Farmers Insurance Celebrates Grand Opening in Eagle Ridge Mall
by James Coulter
Do you need insurance for your home? Your car? Even your motorcycle or RV? Regardless of your insurance needs, Farmers Insurance can provide you with the insurance you need. And they are more than happy to do it from their new location at Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales.
Farmers Insurance offers a diverse selection of insurance policies for life, home, auto, and even special coverage plans for RV, boat, and motorcycle. For nearly a century, the company has been providing hospitable coverage nationwide through its48,000 exclusive and independent agents and approximately 21,000 employees.
“We’ve spent 90 years putting customers first — personalized attention is a hallmark of the Farmers experience,” their website states. “We’re proud of more than 90 years of serving our customers and excited about the future as we continue to evolve to meet their needs. Our ambition is to Be the leader in delivering peace of mind, innovating for customers whenever and wherever they need us.”
Richard Williams has been in business since 1997 as an insurance agent. He decided to go solo and work as an independent agent through Farmers Insurance. He chose that company due to its reliability and personable customer service. Through Farmers, he assures, clients can expect service that is made for them.
“That was my choice,” Williams said. “We chose them because of their industry and the options they provided to me as an agent so I can serve the general community. I will always personally tailor plans, so we do not just put you in a box. We provide you with coverage that will cover you.”
Williams had resided in Polk County for 10 to 12 years. He knew his insurance agency would be a great fit. Upon seeing the new development both inside and near Eagle Ridge Mall, he decided no better place was ideal to set up shop than inside the mall.
“Lake Wales was a very quiet community that has grown,” Williams said. “We are confident that this mall will bring traffic back once again…I plan on bringing not only my expertise but also my customer service. Those of you who have worked with me in the past, you know what I bring.”
Farmers Insurance celebrated the grand opening of its Lake Wales branch in Eagle Ridge Mall last Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce. The event was attended by chamber members and mall associates.
Skip Alford, Chamber President and CEO, boasted about how Farmers Insurance and the other new businesses that have opened in the mall show how much economic development has been generated in recent years in Lake Wales. The grand opening especially revealed progress with the mall, as more than 600 new houses are currently being constructed across the road.
“So, traffic here in this mall will be an uptick,” Alford said. “[Williams] moving [his business] here in a perfect time. That is when people come by with insurance…We are looking to draw more families and businesses here [through our] economic development council. That means more people coming through your doors.”
Charles Callaway, Property Manager for Eagle Ridge Mall, is proud of how much the mall has improved under new management. Since the start of this year, it has opened more than 12 new stores, including a juice bar, two artist venues, a tattoo parlor, and even a Spirit Halloween. He is especially proud to see a big brand name like Farmers Insurance set up shop there.
“It is amazing,” he said. “We look forward to their success with us and bringing the name brand to the mall. They are a very well-known company, and it will bring more foot traffic to the mall…With Lake Wales developing, there are tons of interests in the mall, and I feel we will be renting most of the space soon.”
Farmers Insurance – Richard Williams is located inside Eagle Ridge Mall next to Dillard’s, located at 203 Eagle, Ridge Way, Lake Wales, FL 33859. For more information, call 863-940-9062, or visit their website at: https://agents.farmers.com/fl/lake-wales/richard-williams
Welcome, World Travelers! Let’s Talk About THAT Moment From She-Hulk
by James Coulter
I love She-Hulk. Out of all the Marvel series announced for Disney Plus, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law was the one I was most excited to watch. Even two episodes in, it’s quickly become one of my top three favorite Marvel shows of all time. (Wandavisionand Hawkeye would be my top two favorites!)
And what’s not to like about it? The titular character is a mean green diva who’s super strong, super smart, super sassy, and—yes!—even super sexy! Sure, plenty of people have complained about the “poor” CGI, but, honestly, it’s pretty decent. (Like, have you seen the I Am Groot shorts?)
