John “Lites” Leenhouts

President and CEO of SUN ‘n FUN

Interview by Valerie McCutcheon | Photos by Nate Mundell Photography & Submitted by SUN ‘n FUN

John Leenhouts, better known by his naval call sign “Lites,” is the President and CEO of SUN ‘n FUN, a Lakeland non profit organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance the future of flight through world-class events, inspiring and educating people of all ages. Their largest event, the 39th Annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo, will be held April 9 through 14, and Focus Magazine sat down with Lites to discuss the event, as well as the mission of the organization and what’s in store for the future.

Focus Magazine: Tell us about your background. Where are you from? How did you get into aviation?
Lites: I came from a family of “gypsies of the South.” My father was a roughneck and we moved when the rent came due, so I’ve traveled all over Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Utah and went to high school, and my first year of college in Illinois. I lived in 14 different places in 20 years.

I’ve been an avid aviation enthusiast since I was a young man. I did my initial flight training in college at Oklahoma State University, using student loans to take flight lessons and got college credit for it. I majored in mechanical engineering with an aerospace minor, and became a certified flight instructor there. I realized that I really wanted to be a military pilot, and a Navy pilot convinced me that flying Navy aircrafts was much more exciting than anything else.

FM: Was that true?
Lites: No doubt about it. Flying off an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean in the middle of the night is pretty thrilling. And petrifying! I was lucky enough to be able to do that for 28 years, and was stationed in Jacksonville until I retired in 2000.

FM: When did you come to Lakeland?
Lites: August 2011. After retiring from the Navy I worked at Northrop Grumman for 11 years when a friend told me about this opportunity. I’d been here before as a guest and as a performer in military aircraft, and thought, “What better way to spend my golden years?”

FM: Tell us about your work at SUN ‘n FUN.
Lites: Most people don’t know that SUN ‘n FUN is a 501(c)3 non profit organization. We’re not a corporation out to make money. Our sole purpose is to provide educational opportunities for young men and women in Polk County and Central Florida, to build a brighter future through aviation. We pour the majority of the money we raise back into the school systems to motivate kids to learn science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) using aviation as an attraction.

We are in the process of transitioning the Florida Air Museum here into a Science and Innovation Center with hands-on interactive exhibits to teach kids about what we do. Our goal is to create an entity within Polk County that’s recognized as a center of excellence for STEM learning with aviation as a theme, and it should be functional about this time next year.

We also have a high school here. The Central Florida Aerospace Academy is a Polk County charter school focusing on teaching STEM in preparation for careers in aviation. Additionally, if students have a 2.75 GPA and no disciplinary issues, we pay 75% of the price for them to get their private pilot’s license. They can either pay the remaining 25% or they can volunteer for us to work off their tuition. Enrollment is currently 235, with capacity for 400. Eleven pilots have licenses now because of our program, with probably another 20 or so in different phases as we speak. There’s a shortage of pilots in the world and we’re helping to fill that void.

FM: What can visitors expect at the Fly-In?
Lites: It’s six days long and is actually two separate events – the Fly-In and the Expo. The Expo is a huge convention of aviation enthusiasts coming to see all the newest technology. There will be about 500 exhibitor vendors showcased here. There are an unlimited number of forums where experienced aviators can speak on a myriad of subjects of interest to pilots. There will be workshops for pilots as well as teacher workshops, where we teach teachers how to use aviation as a tool to teach STEM.

There are evening programs with entertainment and of course an air show every day for three hours, but the big shows are Friday through Sunday. Almost every special act around the nation comes to perform here, and they perform for free because we are a non profit, and this is a fundraising event.

There will be food vendors, a kids zone, bounce houses, plenty of entertainment and of course, lots of airplanes to look at. We’ll have about 3,000 different airplanes on display, from models of the 20s all the way to the newest fighters of tomorrow.

FM: What does this event bring to Polk County?
Lites: This is the second largest aviation fly-in in the world, and the largest non-membership based aviation event. We have been assessed by USF to have a $64 million direct dollar impact to the I-4 corridor, and another approximately $20 million in indirect dollars.

FM: Are you involved in any other professional or civic organizations?
Lites: I am now. I married my college sweetheart as I went into the Navy, and just as I was about to retire, at the ripe old age of 50, she had a brain aneurysm in the middle of the night and never woke up. The shock obviously changed my perspective on life. I realized that life was pretty fragile and precious. We had always talked about what we wanted to do after retirement, and had all these plans that never came to fruition. I got re-involved with volunteerism, the Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society. When this opportunity at SUN ‘n FUN presented itself, I thought this was my chance to give back to aviation. I’m here to change the face of SUN ‘n FUN, to be a solution for the future, not just creating memories of the past.

