LAKELAND, FL – Young women from across the state will compete for the right to wear the Miss Florida tiara during the Miss Florida Pageant and Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen Pageant.

The 83rd Annual Miss Florida Pageant and Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen Pageant will take place from Tuesday, June 25 to Saturday, June 30 at the RP Funding Center's Youkey Theater, formerly known as the Lakeland Center, 701 Lime St. The event is open to the public. 

A unique spin on this year’s event is the participation of Miss Lakeland and Miss Winter Haven. The title of Miss Lakeland was revived by local entrepreneur Christine Boring, the nonprofit organization held their first pageant March 18 at the Lake Mirror Theater. The Miss Winter Haven title was added this year as well.

In total, five titles from the Polk County area will be represented, including Miss Polk County, Aaliyah Manning; Miss Swan City, Madison Zavitz; and Miss Lakeland, Isabel Skormin; as well as Miss Florida Citrus, Megan Price and Miss Winter Haven, Megan Boykin. 

Titleholders from around the state will gather in Lakeland to compete for the title of Miss Florida. The Miss Florida titleholder will then take part in the Miss America Pageant, the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and one of the nation's largest achievement programs.

Miss Florida Sara Zeng won the title in July 2017 when she competed with 46 other young women for the opportunity to represent the Sunshine State.

And while getting a shot to win the title of Miss America is the ultimate goal of Miss Florida, if, for some reason she isn’t chosen, she’s still busy. Zeng, for example, has represented the pageant at various events around the state, from opening days and first pitches to pageants and ribbon cuttings. Additionally, she’s used her skills as a talented musician to connect to students in classrooms from Tampa to Tallahassee and beyond.

Besides the title of Miss Florida, there is also the Miss Florida Outstanding Teen competition. Held during the same timespan as the Miss Florida Contest – June 27-30 – the winners of the teen competition are more than just forerunners for Miss Florida. They also appear at various events around the state. Locally, Miss Lakeland’s Outstanding Teen, Jaiden Lagarino, as well as Miss Swan City's Outstanding Teen, Grace Craichy, will be competing. 

The Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen Pageant and the Miss Florida Pageant will take place on June 30 at 4 p.m. and 7: 30 p.m. respectively. Preliminary competition is from June 26 to 28. The Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen Preliminary will be held June 29 at 6 p.m. The Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen Finals are June 30 at 4 p.m. The Miss Florida Finals and the crowning of the next Miss Florida start June 30 at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit www.missflorida.org.

The Symetra Tour brings tomorrows LPGA stars to Polk County

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Once again, the Country Club of Winter Haven serves as the starting point on the “Road to the LPGA” in 2018, hosting the 10th annual Florida’s Natural Charity Classic to open the Symetra Tour season.

A field of 132 players is set and they will compete for a purse size of $125,000 from Friday, March 16 to Sunday, March 18. Of the individuals comprising the field, a total of 27 countries will be represented. In addition, 20 total states boast at least one competitor. 

First and second round action at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic gets underway at 8:15 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Following 36 holes of play, the field will be cut to the top 60 players and ties. Then on Sunday, the final round tees off at 8:30 a.m., with a trophy presentation to follow on No. 18 green. 

The tournament also marks the first of 21 events in the season-long Race for the Card, where the top-10 players on the money list at the end of the year will earn a LPGA Tour card for 2019. 

The Symetra Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 38th competitive season in 2018. With the support of its umbrella partner Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. Since Symetra’s inaugural sponsorship year in 2012, the Symetra Tour has grown from 16 tournaments and $1.7M in prize money to $3M in prize money awarded over the course of 22 tournaments. With more than 600 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 427 LPGA titles.

NEWELL, SIMS PART OF LOCAL TALENT IN FIELD

When play gets underway on Friday for the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, 12 total players that call the Sunshine State home will be part of the competition, a group that also features three from Tampa, including AJ Newell and Sierra Sims. 

While many of their counterparts will be flying then driving to get to Winter Haven, it’s essentially a home match for these individuals, nearly in their backyard.

“I certainly love the travel that comes with playing golf as a professional, but it generally means no family or friends can come watch you play,” said Newell. “Having this event so close to home means my parents will be able to come watch, and that means the world to me. Golf has given me a very tight knit family.”

