Water Adaptive Event Offers Wet And Wild Time For People With Disabilities For Sixth Year

by James Coulter

Daymon Jenkins from Tampa may only have one leg, but that doesn’t stop him from having a leg up in the water. Though he has zero experience in water sports, he has been attending the Water Adaptive Event in Winter Haven for an opportunity to have some watery fun.

This year, one of the water activities he engaged in was to hang on and trail alongside one of the boats as it cruised through Lake Silver. Jenkins himself is not the strongest swimmer, but he enjoys being able to partake in such activities that he otherwise would not be able to due to his disability.

This was his third year attended the Water Adaptive Event, an annual event hosted by the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team that allows individuals with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to engage in safe water sports.

Daymon has worked with amputees and other people with disabilities before, so he appreciates the effort that the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team makes to allow him and others the ability to enjoy the water in spite of their disability.

“I love just meeting new people,” he said. “It is fun to come out here and meet new people…[I have] never really skied before. It is difficult, but it is fun.”

The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team has been hosting this annual event since 2013, with this being their sixth year. The team hosts monthly ski shows for the community, and they wanted to do something to show their support for the local community that has supported them, explained Jean Voisard, Ski Team Leader.

“We just wanted to give back to the community,” she said. “We have a ski team filled with talented skiers. This is the way that we can thank the community for the support that we have given them.”

This year’s event drew in more than 50 individuals from across the state, from as far as Tampa and Orlando, from all ages young and old, and with many disabilities including individuals who were wheelchair-bound, amputees, or with mental and developmental disorders.

Each and every year the event grows larger thanks to the promotion provided by the Ski Team. They provide flyers and information to organizations across the state, and people flock each and every year across the state to participate, Voisard said.

“It is the uniqueness of the opportunity,” Voisard credited their success. “It is something different outside their daily routine….It is a great turnout. We could not be happier. We plan on having this every year.”

During the event, participants gather near the shore Lake Silver in Winter Haven, where they each have the opportunity to get out onto the water, trailing behind a motorboat with skis and other equipment. Most of the equipment provided is specially designed to adapt to the special needs and disabilities of the various attendees.

Helping with the event was Bob Kasper, Founder and President of “On The Edge”, a non-profit organization that provides adaptive water skiing training to young people across the country in 28 states and in Canada.

“We mentor them through the process and we use our equipment to create community activities such as this one to give back and give people with physical and mental challenges an opportunity to leave the shore out in the water and have a great day,” he said.

A civil engineer by education and trade, Kasper helped design many of the adaptive skiing equipment used at events such as this. For the past 11 years, his organization has provided individuals with disabilities the ability to have fun on the water.

More than simply teaching people how to ski, Kasper appreciates being able to talk with attendees and develop close relationships with them, allowing them to feel more comfortable with who they are and create networks of similar individuals like them.

“This is one of our largest events that they had, and it keeps growing each and every year,” he said. “I love the smiles. It is all about the people. It is about giving back…Some people have been coming here for years, they keep coming back every year. And it gives them a feeling they can do more activities.”

Sweet Barbecue And Sweet Tunes At 3rd Annual Bourbons And Blues

by James Coulter

Sean Greear, owner of Art and Framing in Winter Haven, recently became the new president of Main Street Winter Haven. When not running his business, he has been checking out the best of Downtown Winter Haven.

“My involvement is being an ambassador to Winter Haven and Main Street, promoting the welfare of our city downtown and to promote people to see what downtown has to offer,” he said.

“I think Winter Haven is growing at a great pace,” he continued. “Every time we have an event, they are growing bigger and bigger, so we need to keep the ship sailing straight.”

One way he has been doing that has been to attend Downtown Winter Haven event such as Bourbons And Blues at the Gram Parsons Derry Down on Friday evening.

Greear has been attending the event for the past two years. He loves the community involvement, especially when it comes to the music, barbecue, and bourbon served there. There’s nothing he loves more than enjoying sweet tunes with sweet barbecue and sweeter bourbon.

“When you have Les Dudek playing and Ricks Barbecue, I think it is phenomenal,” he said. “Plus you have good bourbon. How do you go wrong with that?”

For the past three years, Main Street Winter Haven has been hosting its annual Bourbon And Blues as a fundraiser for the Gram Parsons Derry Down, a historic musical venue located in Downtown Winter Haven.

The annual event offers bourbon testing provided by local bars, barbecue served by Rick’s BBQ, and live musical entertainment performed by local bands and artists. This year’s event saw the debut premiere of the new local band, Sauce.

Each and every year sees the event grow bigger and better. This year was no exception, as the event sold out to full capacity within the first hour, explained Anita Strang, Main Street Executive Director.

“This year, Bourbon and Blues have exceeded expectations,” he said. “It is at full capacity as far as attendance, and everyone is having a good time with good food….The success is getting the word out about the event. And I think we provided a quality event each year where people want to come back. We will continue to grow this event.”

Built in the 1960s, the Derry Downs was created by the grandfather of Gram Parsons, a country music star famous for popularizing “Cosmic American Music”, as a way to allow the then teenage musician an opportunity to perform his music.

The historic building has since undergone renovations within the past three years, and has served as a musical venue dedicated to the honor and memory of the late musician who once performed there.

Bourbon and Blues serves as an annual fundraiser for the venue, helping to raise money to further renovate and refurbish the historic building. The event is attended by more and more people each year, many coming from as far away as Orlando and Tampa, explained Bailey McDaniel, Main Street Assistant Director.

“It is packed and we only heard good things with the food and music,” she said. “This year, we are most excited about the music…it has grown and we are so thankful to have been able to put together so we can keep bringing people music.”