WH8

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Winter Haven’s City Magazine

CROOKED LAKE / SPA TOUR / FIRST IMPRESSIONS OFF THE SIDELINES / FRESH GREENS AND BAMBU

PROFESSIONAL CARE MEETS

Personal

SERVICE

GENERAL HEALTH + WELLNESS

|

ACUTE CONDITIONS

WOMEN’S HEALTH

|

|

CHRONIC CONDITIONS

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Trinity Medical Group is a family primary care practice with locations in Lakeland and Winter Haven, that builds long-term relationships with its patients while also specializing in cutting-edge medical technology and preventative medicine.

3240 Florida Ave S #105, Lakeland, FL 33803 (863) 646-4000 TRINITYMEDGROUP.COM

ISSUE 8

28 ON THE COVER Explore the Calusa pavilion, a simple and economical form of shelter that sits at the edge of Crooked Lake.

cover photo by Daniel Barcelรณ

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Locations

Physicians & Provider Listing

Main Campus 500 E. Central Ave. Winter Haven, FL 33880

At Bond Clinic, we are committed to providing Polk County and the surrounding region with qualify medical professionals.

Downtown Campus 199 Ave B, N.W. Winter Haven, FL 33881 East Campus Off Cypress Cardens Blvd.

3000 Woodmont Ave. Winter Haven, FL 33884 Ophthalmology Adjacent to the Main Campus

506 Ave A, S.E. Winter Haven, FL 33880 Davenport Campus

In Cypress Physicians Building at Heart of Florida

40124 US Hwy 27, Suite 102 Davenport, FL 33837 Marc Feldman, DPM / Podiatry & Foot Surgery Winter Haven Office

401 E. Central Ave. Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-299-9100 Sebring Office

4900 Sun N Lake Blvd. #1 Sebring, FL 33872 863-299-9100

Lake Wales Office Located in the Orange Grove Plaza

1342 S.R. 60 East Lake Wales, FL 33853 863-679-1552

By Appointment Only

Lakeland Office 4730 Explorations Ave. Lakeland, FL 33812

By Appointment Only

Sherif I. Ibrahim, MD Nephrology

Nephrology Hou, Jeffrey Peng, MD Ibrahim, Sherif I, MD New McClendon, Michele L., DO

Neurology Cardiology (Interventional) Rajguru, Shailesh, DO Cosme, Octavio, MD Nurse Practitioners Endocrinology & Diabetes Ash, Greisy, ARNP Bailey, Charla, ARNP Miller, Christopher, MD Bridges, Stephanie, ARNP Calderon, Amelia, ARNP Family Medicine Carbone, Carrie, ARNP Arana, Flavio R., MD Cassady, Stephanie, ARNP Arango, Cecilia, MD Cayson, Barry, ARNP Koilpillai, Robinson, MD Magno, Alexander S., MD Davidson, KC, ARNP O’Meara, Mary, MD New Harte, Brian, ARNP Huffstickler, Carrie, ARNP General Surgery Jones, Courtney, CPNP & Surgical Oncology Jones, Lorrie, ARNP Gambaro, Esteban, MD Krieger, Kelly, ARNP Thomas, Robert S., MD Lawrence, Laurel, ARNP Lewis, Jami, ARNP Hospitalists Linn-Gettel, Jean, ARNP Carlucci, Joseph A., MD Miller, Emily, ARNP Munez, Elvin, MD Moore, Vicki C., ARNP Paul, Nisha, MD Patel, Mrudula, AGNP Redlien, Parker, MD Patterson, Lauren, ARNP Shamim, Talha, MD Pickard, Martha, ARNP Rampersad, Michelle, ARNP Internal Medicine Ray, Brandi, ARNP Farrell, Cathy, MD Reed, Deloris, ARNP Lakhani, Sonali, MD Reedy, Clayton, ARNP Lopez, Christopher, MD Ritter, Cynthia, ARNP Prieto, Jose, DO Rivera, Ruby A., ARNP Rentas, Evelyn, MD Reyes, Pamela, MD Rivera, Juan R., MD Torres, Jorge, MD

Nurse Practitioners (con’t) Saucedo, Gerardo, FNP Skukowski, Bobbie, ARNP Torres, Heather, CPNP Valadez, Jenifer, NP-C White, Samantha, ARNP Widner, Linda G., ARNP Obstetrics & Gynecology Gabriel, Carlos I., MD Gatto, Vincent W., MD Kenaan, Jana, MD Salamon, Eva J., MD

Pulmonology Romeu-Velez, Jesse, MD Rheumatology Pancorbo, Roberto, MD Sleep Medicine Romeu-Velez, Jesse, MD

Oncology & Hematology Hlalah, O. Abu, MD

Thoracic Surgery Lambert, Jr., C. Jake, MD Iakovidis, Panagiotis, MD

Ophthalmology Ort, Michael G., MD

Urgent Care Ton, Liem, MD

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Lerner, Robert K., MD Morin, Paul M., MD

Urology & Urologic Surgery Lee, Kevin, MD Romero, Claudio, MD

New

Pain MedicineVascular Surgery Interventional Iakovidis, Panagiotis, MD Eldeeb, Mohammad A., MD Lambert, Jr., C. Jake, MD Pediatrics Nguyen, Kenny, MD Physical Therapy Balogh, Jeremy S., DPT

Wound Care Iakovidis, Panagiotis, MD Lambert, Jr., C. Jake, MD

Physician Assistant Rodriguez, Christopher, PA

Bond Clinic Welcomes

863-293-1191

Podiatry & Foot Surgery Englert, Christopher, DPM Feldman, Marc, DPM

Mary O’Meara, MD Family Medicine

www.BondClinic.com

03/2018

Cardiology Bhatia, Karan K., MD Mustafa, Muhammad, MD Vigoreaux, Jose R., MD Willard, E.H., MD

First Street Campus 325 First Street N. New Winter Haven, FL 33881

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES

40

PEOPLE

DR. PANAGIOTIS IAKOVIDIS Bond Clinic’s CEO and majority owner of the Tropics

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50

CULTURE

BLAIR UPDIKE The artist and the inspiration that fuels her

Honest Banking for Generations

What if there was a bank that was more than just a transaction?

We’re different. Find out how: bit.ly/WHBusiness

TABLE OF CONTENTS

60 SPECIAL

SPA TOUR In the search for wellness, one of the parts that plays into the equation is restoration and self-care. We explored local spas offering some of the most advanced services in their serene settings, to bring you some of the best the city has to offer.

DEPARTMENTS 14

EDITOR’S NOTE

16 CONTRIBUTOR BIOS 18 PHOTOGRAPHER BIOS 22

82 HISTORY

74 TASTE

FRESH GREENS & BAMBU

Discover the juices, vibrant salads, and origins of Bambu Café

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METRO

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MESSIEH ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC Leader in Anterior hip replacement in Central Florida since 1991 Less invasive surgery for the active patient looking for a quick recovery and a quicker return to work

Two Locations 1601 Sixth Street , S.E. Winter Haven, FL 33880 863.419.9301 5 Ryant Blvd.

Sebring, FL 33870 863.471.9700

LINDA CANNON & SARA ZENG MISS FLORIDA 2017 - 2018 WITH CANNON SUBARU >>>

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LAKELAND • 2018

T I C K E T S N O W O N S A L E – W W W. M I S S F L O R I D A . O R G

Y O U K E Y T H E A T R E : T U E S D A Y J U N E 2 6 T H - F I N A L S S A T U R D AY J U N E 3 0 T H CALL TO GET YOUR TICKETS: 863-834-8111

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Foundation of Faith.

Instruction for Life.