Newell was homeschooled in high school before attending the University of Tennessee. Born and raised in Tampa, her parents still live in the same house she grew up in.

Reflecting on 24 years of memories from across the state, Newell points out just how much golf has given her.

“To think back to all the clinics, lessons, practices, and tournaments that my parents sat through to get me to this point really amazes me,” said Newell, a former Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Honorable Mention performer. “I remember all the tough practices and swing changes my dad and I worked through together, the workouts my sister motivated me to get through, and the pep talks my mom would give me when I was away from home. Playing so close to home makes me proud to be able to compete in front of them.”

Sims, on the other hand, attended Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, but her family moved to Tampa when she started at Wake Forest University in 2013. No matter the path, Sims still finds comfort in the Tampa area, where she now lives and trains. 

“Growing up, we moved around a lot. Since I've been in college, I've called Tampa my home,” said Sims. “I will be able to sleep in my own bed during the practice round days and on a day where I have a late tee time. It will also mean that my family will be able to come watch me play and cheer me on.”

Representing their home state is important to both players, as well as each individual from Florida playing in the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. There’s a sense of pride that comes with the territory of a tournament being contested where you’re from. 

Just as the path to how they got where they are today is unique, so is how they will approach the first event of the 2018 Symetra Tour season.

“My game plan for Florida's Natural is to go out there and have a great time competing,” Sims said. “My plan is to leave everything out on the course and walk away on Sunday saying I gave it my all, while staying true to my game.”

On the other hand, Newell looks to simply ease into the flow. 

“My first and main goal for this entire year, and especially Florida’s Natural, is to stay positive. I want to make it a priority to stay positive and be my own best friend,” said Newell. “For Florida’s Natural, my goal is to get back into competing as smoothly as possible. You can't truly know what you need to work on until you play under the pressure of a tournament.”

Jacci Rizzo’s Can-Do Attitude Sees Her Through A Lifetime of Obstacles

By Lisa Fellows-Coffey

WINTER HAVEN - Through all of her adventures, no one ever said to Wonder Woman, “You have cancer.” 

But Jacci Rizzo, a real-life version of the superhero lass, has heard those words in her adventuresome lifetime. 

Rizzo, a Polk State College professor, has not only battled cancer and won, she’s used her nothing’s-going-to-stop-me attitude to survive two life-or-death instances that would rival an Indiana Jones action film. 

Rizzo, 61, of Winter Haven, is the honorary chair and guest speaker at Polk State College’s annual Relay for Life event, to be held Thursday, March 8, on the Winter Haven campus. 

The Relay is an American Cancer Society, volunteer-driven, annual event and fundraiser meant to bring awareness to all forms of cancer. The event raises money for research and wellness programs while celebrating survivors and remembering those that have lost their cancer battles. 

The Polk State Relay for Life, which begins at 5:30 p.m., is the first of many relays in the county across the next two months, which are all open to the public. 

A high heels race for men and a lip sync battle are the highlights of the Polk State event. 

In addition, the Polk State College Over-55 Show Band and Polk State College music students are performing. The luminaria ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m.

“Administrators, faculty, staff and students are all joining together for one thing in mind, helping to raise money to save more lives,’’ said organizer Melissa LaRock. 

Rizzo will serve as the Relay’s guest speaker. She has quite a story to tell and many interesting instances to draw from.

She has traveled the world, met Mother Theresa and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.

That’s not all. 

Her husband, Tony, a doctor, surgeon and Polk State professor, has seen his wife of 38 years work hard and achieve things others might think once impossible. 

He was with her in Tanzania when they were chased by men with machine guns, and in Nairobi, when the two were held hostage in a hotel by gun-toting rebels .

He was looking through the scope with the doctor who saw her coral-like tumors that were her bladder cancer. 

“She handled it better than I did,” said Rizzo, an Air Force Colonel. 

Anthony was not surprised at all when Jacci decided to continue to earn her college degree while she received chemotherapy treatments.

“She’s really remarkable, incredibly self-effacing and humble,” said Tony. “Getting her degree was an amazing challenge and she just rose to that challenge. I can’t say enough good about her.”