FM: Do you have any hobbies?
Lites: My (current) wife and I love Harleys, and ride them regularly around the countryside. It’s a great release. We go to other air shows as guests, and I have a few biplanes of my own that I fly to different events. We love vintage cars, and we are both avid shooters. One obligation that I’ve created for myself is to go around doing “missionary work.” It’s not what you’d think in the typical sense, but I tell the story of SUN ‘n FUN. I want to spread the word that you’re not paying for us to just have a big party, you’re investing in the future of aviation. I say I’m the preacher in the church of the high speed past on a missionary job, to get kids excited about learning the sciences through aviation.

FM: Thank you for your time!

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Traffick Jam

Walk-A-Thon

Feature by Amanda Deck | Photos submitted by Drew Mellon

Each Sunday morning, Debbie Miller leaves North Lakeland’s Fuel Community Church uplifted and inspired, ready to tackle the week ahead. However, one particular Sunday morning message reduced Miller to tears—she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. The church had invited Alli Mellon, executive director of the Hard Places Community, to speak about her experiences in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia and the heart of the country’s child sex trafficking industry, where boys and girls as young as three years old are forced into having sex with grown men night after night—including Maeng.

Maeng’s Story

In 2008, Mellon created the Hard Places Community to bring relief, restoration, and reconciliation to the world’s most broken and desperate people. Years of research directed her to Phnom Penh, where 3-year-olds were sold to men for oral sex and 4-year-olds were molested on a daily basis. As a result, Mellon established a Kids Club, a safe place where boys and girls could escape the darkness they confront each night. At the Kids Club, children sing songs, dance, complete art projects, eat snacks, and learn English thanks to several volunteers.

Maeng, a spunky 5-year-old, loved Kids Club, especially the volunteers who treated her with love and kindness. According to Hard Places, “She quickly became the new appendage for the staff! Maeng loved to walk holding tight to our hands, or wrap herself around our legs so we could barely walk.” On the outside, Maeng appeared to be the happiest child on Earth.

Yet one day, Kids Club volunteers observed Maeng acting differently, walking around with her legs spread wide. She couldn’t even sit down and had to complete art projects while standing. Maeng was in obvious pain. Something was wrong.

Mellon learned that the Maeng was a slave, sold by her own grandmother each night for sex with grown men in exchange for a few dollars. The Hard Places Community immediately took a stand, and today, Maeng is no longer in bondage and continues to enjoy Kids Club activities.

A Call to Action

Miller left Fuel Community Church that Sunday morning, unable to focus on anything other than Mellon’s heartbreaking stories, and days later she found herself still struggling to set aside her emotions and move on with life. She knew God was calling her to action.

“When Alli left, I was crying, and ended up crying for a couple of days,” said Miller. “I didn’t even know anything about human trafficking beforehand, so I immediately wanted to know what I could do to help. I couldn’t just sit and listen to all those stories and not do anything, so I went online to the Hard Places Community website, clicked on the “Get Involved” tab, and learned about the Traffick Jam Walk-a-thons.”

Traffick Jam events are held in various locations around the nation each year to raise funds for Hard Place Community projects, including their prevention and restoration centers for children in Phnom Penh. At these safe havens, Punlok Thmey (“New Growth”) for boys and Prook Thmey (“New Morning”) for girls, Hard Place Community volunteers provide counseling to children who have been continual victims of prostitution.

“I put my trust in God, prayed and prayed about what I was supposed to do, and finally got in touch with Drew Mellon, Alli’s brother, who is in charge of the Traffick Jam events around the United States,” said Miller. “He told me a Traffick Jam had never been done in Florida. It was then I knew this was something I had to do. “

Miller immediately spoke to Fuel Community Church Lead Pastor Mike Harrell about her desire to organize a Traffick Jam. Pastor Harrell was extremely supportive of the idea.

“When we read in the Book of Acts, the church was active,” said Pastor Harrell. “They didn’t just meet on Sunday, and then go their separate ways. Even Jesus was always going from town to town, to where the people were to meet their needs. In today’s church culture, we have created this environment where we expect everyone to come to us for help. At Fuel, our focus is outward. We try to meet the needs wherever they are.”