Curt Patterson

Jason Jacobs • Brandon Patterson

PUBLISHER

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS

Brandon Patterson

Kristin Crosby

Daniel Barceló

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Advertising ADVERTISING DIRECTOR ADVERTISING SALES

Curt Patterson; 863.409.2449 Brandon Patterson; 863.409.2447 Jason Jacobs, 863.606.8785

Editorial CONTRIBUTORS

PRODUCTION EDITOR COPY EDITOR

Lina Hargrett, Annalee Mutz, Leigh-Anne Hemenway Pou Annalee Mutz Laura Burke

Creative DESIGNER

GOURMET

GOODIES Cupcakes

Custom Cakes

Desserts

PHOTOGRAPHERS

VP, FINANCE INTERN SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN

Anushka van Huyssteen Dan Austin, Daniel Barceló, John Kazaklis, Naomi Lynn Vacaro Deb Patterson Emily Johnson Allie Bernatek

Circulation CIRCULATION DIRECTOR GENERAL COUNSEL

Jason Jacobs Ted W. Weeks IV

Issue 8 - May/June 2018 Published by Patterson Jacobs Publishing, LLC WH is published bimonthly by Patterson Jacobs Publishing, P.O. Box 41, Lakeland, FL 33802. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission of The Lakelander is prohibited. WH is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.

Contact Patterson Jacobs Publishing, P.O. Box 41, Lakeland, FL 33802 863.701.2707 • www.thewhmag.com

68 Fourth Street NW Winter Haven, FL 33881

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ggcupcake.com 863-318-1400

Customer Service: 863.701.2707 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

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FROM THE EDITOR

INTO AN ADVENTURE Each graduation season brings me back to facing that daunting final month in college. As a music student who took five years to complete a four-year major track and pass piano proficiency, I was more than ready to graduate. But I was also petrified, to say the least. I knew what I loved, but I didn’t know how it would pan out. I knew what I could do yet at the same time had no clue what I would actually be capable of, stepping out into the world.

Little did I know I was also stepping out into what would be considered the generation that has had more careers than any generation before it. For classes that graduated between 2006 and 2010, the likely number of jobs one would work for the five years after graduating has nearly doubled, from 1.6 jobs to 2.85 jobs.

Granted, I managed to hold the same job after college for nearly four years, but that’s not to say I felt less confused than the next millennial. As there

Kristin Crosby, Editor

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tends to be more options and ways to work, there also seems to be more confusion and uncertainty among graduates, yet more certainty that they should be certain of what they’re doing next once they receive that diploma. Maybe at this critical step to becoming an adult, it feels like that one thing we can control.

However, if you’ve graduated this season and you don’t know what you’re doing next (as in, you’re not sure that this next job is perfect for you, you’re not sure what the ideal career choice is for you, you’re maybe not even sure if you picked the right major), you have more in common with your fellow graduates than you realize.

Though, if you step out into this after-graduation life and come to terms with the fact that you don’t know everything that you will do next, know that life wouldn’t be the adventure it was made to be if you did. You don’t have to know everything. In fact, you may not want to.

LLC

SMALL CITY RISING

863-299-1195

LIVE. WORK. PLAY.

56 FOURTH STREET, NW 2ND FLOOR WINTER HAVEN, FL 33881

WWW.SIXTENLLC.COM

CONTRIBUTORS

KRISTIN CROSBY PEOPLE

Originally from the North, Kristin Crosby first came to Lakeland to study at Southeastern University. Prior to Patterson Publishing, she worked at Relevant Magazine and as a grant writer for the nonprofit organization LifeNet International, and previous contributor at LifeZette.com, an American news and opinion site based in Washington D.C. As editor, Kristin endeavors to uncover and give voice to the untold stories of this city. kristincrosby.com

ANNALEE MUTZ CULTURE

Annalee Mutz is a multi-discipline creative based out of Lakeland. She holds degrees in journalism and public relations, and a master’s in business administration. In addition to writing and freelancing, Annalee’s loves in life include her husband, Michael; books; art museums; traveling and learning about new cultures; live music; 1999 romcoms; and yoga. annaleemutz.com

LEIGH-ANNE HEMENWAY POU TASTE

Leigh-Anne Hemenway Pou is a Realtor and native of Winter Haven. A graduate of the University of Mississippi, she credits her time spent in the city of Oxford, MS, for cultivating her love of local cuisine. LeighAnne and her husband are proudly raising their family in Winter Haven.

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LINA HARGRETT SHELTER

Lina Hargrett is an Art & Design Historian based in Miami, Florida. In 2014 she started a blog called The Empty Apartment which has since evolved into an art and design sourcing company focusing on Scandinavian and Mid-Century Design, with a store location in the neighborhood of Little River, Miami.

She is also co-founder of Florida Modernism & Design, an organization that celebrates influential architects and architecture from the modern era in Florida. Lina spends lots of her time writing, researching, and traveling to meet with vendors to find unique pieces.

She believes there are two things that make a home interesting: its architecture and the stories its contents tell. theemptyapartment.com

WATSON CLINIC HIGHLANDS

PHASE 2 NOW OPEN!

This expansion adds nearly 39,000 square feet to our popular Watson Clinic Highlands campus, and delivers more doctors, more services and greater convenience than ever before. Patients can now enjoy easy access to additional specialties including General Surgery, Hand Surgery, Internal Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery/Sports Medicine, Priority Care for same and next day appointments, an expanded Radiology department and a second location for our Medical Spa at Watson Clinic.

2300 E. County Road 540A • Lakeland • 863-607-3333 • Follow us on:

For a full list of services at this location visit WatsonClinic.com/Highlands.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DANIEL BARCELÓ

DAN AUSTIN

Daniel Barceló is a multidisciplinary creative professional leading the design and photography teams as creative director. He endeavors to grow the magazine’s brand and influence as it continues to empower and inspire creatives and the community at large.

Dan Austin is a Florida native photographer. He specializes in a unique style that combines the spirit of his subject with a detailed attention to lighting. Through this, Dan achieves a unique and well-thought-out aesthetic that can be seen in his images. danaustinphotography.com

JOHN KAZAKLIS

John Kazaklis was born and raised in the DC Metro Area and came to Lakeland to study at Southeastern University in 2007. After graduating, John decided to make Lakeland his home because of the great quality of life and close-knit community. His fascination with different cultures and travel made him passionate about visual storytelling and sharing stories that typically go untold. He is currently the program director at Catapult Lakeland. istoria.life

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NAOMI LYNN VACARO Naomi Lynn Vacaro has been a world traveler since birth, living in the ice desert of Mongolia with her missionary parents who took her family on occasional visits to Korea, Russia, China, and Thailand. Her 18th birthday came with the expiration of her Mongolian visa, and, despite her hatred of large bugs, Naomi moved to Lakeland, Florida. It was here that she learned how to drive, figured out work and college, and tackled her fear of ordering at fast-food restaurants. She is now a freelance photographer and blogger. naomilynn.com facebook.com/naomilynnphotography

The Bentley Family, Cathy “K” Kluytenaar and Zac Kluytenaar

THE BENTLEY’S K TEAM EXPERIENCE

Cathy “K” Kluytenaar &

“My wife was pregnant, our family was growing, and it was time for us to find a new home that fit our needs. It was Christmas time and the inventory in our price point was slim. The K Team found our dream home the day it hit the market and had us there for a showing just hours after it became available. They negotiated on our behalf and gave us incredible service from start to finish.

Simultaneously, they listed our previous home, hosted a first-class open house, and we had a cash buyer in less than a week. I don’t believe any other team can provide that level of expertise, market knowledge or service. Our family will use The K Team for any real estate needs in the future; yours should too!” - Jonathan Bentley

YOURKTEAM.COM

CONTACT US

863.604.6220 INFO@YOURKTEAM.COM

FIND US

323 FIRST ST. S. WINTER HAVEN FL 33880

why be ordinary?

Stand out from your competition with award-winning design and beautiful photography all supported by an attentive team working to see you succeed.

lkldrcreative.com | 863.701.2707

IT’S MORE THAN JUST FOOD, IT IS AN EXPERIENCE. 325 W Central Ave, Winter Haven, FL 33880 thefirerestaurant.com 863.875.5544

Southern Charm

METRO

While the world prepares to step into vacation mode, Central Florida prepares for a host of tourists. Though the season can be overwhelming, it may be the best time to recall the genteel hospitality of the South.

Although the days are still pleasant and balmy, July’s stifling summer heat will be here before we know it. And Winter Haven (like most of Central Florida) can quickly become what may feel like a pit stop off of I-4 for the tourists across the globe that will come trotting through in the months to come. In fact, it could easily be said that Central Florida is the holiday capital of the world. (While to most of the world holiday means Disney, for many of us, we’d rather holiday, translated to vacating the norms of our everyday life.)

