Florida Monthly April 2010

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VOLUME 30 ISSUE 4in this issue

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MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS ACROSS THE SUNSHINE STATEThroughout the state, hundreds of monuments and memorials can befound dotting the streets. Each commemorates an important, timeperiod, person or location that contributed to Florida’s vast heritage.

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f e a t u r e s

WATCHING WILDLIFEVisit Boca Ciega Millennium Park, learn about mangroves and createbeautiful landscapes on the waterfront.

FLORIDA FESTIVALS AND EVENTS46th Annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts Juried Festival &Competition, Walk MS, Brevard Art Museum’s Annual Fundraiser &Gala: Imagine VII, 2nd Annual Lower Keys Reggae Fest, 49th ApopkaArt & Foliage Festival, and much more are listed in this month’s calendar.

FLORIDA DINING GUIDEFrom barbecue to Italian, the state’s array of dining establishments offerfabulous Florida fare.

IN THE FLORIDA KITCHENCook up some summer squash with Chef Justin Timineri.

STATE OF MINEFlorida Book Reviews, This Month in Florida History

IN THE FLORIDA GARDENLearn how to grow beautiful cacti and succulents throughout the year.

NATURAL FLORIDARavine Gardens State Park attracts thousands of visitors a year andholds an abundance of beautiful foliage.

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REX BEACH: A NOVELIST WITH A GROWING PASSIONRex Beach found praise with his writing career but earned a greaterrecognition for his contributions to the state’s agricultural industry.

VANISHING FLORIDAMost of the popular citrus stands of yesteryear are gone, yet some stillweather the storm and continue to market fresh Florida fruits.

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38t r a v e l f l o r i d a h i g h w a y s ®

DISCOVER NORTHWEST FLORIDA’S GULF COAST…WALTON COUNTYFind the beach community that suits your style at the Beachesof South Walton.

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about the cover—

Lifeguards stand at attentionalong the beautiful Beachesof South Walton.

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4 florida monthly april 2010

i n s i d e f l o r i d a

florida monthly april 2010 5

(407) 816-9596 • www.floridamagazine.com___________________________________________________________Executive Editor/General Manager Kristen Cifers

[email protected] Manager Susan Hagler

[email protected]___________________________________________________________Assistant Managing Editor Lauren Gibaldi

[email protected] Editor Maria Orem

[email protected] Projects Manager George Lane

[email protected]/Research Editor Katie Harding

[email protected] Designers Valeria Crisafi

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Contributors James O. Born, Justin Timineri,Fred Dean, Sandy Rutland,Diane McDilda, Josie Gulliksen,Donna Singer, Michael Wisenbaker,Andy Boyd, Apryl Chapman-Thomas,Dr. Marina D’Abreau, Ethel Yari

Photographer Dennis Burns___________________________________________________________Circulation Manager Mary Lou Crane

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[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

National Sales National Country MarketThe Weiss Group__________________________________________________________

Publisher Doug [email protected]

Assistants to the Publisher Britney Cifers, Cristian Cifers___________________________________________________________FloridaMonthly Magazine ISSN 1535-7155 is published monthly by FloridaMedia,Inc., 999 Douglas Avenue, Suite 3301, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. Subscriptionsare $21.95 per year. Association membership rate is $7.98 per year in the ContinentalUS. Foreign rates are $67.95 per year. Copyright by Florida Media, Inc., 2010.Reproduction in part or whole without publisher’s written permission is prohibited.Periodicals postage paid at Altamonte Springs, Florida, and additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to 999 Douglas Avenue, Suite 3301,Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. USPS (0758-270).Proudly made in Florida using vegetable-based ink and post-consumer content paper.Florida Monthly incorporates the Guide to North Florida Living & Florida Living.

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Friends of FloridaState Parks, Inc.

raveling in cold weather has very little appeal to me. Needless to say,February andMarch were cold months this year. But, there were a coupleof events we couldn't miss and hope you didn't either.We attended the

Arcadia All Florida Championship Rodeo last month and the HoustonAstros- NewYorkYankees baseball game in Kissimmee. Interestingly, both eventshad sell-out crowds. SpringTraining is always a real treat andArcadia's rodeois as good as it gets.The challenge now is to find other things for entertainment,recreation and enjoyment.

Our writers and editors have some great stories, festivals & events, andheritage features for you in this issue and at www.floridamagazine.com.Florida has a rich history, which is documented across the state withmonuments and memorials. We thought you might find interest in someof these commemorative shrines.

If you were asked about Rex Beach, would you think of water gentlyrolling ashore? Or, would you think of an author who grew celery? AliceLuckhardt tells us the story of Rex Beach in this issue.

Chef Justin Timineri is "In The Florida Kitchen" this month cookingup some Florida squash; State of Mine has new book reviews for your Floridareading enjoyment;WatchingWildlife takes us to Boca Ciega Millennium Parkfor a lesson on Mangrroves and waterfront landscaping; and, this issue andwww.floridamagazine.com feature even more. By the way, the digital editionof Florida Monthly is 108 pages this month.

With more than 2,800 festivals & events this month, there is somethingof interest for every member of the family.So, turn the page or visit www.floridamagazine.com and enjoy Florida. It justdoesn't get any better than this.


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F L O R I D A F I S H AND W I L D L I F E C ON S E RVAT I ON COMM I S S I ON

Wild Places Boca Ciega Millennium Park

Ready for a springtime interlude?Pack a picnic lunch, binoculars and acamera and prepare to slip away fromthe bustle of urban life with a visit toBoca Ciega Millennium Park, a PinellasCounty gem located on Boca Ciega Bay.This hardworking 184-acre parkprotects mangrove-lined shoreline,cleanses and stores stormwater,provides wildlife habitat and viewingopportunities, and offers walking andbicycling trails, picnic facilities, fishingaccess to the bay, and a canoe launch.The park is a stop on the Great FloridaBirding Trail (floridabirdingtrail.org),and the bird list includes 171 species.

The variety of habitats within thepark creates outstanding scenic vistasand productive wildlife viewing. Mostvisitors head first to the boardwalksthat wind through the mangroves and anarrow fringe of coastal oak hammock.Climb the two-level, 35-foot-tallobservation tower that overlooks thebay and mangrove wetlands. The tidalshallows attract feeding and loafingbirds, including reddish egrets,wood storks and shorebirds. On theboardwalk, the shady oasis of oak andcedar is an ideal place for a slow, quietstroll with binoculars in hand and achance to see a host of migratingwarblers that may pause here duringtheir seasonal migrations.