What I love most about the show is how fundamentally different it is from the typical Marvel formula. We truly haven’t had a Marvel show this unique since Wandavision. She-Hulk, true to her comic book origins, leans more into the comedy than action, with plenty of witty Deadpool-style fourth wall breaks and witty banter. She’s essentially a green Ally McBeal—which, personally, is what a good She-Hulk should be!
But while I love She-Hulk, I admit the show isn’t perfect and has its fair share of flaws. One particular flaw is exemplified in one particularly divisive moment from the first episode which spawned a meme-able quote that has been meme-ed, shared, and tweeted all over social media and which has stirred up quite the controversy. You all know the moment I’m talking about. Solet’s talk about it.
In the first episode, Jennifer Walters gets her She-Hulk superpowers after surviving a car crash with her cousin, Bruce Banner (a.k.a. the Hulk). Bruce takes her to his private hideout in Mexico to train her to use her new powers properly and control her Hulk form.
To his surprise, Jennifer proves to easily handle her rage and can easily control her powers. When he asks her how she can so effortlessly control her anger and the powers behind them, she replies with the quote that has since circulated the internet:
“Well, here’s the thing, Bruce: I’m great at controlling my anger. I do it all the time. When I’m catcalled in the street, when incompetent men explain my own area of expertise to me. I do it pretty much every day, because if I don’t, I’ll get called ’emotional’ or ‘difficult,’ or might just literally get murdered. So, I’m an expert at controlling my anger because I do it infinitely more than you!”
As can be expected, this quote has created quite the culture war controversy online. On one side, feminists have applauded this moment as showcasing a perspective that few people, including men, rarely consider, thus helping bring to light issues that women often face. And on the other side, basement-dwelling dweebs have decried this moment as yet another aspect of Disney/Marvel’s insidious “woke” agenda within the “M-She-U.”
For the record, as a man, I will check my male privilege and admit this quote is correct. Even while women have the same legal rights as men, they still face many sexist microaggressions from catcalling to “mansplaining” that make it harder for them to exist in a male-dominated society. Moreover, women do tend to be more emotionally mature than men, as they are socially conditioned to be more socially intelligent while men often struggle to properly handle their emotions. So, it does make sense for Jennifer to have better control of her rage than Bruce.
However, while this quote works as a #feminist #girlboss meme that accurately (if not ham-fisted), offers insight on real issues facing real women, narratively speaking, it does not work. For several reasons:
First, Jennifer is conveying this information to Bruce. She is telling him that she has a better grasp on her anger than him. While it is true she, as a woman, faces many issues that he, as a man, does not, those issues do not include being hunted down as The Hulk, fighting against extraterrestrial threats as an Avenger, being stranded on an alien planet for many years, enduring the tragic death of a loved one, and nearly dying using the full power of the Infinity Stones. Jennifer may face stress as a female lawyer, but that stress does not remotely compare to the struggles Bruce has faced as the Hulk.
Second, what she says isn’t even true. Jennifer doesn’t have a better grasp on maintaining her anger. Earlier in the episode, she Hulks out after being accosted and catcalled by several bar patrons. So her insistence that she has a better handle on her emotions due to having been catcalled her whole life rings hollow after a previous scene shows her getting angry over being catcalled.
Third, through this series, we never really get to see her deal with any of the problems she describes. Her quote essentially breaks the cardinal rule of good writing by telling rather than showing. Jennifer tells us that she faces sexist micro-aggressions, yet the show never shows us those problems she routinely faces as a woman. True, these are problems women often face, so she’s not wrong, but her words would ring stronger if we saw them for ourselves rather than blindly trusted her.
YouTube personality, The Critical Drinker, touched upon this in his video, “She-Hulk – A Lesson In Terrible Writing.” In it, he states:
“It is actually possible to make Jen’s rant function in context, but the problem with this episode is twofold: one, it doesn’t actually show us any of the things that she’s complaining about, and, two, it fails to establish Jen as a sympathetic, likable character that we care about. The writers wanted a bi, emotional payoff for this scene, but they were either unable or unwilling to give us the setup that it needs to work.”