Stuck in the midst of the touristcompounded Orlando and snowbirdstop Tampa, and not too far from the insta-influencer inundated Miami, by the early days of summer the centralized cities in Florida can feel like the Bermuda Triangle of the sun-deprived. During this season most of us may feel we can spot a tourist in a moment, dressed in bright Tommy Bahama palm tree beachwear and cozy flip-flops midday on a Tuesday.

No doubt, in the midst of extra-humid days, when traffic is a bit more crammed than usual, some of these visitations can test our patience, to say the least. As

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we wait in line at Andy’s, out-of-town visitors peruse the ice cream menu, delaying us our lunch-time hamburger as we stand there waiting hangrily. We can easily be consumed by a slight bitterness and disdain for all who get to crowd our town as they pass through on their vacation destinations, while we head back to work.

It’s common for this inpouring of tourists, smiling visitors, and crowded families headed to Legoland, to cause us to become overcome with frustration, even caught with a twinge of annoyance, as we’re stopped for the third time that week to give someone directions to Grove Roots or the best way to Disney World.

While it can feel like strangers on our turf, if we were honest, really we’d just rather reroute our work day to join them for a visit with Mickey.

In recent years, to advise readers preparing for summer getaways, Condé Nast listed “The Top Friendliest and Unfriendliest Cities in the U.S.” Back in 2016, the friendliest cities were noted to be Charleston, South Carolina, at number one; Park City, Utah, at number

two; and Savannah, Georgia, at number three. Though no Florida cities made the top 10 list that year (apparently not everyone can be happy and friendly all the time, not even where dreams come true), they also didn’t make the “Top 10 Unfriendliest Cities” (which names we will tactfully leave unmentioned).

As Winter Haven continues to evolve, as growth continues to revitalize the city, and developments such as the downtown parks are underway, we are sure to see an increase in visitors stopping by each year. But by summer, while vacations and annual trips are underway and we are met with unfamiliar faces day after day, there’s no reason we can’t offer that same welcoming spirit and hospitality to all who enter the city.

A little genteel hospitality and kindness may be underrated nowadays, but we’re quite certain it’s the reason places like the Lakeland-Winter Haven metropolis are on the rise. Growing beyond the casual gesture of “Bless your heart” (unless you really mean it), maybe it's a chance to brush up on a little genuine Southern hospitality this summer.

DEDICATION • STRAUGHN • EFFECTIVE • PERSONAL • HONESTY • INTEGRITY ACCOUNTABILITY • COMPASSION • TURNER • QUALITY • EXCELLENCE PROFESSIONAL • RESPONSIBILITY • RESPECT

FRONT ROW: Douglas A. Lockwood III, Richard Straughn, Mark Turner TOP ROW: Alexander M. Landback, Marie Straughn

When you think of a law firm, only two words should come to mind.

For more than 60 years, Straughn & Turner has been among Polk County’s most respected firms, an image that we‘ve cultivated through hard work and careful attention to our clients’ interest.

RICHARD E. STRAUGHN | MARK G. TURNER | DOUGLAS A. LOCKWOOD III MARIE R. STRAUGHN | ALEX M. LANDBACK AREAS OF PRACTICE

BUSINESS LAW • REAL ESTATE • CIVIL & COMMERCIAL LITIGATION • ESTATE PLANNING • TRUST & GUARDIANSHIP ELDER LAW • TRANSPORTATION • EMPLOYMENT • BANKING Providing 64+ Years of Business, Real Estate & Litigation Experience to Clients

255 Magnolia Ave. SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880 • straughnturner.com • 863-293-1184

Florida Poly Graduates Inaugural Class

On May 4, 2018, Florida Polytechnic University graduated its inaugural class of 220 graduate and undergraduate students.

In 2012, after the Legislature approved a plan for the school to be spun off as its own institution, Florida Polytechnic University (Florida Poly) took over what was once the University of South Florida. Within two years, enrollment escalated to 1,600 (in 2016), and since then the school has more than tripled its enrollment. The University’s awarded building, designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, has been named one of the 16 most breathtaking buildings in the world by Business Insider.

The 2018 graduating class included many students who had enrolled at the school as freshmen. Welcoming its first class in 2014, Florida Poly began with 550 students.

While this number may seem small in comparison to other schools, fewer students means more attention from faculty, following the school’s intentional education philosophy and classroom dynamics.

Held at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, the graduation ceremony commencement was delivered

by Jeffrey Wadsworth, who recently retired as CEO of Battelle Memorial Institute, the world’s largest nonprofit research and development organization. Speeches were also slated by Marshall M. Criser III, chancellor of the State University System of Florida, and student Chris Dowdy, a mechanical engineering graduate.

Florida Polytechnic University | 4700 Research Way, Lakeland, FL 33805 | floridapoly.edu

South Central Park Project As part of its continuing renewal, downtown Winter Haven is preparing to reveal some major new developments. Thanks to many local businesses and residents, investments have been made for this $4.5 million upgrade for downtown’s South Central Park. Since last year, many open meetings have been held with downtown stakeholders, project partners, and city staff to discuss and prepare for the current construction phase of the project.

The new park should be completed and opened this fall and will include several dozen additional parking spaces.

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Tennis Court Reopening The long-awaited renovated Winter Haven Tennis Complex, with construction done by local company Everett Whitehead & Son, Inc., had its grand reopening this May. The courts are located at 209 Avenue F NW.

Water Ski Show MLK Park | 199 E. Lake Silver Dr. NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881 Come enjoy one, or all, of the many renowned Cypress Gardens Water Ski Shows throughout this spring and summer. Join this community event that starts at 5 p.m. with the pre-ski show and the main show at 6 p.m. (just remember to bring a chair or blanket for seating). Upcoming water ski shows are on June 16, July 21, and August 18.

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Venue 650 A recent renovation of the old News Chief building has been made into an event space called Venue 650, owned

by Steve and Becky Coscia. For more information, call 863.287.3814 or visit venue650.com.

62 DAYS

SOLD 302

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET WHEN LISTED WITH BG&G

BY DESIGN COMPARED TO 94 DAYS WITH OTHER LOCAL BROKERAGES

AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD BY OTHER OFFICES IN 2017 IN EAST POLK COUNTY = 57. WE SOLD 302.

HIGHER AVERAGE SALES PRICE

OF TOP THREE BROKERAGES IN EAST POLK COUNTY

3rd

BROKERAGE OUT OF 108 OFFICES IN EAST POLK COUNTY TWO YEARS IN A ROW

HIGHER AVERAGE LIST TO SELL RATIO

THAN THE LOCAL INDUSTRY AVERAGE AT 97.67%

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CONTACT : BYDESIGNRE.COM | 863-294-7000 © 2018 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS® REAL ESTATE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF MEREDITH CORPORATION LICENSED TO BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE LLC. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. EACH FRANCHISE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED. **ALL INFORMATION BASED ON 2017 STATS AS PROVIDED BY MID FLORIDA REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE

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✦ Veneers ✦ Extractions ✦ Isolite Technology for more comfortable and quicker appointments

Gerald V. Cerdan,DMD

501 East Central Ave. • Winter Haven, FL 33880 Ph: (863) 293-1108 • Fax: (863) 291-6319 • Email: office@winterhavensmiles.com

www.WinterHavenSmiles.com

SHELTER

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2 7. 8 17 9 9 3 , - 8 1 5 9 3 1 3 6

By Lina Hargrett Photography by Daniel Barcelรณ

BAS B S O N PA R K , F LO R I DA

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I N E AC H I S S U E O F W H , W E F E AT U R E HOMES OF

T H AT

P O R T R AY

S H E LT E R

—

AN

LARGE

IDEA

HOMES,

N E W LY R E N O V A T E D , C O L O R F U L A N D INSPIRING AND THE

INTERIOR

DESIGNS,

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OCCASIONAL HISTORIC

H O M E I N W I N T E R H AV E N . I F W E H A D TO BOIL DOWN THE ESSENCE OF S H E LT E R , W H A T W O U L D I T R E A L LY MEAN? EVEN

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THE

QUESTION

IF WE

HAD THE

OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUR OWN S H E LT E R I N T H E S I M P L E S T F O R M , W H AT W O U L D I T L O O K L I K E A N D HOW WOULD IT FUNCTION? I M E T U P W I T H C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R AND

CO-FOUNDER

MODERNISM

+

OF

DESIGN,

FLORIDA JOHNNY

LADERER, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A

HOUSE

DESIGNED

T H AT IN

HE A

P E R S O N A L LY

QUEST

FOR

A

SIMPLE AND ECONOMICAL FORM OF S H E LT E R .