From the park’s main road,numerous parking areas and picnic

shelters provide access to trails thatshowcase the ponds and areas of pinesand shrubby wetlands. The largerponds are located along the entranceroad. Pull into the first parking area andwalk or bicycle back to them along thepaved trail that parallels the road.Depending on the season, you mayspot coots, grebes, common moorhensand ducks, as well as great blue herons,great egrets, and congregations ofwhite ibis and wood storks. Keep yourdistance from these flocks to avoid

disturbing them. The ponds also hostalligators, turtles and the occasionalotter. While important for wildlife,these ponds help store and cleansestormwater before it enters the bay.

Paddlers can launch canoes andkayaks near the entrance to theboardwalks and observation tower.Depending on water levels, a shortportage may be necessary. For moreinformation, call (727) 582-2100 orvisit pinellascounty.org.

FWC


• Indigo buntings, grosbeaks,warblers, tanagers, orioles andthrushes begin returning toNorth America.

• Watch for hummingbirds atfeeders and on blooms ofcolumbine and buckeye.

• Common loons head north fromtheir Florida wintering grounds.

• Alligators begin moving about,seeking new territories and mates.

• Migratory warblers concentrateon coasts after cold fronts.

• Florida softshell turtles lay eggsnow through July.

• Carolina anoles breed.

April NaturalOccurrences

Mangroves are survivors, flourishingin a salty environment usually hostile towoody plants. Three species fringe theFlorida coastline—red, black andwhite—mostly south of Cedar Key onFlorida’s West Coast and south ofCape Canaveral on the East. A fourthspecies—buttonwood—is not a truemangrove, but often grows with thethree mangrove species in the higherelevation areas. Mangrove wetlands aremost concentrated in the Evergladesand Ten Thousand Islands regions ofSouth Florida.

Mangroves are more than justsurvivors. They protect and stabilize theshoreline from damagingwaves, currentsand winds, and they improve waterquality by filtering out pollutants.Mangrove wetlands function as feeding,breeding and nursery grounds for agreat variety of fish, shellfish, birds andother wildlife. About 95 percent of allcommercially important fish in SouthFlorida spend parts of their life cyclesin mangroves.

Historically, mangroves have beenremoved for development, ditched formosquito control and severely trimmedto provide coastal views. Mature

FWC

mangroves are the most threatenedmarine habitat in Florida. Mangrovesare protected by Florida’s “MangroveTrimming and PreservationAct.”If theygrow on your property, check with yourlocal county extension service orDepartment of Environmental Protectionoffice for regulations before you trim.

Species Spotlight Mangroves

MyFWC.com

If you’re lucky enough to own waterfront property in the state, you’re wellaware of the benefits and challenges of such a privilege. Here are a few tips to helpyou ensure that Florida’s fragile shorelines enjoy a long and healthy future:

Protect your native shoreline plants—Never remove or prune mangroves or othernative vegetation without first checking permits and guidelines.

Maintain a Florida-Friendly Yard—Learn how easy it is to create a beautifullandscape that thrives with minimal maintenance. Resources availableat Floridayards.org.

Reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Plan for a 10-30 foot buffer zone between your lawn and the shoreline. Keep thisa chemical-free zone and plant it with Florida natives.

Maintain your septic tank—Check for leaks and have the tank pumped out everythree to five years.

Remove invasive nonnative plants from your yard and shoreline.

In Your Own Backyard On the Waterfront


o u r f l o r i d a h e r i t a g e ®

n 1956, 48-year-old Kenneth Donaldson, educated andintelligent, told his elderly parents that someone tried

to poison him.Thinking he was insane, they had him arrested.No lawyer or doctor examined Donaldson while he sat in

the Pinellas County jail for five weeks. Nevertheless, the judgesent him to Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee for a fewweeks in order to get himmedication.Those few weeks lasted15 years.

Donaldson’s problems began when he was 35, marriedwith three children, and steadily accumulating family medicalbills. He worked in a GE defense plant in Syracuse.

When he increased his production on the job, the foremanwarned him not to create trouble with his union co-workers.It was then that Donaldson overheard his co-workers threatento beat him up.That evening he awoke from unconsciousness

in the parking lot.After that, Donaldson refused to go back tothe plant.

Believing someone put medicine in his food at a restaurant.he went to a doctor for blood tests. Results showed—inexplicably —that he had codeine in his blood.

His wife thought he was crazy, and committed him toMarcy Hospital in Syracuse. The doctors gave him 23electroshock treatments in four months and then let him go.The shocks temporarily destroyed his memory, and his wifesoon after divorced him.

For the next 13 years, Donaldson traveled around thecountry, working at different jobs. At the advice of TravelersAid, he took psychological and psychiatric tests at PhiladelphiaGeneral Hospital’s Psychiatric Clinic. Eight doctors gave hima clean bill of health.

InsaneAsylum

Sane in an

by Ethel YariBuilding with patients insecured terraces at FloridaState Hospital inChattahoochee, 1945photo courtesy Florida State Archives


Interior of Florida StateHospital dormitory,circa 1950s; photocourtesy Florida State Archives

His elderly parents wrote, asking him to do some workon their trailer home in Largo.While visiting them, he startedwriting a book about his experiences. His mention of beingpoisoned led to his commitment to Chattahoochee onDecember 10, 1956.

Florida’s first mental hospital opened its doors in 1876,as the Asylum for the Insane.The building in Chattahoocheehad been an arsenal during the second Seminole War, andturned into a prison two years later.When officials moved theprison to Raiford, the state converted the antiquated structureinto an insane asylum.

For 71 years, it was Florida’s only hospital for the insane.Violent criminals convicted for rape and murder sharedcrowded wards with innocent inmates. Juvenile delinquents,psychopaths, homosexuals and child molesters all werebunched together without regard for age or mental condition.Beds were so close together that patients had to scrapesideways between the rows to reach their own.

There were few trained nurses, and patients seldom saw aphysician. In one section,only twodoctors cared for 1,000 patients.

Many hospital attendants were illiterate and afraid oflosing their jobs. They knew little about first-aid or caringfor the sick. At Chattahoochee, their only responsibility wasto control patients’behavior.

Each ward held between 89 and 180 inmates, withone person in charge. To control the patients, attendants gavethem massive doses of medication, put them in straitjacketsor solitary, or beat them. The attendants teased the patientsand stole their packages and letters, as well as any moneyenclosed inside them.