Cancer did stop Jacci, but only for a moment. “I was shocked,” she said when she heard the reason for her pain. “Especially when the diagnosis came through. People with bladder cancer have generally smoked or worked with textiles – neither of which I’ve ever done. Both my parents were heavy smokers. Who knows about second-hand smoke?”

But then in true Jacci form, she assessed her situation and decided to tackle the dreaded disease head-on. 

“We were fortunate to have excellent care with the Air Force, and my husband and children were incredible,” she said about facing cancer. “I had access to good care and my teachers were understanding.”

Her superhuman attitude and outlook on life has carried her through times the rest of us could only imagine, or could only be imagined by Hollywood screen writers. 

 “I really don’t like to say I can’t do something,” said Rizzo, matter-of-factly. She sits at her family’s large dining table at her Winter Haven home. 

With keen eyes, a blonde bob and a sweet smile, the first-time grandmother-to-be methodically ticks off fascinating stories of her life. Her home is a monument of neatly-placed memorabilia from places all over the world. Her right arm bears scars and a permanent bump from an adventure gone awry. Rizzo is someone who rarely sits still and jokingly calls herself an excitement junkie. And sometimes the events leading to the excitement are more than expected. 

But Rizzo doesn’t see barriers or fear.

Her mental fortitude is that of an Olympic athlete with a bible by her side. She takes on a project and goes forward. 

She credits her faith, her love of reading and learning and her lifetime experiences, to not only survive, but thrive in adverse circumstances. “I try,” she replied when asked about her positive thinking. “A lot of it I guess comes down to my faith,” she said. “When I was little, I loved to read biographies – how people who are successful and overcame things.”

Her iron will-power was tested in high school--her family became homeless for a time. “I found a copy of The Grapes of Wrath,” she said. “I thought, what would Ma Joad have done?” she said. Her parents were also alcoholics.

“It was negative,” she said about their circumstances. “It did motivate me to work harder and be an achiever.”

Her situation was much the same years ago when a Jeep full of armed men followed the couple in Tanzania.The Rizzos were taking photos, against cultural norms. 

The men in the Jeep started shooting. As the Rizzo’s dodged gunfire in their own vehicle, the couple collided head on into another truck. Jacci was ejected. Anthony and their vehicle tumbled into a potentially-fatal roll. Anthony managed to break free from their vehicle and found Jacci submerged in a mud puddle. “It was very obvious she was critically injured,” he said. 

Thanks to Anthony’s medical knowledge, his insistence and a combination of diplomats, crafty nurses, and group of pilots, Jacci survived a precarious journey to a room at the George Washington Medical Center where she spent three months in bed. Her prognosis wasn’t pretty. She would probably spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.  

Someone with less mettle than a real-life Wonder Woman might have allowed themselves to fall into a trap of depression, but not Jacci. 

“They actually sent a psychiatry resident to talk to me, because people were surprised I wasn’t more devastated,” Jacci said. “Why should I be above others? It’s just - this is happening and luckily I have resources and choices and not everyone has that. The real tragedy would be to not have someone supportive in your life. It just didn’t seem logical to me. It’s not who I am.” Her positivity is logical to Tony. 

“That’s how the immune system responds,” said Tony. “Your endocrine system is directed to respond to your brain. You can have an immune response, or you can not. She’s just someone who keeps going.”  Rizzo defied doctors by learning to walk again, although her once-broken right arm was never the same, and is limited in both turning and grasping. 

She also kept going when the pair were held hostage in a hotel in Nairobi after the Kenyan Air Force attempted to overthrow the government around 1982. They were shooting in the streets. Those caught in their way were shot dead or were injured.  

As medical professionals, the Rizzo’s simply did their duty as caring humanitarians and helped those in need. 

“We had multiple patients who were shot,” Tony said. “Several were raped. It was terrible. We were hostages for several days.”

Jacci was unfazed by it all.  “She never blinked,” said Tony. Jacci’s mental fortitude was the same during her cancer battle in her late 40’s. She endured multiple surgeries over two years to remove cancerous tumors, but she never stopped aiming for her goal of earning her degree.

During the time of chemo treatments, she remained positive and kept life as normal as possible, which included taking her daughters, Catherine and Joanna, to dance classes and recitals. 

“Her attitude was one of a fighter,” Joanna said. “She’s always had this great we-can attitude. She just lives it.”

