Sankofa Chorale Spring Concert Shares Easter Spirit

by James Coulter

Easter Sunday is right around the corner, and Holy Week received a most soulful start at Hurst Chapel AME Church with a spring concert hosted by the Sankofa Chorale on Sunday.

More than a dozen singers within the local choir helped lift spirits for the Easter season with performances of soulful selections, both classical and contemporary.

Many of the singers that afternoon graced the stage to shine within the spotlight through solo performances, be it through violin, piano, or even vocals.

Dr. Anita Manger was one such soloist, as she took center stage to utilize her years of experience as an opera and classical singer to sing about the loving grace of Jesus Christ through her solo performance.

Dr. Manger had been performing within the choir for the past five years. She had previously performed as a soprano opera and classical singer prior to moving to Winter Haven from up north in Michigan.

Her past experiences allowed her to learn the vocal and breath control necessary to sing soprano loud and clearly without losing breath. Such experience turns such ordinary musical events into something quite extraordinary.

Being able to perform with the Sankofa Chorale allows her to continue her love of music and share it with others who likewise share that love, she explained.

Also as a music lover, she appreciates the director of the Sankofa Chorale, Dr. Jessie Owens, who leads the choir as a component of her local music school, the Dr. J. Owens Academy of Fine Arts.

The local academy offers music lessons to young school-aged children, not only teaching them to perform music, but to perform a variety of musical styles that they otherwise would not learn about through their public school education, Dr. Manger said.

“The school has been an excellent experience for the community, for the children as well as the adults,” she said. “It has broadened their horizons from one focus of music to broaden it with different styles of music and appreciation for those styles of music. I think this is a great asset for the community. Dr. Jessie Owens is doing a tremendous service to the community.”

Dr. Owens herself had served several decades as a music instructor within the local school system before retiring. Following her retirement, she noticed that her house was packed with so much sheet music that she didn’t know what to do with it all. So she decided to use it to start her own school, she explained.

“I am someone who loves music and who loves helping people,” she said. “It comes from this community and for the love of it here, so I have kids started early to help them improve.”

Her academy is hosted after school hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and offers students from first to ninth grade music lessons and classes on every type of instrument and musical style imaginable.

The Sankofa Chorale is a component of her academy, as their performances are often hosted during fundraisers for the school, such as their upcoming Juneteenth Gala at Polk State College.

As with any musical talent, their performances require three things to make it the best: practice, practice, and practice. Every week they practice for two hours, sometimes twice a week before big programs such as the spring concert on Sunday.

At the end of the day, being able to see so many likeminded musicians and singers come together to share their love and appreciation of music is more than worth the effort, especially when it involves a large turnout. The turnout for this concert especially more than exceeded expectations, Dr. Owens said.

“Putting all the different musicians together to show the talent they have in their community, and let them put together their own thing, let them do their own thing and shine themselves, coming together, it is coming together and going a fine job,” she said.

Dr. J. Owens Academy will be hosting two other upcoming events. Their student recital will be hosted at the church on May 4 at 1 p.m., and will be open to the public.

Their Juneteenth Gala, which is hosted as their annual fundraiser, will be hosted at Polk State College on June 1 at 6 p.m. For information and tickets, visit their website at: https://www.drjowensacademyfinearts.com/

Winter Haven Relay For Life Takes Off To Galaxy Far, Far Away

by James Coulter

Sue Smith and her family know the struggles of cancer all too well. Her husband, Steve, was diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago. He has long since recovered.

Her father was diagnosed with colon cancer on August 2017. He has since gone into remission, though he still suffers with the side effects of his treatments.

Sue herself was diagnosed with high risk ovarian cancer on January 2018. Like many of her loved ones before her, she has since survived it.

“‘Cancer’ is one of the toughest words we pray that we would never hear, and that we hope never enters into our home and family; but unfortunately, it becomes part of so many of our lives,” she said.

Though her past experiences with cancer, be it her own or that of her loved ones, have proven difficult, through it all, she has only come out stronger than before, and more than strong enough to continue the fight against the disease.

“Cancer is not an easy thing to go through,” she said. “I believe all the cancer survivors out here tonight will agree with me. Cancer is the hardest thing you have ever been through. But going through the cancer battle changes you as a person. You become a cancer warrior.”

Smith served as the Honorary Chair for this year’s Winter Haven Relay For Life, hosted on Friday evening in Downtown Central Park.

She and several dozen cancer survivors from the local community kicked off the event that evening by marching within the Survivor’s Lap around the park, honoring their victory against the disease.

They were later followed by the Caregiver’s Lap, which, true to its named, honored the achievements of local caregivers who assisted local cancer patients and survivors by having them march around the park.

Throughout the remainder of the evening, more than a dozen teams participating that evening took turns having their individual members walk laps around the park while other members offered food, games, and merchandise to help raise funds for the event.