Guards used smaller wards or the linen closet to crackskulls and break arms.They choked several patients to death.

When questioned, the guilty attendant’s alibi was that thepatient was violent.

Once committed, staff psychiatrist doctor J. B. O’Connordiagnosed Donaldson as schizophrenic and paranoid, thengave him electroshock treatments. Donaldson gave O’Connorthe four-page report from Philadelphia, saying he was in goodmental health, but the doctor was not interested.

Donaldson started writing letters to theAttorney General,governor, Florida Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court andnewspapers, exposing the hospital’s conditions.He wrote shortstories and worked on his book, writing on brown newspaperwrappers, torn and folded to size.A Saturday Evening Post editorexpressed interest in publishing excerpts prior to publication.

Hoping to spark fear, Donaldson once told O’Connorabout his book.“You’re not sick,”admitted the doctor.O’Connoroffered to transfer him out of state, if he had a friend whowould closely supervise him.Donaldson turned down the offer.He wanted unconditional freedom; he was sane and believedin American justice.

In 1957, Donaldson told an attendant, Dr. Adair, that hewas not sick and refused to take medicine.When told that hismother wanted him to have more electroshocks, Donaldsonprotested. He had a choice, said Adair: electroshocks or theGeneral Wards. Donaldson chose the latter.

The attendant led him up 50 feet of rickety stairs, througha screen door to a windowless area, then up one step to thesplintered floors of the White Males General Ward. Bent andshriveled men milled around aimlessly.

At noon every day, a hundred patients jammed down theswaying stairs. Men who fell were beaten and kicked. Oncein the cafeteria, 1,100 men sat on benches at long woodentables. Guards yelled at one another and cursed the patients,


occasionally rapping one on the head with an aluminumpitcher.At the serving table, huge spots of mold went throughseveral slices of bread.The elderly patient who, with uncleanhands, cut and served the butter, came from the tuberculosisward. The menu sent to Tallahassee said roast beef, howeverthey ate waxy, bad-smelling gravy with bits of bone 10 timesa week.

Donaldson’s bed was in a locked room in the middle of60 beds all squeezed together,with a view of the shockmachinenext door.

His typical two-minute visit with a staff doctor wouldconsist of three questions:“What ward are you in?”“Are youtaking any medications?”“Are you working someplace?”Thatwas all.

He sneaked letters through the grapevine to friends,relatives and former employers, begging for help.An old collegefriend, John Lembcke, a certified public accountant in NewYork, said he would try to get him out. When actions weremade, O’Connor told Lembcke that Donaldson had severeloss of mental capacity and needed more treatment.

Newspapers and magazines he subscribed to came to himweeks late, well thumbed and spotted with grease and crumbs.When Donaldson reacted angrily, the doctors interpretedhis anger as“schizophrenia.”

Chattahoochee deducted $80 for his maintenance fromDonaldson’s $101 monthly Social Security check.

In the ward, guards keptdisturbed men awake allnight, withheld theirmedication, revealedcontents of letters theynever received, and threwchicken and bread on thefloor, which patients had topick up or go hungry. Somedied of starvation; others,from infected bedsores.

Donaldson wrote petitions on behalf of other inmates aswell as his own. Many patients were released as a result.Hospital staff evaluated only five or six patients a year, andabout half passed. For two years, Donaldson did not see apsychologist. When he finally did see one, Donaldson askedthe doctor to name one way in which he was sick.“I can’t,”thephysician, Dr. Char—who did not have a medicaldegree—simply replied.

Dr. Char’s report stated, “Just because he ate well, sleepgood, is not violent, he believes he should be released.”

In time, court officials answered Donaldson’s letters, withoffers to help. Doctors read the offers and responded to thecourts with fraudulent statements, such as: “This man isdangerous. If you let him out, we will not be responsible.”

The courts never questioned the doctors’ judgment.Donaldson was expectant when his parents came to visit,

asking if they’ll sign him out. “Oh, we can’t do that,”saidhis father. “He says you need … more shock treatments.”

As the days wore on, there were small improvementsin the hospital. TVs were installed that had been lying in awarehouse for a year. Entertained by the TVs, the attendantsstopped agitating the patients.

After two years, Donaldson was allowed to go outdoors,and with his first breath of fresh air he tried to escape.Takingsome money he had saved, he ran into the woods. As hehitchhiked along the highway, the hospital wagon picked himup and returned him to Chattahoochee.

He worked as a houseman in Ward 9, where the noises,smells and confusion were overpowering. Patients dirtiedthemselves and their beds daily, while attendants scrubbedpatients with floor brooms.

Attendants and patients had easy access to any kind ofpills or antidepressants. It was easy to keep inmates undercontrol—attendants simply put anti-psychotics into their foodin the mess hall.At the steam table, where trays moved on theinside, a server could drop powder in food.Aides could spikebeverages in the back room.

Donaldson kept powdered milk andPostum in containers near his bed. Whenhe was not present, an attendant would

sometimes mix medicine into hiscontainers. From this, he experiencedmany side effects, such as high fever,swollen glands that would eventually

shrink tight, swelled breasts, shortness ofbreath and pain under the breastbone.

In 1959, an Arizona lawyer Donaldson had contacted,wrote:“I have been trying to reach you for a year. I receivedeach of your numbered letters, but I know that you did not getmy replies. I must advise you … get a lawyer down there.”

A facility doctor, John Gumanis, wrote back: “…patientstill delusional and paranoid...refuses to take any type ofmedication…judgment and insight grossly impaired…. Hesays he wrote a book and sent it to the Saturday Evening Post.Psychological tests suggest he is actively psychotic.… Continuecustodial care.”

A New Jersey Congressman tried to get Donaldsontransferred. Doctors rejected the idea, repeating:“schizophrenic... potentially dangerous to others.”

Donaldson and another inmate collected signedstatements from each patient who had been tortured and sentthem to the governor, hoping to have Chattahoocheeinvestigated. They bombarded the Tampa Tribune with theirletters. A reporter visited a ward and wrote of“the stenchof urine,”the lack of equipment, and the shortage of nurses.Yet, nothing was done.


After reading an article about inmates held unjustly in mentalprisons published in The NewYorkTimes by Brooklyn attorneyDr. Morton Birnbaum, Donaldson wrote him asking for help.Birnbaum advised him to apply for a writ of habeas corpus tothe Florida Supreme Court.