Like a superhero will do anything to save the world, Rizzo’s special ability is the belief that healing and taking on challenges is mind over matter. 

“I think our emotions and our attitude play a very important role in everything we do,” she said.  “I do feel that it has a huge impact on your health and recovery no matter what you are facing.”

Sheer determination is also motivating. Take Rizzo’s approach to continuing her college classes while receiving chemotherapy. “I wanted to set an example for my children,” she said. It wasn’t a crazy idea to Tony, Jacci’s top supporter.  “I know her,” he said. “You don’t roll over and let life take care of you. You’ve got to take care of yourself. I didn’t see any other option and Jacci didn’t either.” She couldn’t wait for a catheter to be removed to take a physics final. She went anyway.  “I was kind of getting some sympathy points,” she joked. Since her two-year cancer battle, Rizzo has received annual medical check-ups. A true academic, she has a list of do’s and don’ts for those fighting the battle. 

“Anytime you go to doctor, don’t go by yourself,” she said. “Take notes because you’re not going to remember everything later. You are going to be in an overwhelming condition. Go for care with a list of questions. Listen to the doctor. It’s so tempting to go on the internet these days and try to research everything. Go to a reliable source and go to a doctor you can trust.”

She proudly speaks of her Bachelor of Arts degree, which she earned at age 50. Decorated like an academic superhero, she graduated from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Summa cum laude and was given the Distinguished English Scholar award from the college staff.

Her eyes light up when she speaks of her students. 

She loves using her degree and Masters in Education to teach, and humbly inspire. It’s the same passion that’s heard in her voice when she talks about volunteering at Meals on Wheels, or donating her time to read to grade-school children. 

“We’re here to do things, enjoy life and help each other,” she concludes after looking back at her life. “Otherwise, what’s the point?”

Relays in Polk County:

RELAY FOR LIFE OF POLK STATE COLLEGE: (Paint Polk Purple Party)

Date: March 8

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Place: Polk State College, Winter Haven campus

RELAY FOR LIFE OF WINTER HAVEN (Paint Purple Week)

Date: April 6

Time: 5 p.m.

Place: Downtown Central Park

RELAY FOR LIFE OF LAKELAND:

Date: April 13

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Place: Munn Park

RELAY FOR LIFE OF MULBERRY:

Date: April 20

Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Mulberry High School

RELAY FOR LIFE OF SOUTH POLK:

Date: April 27

Time: 4 p.m.

Place: Mosiac Park

For more information, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.RelayForLife.org

By Amy Sumerlin 

Photos By Chris Douglas

It was a happy mistake.

I had lunch at Posto 9 a couple months ago with my lovely friend Linda, but I wanted to try out the dinner menu before I wrote this article. My husband, my mother, and I met there on a Thursday night. I went straight from work, so it was an early meal – beat the crowds, you know. 

Not so much. 

The mistake, you see, was not making reservations. We had arrived about 5:45; the lovely lady at the front counter told us she would be able to seat us at “about 8:00”.

“Or you could try our rooftop dining,” she said.

So, without hesitation, off we went to the third floor, a rooftop lounge that draws its inspiration – and its name – from the Rio de Janeiro beach Ipanema.

In fact, that beach is very much tied to the vision for the entire restaurant: One long stretch of sun-drenched sand, Ipanema Beach is divided by postos (posts), which mark off subcultures as diverse as the city itself. Posto 9, right off Rua Vinícius de Moraes, is where Rio’s most beautiful and tanned bodies migrate. 

“Rio de Janeiro means ‘The Beautiful City’, explained restaurateur Marco Franca. “And we thought the name Posto 9 reflected exactly what we wanted the restaurant to be – a beautiful area where all aspects of society come together for a great culinary experience.”  

The “we” to whom Franca refers includes himself and his wife, Grace, partners in the business, and often, Posto 9’s Executive Chef, Michel Revy.

It All Comes Together

Marco and Grace Franca moved from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Lakeland in early 2014. They left Brazil due to political, economic and social uncertainties. Lakeland was selected due to proximity of Marco’s Mother; and because it was close to two large international airports. 

During the first year, Grace was living full time in Lakeland while Marco, a busy executive who ran PR Newswire throughout Latin America, commuted to Sao Paulo on a bi-weekly basis. 