More than 20 organizations from throughout the community participated that evening, including Heartland Church, BayCare, State Farm, and CenterState Bank. Each competed with one another in order to help raise the most funds.

Overall, exactly $90,218.55 was raised at the event, which was nearly three-thirds of the event’s goal of $120,000, according to their website.

This year’s theme took the event to a galaxy far, far away with a focus on “Star Wars.” Several teams participated in activities related to the movie, from offering a “Star Wars Angry Birds” slingshot game, to selling “Star Wars” treats such as lightsaber pretzel sticks and “Wookie cookies.” The event even saw an appearance from the Star Wars cosplayers of the 501st Legion.

Relay For Life is an annual nationwide event, organized by the American Cancer Society, hosted in communities across the country to help raise funds and awareness for cancer by honoring survivors who overcame the disease and remembering loved ones who unfortunately lost the battle.

This year’s event in Winter Haven was hosted in the new South Central Park. Chris Hazelwood, Relay for Life Chair, was most impressed by the new venue, and commented about how it would serve as a great location for many future events. The new event space especially proved valuable for their event, which attracted hundreds of participants willing to march in the battle against cancer, she said.

“It is an amazing gathering,” she said. “Over the next several hours, we will be on a life-changing journey that will celebrate those that have battled cancer, remember those we have lost, renew your commitment to fight against this disease and end it once and for all.”

Deb Schulte, Relay For Life Co-Chair, participated with her own team from BayCare. She commented how her own organization helps cancer patients and their families by them the best medical care.

“We are here again in our backyard to deliver the highest standard of cancer care with the greatest out come and the best value for our customers,” she said. “We strive to put the need of our customers. We strive to put the need of our customers as best as we can possible…Thank you, and together we can make a difference.”

For more information about this year’s event, visit their website at: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR/RelayForLife/RFLCY19SER?pg=entry&fr_id=91358

Laws Of Fitness Celebrates Grand Opening With Ribbon Cutting

by James Coulter

Summer is right around the corner. Is your body ready for bathing suit season? Why not shape up your perfect beach bod by working out at Laws of Fitness?

Having recently opened their second location in Downtown Winter Haven earlier this January, Laws of Fitness provides personalized services from exercise equipment to classes, programs, and fitness and nutrition coaching to help meet all your workout needs.

Unlike most big box gyms, this locally-owned 24/7 fitness center offers a more personable experience, where even the owner himself knows you by name the minute you come in for your routine workout.

Within their small yet spacious setting, members can expect friendly, hospitable service where they don’t have to worry about finding a machine within an overcrowded enviroment. They can come right in, be greeted by one of the many trainers, and be serviced with a workout that’s right for them.

“The service that we provide, everyone gets put into a program, everyone [works out in] a family oriented place, and it is not [where] people are just a number: people come here, [and] I know them by their first name,” said Chris Law, Owner. “They can expect that we are going to keep it personable, and they will get the service that they can come to expect when they come into the door.”

Law himself has more than 20 years of fitness experience, having previously operated his original gym location along Recker Highway. He and his dedicated team of trainers bring with them a combined experience of 40 years, so gym members know that they have the right people with the right level of expertise assisting them, their website claims.

“At Laws of Fitness Downtown, we encourage healthy lifestyles beyond the walls of the gym,” their website states. “As a fitness center that inspires and uplifts our clients, we strive to offer personalized and life-enhancing experiences to our local community.”

Laws of Fitness opened their downtown location three months ago. Law was inspired to set up shop, not only because of the available space, but because of the bustling economic activity within the downtown area, thus providing much potential for a second location, he said.

The new fitness center recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on April 10 and an open house two days later on April 13. The past week alone has seen a spike in interest among potential gym members, with more than 75 new members joining, said Rachel Harris, Co-Owner.

Their success within the past three months has most likely been due to the gym’s overall hospitable atmosphere, where everyone feels welcome and where everyone can expect to find the right routine that is best for them and their fitness needs, as many testimonials on their website attest.

“The compassion Chris has for his clients is like no other,” the testimonial reads. “He goes above and beyond and genuinely cares about your well being. He motivates you and makes your goals achievable. Chris has made me love fitness. He has helped me reach my goals and has helped me tremendously in changing my lifestyle and loving it every step of the way.”

“I have been training with Chris for several years now and can attest to his desire to help others to be the best they can be when it comes to their physical condition,” another testimonial states.

With business having picked up since then, Law and his team are more than excited for what the future will hold. Expectations for the second location remain high, so much so that future expansions with other locations seem most likely.

“I am expecting to stay around, to grow on the equipment that we already have,” Law said. “I want to bring more equipment into the facility, but hopefully, I want to expand to future locations as well.”

Laws of Fitness is located in Downtown Winter Haven at 46 3rd St NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881, in between the parking garage and Central Tavern. For more information, call 863-875-3254, or visit their website at: https://www.lawsoffitness.net/