Traffick Jam Walk-a-Thon

Florida’s first Traffick Jam 10-mile Walk-a-thon fundraiser, coordinated by Miller with help from the Fuel Community Church congregation, will be held on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Hollingsworth. Participants are encouraged to raise $10 from 10 different people, one dollar per each mile walked. Miller’s goal is have 500 to 1,000 walkers attend the Traffick Jam, and with about 350 people already committed to the event from Fuel Community Church, Miller believes her goal will be met. The entire church has been hard at work promoting the fundraiser to local media outlets, churches, and universities.

“I’m so excited to open the door to a world that has long been locked so that others can see this act and stop it,” said Fuel Community Church attendee Ronda Kyler. “The reason these kinds of things happen and are so rampant all over the world is because people are scared to speak up—scared to take a stand and trust someone who might actually care about their wellbeing. I have my sledge hammer in hand, and I am ready to break this open with as much power and noise as I can make.”

The First Presbyterian Church, located along Lake Hollingsworth, has also been a huge supporter of the Traffick Jam, allowing Fuel Community Church to rent out their facilities for the walk-a-thon. Here, bounce houses will be on hand for children, free popcorn and cotton candy will be offered, and hot dogs, hamburgers, and T-shirts will be sold. In addition, participants have the opportunity to win donated items from various businesses and restaurants in the area during a raffle starting at 2 p.m., followed by a Fuel worship band concert. Miller and others hope this event will become an annual Lakeland tradition.

“I want to continue to do this every year, not just this one time,” said Miller. “I know sex trafficking is an issue here in the United States, but these are children as young as 3 to 5 years old who are taken from their home every night. This is what God has called me to do. It breaks my heart and I just can’t sit back and let this happen. That’s not how any child should have to live.”

“As Christians, the fact that this is happening on our watch, we can’t stand back and do nothing,” said Pastor Harrell. “The church is the voice of the world, and we have to stand up and do something about it…The need is so large. We are hoping to do this each year.”

Register for the Traffick Jam by visiting fuelcommunitychurch.com. Registration is $10 and T-shirts can be pre-ordered for $15. Join the fight against the child sex trafficking industry and help the Hard Places Community shed light to children in a dark, broken community.

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Lakeland Landmark Celebrates 40 years

Profile by Valerie McCutcheon

If you’ve spent any amount of time in Lakeland, you’re probably familiar with the tan and white building that sits off Main Street overlooking idyllic Lake Mirror. If you haven’t been there and you love a good steak, we suggest you familiarize yourself with Texas Cattle Company…and fast!

A downtown Lakeland staple, the restaurant originally opened in 1973 as Talk of the Town before becoming Texas Cattle Company in 1984. The corporate office took over the Talk of the Town name, and that restaurant group now owns 10 Central Florida area restaurants, including another Texas Cattle in St. Petersburg, and Charley’s Steakhouse, FishBones, MoonFish, Vito’s Chop House and Johnnie’s Hideaway.

Looks can be deceiving; the interior is much more spacious than the exterior lets on, with room for just over 200. There is nothing deceiving about the size of the slabs of meat on display upon entering, however. Their one-page menu shows that they know how to focus on what they do well. We sat down with General Manager Deidre White, who shared a few (but not all!) of the secrets of their divine-tasting steaks. They only use U.S. Choice and Prime 3-year-old grain-fed beef, aged four to six weeks for maximum tenderness then hand cut in-house daily. Seasoned with a secret dry rub, the steaks are cooked over a natural citrus and oak wood fire; Oak provides the heat, and the citrus seals in the flavor. And as they say in Texas, everything really is bigger. Their most popular offering is the 18 oz. T-Bone, which diners can get for free with a Florida ID on their birthday.

We sampled a sizeable 14 oz. filet mignon ($28.95) that was mouthwateringly juicy and tender. Cooked to order, your server stands by as you cut into it to ensure you’re happy with the finished product. Ours was topped with just a pat of melted butter, but sautéed onions, mushrooms or bleu cheese can be added at an additional charge. Entrees also have the option of “Surfing.” That is, adding an Australian lobster tail, bacon-wrapped scallops or U-10 Stuffed Shrimp (with lump crab meat and lemon beurre blanc sauce).

Hungry cowboys can enjoy a 32 oz. Porterhouse ($34.95), or the really adventurous can try the Six-Pound Texas Challenge. Finish a massive 6 lb. slab of beef, salad, bread and side in under an hour and 15 minutes and it’s free. In White’s 21-year tenure, she’s seen it completed only three times, although an attempt is made about every six to eight weeks.