In 1960, Dr. O’Connor answered the court: “he has amental disorder… chronic… very severe… delusional contentcontinues. Two doctors and a deputy sheriff examinedDonaldson physically and mentally in the Pinellas County jail.They found him to be schizophrenic, paranoiac and possiblydangerous to the people of the state.”

O’Connor’s answers were the basis for 15 court rejectionsof Donaldson’s case. His hospital file grew thicker and thicker.

Not giving up, Donaldson hired a Miami lawyer. In 1963,the lawyer wrote: “You told me you did not have an attorney,and were not examined by a doctor before you werecommitted.…The state’s brief says the opposite.”He withdrewfrom the case.

The State investigated Donaldson’s claim of out-of-statecitizenship by asking the hospital to conduct the investigation.Hospital staff answered: ”He has been a resident of Florida forfour years.…Hewill require hospital care for an indefinite time.”

In 1965, Dr. Gumanis wrote:“No changes in his mentalcondition. He spends most of his time writing to prominentindividuals, courts and attorneys. His writs have been denied.He is writing a book about his experiences. He says he wasillegally committed. He remains mentally ill and mentallyincompetent. His release …. is not recommended.”

Criminals were released more readily.One man had killedfive of his girlfriend’s relatives and then had given himself up.After his family hired a third lawyer, O’Connor and Gumanisdischarged him.

After Donaldson’s 12 petition to the courts, with copiesto lawyers interested in his case, only Brooklyn attorney Dr.Morton Birnbaum responded.At the time,Birnbaum representeda man who had been locked up for 20 years.With Donaldson’sapproval, Birnbaum would work both cases together.

A reporter for the St.PetersburgTimes spent two hours withO’Connor, then interviewed Donaldson.Two weeks later, thereporter said he could not print the story until he had evidenceof what happened in the Philadelphia clinic. For the previoussix years, Donaldson had been trying unsuccessfully to get hismedical records from Philadelphia.

Donaldson’s friend John Lembcke asked O’Connor totransfer him to NewYork; Lembcke had a job for him in hisoffice. Gumanis said Donaldson would first have to pass staffevaluation. Knowing how the staff evaluated him during theprevious nine years, Donaldson refused.“They let lots of otherguys go out of state without staff,”he said. “O’Connor saysit’s up to Gumanis. Gumanis says it’s up to O’Connor. I won’ttry it again,”Donaldson decided.

(Later, Lembcke would say that“The hospital thought[Donaldson] was dangerous, because he would write and saythings about them after his discharge.”)

In 1966, his mother wrote him, saying that they wouldsign the papers for his release. Nothing happened.


Dr. Haneson, sole doctor for 1,350 patients, conductedDonaldson’s two-minute interview.“What day is this? I seeyou are nervous. I will put you on a maintenance dose ofmedication.What do you prefer—liquid, tablets or the needle?”

Donaldson was forced to take a 50-mg tablet ofThorazinethree times a day. When he tried to spit it out, the aidethreatened him with the needle.After three days, purple ringscovered his eyes and a spot on his nostril. He went to sickbay,and they discontinued the medicine.

Several days later, the doctor put him on Mellaril. Hisreactions included a fever, pounding in the ears, numbnessaround his head, tiredness and an inability to sleep at night.Three days later, the doctor stopped the medication.

In July 1967, after the U.S. District Court and the U.S.Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit turned down attorneyBirnbaum’s petitions, he appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Birnbaum suggested Donaldson write an article for theGeorgetown Law Journal on what a right to treatment wouldhave meant to him and his fellow inmates during the past11 years. The Journal published his article.

Birnbaum asked for $100,000 in damages from the hospitaldoctors. The American Civil Liberties Union joined the casein a class-action suit.

In 1971,O’Connor and Gumanis, anticipating legal action,released Kenneth Donaldson, now 63. His parents had died,but he was reunited with his children and grandchildren. Ittook two years of eating fresh vegetables, lean meat, wheatgerm, yogurt, and massive doses of vitamins to regain hisphysical health.

In 1974, the United States Supreme Court consideredhis case. O’Connor testified that Donaldson had nevercommitted any dangerous acts toward others, was neversuicidal or susceptible to injuring himself. No evidence wassubmitted that he had ever been dangerous in his entire life.

On June 26, 1975, by a vote of 9 to 0, the U.S. SupremeCourt ruled in a landmark decision: ”O’Connor violatedDonaldson’s constitutional right to freedom.” A courtjury awarded him $22,000 against O’Connor and $16,500against Gumanis.

In 1959, Florida State Hospital held 6,689 patients, andtoday it holds 1,042. Just two of the original buildings havesurvived. In recent years, the hospital received nationalrecognition in 2000 for “Excellence in Healthcare RiskManagement,”plus numerous other awards.

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Insider’s Guide: Key West in YourPocket: Your Guide to an Hour, aDay, or a Weekend in Key WestBy Nancy Toppino120 pages, $10.95 hardcoverThis pocket-sized guide to Key West is perfect forsomeone who’s never been. Two small pop-up mapsare included at the beginning and end of the bookto help visitors get around without lugging arounda large resource. Learn about accommodations,restaurants, attractions, outdoor recreation, arts andculture, nightlife and entertainment, and more. Eachlisting includes the venue’s address, phone number,brief overview and price range. Beautiful picturesare included to get any traveler ready for the KeyWest lifestyle.

Globetrotter Travel Pack - Florida:Including Walt Disney WorldBy Liz Booth128 pages, $14.95 softcoverFor those who’ve never been to Florida before,or those wishing to discover more of it,Globetrotter Travel Pack – Florida: Including WaltDisney World is an excellent book. Providingdetailed information on every county, includingpopular museums, attractions, restaurants, hotelsand more, it’ll help every traveler find their wayaround. A large, detailed, full-color map isincluded, as well as small maps at the beginningof each county’s chapter. Additional helpful tidbitsinclude advice such as best times to visit, how toget to each county, how to get around, usefulcontacts and more. Information encompassesevery county, every city. An essential guide for aany traveler.

April 5, 1894The Melbourne Times was founded.

April 7, 1973The last of 348 flights bringing refugeesfrom Cuba landed in Miami.

April 16, 1934Jacksonville University was founded.

April 20, 1929More than 2,000 alligator hides wereshipped north from Arcadia. The hides,selling for $2.50 each, will bemanufactured into shoes, belts, and purses.

April 22, 1880Ormond Beach was incorporated.