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The Calusa pavilion, owned by Ed and Amy Laderer is located on Crooked Lake.

Johnny and his father, Ed, schemed to build an enclosed boathouse over the water.

Code would not allow for a structure of this nature, so they quickly modified their plans.

They decided to build a dock and a separate simple structure as close to the water as possible to facilitate activity at the dock.

The brainstorming began in 2012, and the pavilion was completed in 2014. The location of the structure was chosen to be at the crux of a steep hill just above the 100-year flood line, the high water mark for the century.

The plan was to enclose a tin-roofed pole barn with partial walls and mosquito screening. As with the boathouse idea, certain needs for comfort necessitated further code compliance. Amenities such as air conditioning and a washer and dryer

were not included in the original plans for the pavilion. Because Ed and Amy only live about 30 minutes from Crooked Lake, the pavilion wasn’t intended to be a full functioning house.

Lina Hargrett: The Calusa pavilion is quite far from what you would call a pole barn and more of a midcentury tinyhome lake house. When did you decide to upgrade?

Johnny Laderer: We never intended to upgrade. I spent time growing up in a Florida cracker style home on the lake. My parents wanted to downsize. We also wanted to relocate to a part of the lake where the water dropped off deeper. The catalyst for the “upgrades” was construction code. It went something like this: if you build an enclosed structure, then you are required to

In a quest for a simple and economical form of shelter. Johnny Laderer and his father, Ed, designed and built the Calusa pavilion, located on Crooked Lake in Polk County, Florida.

A strong influence in the final design for the Calusa pavilion, French designer Jean ProuvĂŠ has a series of prefabricated kit houses. One that particularly was inspiring to Laderer was from 1948 called the Ferembal Demountable House, which was intended to contribute to the Post-War Housing Crisis in France.

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“THE CALUSA PAVILION CANTILEVERS OFF THE HILL TO EMPHASIZE THE VISUAL PROJECTION. WE KNEW WE WANTED THE HOUSE TO BE ELEVATED TO PROTECT IT FROM WATER AND TO HELP CATCH THE LAKE BREEZE.”

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The interior of the Calusa pavilion was to be as cost effective as possible. The materials are plywood for the floors and wall. The ceiling is rough-sawn wood panel between the beams.

a strong influence in the final design for the Calusa pavilion. Prouvé has a series of prefabricated kit houses or demountable steel-frame pavilions, one of them from 1948 called the Ferembal Demountable House was intended to contribute to the Post-War Housing Crisis in France. This design particularly resonated with me. There was something about the wood siding and green metal that felt like a Central Florida cabin. It has an open entryway and was both rustic yet modern.

Prouvé’s use of light green posts was translated directly to the Calusa pavilion.

This light palm-green color was used throughout the construction and decor of the guest house.

Prouvé’s work was a way to introduce modernist design to my parents and in LH: Even though the Calusa pavilion theory would be low-cost to construct. We was finished in 2014, it has a clear mid- translated the wood siding by using rough century look to it. What were some of the sawn pine siding. The demountables are also elevated platforms. The Calusa pavilion inspirations for the final design?

JL: The French designer Jean Prouvé was cantilevers off the hill to emphasize the have air conditioning, and once you have air conditioning you need to have insulation.

We wanted to maximize that sound of rain on a tin roof, but having a tin roof directly mounted to the beams inside became out of the question. So we ended up installing a wall-unit air conditioner, and insulation between the exposed beams inside.

We did the minimum really, but it was still more than we intended. The total inside square footage is something like 864 square feet and the exterior covered deck is 764, so the experience of that Southern sound still resonates loudly in the space. We worked the washer and dry into a utility closet accessed from the outside deck. We use it to store the water skis, barbecue grill, gasoline, bocce ball, horseshoes, etc.

visual projection. We knew we wanted the house to be elevated to protect it from water and to help catch the lake breeze. Effectively the pavilion is a hybrid between a Florida cracker style house and mid-century project house.

LH: What was the inspiration for interiors?

JL: The interior was to be as cost effective as possible. The materials are plywood for the floors and wall. The ceiling is roughsawn wood panel between the beams. The rear wall is clad in mirror.

LH: Where did the idea for a mirrored wall come from?

JL: The idea came from wanting to maximize the lake views. The mirror is used as a backsplash in the kitchen and runs the length of the wall, into the bedroom.

It also runs the height of the ceiling. There are pros and cons to using mirror as a wall cover. The installation was a bit complicated

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as it required a lot of custom cuts to get the mirror between each beam. The light reflection is amazing, and it’s nice to see the view while you are cooking or washing the dishes and as you walk into the space from the lake. No matter which way you enter the pavilion you are greeted by the lake.

LH: The single interior built-in piece is the kitchen island. Tell me about its construction.

JL: The island in the kitchen is the heart of the pavilion. The supports are made out of the same green steel poles used to support the soaring veranda. Power was run up through the poles for under-counter electricity. The island serves multiple functions, not only for dining, but also becomes an office area and, of course, a bar area for entertaining.

LH: The pavilion has a midcentury modern aesthetic to it, as does the furniture you have selected.

JL: Yes, we tried to keep with the midcentury vibe using furniture with tapered

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legs and clean lines throughout. The globe ceiling lights help to portray this look. The stools at the kitchen island are Emeco Navy stools in counter height. These were designed in 1944 and are chairs that were designed to be noncorrosive and long lasting.

LH: The main artwork in the pavilion was made by you, no?

JL: Yes, it is a 35mm photograph printed on PVC substrate with acrylic, the same green used for all architectural accents on the pavilion. The piece is titled Juice. It was part of a series of works I made in 2014, around the same time the pavilion was completed. This piece was exhibited at the Hollywood Arts & Culture Center in a solo show titled Fast Fade. The photograph is of an old ’60s-style tourist stand sign: a giant fiberglass pineapple with an osprey nest perched at the top. It was taken on Highway 27, the original highway that runs the length of the state. I take Highway 27 every time I travel north to Crooked Lake.

It takes just a bit longer, but the old Florida sights pay me back in inspiration.

Lake views are maximized by covering the back wall in mirror. Used as a backsplash in the kitchen, it runs the length of the wall into the bedroom. A mid-century modern aesthetic runs the entirety of the pavilion through the use of clean-lined furniture and tapered legs.

“THE NAME OF THE PAVILION, CALUSA IS ALSO AN HOMAGE TO WHERE THE STRUCTURE IS LOCATED. THE PAVILION IS ON CROOKED LAKE AS IT IS POPULARLY KNOWN TODAY, BUT ITS ORIGINAL NAME IS LAKE CALUSA, NAMED AFTER THE NATIVE TRIBE OF CALUSA WHO LIVED IN THE REGION.” 36

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Collected items with family ties decorate the Calusa pavilion.

A 1946 Johnson Seahorse TD-20 5 HP was owned by Johnny Laderer’s grandfather. The little corner chair is original from the Oakland Beach Hotel in Conneaut; several family members own one of these chairs.

“A BENEFIT OF A SMALL PLACE IS IT FORCES YOU TO TAILOR IT CAREFULLY. SPEND TIME ON THE DETAILS BEFORE YOU GET STARTED.” LH: Besides the artwork, the color palette in the pavilion is quite minimal. A real pop of color is a decorative blanket on the sofa. It looks Native American.

JL: Yes besides the “palm green” homage to Prouvé, the blanket is the only real use of color. The blanket is a Pendleton Tamiami Trail design. It was designed by the Seminole population in Florida. The history of the blanket is another homage to old Florida and its early roadways. The Tamiami Trail runs east to west in the state of Florida, which goes through the Everglades.