Their starter menu also boasts what was once chosen as Polk County’s #1 appetizer: Blue Cheese Garlic Potato Chips. House tossed and served with a creamy dip, this cheesy treat is addictive. Other appetizer selections include escargot, gator, calamari, a spicy Asian inspired “Dang Bang Shrimp,” and “Pachos,” a cast-iron skillet of potato wedges topped with nacho cheese, diced tomatoes and sour cream.

Their wine list is extensive, with prices ranging from $7 to $16 per glass, or $20 all the way up to $185 for bottles (that’s a Dom Perignon). Servers are well-trained and knowledgeable, and certain bottles are marked half-price on Wine Down Wednesdays.

Their most popular night is Monday, thanks to their All-You-Can-Eat Steak and Shrimp special for $19.95 ($14.95 for steak only). Reservations are not required, but suggested, as they are fortunate enough to have a steady crowd year-round as opposed to seasonally.

Texas Cattle is also a full service catering company. Providing food for 50 to 3,000, they’ll travel anywhere from Tallahassee to the Keys. With a separate catering menu ranging from steak to pulled pork BBQ, they smoke on site and can help coordinate everything from linen rentals to ice sculptures.

Texas Cattle Company has something to satisfy the meat and seafood lover in everyone. It’s been the ideal place to enjoy delicious food and wine in a casual setting for 40 years, and we hope to see many more!

Texas Cattle Company

735 E. Main Street
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: (863) 686-1434
Fax: (863) 682-0726
HOURS
Sunday-Thursday 5 – 10 pm
Friday-Saturday 5 – 11 pm
Texascattlecompany.net
facebook.com/pages/Texas-Cattle-Company-Lakeland

Price range: $16.95 to $34.95
Credit cards accepted

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Craft Beer Comes to Lakeside Village

Profile by Valerie McCutcheon

Craft beer lovers in Polk County who are asking, “What’s on tap?” suddenly have a lot more offerings to choose from…over 300 more, in fact. The Brass Tap, an upscale chain of bars serving an extensive variety of craft beer, wine and even cigars is now open in the Lakeside Village in Lakeland. Founders Jeff Martin and Steve Slowey, who also operate locations in Brandon, Wesley Chapel and New Port Richey, have been eyeing the prime location for the past three years.

“There’s a definite need for craft beer in Lakeland,” Martin explains. Originally from Boston, Martin has resided in Wesley Chapel for the past 12 years, and will be splitting time between the other locations. Manager Tim Jones will handle day-to-day operations in Lakeland. Martin, who has been in the beer business since 2006, opened the first Brass Tap in 2008. They have partnered with Beef O’Brady’s to handle the franchise expansion beyond Florida, and locations are set to open in Texas, Cincinnati and Chicago.

The Brass Tap boasts 70 craft beers on draft and an additional 265 in the bottle. All different styles, there will be about 10 to 15 offerings from local Florida breweries on tap at all times. Their staff of 20 attends a weeklong “beer school” to bone up on brew knowledge. “We take pride in our servers’ knowledge,” says Martin.

The upscale, modern vibe is accentuated by wood and black leather high tops and polished bars, and the 19 flat screens lining the walls make it the perfect place to relax with a pint and watch a game…the location has NFL and MLB Ticket and College Game Day. Local bands take the stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Those afraid of heights beware, as this stage is actually located on top of the bar, even above the flat screens!

Also unique to this location is a menu. While the other locations only serve spirits, the Lakeland location will offer pub fare such as pizza, pretzels, and appetizers. Patrons also have the option of ordering in from any of the numerous restaurants in the Village, such as Grillsmith, Burger 21 and Abuelo’s, who will deliver to hungry drinkers at no charge.

The bar has two separate outdoor patios, with one specifically earmarked for special events like beer dinners, tastings, and more. If you’re bringing a large party for a special occasion, it can be reserved at no charge. A selection of specialty cigars will be available for sale, and can only be smoked on the patio. A selection of entertainment and education events are planned, such as meetings of the Brewer’s Guild of Lakeland and home brewing classes. “We want to teach people about craft beer, and get them away from drinking the normal Bud Light,” says Martin. “Good beer is good for you!” chimes in Jones.

There’s also a loyalty club called the Brew Crew: pay $15 to join, and get a t-shirt and membership card that tracks every beer imbibed, giving you a point for each one and rewards as you reach certain benchmarks. Drink all 300 and get $200 back on your card to start all over again!