April 28, 1917Flagler County was created by the FloridaLegislature. The county is named in honorof railroad entrepreneur Henry Flagler.

Florida Gardening on the GoBy Lynette L. Walther183 pages, $22.95 softcoverThe perfect book for busy gardeners, Florida Gardeningon the Go offers tested techniques that’ll help any gardenlook its best. Utilizing her background in gardening,Lynette L. Walther offers this time-saving gardening guideto anyone who’s ever wanted to create a beautifullandscape, but lacks time, space or expertise. Each pageoffers tips and tricks, photographs, and detailedinformation on the plants and gardening conditions.There’s also a guide listing which plants are best to planteach month, as well as techniques to try throughoutthe year. Learn how to make a decorative window box,pick plants that attract butterflies, and even learn howto garden with children. Full color photographs areincluded, as well as a detailed glossary and list ofgardening associations.

Thunder on the River: The Civil War inNortheast FloridaBy Daniel L. Schafer348 pages, $29.95 hardcoverThunder on the River highlights the city of Jacksonville,as well as its fast surrounding countryside, during thetumultuous Civil War. Chronologically narrating thestory of the war, along with its impact on the area,the book transverses time, going from the MissouriCompromise to Reconstruction, and detailing how theresidents, both white and black—as well as supportersof the Union and the Confederate—dealt with theongoing onslaught and opposition. This fast-pacednarrative provides an inclusive look at the time period,showing how the war effected not only the city, butits residents. Schafer provides a detailed account,noting the dynamics of race and culture, as well asthe importance of this often captured, extremelycontested city.

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To Order, Call toll-free 1-888-352-5484 or go to www.floridabookstore.comMajor Credit Cards, Checks and Money Orders Accepted • (Shipping & handling charges $6.00 per book. Florida Residents, please add 7% sales tax.

Please allow 1-3 weeks for delivery.) Florida Media, Inc. • 999 Douglas Avenue Suite 3301 • Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

Guy LaBree: Barefoot Artist of theFlorida SeminolesBy Carol Mahler178 pages, $34.95 hardcoverIn her new book, Carol Mahler tells the story of GuyLaBree, the man who came to be known as A Bosh Che-Will A Tee Chee, or The Barefoot Artist of the Seminoles.LaBree, growing up in the 1940s, lived near the Dania(now Hollywood) reservation, where many SeminoleTribe members lived. A friendship started, but it wasn’tuntil the 1970s when that friendship became apartnership. Encouraged by his former classmates, hestarted to produce beautiful paintings, as a way ofcreating a permanent representation for futuregenerations, depicting notable teachings about theSeminole culture, customs, history and more. Today, twoof his images hang in the Smithsonian Institution’sNational Museum of the American Indian. Mahler’s booktells the story behind the artist and includes 42 selectionsof his more than 1,000 beautiful paintings. 5643

Great Year-Round Grilling in theSoutheast: The Flavors * The CulinaryTraditions * The TechniquesBy Ellen Brown134 pages, $19.95 softcoverWhat’s better than grilling, Ellen Brown asks in her newcookbook, which celebrates America’s favorite pastime.The book provides more than 100 recipes to try, includingeverything from main courses to deserts, and 50 beautifulimages that’ll wet anyone’s appetite. There are traditionalregional recipes, as well as international specialties, allfor the grill. Easy-to-follow recipes and step-by-step hintsand techniques fill the pages, providing excellent grillinginformation. Brown makes grilling easy with her new,complete and concise cookbook.

5644


FloridaArchaeology Month

As a way to encourage residents and visitors to learn about therich history and prehistory of the state, and to preserve Florida's

cultural resources every March is consideredFlorida Archaeology Month. This year’s celebration offers plenty

of things to see and do across the state.The focus for this year’s celebration is Indian Mound sites - largehills containing soil, rock, shells, bones and other materials. They

were used at one time for spiritual rituals and ceremonies.For more information on the events or locations, visit

www.flpublicarchaeology.org.

NORTHWEST REGIONTHINGS TO DO—March 5: Public Lecture, "Civil War Earthen Fortifications inFlorida: An Archaeologist's Perspective." Bay County PublicLibrary, Panama CityMarch 27: Celebration Event: Help celebrate FloridaArchaeologyMonth, bring the whole family out to experiencehands-on activities, participate in rough sorting of artifacts,explore Destination Archaeology!, and much more. 207 EastMain Street, Pensacola

PLACE TO SEE—Fort Walton Temple Mound

Built as a ceremonial and political center between 800-1400 AD, the Fort Walton Temple Mound stands 12 feet talland measures 223 feet across its base. An estimated 200,000basket loads of earth were used to create this earthenstructure.The IndianTemple MoundMuseum, located besidethe mound, houses interpretative exhibits depicting 12,000years of Native American occupation. Over 6,000 artifacts ofstone, bone, clay, and shell are displayed, as well as one of the

finest collections of prehistoric ceramics in the SoutheasternUnited States. Additional exhibits include artifacts fromEuropean explorers, Civil War soldiers, and early settlers ofNorthwest Florida. Fort Walton Beach. (850) 833-9595www.fwb.org/index.php/museums/577.html

NORTH CENTRAL REGIONPLACE TO SEE—Lake Jackson Mounds

The site is a large ceremonial center dating back to theFort Walton period of Florida's history (1200-1500 A.D.)and is composed of six earthen temple mounds. A societythat could develop a site of this type is believed to have hada well-organized political system with tribal leaders residingin regional centers like the Lake Jackson site. The remainsof important tribal members have been found at thesite with a rich array of burial objects, including elaborateitems such as copper breast plates, shell beaded necklaces,bracelets, anklets and cloaks still in place. These exoticartifacts indicate religious and trading ties with otherlarge, pre-historic Indian ceremonial centers in the



southeastern United States. Tallahassee. (850) 922-6007www.floridastateparks.org/lakejacksonmounds/default.cfm

NORTHEAST REGIONTHINGS TO DO—March 17 to March 20: Northeast Florida Symposium onMaritimeArchaeology. St.Augustine Lighthouse &MuseumMarch 21-22:AWalk Back inTime. FloridaAgriculturalMuseum

PLACE TO SEE—Turtle Mound

Turtle Mound is the highest shell midden in the nation.This two-acre site contains over 35,000 cubic yards of oystershell, extends more than six hundred feet along the IndianRiver shoreline, and stands about fifty feet tall.Visible for milesoffshore, the mound has been used as a navigationallandmark since the early days of Spanish exploration.