LH: Among the few furniture pieces, you have a motorboat on a pedestal. It looks historic. Is this piece also tied to Florida?

JL: The motor is an outboard motor that was my Grandfather Laderer’s, a 1946

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Johnson Seahorse TD-20 5 HP. I like that my grandfather sees it when he comes to visit. It is originally from the lake where he and my dad grew up called Conneaut Lake in Pennsylvania. My dad and I got it fixed and made a stand for it. It’s a sort of Laderer family-style heirloom.

The little corner chair is also a historic piece. It was from the Oakland Beach Hotel on Conneaut. The chairs were part of the maritime decor on a deck of a faux ship cantilevered over the road and lake.

When the hotel was demolished, a number of these chairs were acquired. Several family members now own one of these chairs.

I like pieces that are tied in with location, family, and history. The name of the pavilion, Calusa, is also an homage to where the structure is located. The pavilion is on Crooked Lake as it is popularly known

today, but its original name is Lake Calusa, named after the native tribe of Calusa who lived in the region.

LH: From your experience of building a small structure, what recommendations could you provide for readers who might be interested in diving into the adventure?

JL: First, spend time with the land.

Learn how it works and design with it. A benefit of a small place is it forces you to tailor it carefully. Spend time on the details before you get started.

Familiarize yourself with the local building code to anticipate limitations and push your boundaries.

Don’t underestimate your costs and budget for the unknown. As a one-off, custom structure, you are figuring out your building costs as you go.

We make decisions based on long-term growth, not short-term gain.

Welcome, Sunshine Bank customers, to the CenterState family.

DALE DREYER Regional President | Central Florida MIKE COMPTON Senior Vice President | Winter Haven Area Executive

CenterStateBank.com OUR CORE VALUES: Local Market Driven | Long Term Horizon | World Class Service | Relationship Banking | Faith & Family 1101 First St. South | Winter Haven, FL 33880 | 863-291-3900

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PEOPLE

OFF THE SIDELINES WRITTEN BY KRISTIN CROSBY • PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN KAZAKLIS

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Born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, Panagiotis (Panos) Iakovidis took quite a leap. “I decided to venture to the United States,” he says, a glimmer of excitement still in his eyes. Just after graduating high school, at age 19 he moved from Thessaloniki to live with his mother’s brother in Houston, Texas, and pursue a career in the medical f ield.

Iakovidis knew he wanted to be a surgeon, although, “Originally, I wanted to become a track and f ield coach. That was the dream.”

Of course, at the time, before even arriving to the States, Iakovidis knew vocational track and f ield coach positions were nearly nonexistent unless one was also a physical education teacher. “And I did not want to become a PE teacher,” he says emphatically.

Still, something in that dream seemed a clear foreshadowing of his future career track.

LOFTY GOALS “The first obstacle was the language,” Iakovidis says. Although, within his first six months in the States, he’d learned “enough English to start college. I started at junior college in Pasadena Texas. I went there for a year, and then I transferred to the University of Houston, what they call the Main Campus.”

After medical school in 1988, Iakovidis went for his general surgery training at the University of Texas in San Antonio.

Having completed five years of training and one year of research, he went on to attend the University of West Virginia in 1994 where he studied open heart surgery.

He graduated in 1996. That same year, he arrived in Winter Haven and joined Bond Clinic as a vascular and thoracic general surgeon. Quickly, Iakovidis seemed to attain some lofty goals, though he explored many options at a young age.

“My parents helped me go through a litany of professions so I could get really exposed.

Without their support emotionally and financially, I would not be able to do this.”

A FITTING PARTNERSHIP A professional medical association, Bond Clinic is made up of over 80 providers, encompassing 28 medical specialties. Iakovidis joined the company 22 years ago, became an asset to the medical team, and within a few years a vital part of the institution. In 2009, he became president and CEO of Bond Clinic.

At the time, the clinic was going through a difficult financial struggle and reached out to Iakovidis to work with the partners in order to restructure the business. The goal was to streamline so the team would be not only financially strong, but able to optimize care to patients.

“We’ve been slowly able to change the way we provide healthcare to our community,” says Iakovidis. “We’re still working, because it’s always going to be a work in progress. From the service to the quality of care, we’re always going to strive to be perfect, and that’s the change we’ve made over the last five years. We’ve seen a significant growth in what we do because of that. Everything you see today in this building is because of that. ” Over the years, Bond Clinic has been able to provide higher quality of care, increase access to patients, and most importantly, decrease the cost of the healthcare provided to the community. “All three components are very important in today’s healthcare,” says Iakovidis, “and this is something I took in my heart as a goal.”

The many new technologies in medicine give the clinic all the tools needed to implement optimal healthcare. “The moment you walk into Bond Clinic,” says Iakovidis, “someone is responsible in caring for you. The individuals that we have to help you get in — their role is just as important as the doctor’s. It’s a full team that works to take care of a patient. It’s not just a doctor or a nurse practitioner.”

The lifestyle for any general surgeon is never one you can put in a box. The education is extensive, usually taking years. The training is rigorous, for what can never be defined as a nine-to-five job.

When describing the uncertainties of a general surgeon’s day-to-day schedule, Iakovidis explains few things are certain.

“What is certain,” he says, “is that you’re going to have a challenge every day. And sometimes there are multiple challenges.

One of the funny sayings that we had in general surgery was that the only problem of being on call every other day was that you missed half of the good cases when you weren’t working. The most important thing I can say about being a surgeon is that you’re able to solve a problem and see the results very fast. That is what gives you immediate satisfaction.”

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Over the years, Bond Clinic has been able to provide higher quality of care, increase access to patients, and most importantly, decrease the cost of the healthcare provided to the community.

“All three components are very important in today’s healthcare,” says Iakovidis, “and this is something I took in my heart as a goal.”

NEW VENTURES While still on call most days, Iakovidis has sought to invest in his children’s dreams just as his parents invested in his own. So when his son wanted to go to podiatry medical school at Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in Miami Shores, Iakovidis encouraged him in his dream.

When his daughter said she wanted to act and be a Disney Princess in Tokyo, Japan, her father was completely behind her. And when his other daughter at a young age wanted to play soccer, Iakovidis didn’t just see that she played soccer, but offered himself as her practice partner, week in and week out.

Though he’d played recreationally as a child, he hadn’t played in some time, yet in his 30s he was ready to learn again alongside his daughter. “She wanted to know more,” says Iakovidis, “so I started playing myself and getting in better shape.” While Iakovidis would practice afternoons with his daughter, he always joined the Lakeland Adult Soccer League on Fridays and Sundays to keep up

his skills. Over the months, Iakovidis not only discovered a new love of the game, but his heart grew with the community that the sport had created for him.

Two years later, Iakovidis’ daughter told her dad she decided to pursue theatre. “And she left me with the soccer,” Iakovidis says with a grin. By that time he was enjoying the exercise and relationships he had developed with other players and decided to stay with it.

“It opened a new chapter in my life that allowed me the opportunity to understand how life is outside of medicine. From when I was 19 until I was 36, the only focus I had was medicine, surgery. Everything else was only a small part of [my life]; it was intermittent and had very little involvement with who I was. It was almost like watching a movie. Yes, I watched the sports and the games. But I was a spectator. Soccer gave me the opportunity to see not just the sport but other people’s lives and how that sport brought people together, how it brought different parts of the community together and created community.”

Though his daughter went on to pursue theatre for a time, Iakovidis’ new venture into the world of recreational soccer seemed to be preparing him especially for a new partnership and venture on which Bond Clinic would soon embark.

A LIKELY PARTNERSHIP Near the end of 2016, fellow orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul Morin reached out to Iakovidis to see if Bond Clinic would be interested in becoming the medical provider for the Lakeland Tropics soccer team. It was just two weeks before the Tropics’ first game.

It didn’t take much convincing for Bond Clinic to join in partnership, and before long Iakovidis became majority owner and CEO of the company. “If it wasn’t for him,” says Iakovidis, “I wouldn’t be involved. I wouldn’t have known.

“I was introduced to the owners of the group through Chris Economides

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The Florida Tropics and Pinellas County United SC play each year and continue to grow in the large number of fans drawn into each game, as well as new partnerships, developments, and overall impacts on the spirit of the city.