The bar is open from noon to 2 a.m. every day except Sunday, when the hours are noon to midnight. Be sure to join the over 4,000 fans on Facebook, as specials and events are posted constantly.

Martin’s hopes for the future include even more locations, with the Brass Tap name spread throughout the United States. We’re certainly glad his vision of craft beer, and lots of it, includes Polk County!

The Brass Tap

1515 Town Center Drive
Lakeland, FL 33803
brasstapbeerbar.com
facebook.com/TheBrassTapLakesideVillage
(863) 680-9994

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Dream Center Of Lakeland

Restoring Lives, Empowering Community

Interview by Katie Reilly | Photos courtesy of Dream Center of Lakeland

Located on the corner of Fifth and Kettles off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the Dream Center of Lakeland is one place that should not go overlooked. Each day, the nonprofit community center serves as an outlet of hope for children, teenagers, young adults, and seniors in the community. Focus Magazine recently sat down with executive director Michael Cooper and programs director Steve Hill to learn a little more about them, the Center, and some of the programs they are running to help the community around them.

FOCUS Magazine: Where are you originally from?
Michael Cooper: I’m originally from Old Town, Maryland.
Steve Hill: And I’m from Ohio. Louisville, Ohio.

FOCUS: What first brought you to Lakeland?
MC: The opportunity to come and do ministry. We actually started by working in Carpenters Home Church then, through the Lord’s direction, we moved to Victory, and now we’re at the center.
SH: I was a Southeastern student, and I partnered with Pastor Michael when he was over at Carpenters. And I’ve just been around since then.

FOCUS: How did you meet?
SH: We met through Southeastern’s practicum and internship program. I was placed under Pastor Mike as a kind of a mentor. He’s been a blessing. He has an incredible heart for God and for seeing people touched. And that connected, and I’ve enjoyed it very much.

FOCUS: How did the Lakeland Dream Center start?
MC: It first started in 2000/2001, and back then it was called the Freedom Center. We’ve been running this center full time for the last three years. We changed the name probably in the last year and a half to the Dream Center. We needed a fresh start. The Freedom Center was an entity focused mostly on after school programs. We do more out in the community.
SH: Yeah, I mean as far as the start, it was something that was here before we got here, but it’s developed into the Dream Center in the last three years between Pastor Mike and some organizations and churches that have been willing to get behind it and see that happen. It was just a natural transition.

FOCUS: And what made you make the transition between working in the church to working at the Dream Center?
MC: Well, when I was up at Carpenters I did evangelism. I’ve always been involved more in outreach. This is more of a natural thing. When this opportunity came up, it was just a natural thing to do. I think it all goes back to many years ago coaching college basketball. I was always dealing with urban kids. So I think that it was kind of a natural thing to come here. And it was a good ministry opportunity because even though it existed eight/nine years ahead of time, I think it was ready for somebody to come in, think new, and just do it differently. I can’t say that I saw myself doing this ten years ago, but man makes his plans, and God directs the steps. I don’t even think Steve saw himself doing this five or six years ago.
SH: No, it wouldn’t have been what I thought, but it’s the right thing. It worked out.

FOCUS: What are some of the different ministries that happen here?
MC: One of the first ones to get kicked off was called “Girls Night Out.” And that’s been running about seven years now total. That was started by Tiffany; she’s been with us for a long while. Then we have a program once a week, where about ten Southeastern education majors come out to help the kids from the community. It’s good because it not only helps the kids, but it also gives the Southeastern students some experience without all the classroom pressure. Then we have “The Rock,” a basketball league that targets middle to high school kids. We also have services both on Wednesdays and Sundays. Both of them are built around a meal, and we aim to build community—both with them and with all the other programs we do. So, we have a lot of different activities that we can always get more volunteers.

FOCUS: Tell me more about the Adopt a Block program.
MC: On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month we do what we call Adopt a Block. We have a number of teams right now that will go out on those Saturdays to the same block area and build a relationship with the people. If there’s need for food or need for clothing, the teams will come back here where we have stockpile storage, and they take whatever the things are out to the people who need them. We also have lawnmowers so that the teams can mow their grass. They can cut, brush, paint, basically do whatever they need to do to really connect in that area. What we’re trying to do is have everything here so when people come out to Adopt a Block all they’ll have to do is go out and do whatever needs to be done on the block. For example, if they want to have a cookout we’ll hopefully have the supplies in house where they can come and just take the grill out there to do hotdogs or hamburgers. We really want them to connect in these neighborhoods. So we’re trying to develop more and more teams to do that now. We can always get more volunteers for this, particularly more churches.