In his video, Critical Drinker mentions the opening scene where Jennifer rehearses her closing statements for a court case. She is immediately praised for her good work, and though she is harangued by a male co-worker, his remarks are quickly dismissed and he is promptly ushered out of the office by her friends.
Overall, the scene shows Jennifer has a pretty successful career without too many hiccups. Thus, it undermines her overall point about being undermined as a woman. As the Critical Drinker explains in his video, the scene could have been written better:
“This is a real wasted opportunity to develop sympathy towards the character. Imagine this same scene where Jen recites her big elaborate closing argument, only for her more senior male partner to overrule her and flatly state that he’s the one who’s going to be delivering it.
He might be superficially polite and consoling, maybe even given her half-hearted platitudes like she’s just not ready for this yet, but there’s a more threat in an undertone to his voice so that we know exactly what he’s doing and why we get to see her excitement and enthusiasm turn into rushing disappointment as she realizes she’s been held back from yet another opportunity.
Now imagine how much more sympathy you’d feel towards her as a character. I mean, nobody likes to see good people getting crushed and sidelined, and instinctively you’d want to see her succeed. Now imagine how much more impact her rant later in the episode would have if we actually saw the negative impact of what she describes.
But, no. The writers were so desperate to have their first girl boss moment right off the bat that they had to make this a quick and easy victory for Jennifer. The scene feels more like them projecting their own personal gripes, frustrations, and hang-ups, followed by the fantasy resolution they wish they could have had themselves rather than a logical component of a bigger narrative. It was more important for them to score a quick ego-stroking win rather than take the smarter option that would deliver bigger and more satisfying payoffs later.”
She-Hulk is a great show with great comedy and action. And it has the potential of addressing many pertinent social issues. However, its delivery of that social commentary could be better handled and more cleverly written. Overall, She-Hulk, while a good show, can be better.
What are your thoughts on She-Hulk? Do you love it? Or do you not? And what do you think of this scene? Does it work? Or does it not? Leave your comments on Facebook.
Lakeland, Florida- The Lakeland Police Department arrested a Lakeland man, Elijah Stackhouse (DOB 7/14/2002) charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony petit theft, discharge of a firearm in public, aggravated assault with deadly weapon, resisting officer without violence and possession of ammo by convicted felon.
The arrest was over the theft of a bicycle and the ensuing actions caused a local elementary school to be placed on heightened security. After being confronted trying to flee with the a stolen bicycle the suspect allegedly discharged a gun.
Below is a copy of the affidavit: It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Lakeland Police Department. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions:
“On Monday August 29, 2022, at approximately 1104 hours, I Officer Bermudez #180 was dispatched to Publix Division Office Gate 8 at 3260 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, Florida in reference to a shooting.
I made contact with victim REDACTED at the 3700 block of New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, Florida at the incident scene. REDACTED advised while he and his girlfriend were at their residence REDACTED New Tampa Highway Lakeland, Florida the defendant Elljah Stackhouse approached his neighbor’s front yard and removed her pink bicycle. REDACTED advised REDACTED (his girlfriend) that Stackhouse was approaching their residence when he told her to make contact with REDACTED and ask her if she lent her bicycle to anyone. REDACTED advised REDACTED did not lend her bicycle to anyone. REDACTED advised that she, REDACTED and REDACTED got into REDACTED’s car and drove westbound on New Tampa Highway attempting to locate Stackhouse who was on REDACTED’s bicycle.
REDACTED advised REDACTED pulled over on the westbound lane of the 3700 block of New Tampa Highway when they observed the defendant in the eastbound lane peddling REDACTED’s bicycle. REDACTED advised when they observed the defendant, he got off the bicycle and started walking towards the Publix warehouse Gate 8.
REDACTED advised he and REDACTED exited REDACTED’s vehicle and approached the defendant on foot. REDACTED stated he started questioning the defendant about removing the bicycle off Is property without her consent. REDACTED advised the defendant removed a firearm from his waist band. REDACTED stated he and REDACTED we’re standing next to each other on the Publix Warehouse roadway when the defendant shot towards him and REDACTED. When the defendant shot at REDACTED he fired his firearm.”