(chief operating officer of the Tropics) and Andrew Haines (previous CEO).

They were looking for a partner. I have an amateur team — an adult male team that plays at the national level in Lakeland. I had a team like that for the last 10 to 15 years. So people knew that I was involved in soccer here and knew the different venues. We won many championships at the amateur level, at the state, and went pretty much every year at the regionals.”

Last year the team made it to the final four of the U.S. amateur soccer.

Before the Christmas season in 2016, Haines knew he couldn’t financially continue on with the Tropics and asked Iakovidis to take over the operation.

While Iakovidis didn’t know too much about indoor soccer, he quickly jumped in as a sponsor with Bond Clinic and as a minor owner of the Tropics. By the end of January 2017, he took over as major owner.

“Once Bond Clinic got involved, what I noticed was that an organization like that can bring a lot of attention to our community, create a spotlight for Polk County, increase the quality of living but attract many entities nationwide,” says

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Iakovidis. “And I feel that was something unique. At the same time, the more I sat on the bench looking at different individuals and companies, I felt it was a unique time for us to get to know each other better and do a lot more out of a sport.”

The Tropics offer opportunities for both indoor and outdoor soccer, recruiting many players from United Soccer League and Major League Soccer. “They still want to play the game but don’t want to commit themselves to 10 months. Others want to slow down,” says Iakovidis. Some players come from Brazil, while many come from all over the world and some local. “For outdoor soccer, we just had our second tryouts last Saturday, and we had about 36 players try out.”

BEYOND THE GAME Along with the opportunities for players and fans to enjoy the games, others have developed from the front office.

With many athletes studying locally and degrees such as business and sports management on the rise, the Tropics have

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“The moment you walk into Bond Clinic, someone is responsible in caring for you. It’s a full team that works to take care of a patient. It’s not just a doctor or a nurse practitioner.”

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The Tropics offer opportunities for both indoor and outdoor soccer, recruiting many players from United Soccer League and Major League Soccer. interns that come to the organization and are able to learn what is really involved in everyday life of the business. “Then you have opportunities as far as marketing and graphics,” says Iakovidis, “and obviously learning the logistics of what it takes to create a game.” A show produced by Southeastern University with the Tropics is currently in the works. The school will produce the show in the coming months and release it on YouTube. “So when we use that show,” says Iakovidis, “interns have the opportunity to go and perform every step, from the video casting, to interviews, to working behind the scenes, to understanding how connections are developed.”

Recently, the Tropics added a ladies’ team and developed a Lakeland Tropics FC Youth team as a part of the entire Tropics’ umbrella.

In addition to connecting with the

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Beyond outdoor soccer, the Tropics also have an indoor league that attracts crowds each game. The most recent addition to the Tropics is the newly established female league, as well as a Lakeland Tropics FC Youth team.

community, the Tropics also seek to give back. In 2017, a day before Thanksgiving, the front office, players, and Iakovidis volunteered with VISTE to deliver meals to the elderly. And this past year, a roofing company gave away a full roof to a family in need through the Tropics. “So instead of us getting a large sponsorship, part of their marketing involvement is to give this instead us receiving a bigger check.

But that’s what this is all about,” explains Iakovidis. “That’s why I’m involved. The soccer part is exciting; it gets people together. But the things around it is what makes it special.”

As for Iakovidis’ daughter who wanted to play soccer, she’s now a junior at the University of Central Florida, with plans to go to medical school. Of course, one shouldn’t be surprised that she would choose to follow in her father’s footsteps.

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CULTURE

Blair Updike is a traditional-style painter with a vibrancy that’s reflected in her work and personality. Whether it’s commissioned portraits or Florida landscapes, Updike creates engaging pieces with a thoughtfulness that’s apparent through every brush stroke. first impressions

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written by Annalee Mutz photography by Naomi Lynn Vacaro

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Updike’s brush strokes are freeform, and she doesn’t necessarily set out with an objective in mind. She focuses mainly on oil painting due to its different qualities and textures.

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In the fifth grade, Blair Updike created her first painting — a horse. She did this while attending a summer art camp. Her first impression of this experience? “Frustrating,” Updike admits. She then recounts a phrase her teacher frequently said to her, though: “When you’re frustrated, it’s because you’re learning, and that makes it a positive experience.” Updike’s journey as an artist has encompassed much of this tension — the process of working hard while reaping the benefits of not only a finished product, but also unexpected lessons learned along the way.

Updike grew up in Lake Wales, and it was during her time as a student at All Saints Academy that she began to craft her skills in oil painting. She then went on to Stetson University to study art. But, as with most college students, this did not go as planned. “My mother convinced me to switch to English because she thought I should be an attorney, and I was getting all As in my English electives because I like poetry and medieval lit,” says Updike. She went on to graduate from Stetson as an English major and then worked for her family’s business, Peterson Industries in Lake Wales. “I sold trash trucks for about a year because this all makes sense,” jokes Updike.

Even though her dedication to painting took a brief hiatus, a resurgence of this passion arose once again whenever she felt inspired to paint a photo of her youngest daughter. “After that, I started painting again,” says Updike. She enrolled in portrait and figure drawing at Polk State College and worked toward perfecting her painting skills. “I thought I would go there and it would just be a refresher, but then I actually learned new stuff every time I attended a class.”

During her time at Stetson, Updike had a professor who once said to her, “You don’t hang around the other artists.” This critique first caught Updike by surprise. However, as years have gone by and as Updike has reacclimated herself into the world of art, she now finds great value from her college professor’s insight. “It’s about feeding off of each other’s energy and ideas,” says Updike.

Last spring, she did just that. Updike traveled to Italy with a group from Boston called Medicine Wheel. She cultivated rich ties with this group and still stays in close contact with them, realizing the great benefits that come with staying in community as an artist. She even sent some of her own work to Boston for one of their events recently.

It was at this event where the stark contrast between frustration and growth presented itself in Updike’s painting process once again.

She painted a couple of panels for the Boston event only to find out they were all the wrong dimensions. Updike had to start from scratch. “I got forced into doing it because I used all my

other ideas,” she says. However, painting from memory was an area that Updike was striving to grow in, and the misfortune turned into an opportunity to be set free to paint something from nothing. “One of the paintings I did was of Telegraph Street in South Boston, and it was so well liked that they are auctioning it off separately at a different event.”

Updike is a multifaceted artist, and this is certainly revealed throughout her artwork, her content, subject matter, and even in the mediums she works with. When choosing subject matter, “A lot of it is not intentional,” she admits. She might be driving, come across beautiful scenery, and feel inspired to replicate the moment in a painting. “For example, I was stuck in traffic on Dundee Road when I came about all these clouds,” says Updike. “There’s this theory that you should be able to paint whatever is in front of you by making the paint look good.” Updike aims to take whatever is in front of her and make it the best it can be.

Updike’s traditional skill set has made her a well sought-after portrait painter. A good majority of her workload might consist of completing commissions. In contrast to painting a landscape that she may have driven by earlier that day, Updike has more of a clear direction when commissioned to paint a portrait.

However, she does still draw inspiration from the same source — the subject. When it comes to projects such as these, Updike would prefer to meet the subjects in person rather than paint from a photo. “If you’re painting a person, I think it’s important to capture a bit of their soul,” she says.

Updike’s medium of choice? “I do primarily oil. I like it best partly because I like to come and go and the paint doesn’t dry too fast. It has different qualities than the other painting mediums where you can do a lot of different things that you can’t really do with acrylic and others.” Her choice in the medium greatly reveals her personality, too. As Updike does not necessarily aim to convey an overall message in her paintings, she says she believes, “Your personality is in the brush stroke.” She does not necessarily go in with an objective goal in mind when setting out to create a new piece of art, but believes that “you make choices all throughout the painting” and that this freeform is what evokes emotions in a painting. “I think of all my paintings as abstracts in terms of composition,” she says. “It needs to work as a big abstract painting first without thinking about all these elements of what it is.” Oil painting leaves the margin necessary for Updike to be intentional with each and every brush stroke.