And while the Francas quickly came to love their new town, “we also knew that whenever we were looking for a great culinary experience, we were travelling to Tampa or Orlando.”

So the pair decided to combine their love for fine dining experiences and their entrepreneurial spirit, and open an outstanding restaurant here. 

The concept of a Brazilian restaurant was confirmed based upon the positive reception their recipes received when their new friends dined in their home.

“Just by coincidence,” Franca continued, “I heard about Michel Revy.”

Revy comes to Posto 9 with 20 years of experience. He too was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and most recently worked as Lead Sous Chef at Publix Apron’s Cooking School in Lakeland. 

Prior to joining Publix, Revy was Corporate Chef to Marius Churrascaria (a Brazilian steakhouse) in Rio de Janeiro and managed the successful entry of Outback Steakhouse into Brazil.

The Building

“We had fallen in love with downtown,” he said.

One day, while walking in the area, he came upon the building that housed the former Preservation Hall. The historic building on East Main Street, right across from Munn Park, was built originally in 1908. It had housed everything from a bank to a residence to a real estate office to a music store and most recently an entertainment venue. 

Much of the building was in bad shape, and to make it beautiful again, required a great amount of deconstruction and reconstruction.

Franca is particularly proud of the fact that everything that could be saved, was. 

In fact, the table at which we dined that night was made from wood salvaged during deconstruction.

Franca was pleased to find that the second floor, which had been sealed since the 1940’s, was still in relatively good shape, and now houses event space.

Our Dinner

I was happy the minute the elevators opened. It’s a beautiful space, and the wind made the temperature perfect.

Our server, Kelly, was awesome: Friendly and efficient at the same time, she manages to make dining on that third floor feel as if you have been invited to an exclusive party.

Keep in mind the menu on the rooftop is different than downstairs – so several trips to the restaurant to get the full culinary experience, what Franca describes as “Brazilian Southern Fusion”.

We started out with the Po sto 9 Cheese Board ($18), a delightful beginning. I later found out that all the cheese is house made. 

‘We use the freshest ingredients possible, and make everything we can in-house,” Franca remarked. “We filet the fish, cut the meat, and make the bread, butter and cheese ourselves.”

My husband then chose the X-Burger Pastel ($13): think perfectly spiced short ribs, aged cheddar, and poblano aioli in an empanada-type shell. He was served three, and two was enough for one evening.

My mother chose the Chicken Passarinho ($14): think boneless chicken pieces in Brazilian spices. Mom is the least adventurous, culinary-wise, and even she was tickled with the blend of spices that made it tasty but not too hot. She too had enough left over for the next day’s lunch.

I chose the Fried Grouper Sliders ($15), and will definitely order them again.

The Future

Is definitely bright for Posto 9: A fabulous venue, an adventurous menu that combines the best of Brazilian cuisine with Southern flair—try their Chicken and Waffles (with guava ketchup) or Shrimp and Grits (with roasted tomato sofrito), for example – and the result is a fabulous place to enjoy alone or with friends.

The 19,000 guests who have been served there in the first four months… well, that’s just the beginning.  

FMI: 215 E Main St., (863) 499-0099; posto9gastropub.com

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Team Blacksheep is a fitness team that works with all ages and fitness levels.  Our youngest member is 5 and oldest is 78.  We are not an elite / competitive team, although some of our members do compete competitively in their events. Members participate in fitness events such as road races, marathons, triathlons, obstacle course racing, mud runs, martial arts, rucking, adventure races, trail running, mountain biking, gymnastics, recreational sports, basically anything fitness related.  We have members mostly in Florida, but stem to many states in the US and into Canada. 

We offer workouts in Winter Haven and Orlando.  All of our workouts are suitable for all ages and fitness levels.  The exercises can be modified to suit your needs.  To find out more information about Team Blacksheep, please contact Josh Andrews at TBS_Josh@yahoo.com

Also, check us out on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team_Blacksheep/1431421120453756

Hi Polk Folks,

Last summer we posted an article that we were coming to Polk County to film the pilot version of our half-hour comedy titled, "WELCOME TO OUR MANSION."  Most of the lead actors are from Polk County and you may recognize some of the local flavor of Polk County in the scenes we filmed.  We've split the pilot into three webisodes now showing completely FREE on our website and on YouTube at www.WelcomeToOurMansion.com.