In 1605, Spanish explorer Alvaro Mexia visited the site,called Surruque, and reported natives launching their dugoutcanoes at the mound's base.Over the years, this huge featurebegan to take the form of a turtle--hence its name.

Today, the National Park Service offers a fun andeducational boardwalk to the top of Turtle Mound, withinterpretive signs along the way. From the peak, visitorscan see the great estuaries used by native people duringthe late-St. Johns period. The panoramic view of theAtlantic Ocean,Merritt Island, the Indian River, andMosquitoLagoon is spectacular, and one which was surely enjoyedby the prehistoric inhabitants of the area. Titusville.www.volusia.org/history/richpast.htm

CENTRAL REGIONTHINGS TO DO—March 26: Moon Over the Mounds. Crystal RiverArchaeological State ParkApril 23-25: Crystal River Boat Bash: Small TraditionalWooden Boat Building and Sailing, Civil War-themed event,including reenactors, traditional boating craft from thearea, and educational booths. Crystal River Preserve State Park

PLACE TO SEE—Crystal River Preserve State Park

This pre-Columbian, Native American site has burialmounds, temple/platform mounds, a plaza area, and asubstantial midden. The six-mound complex is one of thelongest continuously occupied sites in Florida. For 1,600 years,the site served as an imposing ceremonial center for NativeAmericans. People traveled to the complex from greatdistances to bury their dead and conduct trade. It is estimatedthat as many as 7,500 Native Americans may have visited thecomplex every year. Crystal River. (352) 795-3817www.floridastateparks.org/crystalriver/default.cfm

EAST CENTRAL REGIONPLACE TO SEE—Jupiter Inlet Historic & ArchaeologicalSite & Dubois Park

Dubois Park contains the remains of a village and shellmidden occupied by the Jobe and their predecessors from

1,000 years ago. Jonathan Dickinson, a Quaker merchantwhose family and crew were shipwrecked in 1696, is thoughtto have been held captive at this site. Jupiter. (561) 747-8380.www.lrhs.org

WEST CENTRAL REGIONPLACE TO SEE—Madira Bickel Mounds

The first in Florida to be designated a StateArchaeological Site, Karl and Madira Bickel donatedthe mound and surrounding property to the state in 1948.The flat-topped ceremonial mound is composed of sand,shell, and ephemeral footprints, some of which date back2,000 years. Climb the mound to its top and see the manynative trees and bushes. Or, cruise the sideways and bywaysof the serene island and view the mixture of charminghistoric and vinyl-sided houses. Ellenton. (941) 723-4536www.floridastateparks.org/madirabickelmound/

SOUTHEAST REGIONTHINGS TO DO—March 13: Archaeology Day. Anne Kolb Nature Center.April 25: Passport to the Past - Talks and activities about thehistory and prehistory of Florida. Gumbo Limbo

PLACE TO SEE—Indian Mound Park

Located within this small park overlooking theIntracoastal waterway is a prehistoric Native American burialmound. The mound has a well-marked trail with informativesignage relating to the NativeAmerican occupation of the site.In the 1930s and 40s, many professional and amateurarchaeological investigations took place here. Through theseinvestigations, archaeologists determined that the mound wasconstructed around the year 1300 A.D. as a place forceremonial burials. It is thought that the builders of themoundwere ancestors of a tribe known as the Tequesta Indians.

The Tequesta built the mound by carrying baskets ofsand from the beach back to this site. Before burial, thebodies of the Tequesta dead were taken to a special houseand allowed to decompose. The bones were then cleaned,bundled together, and taken to the mound to be buried.The mound is about 16 feet high. A walking path windsthrough the park and up to the very top of the mound,allowing guests to stand where the Tequesta did nearlya thousand years ago. Pompano Beach. (954) 786-4111www.mypompanobeach.org/history/index.html

SOUTHWEST REGIONPLACE TO SEE—Mound House

Experience old Florida at Mound House, where EsteroIsland's oldest standing structure sits atop an ancientCalusa Indian Mound. Through archaeology and history,2,000 years of island life are revealed in a variety of toursand educational programs. Fort Myers Beach. (239) 765-0865.www.moundhouse.org



The city of Umatilla will celebrate the annual Florida Black BearFestival Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The focus of this event is to celebrate this Florida icon, but moreimportantly to inform residents and community leaders how to livein bear country. Exhibits will feature a variety of information foradults and children. Hear experts talk about bear behavior, whatbears like to eat, what to do if when encountering a bear and otherexciting information.

Visitors also have the opportunity to experience a black bear’snatural habitat by taking guided field trips into theOcalaNational Forest.

Hands on activities for children also will be a part of this fun,educational day. Activities include a scavenger hunt,plaster castmaking,arts and crafts, a circle of life bear activity, andmuchmore.The Florida Black Bear Festival is presented through a partnership ofthe City of Umatilla, Umatilla Chamber of Commerce, Defenders ofWildlife, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission andthe United States Forest Service.

Umatilla is located in Lake County on SR-19, just south of theOcala National Forest.

For more information about the festival please visitwww.umatillachamber.org/BlackBearFest.

FloridaBLACK BEAR Festival


By Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

This past May, the Central Florida Zoo opened up a new area oftheir facility. The Zoom Air adventure park lets children and adultssee the park from the animals’ point of view. As the state’s mostunique eco-adventure, Zoom Air lets families enjoy an aerial lookwhile swinging and zipping among the trees.

Now, the park has added a new feature: Zoom Air AdventureAfter Dark.This nocturnal adventures lets guests enjoy the ZoomAiradventures at night time, right under the moonlight.

Guests may participate in either Moon ZOOms or Night Flights.Moon ZOOms occur on nights when a full moon is present and thereis no minimum amount of participants. Starting at 6 p.m., it will runMarch 28-30, April 27-29 and May 26-28. Night Flights are arrangedevery night for groups of eight or more from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.Reservations at least two days in advance are required. Both activitiescost $45 plus tax. In order to participate, guests must be 54”tall.

For those who are under the height limit, there are nighttimeexcursionson thekids courses aswell.Aminimumof six people is neededto participate and the cost is $25 per child. Adults must accompanychildren.Training and equipment is provided before each escapade.

Moon ZOOms and Night Flights are a great way to bring out theadventure seeker in everyone. Scale through the trees and participatein numerous games, hopping off podiums and bridges. Fly highoverhead and feel just like the birds in the sky. Just don’t look down.