2nd Affidavit of arrest:
On 08-29-22 at anproximatelv 1130 hours. I was working at the Lakeland Police Department as a uniformed patrol officer. While on dutv. I responded to the area of Publix located at 3260 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, FL, 33805. I responded to this location in reference to a shooting in which the suspect was still at large. Upon my arrival, I assumed a position just south of the incident location. I observed through LPD email a picture of the suspect riding an orange bicycle. I observed the suspect to be a dark-skinned male wearing tan long pants, a black t-shirt, with a black backpack. In this photo, the black male’s face is partially visible I heard over LPD radio the suspect was running southbound through Publix towards the main entrance. I maneuvered my patrol car to that location and observed the black male who was running southbound towards my vehicle and then laid on the ground, surrendering to law enforcement. I immediately recognized the suspect as the same suspect from the photo which was sent through agency email. I then removed the black backpack from the suspect who was handcuffed and began conducting an inventory of the backpack locating a FL Identification card belonging to the suspect Elijah Devonta Stackhouse.
Stackhouse was transported to the Lakeland Police Department.
While at the Lakeland Police Department I made contact with Stackhouse who made statements Post Miranda implvine and implicatine himself in the crimes that occurred. I asked Stackhouse why he was all dirt and covered in leaves and mud. Stackhouse stated. ” I don’t know man. I then asked Stackhouse again how he was covered in mud and outdoor type debris, I also asked Stackhouse how he got the cuts on his face, and left shoulder, a puncture in his right hand as well as his left bicep. I recognized these injuries to be conducive to attempting to climb or crawl through barbed wire, such as the barbed wire surrounding the Publix Warehouse and adjacent properties. Stackhouse was then asked why he was running, and he advised” all I know is, I was trying to get away from that dog , I asked “what dog” and he stated, “the black dog and the police were chasing me, so I jumped the fence, and cut myself up trying to get away.
I determined through my investigation when Stackhouse made statements in regard to running from the black dog and the police, he was making reference to Sergeant Whitaker #71 and his canine partner Blizzard on a 30-foot tracking lead. Sgt. Whitaker advised over LPD radio he and his canine partner were beginning a canine track at 1104 hours, on 08-29-22 in reference to locating the suspect in the shooting. Sgt. Whitaker advised his canine partner was actively tracking what he believed to be the suspect in this case. While tracking through the Publix Plaza Sgt. Whitaker advised the suspect (stackhouse) observed him in his agency-issued uniform which displays he is a canine officer with the Lakeland Police Department, when Stackhouse observed Set. Whitaker and his canine partner Blizzard tracking in his direction, he removed himself from concealment and began running westbound through the parking lot away from Sgt. Whitaker and his canine partner Blizzard. Stackhouse began running in the direction of other employees on the property westbound and then began running southbound towards the exit gate. Whitaker gave numerous canine warnings while conducting his active tracking advising he is a Lakeland Police Department canine handler and he needed to surrender to law enforcement. Stackhouse ignored Sgt. Whitaker’s lawful commands and continued running through the parking lot where he was apprehended by law enforcement at 1131 hours on 08-29-22.
I determined through my investigation Stackhouse knowingly, unlawfully, and willingly, took headlong flight from law enforcement officers and a law enforcement canine who were actively attempting to apprehend him in an attemot to avoid caoture b law enforcement.
I charged Stackhouse with resisting an officer without violence.
See Officer Bermudez #loU charging documents for original charges for this incident.
Lakeland, Florida- According to Lakeland Police Public Information Officer, Robin Tillet, Jesse Keen Elementary School was briefly placed on Heightened Alert after allegations of an armed bicycle robbery in Lakeland. Jesse Keen is located on Plateau Ave., a few blocks East of Hwy 92 and the Publix Dispatch office, which is the area the incident is believed to have taken place.