FOCUS: And what do you see as the biggest needs of the Dream Center?
MC: I think just overall church community involvement, where the church community really comes in and partners with us. And that can be financially as well as with volunteers.
SH: Yeah, having a strong church community base makes an enormous difference. We’ve seen the value of telling a community that they’re worth something. And even with regards to the non- spiritual side, letting people know that there is a value to their life and that they can take ownership in their community and see it as something important—if we can see that develop and the Adopt a Block grow, that would be incredible. Also, educators. If we could partner with some experienced educators that have a heart for working with students in underprivileged areas, that’s something that would help us right now too.

FOCUS: How can people get involved?
SH: It’s easier to get involved initially with the Adopt a Block because as we start to work with programs with minors there’s, of course, background checks and stuff there. First, if somebody is interested they can read through all the programs and upcoming outreaches on our website dreamcenterlakeland.org. Then the best way to actually plug into those programs is if they go to the contact page and send us an email. That way we can contact them and give them the information. We’ll always have information about dates, outreaches, and programs that people can help with.

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Viva Florida!

Polk County Celebrates 500 Years

By Valerie McCutcheon

The year 2013 marks an important milestone for Florida: 500 years ago, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León stepped ashore onto a land he named La Florida, and claimed it for Spain. Although Florida’s Native American heritage spans more than 12,000 years prior to Ponce de León’s April 2, 1513 arrival, Spain’s claim began a new era. A yearlong, statewide celebration, Viva Florida 500 is an initiative of the Florida Department of State commemorating and highlighting the 500 years of Florida’s Spanish Colonial history and the different cultures (including Native American) that have shaped Florida and contributed to its diverse heritage.

According to the Department of State, “The 500th anniversary provides a unique opportunity to strengthen tourism, spur economic development and educate the world about the state’s significant history and heritage.”

Polk County’s recognition of the anniversary is being spearheaded by Ana Rivera and Rafael Torres, President/Founder and incoming Vice President of the Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Polk County (PRHCCPC). Focus Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with the pair to discuss their celebration plans, as well as the vision of the Chamber and its dreams for the future.

Rivera, who was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City, moved to Lakeland in 2002 after September 11. She founded the Chamber in 2007 in order to fill a growing need in the Polk County area. “There was the Metro Orlando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Latin Chamber, but nothing along the I-4 corridor, or the ‘bellybutton,’ as I call it,” laughed Rivera. Originating with just six members, the Chamber just celebrated its fifth anniversary and is now comprised of approximately 106 members of the Hispanic/Non Hispanic business community in Polk County. “Our mission is to educate with culture, and then to mentor and empower small businesses. We want to share our passion and let people know that we’re here!” A bipartisan, not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization, the PRHCC works closely with local Puerto Rican, Hispanic as well as non-Hispanic members of the educational, cultural, business community in order to provide the opportunities and access to education, networking, marketing and growth potential both inside and outside of the Polk County area.

Incoming Vice President Rafael Torres was born and raised in New York City and moved his wife and two sons, now eleven and four, to Lakeland to be closer to family. His vision coming into his leadership role in the Chamber is to empower small business, create awareness and build a knowledge base. “Sometimes people here don’t know where to go to get certain products or services, and through the Chamber we can expose them to so many, and everybody wins. Being a small business owner myself lets me relate in a certain way, as well.” Torres owns Up 2 U Music Studio in Lakeland, where he composes theme music for TV and film, and is now looking to build a local team of artists, songwriters, musicians and producers who want to be a part of the TV and film world.

In December of 2011, Rivera and the Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce were presented with a proclamation from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners recognizing their importance as an organization and an “integral catalyst in the growth of commerce and tourism within the Hispanic and non-Hispanic in Polk County,” empowering the Chamber to celebrate the 500th anniversary through a cultural and commercial campaign within Polk County and the State of Florida.

Rivera’s vision for what the Viva Florida 500 event will bring to Polk County aligns with the Department of State’s: creating events to honor Florida’s history and heritage will generate new tourism opportunities long after the celebration ends in 2013. “I not only want this event to draw people here, but to keep them here,” says Rivera. “So many Hispanic organizations throughout the state are creating opportunities for growth with these special events in their communities, so why should Polk County miss out? It’s a chance to bring in revenue to our community, as well as let people know that we’re here and that we’re growing. The Hispanic community here was a major factor in this past election, so we really do have a voice.”