We are now back in Los Angeles and we are actively pitching the series with the intention of getting picked up for a full season.  While getting picked up by a network is never a guarantee, what we are sure of is that we had top rate talent and one heckuva' good time in Polk County, FL.  We were greatly helped by Carol at the Florida Film Commission while there in Polk.  Also, Lakeland Community Theater and Theater Winter Haven got behind us in so many great ways.  We are extremely thankful and we hope that you will enjoy watching what we have taken to calling our "ultra high-budget, home movie-esque Southern comedy."

We're hoping you'll subscribe to the YouTube channel that supports the show, take the survey to let us know what you think, and spread the word that Polk County is the backdrop for the new crazy, country family comedy, "WELCOME TO OUR MANSION."

Three episodes, all FREE at www.WelcomeToOurMansion.com

With your help, we hope to be back to film many more episodes.

With appreciation,

Jillian Boyd & Mark E. Stephens

Executive Producers and Creators

Houses On Wheels Productions

We gratefully acknowledge exhibition sponsors Visit Central Florida, the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the City of Lakeland and Bankers South for making this exhibition possible.
Museum admission is FREE on Thursdays, thanks to the Chao Foundation; on Fridays, thanks to our corporate partner, BB&T; and on Saturdays, thanks to our corporate partner, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union!

LAKELAND – Polk Museum of Art proudly welcomes an exhibition of black-and-white photography by nationally recognized photographer and author Richard Sexton. The exhibition, “Terra Incognita: Photographs of America’s Third Coast,” is on loan from the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, La. The photographs will be on view from June 21 through September 13.

Latin for “unknown land,” “Terra Incognita” comprises 57 photos taken over a 15-year span along the Gulf Coast. Photographs depict marsh, scrub lands, dunes, beaches, swamps and forests from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle.

R.C. Baker of the Village Voice wrote: “Nothing in these extremely fine-grained prints resembles a ‘snapshot.’ … Sexton’s spare compositions coalesce into a portrait of nature as the ultimate abstractionist.”

Sexton was born in Colquitt, Georgia, and was introduced to the Gulf Coast on family vacations to the Florida panhandle during the 1950s and 1960s. After graduating from Emory University, he moved to California to pursue a career as a professional photographer. He moved to New Orleans in 1991, intending to photograph the city’s architecture. Not long after relocating, he toured the home of Roger Ogden and found himself drawn to 19^th century landscape paintings of the South’s swamps and coastal areas in Ogden’s collection, which later was donated to the University of New Orleans Foundation to establish the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

“It was an epiphany that a significant… school of painting had coalesced around the low-lying, watery landscapes of the region,” Sexton wrote in the foreword to his book, “Terra Incognita.” The artists portrayed “the swamp as a place of mystery and melancholy, using it in a symbolic way, to convey a certain mood.” Thus began Sexton’s work to document the changing environment along the Gulf Coast in “Terra Incognita.”

The exhibition will be celebrated at a reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, August 22. The artist will lecture about his work beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a reception featuring light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The reception is open to the public. The event is free for members and $10 for guests.

July Exhibitions & Events 

at Polk Museum of Art

EXHIBITIONS

Terra Incognita: Photographs of America’s Third Coast

Through September 13

On loan from the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, La., this exhibition is a photographic project of 15 years’ duration (1991-2006) by nationally recognized photographer and author Richard Sexton. Latin for “unknown land,” “Terra Incognita” consists of 57 black-and-white photographs of marsh, scrub lands, dunes, beaches, swamps and forests along the Gulf Coast from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle. According to R.C. Baker of the Village Voice, “Nothing in these extremely fine-grained prints remotely resembles a ‘snapshot.’ … Sexton’s spare compositions coalesce into a portrait of nature as the ultimate abstractionist.” This exhibition is sponsored by Visit Central Florida, Eaglebrooke, Fleetwing, Rodda Construction Inc., Robert & Malena Puterbaugh, the City of Lakeland and the State of Florida.

Photos available.