A possible suspect is currently being questioned by law enforcement. We will update this article as more information becomes available.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Lake Wales Police Department is currently on scene of a shooting inSeminole Ave. near Martin Luther King Blvd. According to Deputy Chief, David Black, multiple people were shot Sunday afternoon. “The public is safe at this time” per the Deputy Chief. However one person has been killed. We are aware of at least one helicopter medical evacuation occurred.
The shooting took place around 1:50pm on Sunday afternoon. The scene currently is taped off, and within a few feet children were playing on a blow up slide.
This is an active investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available.
Haines City detectives arrested an Orlando man who pointed a rifle at officers while they conducted a traffic stop, and later caused a car crash that injured two Haines City Police Officers.
Officers Jose Ramirez and Gedrick Vargas were conducting a traffic stop Saturday at approximately 5:21 p.m. when 19-year-old Robert Lee Smith III pointed a rifle at the officers and fled the scene in a black Toyota. Officers reported that the car was occupied by a black male (Smith) and a Hispanic female.
Officers Ramirez and Vargas attempted to apprehend the fleeing vehicle but their patrol car was struck by another vehicle at the intersection of E. Johnson Avenue and Power Line Road.
Both officers were transported to area hospitals, one of them by helicopter. They both received serious injuries but are in stable condition. One officer is undergoing surgery today.
The driver and passenger of the other car involved in the crash were transported to the hospital where they are recovering.
Smith failed to stop after the crash and fled the scene in the black Toyota.
Additional law enforcement officers from the Haines City Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Davenport Police Department responded to the area to assist the injured officers, civilians and to assist in the search for the armed suspect.
Detectives located Smith at his father’s home in Poinciana. Since the location was outside of Haines City, the Polk County Sheriff’s office assisted with locating and arresting Smith. When deputies searched Smith, they found approximately 31.5 grams of cannabis and drug paraphernalia in his possession.
No rifle was located at the scene of the arrest and Smith would not reveal its location.
Smith is currently facing the following charges: Additional charges are pending
– Two felony charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
– Possession of Cannabis over 20 Grams
– Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
“We are thankful that our officers, and the two innocent civilians, who were injured today by the actions of the suspect are in stable condition, and expected to recover from their injuries. I am very grateful for the rapid response from our department and surrounding law enforcement agencies. This incident was brought to a quick and successful resolution because of good police work by all involved. Persistence and teamwork helped take a dangerous criminal off the street in just a few hours,” said Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck.
Initial release-
TWO HAINES CITY POLICE OFFICERS INJURED DURING TRAFFIC STOP
Two Haines City police officers were injured while making a traffic stop near East Johnson Avenue and Powerline Road in Haines City.
The injuries were sustained when the police vehicle collided with another car, which was not the target of the traffic stop.
The area around the intersection of E. Johnson Avenue and Power Line Road is blocked off while police and sheriff’s deputies investigate the incident. Residents should avoid the area as it will likely be blocked off for several hours or longer this evening.
The incident is still under investigation and more details will be released when available.
Currently no information is available about the other drivers.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 27, 2022.
At around 2:30 a.m., deputies responded to the area of Meadow Green Drive in unincorporated Davenport to a reported shooting. When deputies arrived, they found a witness performing CPR on the victim in the front yard of a residence. Polk Fire Rescue arrived shortly after and pronounced the victim deceased.
According to the preliminary investigation, 35-year-old Thomas Jackson of Loughman, his girlfriend, and another couple were celebrating Jackson’s birthday and all had been drinking alcohol. Sometime during the night Jackson and his girlfriend were arguing, and the victim took Jackson outside the residence to try to calm him down. A few moments later, the two women inside the house heard gunshots and went outside where they observed Jackson standing over the victim; a handgun was on the ground. One of the witnesses confronted Jackson and the other began life saving measures.
According to the affidavit, Jackson told detectives that the victim “came at me.” He also had a small wallet size card with instructions about what to say “post-incident” that included claiming that the person with the card was being attacked. Detectives did not observe injuries on Jackson nor the victim “to suggest that great bodily harm was a factor” nor was there evidence on the ground to suggest a struggle took place.
