Inside Polk Magazine |

Posted by Brandon Barrett on Apr 30, 2013

A Mother’s Roots Grow Deep

BY MARIA IANNUCCI With Mother’s Day just around the corner, people across Polk County are preparing to celebrate the love of mothers, the tireless efforts they make for their families and offer thanks for all they do. One local woman has plans to celebrate this special day with her husband and four children which, in her words, “is the best way.” On a recent spring afternoon, I pulled into the...

Posted by Brandon Barrett on Apr 30, 2013

A Wonderful Place to Live, Work and Play

BY TAMMY SEREBRIN Driving east on Hwy. 92 from Lakeland toward Auburndale, one can almost miss the small sign with the arrow pointing left that says Downtown. The sign refers to downtown Auburndale, Florida, which (according to its website at www.auburndalefl.com) is “a firmly established, steadily growing community with a population of 13,792.” A sign just outside of Auburndale lets you know that it...

Posted by Brandon Barrett on Apr 30, 2013

Inspiring Health with RESULTS

BY MARIA IANNUCCI Let’s admit it. Getting on the road to fitness and good health often isn’t the hardest part; staying there and maintaining a positive plan to reach your goal usually is the biggest challenge. At Habitat Health & Fitness in Winter Haven, Brandon Roggow, Body Transformation Expert, and his dedicated team have found a way to help people in their endeavor to lose weight and get...

Posted by Brandon Barrett on Apr 30, 2013

“Workation”

for Both Business and Pleasure BY JON SALM For Lakeland resident John Peters, working with Stanley Steemer has defined both his work and his vacations. During his 27-year career with Stanley Steemer, Peters has worked in Lexington, KY; Tampa, FL; and finally Lakeland; where he purchased Stanley Steemer’s Polk County franchise in 2000. Along with his wife Susan, Peters successfully grew the business’...

Posted by Brandon Barrett on Apr 30, 2013

ON THE CUTTING EDGE

PHOTOS AND STORY BY MARIA IANNUCCI Polk County has long been known for its contributions to the Florida citrus industry with an annual economic impact in the millions of dollars. But what might not be mainstream knowledge is the gradual immersion of local citrus farmers into diversification by introducing an aspect of agriculture usually associated with the state to our north. The addition of peach groves...

Posted by Brandon Barrett on Apr 30, 2013

Meet Violet Vegter

Mother of 11 Children, Grandmother of 40 and Great-Grandmother of 41 BY LAVERNE STEVENS Violet and Henry Vegter started life together in Huron, South Dakota, where their first three children were born. They moved on to Delavan, Wisconsin, where they had eight more children. They were blessed with eight girls and three boys. All were single births. Violet and Henry worked hard raising the children in a...

Posted by Brandon Barrett on Apr 30, 2013

Sertoma Camp Endeavor

Social and Personal Growth for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth BY ANITA TODD-WHITAKER In Dundee, there’s a special place that many locals don’t know exists. There’s even a chance that many citizens of the small town aren’t aware of the group of buildings on the shores of one of its many lakes. But, sixty or so deaf or hard of hearing children would know that the answer is Sertoma Camp Endeavor....

Posted by Brandon Barrett on Apr 30, 2013

WHERE COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS COME FROM

BY MARIA IANNUCCI PHOTOS BY LAUREN GREEN At Central Florida Rodeo, based in Lakeland, it’s all that and more; though it caters to a much younger demographic just starting on the path to becoming cowboys and cowgirls. All you need is a pair of chaps, a well-fitting cowboy hat, and a hankering for fun. Four years ago, Mike and Lynn Matthews of Lakeland, along with the late Timmy Locke and Jimmy...