Updike doesn’t necessarily stick with one genre of paintings; she is frequently drawn to Florida landscapes, with many of her paintings

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A multi-faceted artist, Updike says she is often inspired to paint what is right in front of her.

Many of Updike’s paintings focus on Florida landscapes and depict the state’s vast cultural history.

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Updike focuses on highlighting a more authentic version of Florida instead of the commercial side often depicted and correlated with the Sunshine State. Rather her works reflect the more natural side of Florida.

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depicting Florida’s vast cultural history. “I’m trying to highlight a more authentic version of Florida instead of what you just see as you’re passing through as a tourist or the more commercial side,” she says. “I think the more traditional side of Florida is interesting.”

Along with nature, Updike is also inspired by poetry. An avid reader, she mentions how writing often feeds into her paintings. The writings of Hilda “H.D.” Doolittle, especially, have been a major source of inspiration as of recent, with a couple of Updike’s paintings based on her poems. “[H.D.] uses a lot of classical stories, but they’re more modern poems with a lot of color in them.

So they’re more visual poems. I see the poem as I’m reading it,” Updike says.

When asked what her painting process looks like, Updike laughs and says, “A lot cleaner than what people would expect.” Which is true.

Before entering into Updike’s home studio, one might expect to walk into the tangible presence of a stereotypical messy artist. However, Updike’s creativity does not come from a chaotic place. “I’m actually pretty clean, and I think part of the process is laying everything out and keeping it tidy.” Sitting beside one of her working canvases, Updike has laid out all of her paints and brushes in an orderly fashion. “I think that part of the work is getting into the mindset to paint,” she says.

Her studio is filled with remnants of the finest creative expression, from the walls that are filled with detailed oil paintings wrapped in antiqued frames, to the tables covered in palettes, to the crumbled pieces of paper in the fireplace that once held earlier stages of a painter’s process.

There is also a massive canvas in the center of the room that holds her most recent piece — a landscape painting that she is creating from memory.

When it comes to the important aspects to a painting, Updike says, “I think whatever it is, it needs to be beautiful. And that doesn’t mean that it needs to be perfect or that it has to be about something beautiful. But I think it needs to be aesthetically beautiful.”

Contact Blair Updike bupdikeart.com

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SPA TOUR

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SKIN DEEP

w r i t t e n b y K R I S T I N C R O S BY p h o t o g r a p hy b y DA N AU S T I N

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Spectrum Studio, see pg. 65

YO U R G U I D E T O T H E C I T Y ’ S B E S T B E AU T Y

.01- Spectrum Studio | .02 - Ivy Nails & Spa | .03 - The Salt Room Winter Haven | .04 - Posh Salon & Day Spa | .05 - Spa G & Boutique | . 0 6 - B o n d C l i n i c | . 0 7 - Ag e l e s s A l l u r e M e d i s p a

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A spa visit may either be a much needed break away from everyday life or simply a part of your weekly pampering routine. Whatever you needs may be, there is a spa for it right in this city, where you’ll find a wide range of services and the latest techniques. Offering endless trends for the latest discoveries in health and beauty, you are sure to find everything you need and maybe even come upon some services you never knew you needed (such as salt treatments to rejuvenate your body or HydraFacials to revive your face.)

We’ve gone ahead and done the searching for you, so you can stress less about where to go, and finally arrive at that happy place of relaxing and pure spa-day bliss, whether it be for a trim and some lights, preparing for an upcoming wedding, anniversary, reunion, or simply just because, here are the spas for everything you may need.

Because, really, isn’t life enough reason for some pampering?

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.02 64

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Spectrum Studio .01 863.292.9064 | facebook.com/spectrumstudio254

Spectrum Studio has served the community for 14 years with specialized hair care and coloring.

Their customers’ latest favorite is the balayage trend that they have perfected and practiced for their local clientele. Spectrum has six stylists, an esthetician, and nail and makeup artist. They are looking to expand by offering massages and various body treatments. Clients are surprised by the modern design of the studio, and the serene and calming aesthetic of the space.

They offer: Hair Services, Makeup, Nail Services

Ivy Nails & Spa .02 863.326.6070 | 5999 Dundee Road, Winter Haven

At reasonable prices and with a pleasant staff, Ivy Nails & Spa focuses solely on manicures and pedicures and all the extras that come with it, at the regular price. From hot stones to leg massages, enjoy a glass of wine as you relax during their many varieties of pampering nail services.

They offer: Nail Services, Waxing, Facials, Eyelash Services, and Foot Massages

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The Salt Room Winter Haven .03 863.289.9476 | saltroomwinterhaven.com

The Salt Room Winter Haven provides a unique take on health and wellness while treating you with the easing relaxation of a spa. Recently “rediscovered,” salt therapies are offered in a wide range of treatments. Negatively charged ions in salt are found to improve mood, clarity, and overall health. Inhaling particles of these salts helps reduce inflammation and mucus in the lungs, improving respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, bronchitis, sinus congestion, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

They offer: Salt Therapy Sessions, Waxing, Makeup, Skincare

Stepping onto the salt-covered floor and amid the salt-covered walls, you’ll experience their state-ofthe-art generator that pulverizes pharmaceutical salts into the room, reducing skin issues, acne, rashes, and assisting your breathing, immune system, allergies, and even the symptoms of a cold. You can also enjoy “Salty Yoga” led by yoga instructor Jhoanna Mukai on the first Tuesday and third Wednesday of every month.

Posh Salon & Day Spa .04 863.325.8700 | facebook.com/poshsaloninc

Posh Salon & Day Spa offers a variety of massages, from relaxation to deep tissue (even for mommies-to-be), plus a selection of facials, lash extensions, and a wide range of waxing services.

Many of their facials are targeted for anti-aging and acne treatments.

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They offer: Massages, Facials, Waxing, Lash Services

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Spa G & Boutique .05 863.514.3070 | spa-g-boutique.business.site

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Opened for nearly four years now, Spa G & Boutique offers an array of quality services, from facials to manicures and pedicures. Owner and esthetician Lynn Giddings says each client receives a oneon-one, unique experience of tranquility with her during every treatment. One of the most popular of the rejuvenating services is the chemical peel where a solution is applied to exfoliate the skin and gently peel away dead skin cells, allowing regenerated skin to grow. Chemical peels often result in a smoother, less wrinkled look to the face.

Spa G was the first Winter Haven spa to have a HydraFacial machine, a welcome relief to those who were traveling to Orlando for such treatments.

They offer: HydraFacial MD, Pevonia Botanical Facials, PCA Chemical Peels, Cool Lifting, GLO Professional Treatments, Osmosis Revita Pen, Manicures, Pedicures

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4 Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

INJURY SPECIALISTS

Need someone in your corner? all-injuries.com Main Office: 832 S. Florida Ave. / 863-688-7766 Handling Cases Statewide / Toll free: 877-688-7766

Workers’ Comp Personal Injury Car Accidents Job Protection Social Security EEOC/ADA

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Bond Clinic .06 863.293.1191 | bondclinic.com

As the largest outpatient clinic system in Winter Haven, as well as one of the oldest businesses in the community, Bond Clinic offers more than what meets the surface. The Spa & Aesthetics at Bond Clinic offers a variety of treatments including massage and facial therapy (anything from a Swedish massage to a hot stone facial), laser therapies, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and an abundance of other trusted treatments.

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They offer: Swedish/Relaxation Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Hands and Feet Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Back and Neck Massage, European Facial, Express Facial, Men’s Sport Facial, Four Layer Anti-Aging Facial, Hot Stone Facial, Teen Facial, Aromatherapy Facial

Beautiful.

Confident. .

You

With an eye for detail and an emphasis on safety and providing the highest level of care, Dr. Kazmier who is board certified in Plastic Surgery, brings to you over 17 years of experience and wants to help you achieve your personal goals. She loves to see the boost of self-confidence her patients exude as a result of achieving these goals. She will work with you to create your individualized plan based on your priorities and desires. She can help you achieve results with surgical and non-surgical treatments.