During the investigation witnesses told detectives that Jackson was known to brandish a weapon during conflicts with other people. Detectives also learned that Jackson had been in a physical fight with another person the day before.
“Jackson had a post incident wallet card which instructed him what to tell law enforcement. If he thought he could murder someone and use this as get out of jail free card, he was sadly mistaken.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Jackson was arrested for Second Degree Murder with a Weapon. His previous criminal history includes an arrest in Polk County for Fighting and Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. He also has arrests in Virginia for Intentional Damage of Monument and Violation of Probation, and an arrest in Georgia for DUI and Endangering a Child by DUI.
Two different suspects arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office during an undercover child pornography investigation in 2021 received multiple consecutive life sentences in the Florida state prison system— they were responsible for repeatedly sexually abusing an 8 year old child together, and creating, filming, and trading child pornography.
Egbert also sexually abused two other children. On August 22, 2022, 30-year-old David Lavin, Jr. of Winter Haven pleaded no contest to 21 counts of possession of child pornography, four counts sexual battery by a suspect over 18 on a victim under 12, one count lewd molestation, and one count promoting sexual performance by a child. The Honorable Judge Catherine L. Combee sentenced Lavin to 27 life sentences to run consecutive in the state Florida prison system, and he was designated as a sexual predator.
On May 5, 2022, 33-year-old Harrison Egbert of Winter Haven pleaded no contest to two counts sexual battery by a suspect over 18 on a victim under 12, and two counts lewd molestation by a suspect over 18 on a victim under 12. Judge Combee sentenced him to four (4) life sentences to run consecutive in the state Florida prison system, and designated him as a sexual predator. The month-long investigation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office took place from August to September 2021.
Click here to read the entire news release https://tinyurl.com/9m7uj7nr and below is an excerpt: On September 16, 2021, detectives served a search warrant at the home of 32-year-old Harrison Egbert of Winter Haven and located 1,000 videos and images of children as young as 2-years old being sexually battered. Egbert told detectives he had looked at “thousands” of child pornography files, some depicting “infants” on SnapChat and Instagram. He further confessed to sexually abusing three girls (ages 5, 7, and 8-years-old). Egbert told detectives he videoed and photographed the sexual abuse with the help of his friend 30-year-old David Lavin, Jr. of Winter Haven.During an interview, Lavin admitted to detectives his involvement with multiple sexual battery crimes and child pornography crimes. Lavin transported one of the victims [an 8 year-old child] multiple times to Egbert’s residence and participated in the videoing and photographing of the sexual abuse.
“Through the years we have dealt with some truly despicable men who commit some of the most heinous crimes against children you can imagine, but these two are the worst of the worst. We appreciate the hard work of our detectives and the successful prosecution by State Attorney Brian Haas’ Office. Lavin and Egbert will be locked up for the rest of their lives, where they can’t hurt the most innocent of victims – our children.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Central Florida Health Care Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Davenport Health Center
by James Coulter
Central Florida Health Care commemorated the grand opening of its newest health center in Davenport with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
Located along Highway 27 near Posner Park, the new medical facility will provide basic medical, dental, pediatric, ob-gyn, and pharmaceutical services to the local community. Low-income patients requiring financial assistance for their medical needs can receive aid from an on-site navigator with social work experience.
For nearly 50 years, Central Florida Health Care (CFHC) has been meeting the healthcare needs of residents, with more than 500 employees and 14 facilities located across Polk, Hardee, and Highlands County. The Davenport center is their 15th community health center to open to the general public.
Ann Claussen, CFHC CEO, mentioned how she and her staff had searched high and low for many weeks until they discovered the most opportune location for their newest facility in Davenport. They decided to construct their facility after receiving a service area competition grant in 2019.
Now that it has finally opened its doors, she hopes that it will provide the same hospitable, reliable service their organization has become known for. “We persevered because we knew there was a need. We continued to look for an opportunity to have a community healthcare center in Davenport,” she said.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted on Wednesday by the Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce. Several city and chamber members attended the event, along with other notable individuals, including Martha Santiago, District 4 Commissioner; Ben Browning, Associate of Community Healthcare Services; and Dave Williams, the former CFHC CEO.