For more information, call (407) 330-0767 or visitwww.zoomair.us. Zoom Air is located within the Central FloridaZoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford.

Throughthe Air

By Lauren Gibaldi

Disney Asks

“What Will YouCelebrate?”

Disney is all about celebration, as their latest venture,“Give a Day, Get a DisneyDay”has already taken off and the reception has been enormous. The program issimple—Disney wishes to inspire one million people to volunteer for a day ofcommunity service.Their reward? One free pass to a Disney theme park of their choice.

Going to any of the Disney theme parks is always a celebration, which is whythey ask“What will you celebrate?”Currently, Disney is celebrating the hard work ofvolunteers across the country. To participate in the program, sign up at the Disneywebsite and pick a participating HandsOn volunteer program. After completing theday, volunteers can print a voucher redeemable for a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket, orthey may donate the ticket to a charitable organization. In the six weeks the programhas been running, already 600,000 people have committed to volunteering.

The past two days, Disney has been celebrating some these volunteers.Yesterday,they invited volunteers from each state to Epcot,where theywere greetedwith animatedapplause. Walt Disney World Ambassador Clay Shoemaker welcomed them, andinformed the crowd of an exciting surprise. Behind stacked balloons, the largest sculpture(as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records) made solely of canned food waswaiting. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host, Ty Pennington, revealed the dazzlingdisplay of 115,000 cans of food, enough to create 70,000 meals. For the rest of the day,volunteers, as well as notable celebrities, such as fresh Disney faces like Joe Jonas andDemi Lovato, helped plant trees and pack the canned food in trucks in order for it to bedistributed to shelters. Representatives Kermit the Frog andMiss Piggy led the brigade.

Disney doesn’t stop there; they have quite a bit more up their sleeves.Aside fromtheir volunteer program, the year 2010 will bring a lot of excitement to the Orlandotheme parks and resorts.New attractions, such as theAmerican Idol Experience—whereguests can compete to audition for the TV show American Idol by singing to thecrowd—andThe Hall of Presidents featuring Barack Obama have been well received.

This summer, the parks will feature Summer Nighttastic!, which will bring backthe ever popular Main Street Electrical Parade, premier a new fireworks spectacular,and add special effects and new elevator drops to theTower ofTerror.Most excitingly,the largest renovation inWalt DisneyWorld will happen in Fantasyland,where they’readding a princess village, allowing kids to visit and interact with their favorite DisneyPrincesses, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Ariel. The famed Dumboride will also be expanded, having two tracks and an indoor circus where thosewaiting can engage in carnival games.

Aside from that, there will be new places to stay within the Disney resorts thisyear, including treehouse villas at Saratoga Springs Resort, and new places to eat,such as Kouzzina at Disney’s Boardwalk, specializing in Mediterranean dishes. Twonew cruises will come in the following years, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.Modeled after an early 1900s ocean liner, the cruise ships will host all of the favoriteattractions, but add virtual portholes to inside rooms, interactive kids rooms, and newrestaurants. The Disney Dream will have the Aquaduck water coaster, a clear tubewater slide that will actually veer off the boat, so those sliding can see the water downbelow as they zip around a corner. At their island, Castaway Key, there will now berental cabanas and the Pelican Plunge water park.

Disney offers a lot of reasons to celebrate this year.Whether it’s a birthday (whenthose celebrating get in free) or a volunteer effort, there’s always a reason to visit aDisney theme park.



On the north side of the state,nestled between Hamilton andJefferson, sits Madison County—a little town with a lot to offer.With natural springs and plentyof walking trails, the area isquaint and comfortable, aperfect nook in the Panhandle.

by Lauren Gibaldi

HISTORYFounded in 1827, Madison County was named in honor

of the founding father James Madison. At that time, beforeFlorida was admitted to the Union, it was considered the state’slargest county. Originally extending from the Aucilla Riverto the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers, as well as fromthe Georgia border to the Gulf of Mexico, it has since thengiven up land, which is now Taylor, Lafayette and Dixiecounties. Land surrender aside, it still holds 716 square milesof roads, forests, rivers and lakes.

Not to be confused, the city of Madison’s namesakeis quite different. Named after Madison C. Livingston,who donated the first block of land to create the city onMay 2, 1838, the name is still a remembrance of the city’s past.Livingston Street navigates throughMadison’s Historic District.

Designated as one of the“Best Little Towns in Florida,”Madison is home to North Florida Community College andan out-campus for St. Leo University. The downtown districtoffers independently owned gift shops, bed & breakfasts,antique stores, art galleries, and local eateries. The buildingsare roughly 150 to 200 years old, each complete with its ownstory, its own history.

Aside fromMadison,many other small cities make up thecounty, including Greenville and Lee (nicknamed“Little, ButProud”), which each have less than 1,000 residents.The home-grown, old Florida feel resonates through the remaining citiesof Pinetta, Cherry Lake,Hamburg, Lovett, NewHome, Sirmansand Eridu.Although some towns have faded away with time,small reminders are strewn about. Old cemeteries, churchesand houses, markers from the late 1600s and early 1700s,can still be seen.

t r a v e l f l o r i d a h i g h w a y s . . . t o M a d i s o n C o u n t y


NATUREMadison Blue Springs State Park,

sitting alongside the west bank of theWithlacoochee River, offers scenicwoodlands, plenty of fishing and crystalclear waters for swimming.Ten miles eastof Madison, it’s a first-magnitude springand has opportunities for picnicking,canoeing, wildlife viewing and cave divingthroughout the underwater caves.

Cherry Lake has 600 acres ofclear water in which to paddle, water-ski,knee-board, swim or sail.There are amplefishing opportunities, with a plethora oflargemouth bass.The country park sits onthe side, offering restrooms, picnic tablesand a boat ramp.

Boaters can find ramps alongside mostof Madison’s rivers. The Aucilla,Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers allwind along the county, creating a delicateweb of water.

Each summer, children are invited to4-H Camp Cherry Lake for summer campactivities. Children can expect to enjoymeals, make friends, participate in games,engage in a variety of hands-on activities,spend time in the water, learn about natureand the environment,watch wildlife, createa variety of crafts, and more. It’s anexcellent opportunity to encourage growthand leadership. Aside from acting as asummer camp retreat, 4-H Camp CherryLake is open year round for school fieldtrips, retreats, reunions,meetings, trainings,weddings and more. Among the live oaktrees and the rustic cabins is an open-airpavilion and dining hall.