Reception: 6 p.m. Friday, August 22, with a lecture by Richard Sexton, followed by light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

Collected Color

Through September 13

Color is an important part of our world. It allows us to visually recognize, relate, and interact with our surroundings. Because of its enormous impact on how we interpret what we see, color has always been an important attribute of art. But, color is not important for art only because it affects what we see; it also affects how we reproduce what we see so that others may share our creative experiences. It was not until the late 19th century that artists began separating color from naturalism, using it in more expressive ways to emphasize emotion or creative formalism. How has the use of color in art changed? Is color still an important creative component? This exhibition examines how color is represented within the Permanent Collection at Polk Museum of Art.

Photos available.

All Decked Out

Through July 20

As part of Innoskate 2014, the exhibition All Decked Out! will celebrate the artistic and innovative spirit of skateboarding. Polk Museum of Art is proud to host an exhibition of contemporary artworks that smack of the edgy aesthetic so often associated with skating. Co-organized by Chad and Suzie Cardoza, two Tampa-based artists and independent curators of all things skate, this exhibition includes a diverse checklist of works by artists from around the country. Painted skate decks, skateboard photography, skate-related sketches, and assembled sculptures will coalesce to provide audiences a renewed glimpse into the unique and creative state of contemporary skateboard culture.

Photos available.

Ekphrasis

Through August 2

Ekphrasis is a rhetorical exercise first practiced by the ancient Greeks. Essentially, it is a method of creating a new artwork as directly related to or inspired by an already existing work of art. Ekphrasis often takes the form of prose or poetry. The written piece is not necessarily a mere description of the artwork at hand (although it can be), but is a beautifully written account about the subject of the artwork. It is as if an illustration precedes and inspires the written story. For this exhibition, Polk Museum of Art worked with students at the Lakeland Montessori Middle School. Artworks from the Museum’s Permanent Collection were chosen and assigned to students as inspiration for their own explorations into the ancient art of ekphrasis.

Photos available.

STUDENT GALLERY

Create-a-Skate Exhibition
Through August 9

Polk Museum of Art is partnering with CreateaSkate.org for a special exhibition of skateboard decks. These decks, designed by middle school students from Hillsborough, Orange, Pinellas and Polk counties, will be on display as part of Innoskate Lakeland. This exhibition is sponsored by MIDFLORIDA.

Award Ceremony: 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21

SUMMER HOURS & HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

Please note the Museum will observe summer hours beginning June 1 through Labor Day. During that time, PMoA will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

The Museum will be closed to celebrate Independence Day on July 4.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Summer Art Camp

Through August 1 (2-week sessions); no class on July 4

Ages: 7-14 years old
COST: Fee per class, per student, per session. Discounts given for multiple classes.

Bonus Session: July 14-25 in Winter Haven

Ages: 7-14 years old

COST: $285 for PMoA members; $345 for non-members

The Museum strives to give your child a fun, creative and open atmosphere to develop their love and appreciation for the arts. Summer Art Camp introduces children to unique, creative processes where they will gain inspiration from contemporary artists, artists displayed in the museum galleries and emerging art trends. Classes provide the freedom of exploration through creativity, process, medium and technique to produce unique artwork. For more information or to register, please visit www.PolkMuseumofArt.org/camp or call 863.688.5423.

Family Fun Workshops 

Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-Noon
COST: FREE for everyone

THEME: Watercolor (with Tara Campbell)

July 5: Polk Museum of Art

July 19: Bartow Public Library

Family Fun Workshops provide a safe, fun environment for families to participate together in hands-on activities led by an art educator. Workshops are held at the Museum and at facilities in Polk County as a part of our ongoing community outreach efforts.

# # #

Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida, is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts in Central Florida. The Museum is one of the Top 10 art museums in the State of Florida, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the only art museum accredited by the American Association of Museums serving the 561,000 residents of Polk County. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays – Saturdays; 1 – 5 p.m. Sundays; and closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is free for Museum members. General admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors (62 and older). Children and students with student IDs are admitted for free. Special exhibition fees may apply. Admission is free to all on Thursdays, thanks to our partnership with the Chao Foundation; Fridays, thanks to our BB&T; and Saturdays, thanks to MIDFLORIDA. The Museum is fully accessible.

