understand the importance of eating a healthy, balanced diet?
WHITNEY
At first I was a little worried I might create food issues for them, because if your children think they’re being cheated the first thing they’re going to do when they can drive is go immerse themselves in candy bars.
I would just make sure that I served food that I would want to eat, that I believed in. It would always be super simple—a couple of vegetables, some starch, some meat, and then always a heavy salad, a leafy green something. So I would just cook healthy and we would eat healthy and they didn’t know any different.
“I CAN’T TELL SOMEBODY, ‘YOU NEED TO DO THIS.’ YOU NEED TESTING, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR GENETICS SAY, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR GUT, I NEED TO KNOW HOW YOUR BODY METHYLATES FOOD.”
They’ve all adopted much of the things that we did as far as nutrition, but there’s also this part for [us] that’s not for everybody, about having spiritual conversations, especially at breakfast. My husband would always do something called a wisdom search, and it was like a devotional…and for our [youngest] son it’s something he adopted and will likely do for the rest of his life.
TL Since we’re talking about health and fitness in a magazine made for Lakelanders, what are some tools or tips you have for healthy living in and around Lakeland?
WHITNEY
One of the best things we have here Is LivTan. They’ve got red light therapy…the ones with the proper nano and configuration for the sinewaves and all that and at the right distance.
There’s also a place called Jason Health. You can go there and order your own [blood panels]...and they will send you your results. You used to have a doctor’s orders… but you literally just click, choose where you want to go, and I’m in and out. You can get a CBC test, which is your main blood count, for $5. And you can get additional types of tests for an additional cost.
TL Tell me a little bit about your journey with Pure Barre, where you started as an instructor in 2022.
WHITNEY
I believe that we are here for purpose…and it’s a very interesting mental shift because now I’m the older woman really called by God to teach younger women. So, I’m thinking, where am I going to find them? They’re not dead, but they might be cloistered up. It seems like some people implode. I’ve seen so many mothers and mother-in-laws and older women disappear and implode, and their quality of life is not there. But I’m deliberately doing something different…and it’s so cool because I am taking my skillset and working for a business that is run by Jenny Kersey, a Christian who is focused on outreach. Our goal is to love women to Christ…so we are looking for opportunities to have conversations when you come in and build community.
One of the things I love about Pure Barre is that we have all levels in one class. So you’ve got a brand new person that’s physically very deconditioned with somebody who’s rocking it—their body knows what to do and they look great—but that’s part of the community.
Pure Barre is an excellent choice for anybody who wants to protect their joints. And I’m not talking ‘cause you’re old—it’s when you’re young is when you ruin them. I’ve had issues with every joint because of all the things I did over time. Pure Barre is something you could do for your entire life.
TL
There’s so much noise and so many people and businesses competing for our attention. How do you wade through the information and the products, etc.?
WHITNEY
I quiet all the other voices. On Instagram for example, I will listen to a lot of voices, but then I will literally pray for wisdom…and only follow a few of them. Be careful what you put in front of your eyes. I tread very carefully, and I try hard to be humble because I wanna learn. I’m open, but there’s a certain point that something doesn’t sit right with my spirit so I’m not going to do it.
Aerobic exercise class led by Linda Hughes was offered at the Lakeland YMCA.
Courtesy of the Lakeland Public Library
Lakeland YMCA
1979
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