• Facial Rejuvenation (Facelifts, Eyelifts and Minimally Invasive Browlifts) • BOTOX , Dysport and fillers for the face and hands ®

• Breast enlargement, lifts and reductions • Drain-free tummy tucks • Liposuction • Laser treatments (fractional, spider vein, brown spots, vaginal and labia rejuvenation with diVa ) ®

She is also thrilled to offer the new Fractional Laser treatment - Clear and Brilliant - which is designed to maintain healthy and youthful looking skin with an in-office treatment and no down time.

Dr. Kazmier and her staff want you to have the best results and experience possible and look forward to caring for you.

Women’s Center 1400 Lakeland Hills Blvd.

Suite B • Lakeland

Bartow 2250 Osprey Blvd.

Suite 100 • Bartow

www.WatsonClinic.com/Kazmier

863-680-7676

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Ageless Allure Medispa .07 863.292.2317 | agelessalluremedispa.com

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The medical spa Ageless Allure provides the local Winter Haven community with treatments unlike other local spas. Under a dermatologist’s care, you can receive specialized medical products like Botox and JuvÊderm, microdermabrasion, facials, chemical peels, laser hair removal, hair restoration, and body wraps. They are also well known for carrying the Jan Marini line of products which are exceptional for mature skin and usually hard to find elsewhere locally.

They offer: Body Wraps, Chemical Peels, Facials, HydraFacial, Fillers and Botox, Hair Resolution, Laser Hair Reduction, Laser Treatments, Massages, Sunless Tanning

For more information find them on facebook www.facebook.com/AgelessAllureMedispa

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TASTE

w ri t te n by LE I G H - A N N E H E M E N WAY P O U / p h otog ra p hy by J O HN K A Z A K L IS s t y le d by A M Y SC H AU S

fresh greens and bambu The familiar question long stands and causes many to be on the constant search for the healthiest diet: “Does it matter what we eat?” Jennie Harrison might just say so. After caring for her mother who was diagnosed with lung cancer, Harrison's interest in health and nutrition peaked when she began exploring possible dietary remedies and wrestling with the question herself. With a fervant passion for the power of juicing and whole foods, Harrison opened what is known today as Bambu Café and offers the tastiest potential that juices and a clean diet can offer.

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Along with a variety of juices, Bambu offers a wide menu of soups, salads, smoothies, kombucha, and homemade desserts.

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While tuna salad remains a solid favorite on the menu, Bambu offers three kinds from which to choose: classic, dill, and banana pepper.

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Several years ago, the health-conscious consumers of Polk County could only dream we might one day have a fresh juicery to call our own. It seemed that such a place could only be found in a sleek metropolis. But Jennie Harrison’s Bambu CafÊ is thriving at Old Towne Square in Downtown Winter Haven.

All the items served, including soups such as Kale Veggie and Chicken Taco, are made with the freshest ingredients.

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In addition to gaining a strong following for their green juices, Bambu has customers who continue to return and rave over their tuna salad and other fresh meals.

harrison has always been in the hospitality industry. She got her start at a young age serving and bar backing.

She has always been an entrepreneur, previously owning a consignment store with her sister.

Bringing years of experience to her own venture, Bambu Café, Harrison says she chose the name Bambu because it’s green, natural, and sustainable — a theme carried throughout the business.

Juicing first captured Harrison’s attention when her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009. She began researching ways to get her mom more nutrition, and juice bars were readily available in South Florida where they were seeking treatment. She found some of the doctor’s logic to be counterproductive when they suggested her mom could eat whatever she wanted. Although her mother eventually passed away, the benefits of juicing were clear to Harrison.

In 2014 Bambu got its start in a small space behind Jessie’s Lounge, where owner Harrison set up shop as a massage therapist, and offered nail designs and facials. Known then as Bambu Body Bar, her intention was to have a few juices and smoothies available for sale while offering massages and facials — the idea being for whole body health, all things good for the body. Even though Harrison soundproofed the rooms, she quickly realized the popularity of her fresh juices began to interrupt her massage clients.

After several customers asked for food options

Bambu's menu is constantly changing, offering new varieties of kombucha, handcrafted refreshing drinks, and infused waters.

to go with their smoothies and juices, one of Harrison’s friends offered to help out with the café. Together they decided she should have a few options like soups and salads. Things took off from there, and soon Harrison traveled to California for two weeks to explore their juice-bar scene.

When she returned home, Harrison knew it was time to grow and expand Bambu. It took about six months for Harrison and her husband to find a space, finally landing on the place she had been searching for, in Old Towne Square. After an extensive renovation that lasted an additional six months (Harrison impressively did much of the work herself ), Bambu Café reopened last year.

Although she is the first to admit she is not a nutritionist, Harrison is always researching and learning new ways to keep her clients healthy and happy by offering simply good, clean food. Her tuna salad alone has a loyal following. (I say, she must have a magic ingredient!) It’s more than just your basic tuna salad and is infused with flavors like dill, and banana peppers. Chicken salad comes simple style, with options like curry and chipotle. Egg salad over the funky little beet salad is my personal go-to. Bambu also provides homemade almond butter and peanut butter for sandwiches or for use in smoothies. The café also serves hand-crafted kombucha. If you’re not familiar with kombucha, it is a fermented tea made with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. (This sounds questionable, but it really is delicious!) Kombucha is great for your gut health and digestion. If that sounds too daring, get the Nuttin’ Honey smoothie or a good oldfashioned Green Jeans juice. Check out the chia seed pudding for a healthy twist on an old favorite.

“Creating customer loyalty is important,” Harrison says. Her repeat clients make up the majority of her business. To her staff, she is always stressing the importance of knowing people’s names and orders (and they always remember what you like). You can also request your kid’s chocolate peanut-butter smoothie “Popeye style” and they will sneakily add spinach! (Not that I would ever try to pull one over on my three-year-old …)

In addition to being health conscious, Harrison is also very aware of her carbon footprint. She is always exploring ways to make her operation greener. The extra juice pulp goes to the chickens whose eggs are used in the café. Beyond that, customers who have pigs, sheep, and goats regularly pick up pulp to nourish their livestock. Harrison even saves the banana peels for a family that has rescue tortoises who love to eat the peels. To top WH MAGAZINE

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it off, Harrison is currently researching ways to implement more earth-friendly disposable options. She recycles everything she is able, and Bambu Café throws away only one bag of trash each day. Harrison would like to see all of downtown move toward a greener mindset. Even just more recycling options, she says, would make a huge difference in the town’s carbon footprint.

The future of Bambu Café plans to bring lots of exciting additions. The goal (as always) is to provide healthy, clean food and drinks. That includes adding more vegan options to the menu, as well as expanding café hours to include a healthy happy hour. The availability will include handcrafted and infused cocktails. Harrison also plans to offer some juice detox cleanses. Delivery and catering will be available as well as event space. Grab-and-go breakfast is on its way, with local artisan baked goods as well as some quiche options. Harrison says she is looking for all these changes to be implemented by the end of summer.

Bambu Café is located in downtown Winter Haven, across from City Hall. It’s currently open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thank you, Jennie Harrison, for keeping us all a little healthier and for taking care of the planet, too.

bambu café

371 3rd St NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 863.280.6346 @bambubodybar

(from left) juicetender Lauren Harman, owner and operator Jennie Harrison, and chef DJ

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The new waiting room.

Online check-in for urgent care is now available – so you can choose where you wait.

Being sick is hard enough. So we’re making it a little easier to get well, with online check-in for Urgent Care. The next time you experience an illness or injury, visit our website, answer a few quick questions, and pick a time that’s convenient for you. We’ll save your spot in line, before you arrive. It’s that easy. Check in at UrgentCareCypress.com

7375 Cypress Gardens Blvd. • Winter Haven, FL 33884 Because our Urgent Care staff must treat patients based on the severity of illness or injury, your time is not guaranteed. We will see you as close to your designated time as possible.

If your symptoms worsen or you believe you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department as soon as possible.

Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center is owned in part by physicians.

HISTORY

Date: Unknown The Northgate Shopping Center in Winter Haven, one of several designed for Publix Supermarkets by architect Donovan Dean.

Photo courtesy of Lakeland Public Library.

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years of

EXPERIENCED MINDS handling

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

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

MAGAZINE ISSUE 8 PETERSONMYERS.COM • 863.683.6511 • LAKELAND | WINTER HAVEN | WH LAKE WALES

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