The PRHCCPC’s main event will be the Lakeland’s first Hispanic parade to be held in Downtown Lakeland, followed by a block party, from 12 to 7 pm on Sunday, April 7. The Hispanic television station Univision is a sponsor of this event.

Although not specifically affiliated with the PRHCCPC, the Winter Haven Public Library has been offering programming throughout the year to celebrate the 500th Anniversary as well. In January, Carrie Sue Ayvar, a third generation award-winning storyteller presented “Stories of Florida – Con Sabor!” A bilingual presentation, she wove personal, historical and traditional Florida stories together in an effort to connect the people and cultures of Florida. This event was sponsored by the Florida Humanities council and the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs.

February’s presentation focused on the Life and Legacy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a child of former slaves turned educator and activist, and founder of Bethune-Cookman College. A national figure, she served as an advisor to the President on minority affairs under the Roosevelt administration, and director of the Division of Negro Affairs. The lesson was presented by Ersula Odom-McLemore, an author, essayist, Florida Humanities Council Mary McLeod Bethune Road Scholar, and motivational speaker.

Upcoming in March will be an illustrated history of the postcard in Florida, entitled: “Having Fun, Wish You Were Here!” Sarasota author Liz Coursen will take you on a journey back in time, from Florida’s history as a back-woods swamp in the 1900s with its transformation to a vacation paradise in the 1950s, using museum quality vintage Florida postcards to tell the tale! The program will be held March 16 at 10 am at the Winter Haven Public Library, located at 325 Avenue A NW in Winter Haven. Call 863-291-5880 for more details. A vintage print will be raffled at the end of the program.

The Polk County History Center’s newest exhibit, “Spanish Pathways,” also complements the Viva Florida 500 Celebration by highlighting the historical relationship between Florida and Spain. The History Center is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Bartow, admission is free and hours are 9 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Friday, and 9 am to 3 pm Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays).

For more information on the parade and block party, including information on securing booth space, call 863-838-2084.

No other state can claim 500 years of history and diverse cultural heritage, so don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate the Florida we live in today!

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Three Unique Brands Under One Fun Roof

Written and Photos By: Amanda Furmage-Deck

PicassoZ Art Café, located in Lakeland’s Lakeside Village, has featured a coffee bar since it opened a little over 10 years ago. But when owner Kristin Miller discovered loose leaf tea in Naples while on vacation, she immediately knew it was something she wanted to introduce to the Lakeland community. As a result, Miller transformed PicassoZ’s large party room into a tea shop and, in 2007, Tea Largo Beverage Co. was born.

Apart from providing the finest top-shelf loose leaf tea brands, Tea Largo sells hot, iced, and frozen drinks including fruit smoothies, bubble teas with tapioca pearls, tea lattes, hot cocoa, and much more. Yet Miller is most excited about bringing Matcha to Polk County, a Japanese green tea and super food boasting health benefits that are off the charts.

In summer 2012, Miller invented yet another genius brand—Teaki Bars, handmade ice pops utilizing popular flavors from her unique tea shop. Teaki Bars has grown immensely and is already a hit in the Lakeland area. Although sold at Tea Largo, by purchasing a truck and a food cart, Miller has been able to show off her new product at various parks and events, including the monthly downtown Lakeland Food Truck Rallies. From Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake and Blueberry Coconut to Strawberry Basil and Avocado Mojito, there’s a Teaki Bar to satisfy any taste palate.

“The success of Tea Largo and Teaki Bars has been amazing and has really helped us through the recession since PicassoZ is so seasonal. The tea shop and ice pops have been a nice complement,” said Miller.

After purchasing a beverage or Teaki Bar from Tea Largo, head next door to PicassoZ, a do-it-yourself art studio featuring pottery painting. From piggy banks to dinosaurs, ice cream bowls to Disney princesses, PicassoZ has a ceramic craft available for every personality. A $6.50 studio fee covers all painting, glazing, and firing costs, which is added to the individual price of each pottery piece. Surfaces range from $5 for small ornaments to over $100 for very large items. However, the most popular product includes $15 latte mugs. In addition, customers can also create fused glass jewelry and tile mosaics at PicassoZ.

“Our customers are so awesome,” said Miller. “We say we’ve seen it all, but we’re always ‘wowed’ by people who feel free to express themselves here. It’s like Christmas every time we open the kiln. It’s so fun to work here because every day is different.”