WHERE TO STAYAs one of the most popular camping

grounds, Madison’s Jellystone Park offersguests an exciting and different way toexperience nature, as well as the town.ThisRV park and campground lets guests getback to the basics, with campgrounds andcottages (both rustic and deluxe) available.Camping is extremely affordable, and thereare plenty amenities available to keep thewhole family happy, including a waterslide,miniature golf, paddle boats, kayaks anda skateboarding area. There are themedweekends (March’s being Spring Break atJellystone Park Camp-Resort) and plentyof opportunities to meetYogi Bear himself.Jellystone is a beautiful park that letsfamilies enjoy nature in a safe and fun way.

If camping doesn’t sound enticing,there are plenty of traditional hotels andmotels, as well as classic bed & breakfastsin QueenAnneVictorian houses.These oldmanors offer Southern hospitality and aquaint place to rest.

With plenty of places to shop,

an entire historic district and

nature quite literally all around,

Madison County is a wonderful

place to visit or live. It’s a little bit

of home and, as they say, its

“attraction is only natural.”

For more information about MadisonCounty, visit www.madisonfl.org or call(850) 973-2788 or (877) 272-3642.

t r a v e l f l o r i d a h i g h w a y s . . . t o L e v y C o u n t y

Canoe &Kayak Race

The

by Lauren Gibaldi


very April citizens of Levy Countycome together for the annual WildHog Canoe & Kayak Race. Now in

its 33rd year, the event welcomes anyonewilling to paddle their way down theWaccasassa River, over obstacles big andsmall—all in the name of charity.

The event was originally started in 1977by local contractor Frank Couch and his wife.Every April they, along with their friends,would race 15 miles down the WaccassassaRiver in canoes, finishing it off with abarbeque on the banks of the river.As word



spread, participation grew. By 1982, theevent started to garner a profit, so thedecision was made to donate all fundsto a local organization.After little debate,the Levy Association for RetardedCitizens (LARC) became the chosencharity, and the group has receivingdonations every year since.

LARC was started in 1976. Thegroup strives to provide programs andservices for the mentally ill to help themsustain a healthy lifestyle, as well asachieve their goals and realize theirstrengths. Last year, the event donated$10,500, earned through registrationfees, sponsorships, raffles, donations andfood sales.This year, the event organizershope to provide more.

Although the race originally justfeatured canoes, eventually kayaks wereincorporated, as well as classes for thosewilling to learn about the aquaticactivities.Today, theWild Hog Canoe &Kayak Race features six canoe classesand two kayak classes.

The challenge starts onApril 17,whenparticipants arrive at theWaccassassaRiverBridge, twomiles east ofOtter Creek.Thecourse is long and hard, but challengingand thrilling all in one.

“The Wild Hog Canoe & KayakRace is not for the faint of heart,”saidToni Collins, member of the LARCBoard of Directors.“The course of theriver bends and cuts back as it windsthrough rocks, high banks and over

downed trees. If the weather has been dry for several weeks priorto the race, participants can expect to do a lot of portaging. Someyears the weather has been so wet, the canoes and kayaks literallyskim over the obstacles in the riverbed.”

U.S.19/98, twomilesnorthofGulfHammock,marks the finish line,where spectators cheering for their favorite participant will be waiting.A celebration is also thrown, featuring food,music and entertainment.Awards, a shortened version of a paddle and bragging rights are givento the first, second- and third-place winners in each category.

The Bronson AMVets Post #88 have been hosting the eventsince 2006, and will once again this year.

The event, although tough, is considered exciting and rewardingby past participants.

“Whether youare a racer or a speculator, there is one thing everyoneagrees on,”Collins said.“Wild Hog Race day is filled with fun.”

For more information, visit www.wildhog.wetpaint.com.

t r a v e l f l o r i d a h i g h w a y s . . . t o P o l k C o u n t y

Located 50 miles southwest of Orlando and 45 milesnortheast of Tampa, Auburndale is a city with a small townatmosphere and a large helping of community spirit.The city’shistory and its activity-filled downtown district come togetherto make Auburndale a true Florida Main Street.

A Look BackAuburndale’s history began in 1873 when John Ledue

settled on Lake Ariana.Approximately 11 years later in July of1884, the first house was built in Auburndale, four monthsafter the completion of the railroad through the area.

In that samemonth,Auburndale received its official name.The civil engineer in charge of laying out the downtown area,Major Louis McClain, was describing the area to a friend,the editor of the Boston Herald.When the editor’s wife saidthat the description reminded her of her hometown ofAuburndale, Massachusetts, the city found its name.

By 1900,Auburndale had begun to grow,with an economybased largely on agriculture. Setbacks to the city’s growthoccurred on the evening of Nov. 23, 1913,when a fire destroyedthe entire downtown area. In 1915, fire struck again, damagingseveral structures.

Then in the 1920s, Auburndale was incorporated. ASpanish-style structure was built to house city services. Thefire and police departments were once housed in what is nowthe city hall.

Auburndale has grown considerably since its first settlerin 1873.Today, the population of Auburndale is just over 11,000and is steadily growing.

A Day DowntownWhen visiting Auburndale, the place to be is the heart

and soul of the city—the downtown district. Here visitors canspend the day relaxing with friends and family.

The area hosts a number of retail stores, both independentlyowned boutiques and chain locations. There’s something foreveryone, from clothing to jewelry, books to antiques. Thedowntown area also houses a large number of recreationalfacilities, including 18 shuffleboard courts, six covered and fouroutside racquetball courts, eight tennis courts with a pro shop,six basketball half courts, baseball and softball fields, and soccerand football fields.

For those looking to enjoy a lighter activity, there areparks and lakes to visit. In addition to the main City Park,there is also Lake Myrtle Park, where visitors can enjoy arange of activities from a picnic to reading a good book.Lake Stella and Lake Ariana are also splendid sites fortaking casual walks or brisk jogs. Lake Ariana also featuresa boat landing.

With the nostalgic feeling visitors get as they traveldowntown and all there is to do, Auburndale is living up toits title as a FloridaMain Street,which it was given in 1992.Thisprogram, established by the National Trust for HistoricPreservation, serves to preserve historical architecture andstimulate and revitalize the downtown area.

For more information on Auburndale, visitwww.auburndalefl.com. For information on Polk County,visit www.visitcentralflorida.org.

When the hustle and bustle of city life

becomes too much,many Floridians

turn to small towns and cities for an

answer. If they’re in Central Florida,

Auburndale is the answer.

A View of

Auburndale


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