Leah West, representing Congressman Darren Soto, commended CFHC for opening their new facility and providing essential healthcare services, especially to low-income individuals. She also commended the organization for helping Polk County get through the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
West mentioned how Soto was doing his part to help his constituents within the district meet their healthcare needs by supporting important legislation, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which will provides caps on insulin and out-of-pocket medical expenses for seniors.
“Congressman Soto believes federally qualified health centers are the most important ways we can keep our communities safe and this country safe,” West said. “It was clinics like this that kept us safe and kept our communities running [during the pandemic]. That is why Soto will continue to support efforts to care for people who need it the most. This is why this facility is great for our government and community.”
The Davenport Health Center is located at 130 Ridge Center Drive, Davenport, FL. For more information, call 866-234-8534, or visit https://cfhc.org/
Fine Arts Return to Magnolia Building at 6th Annual Art Show
by James Coulter
No two of John Kellum’s pottery are exactly alike. Even if Kellum were to mold an art sculpture the same way as another, the iridescent glaze created through the raku firing process will always be different.
Originating in Japan in the 16th century, raku pottery involves removing ceramic pottery from the kiln red hot and rapidly cooling them. An American potter, Paul Soldner, experimented with different temperatures and chemicals, which created a unique rainbow-colored glaze.
Kellum started crafting raku pottery 35 to 40 years ago. As a graphic designer, he has always been a natural artist; however, he wanted to get involved with art specifically for himself and not merely for his clients.
“It is my form of meditation,” he said. “[It was] a way for me to create without having someone else ask me what they want. This is just for me. When I first set up, I did not want to sell, but I tried to live on doing what I want to do.”
Kellum has been showcasing and selling his artwork at Fine Art at the Magnolia in Lakeland ever since it started six years ago. Unlike larger events like Mayfaire-by-the-Lake, this annual event offers a smaller, more intimate venue where patrons and artists can interact more casually, he said.
Kellum especially loves the camaraderie among his fellow artists. It is an annual tradition for them to meet on the Saturday of the festival weekend, eat at a local eatery together, and then take a casual stroll downtown. He appreciates that, as well as interacting with the attendees.
“Here, they [attendees] take their time, they ask questions, they are just into the art, they like it, I have met a lot of great people,” he said. “It is fun. It makes it more of our art community.”
Fine Arts at the Magnolia celebrated its sixth annual art show this weekend. Hosted at the Magnolia Building in Lakeland, nearly 20 artists from within the Central Florida area attended to showcase their art, from wood and clay sculptures to oil and acrylic paintings.
Paul LaMontagne attended for the first time this year with his unique wooden sculptures crafted from curly maple and maple burlwood and painted with a special wood dye. LaMontagne has been creating them since 1975.
He was invited by the show’s director to attend Fine Art at the Magnolia for the first time this year. Overall, he was impressed by the turnout and the courtesy of the attendees there.
“It has been a really good show,” LaMontagne said. “I was sold on it. I love the wood and shade and drawings. It is good.”
Betsy Bohrer, the show director and founder, started Fine Arts at the Magnolia as her venue for her and her artist friends. Previously, she had attended 12 to 20 art shows per year across the state. However, by 2016, her parents’ needs required her to re-prioritize her life and career. As such, she started her art show.
As for her artwork, she showcases many paintings based on the entries in her journals. Her experiences inspired her to translate them to the canvas, often with abstract imagery representing her thoughts and feelings. Common motifs in her work include nests, which represent motherhood, and angels, which represent passed loved ones.
Since starting Fine Arts at the Magnolia six years ago, her art show has grown far beyond her expectations. She expects to continue it for many more years to come, she said.
“I have been really overjoyed with how Fine Arts has grown from 2017 to this year,” she said. “It continues to grow, there is so much love surrounding this show. We have excellent patrons and artists. We have a community that is supportive. And the city is great. I am loved by what is on this show.”