Whether on a first date or enjoying a fun night out with friends and family, PicassoZ is a great alternative to the typical weekend hangout spots like the local movie theaters and restaurants. In addition, their large party room is perfect for field trips, sorority events, corporate team building activities, birthday parties, and bridal showers.

“You name it, we host it,” said Miller.

Although not an artist herself, Miller established PicassoZ, Tea Largo, and Teaki Bars with one thing in mind, to offer something for people who aren’t artists to have a good time building relationships with family and friends in a community-oriented atmosphere.

“We are excited to still be growing after all these years and touch on new trends, like the ice pops, which has basically become our third business. But they all work together. I’m very happy with our Lakeside Village location and enjoy each new season,” said Miller.

PicassoZ Art Café/Tea Largo Beverage Co./Teaki Bars

1614 Town Center Dr.
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone:
863-688-6545
(PicassoZ)
863-688-6816
(Tea Largo & Teaki Bars)

Email:
Picassozartcafe@gmail.com mytealargo@gmail.com
teakibars@gmail.com

Website:
picassoz.com
tea-largo.com
teakibars.com

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Same old location, all new look and taste!

Written and Photos By: Valerie Mccutcheon

If you think you know Woody’s Bar-B-Q, get ready for an all new experience! Woody’s Bar-B-Q of Winter Haven has spent nearly 20 years in the same location on Havendale Boulevard, but is now under new ownership and has an updated menu to go along with its $50,000 renovation.

The exterior beckons with a new brick façade and a charming takeout window. Gone are the booths with tall backs obstructing views; they have been replaced with tables and booths with comfy benches, giving the space an open and friendly look. With brick accents, vintage signs adorning the walls and colorful light fixtures, the look has been updated tenfold.

New owners Mark Sharratt and Nicholas Hart bought the franchise and opened it in September 2012, working through the night to renovate the place themselves while keeping the restaurant open under construction. Hailing from the United Kingdom, the duo brings many years of overseas restaurant experience to the operation. And don’t let the British accents fool you; they can do Southern barbecue! “We chose the franchise because it’s a structured operation, and Woody’s has been around 32 years and they understand quality. We’ve made quite a few changes to the menu, and now smoke everything daily so it’s always fresh,” says Sharratt.

We can attest to the quality of their smoked meats! The owners brought us out a sampler platter of their best barbecued offerings, letting us try their pulled pork, Memphis style spare ribs, smoked turkey breast, Texas beef brisket, half a chicken, and our personal favorite, Woody’s Signature Baby Back Ribs. “It’s definitely our most popular offering,” agree Sharratt and Hart. Served in half or full racks, fall-off-the-bone tender isn’t an exaggeration. Slow cooked in Woody’s secret recipe marinade, then grilled and basted with even more marinade, they are generously meaty and mouthwatering. The Memphis style spare ribs are larger and smokier than the tangy baby backs, and seasoned with Woody’s award winning rub, are nice and filling. The half a chicken is a huge portion of barbecue chicken marinated in their special sauce, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The smoked turkey was moist and flavorful, and the brisket sliced thick and tender. Their Carolina style pulled pork just melts in your mouth. These meats were accompanied by a quartet of sauces: Southern Sweet, Tangy Mustard, Smokin’ Hot, and Carolina BBQ. Take home a bottle of Southern Sweet or Tangy Mustard for just $4.99.

With unique appetizers like Awesome Squash (lightly breaded), Corn Nuggets, and fried okra, a variety of salads (including a 3-Meat Salad topped with pork, beef and smoked turkey breast), and inventive sandwiches (we’re eyeing the Hawaiian Bar-B-Q burger with grilled pineapple and pork on a steak burger for our next visit), there’s something for everyone. Stop in between 3 and 6 p.m. for the Early Bird Special – 20% off your order, and kids eat free Mondays after 6 p.m. (12 & under with the purchase of an adult entrée). Saturday nights offer All-You-Can-Eat Memphis Ribs for $12.99, and All-You-Can-Eat Chicken is served Sundays for $7.99. Call in, take out, delivery and catering services are all available.

Stop by the new Woody’s at the same old location, 1008 Havendale Boulevard in Winter Haven, to check out their new look, welcome the owners to Polk County (and America!), and try some tasty barbecue!

Woody’s BBQ

1008 Havendale Boulevard
Winter Haven, FL 33881
863-297-5330
www.woodys.com
Sunday – Thursday: 11 am – 9 pm
Friday – Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm
Credit cards accepted
Price range: $4.69-$15.99

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