LAKELAND, FL Nov, 15, 2013 – The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make an appearances in the area on Thursday, December 5, 2013, in the Lakeland Christmas Parade. Their appearance in the parade coincides with a special presentation to Bernie Little Distributors for winning Anheuser-Busch’s Ambassadors of Excellence award. 

The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon at The Lakeland Center on parade day from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Then the “Gentle Giants,” as they are often referred to, will participate in the Lakeland Christmas Parade which begins at 7:00 PM.

The Clydesdales’ appearance in Lakeland is one of hundreds made annually by the traveling hitches.  Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800’s.  Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.

Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands – or six feet – at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail.  A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.

A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.

Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian.  In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.

The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, Mo.; Merrimack, N.H.; and Ft. Collins, Colo.  They also may be viewed at Grant’s Farm in St. Louis and at Warm Springs Ranch, the 300-plus acre Clydesdale breeding farm located near Boonville, Mo.

Thanks to Chao Foundation’s Partnership, 

Thursdays Will Be Free at PMoA

Philanthropic Organization Is Museum’s Exhibition Sponsor

LAKELAND – Polk Museum of Art is proud to announce an agreement with the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation that will enable the Museum to offer free admission to everyone on Thursdays year-round. Admission will be waived for all visitors to the Museum on Thursdays beginning November 14.

“We are grateful to the Chao Foundation for selecting the Polk Museum of Art as one of the many cultural organizations in the country to receive their support,” said Claire Orologas, executive director of Polk Museum of Art. “There is a deep understanding on their part regarding the role the arts play in enriching the lives of all citizens.”

As part of the foundation’s new agreement with the Museum, the foundation will be supporting about a dozen exhibitions over the coming year, including permanent collection shows, exhibitions featuring works by Florida artists, and exhibitions on loan from institutions such as the Ogden Museum in New Orleans and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

In recent months, the Museum has announced two similar corporate partnership agreements. MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, the presenting sponsor of Mayfaire by-the-Lake, is underwriting the cost of admission on Saturdays, and BB&T, presenting sponsor of the Smithsonian exhibition this fall, is underwriting the cost of admission on Fridays. The Museum anticipates establishing six to eight such partnerships over the next five years, and each of the corporate partners will be able to specify which day of the week they want to sponsor.

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Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida, is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts in Central Florida. The Museum is one of the Top 10 art museums in the State of Florida, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the only art museum accredited by the American Association of Museums serving the 561,000 residents of Polk County. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays – Saturdays; 1 – 5 p.m. Sundays; and closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is free for Museum members. General admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors (62 and older). Children and students with student IDs are admitted for free. Special exhibition fees may apply. Admission is free to all on Thursdays, thanks to our partnership with the Chao Foundation; Fridays, thanks to our BB&T; and Saturdays,thanks to MIDFLORIDA. The Museum is fully accessible. 800 East Palmetto Street, Lakeland, Florida. Phone (863) 688-7743 Fax (863) 688-2611 www.PolkMuseumofArt.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

kevincook

Director of Communications | City of Lakeland

228 S. Massachusetts Ave.  Lakeland, FL 33801

863/834-6264 (PH) | www.lakelandgov.net

Twitter @lakelandgov

LAKELAND, FL (June 10, 2013) -- The City of Lakeland recently initiated a weight loss program for employees as part of an overall corporate wellness initiative that also includes health screenings and a dedicated clinic for City employees.  Commissioner Troller and Commissioner Merritt are both participating in the weight loss program and they have proposed a friendly bet on who will lose the most weight.  The losing Commissioner will donate $100 to the charity of choice of the other Commissioner.

The weight loss program started May 1^st and will run through the end of October with the final weigh-in taking place November 1^st.   Commissioner Troller said, “We have had two weigh-ins and I’ve lost over five pounds in four weeks by reducing my intake of fast food and by walking at least 10,000 steps a day per my pedometer.”  He added, “I’ve replaced sweets with fruit and soda with water.

Commissioner Merritt said, “I’m very eager to help promote a healthier community and I believe the Walk Lakeland initiative where I invite members of the community to walk with me on the 1^st Tuesday of each month is doing exactly that.  I would like for people to get off the couch and exercise.”  Merritt said, “The friendly bet with Commissioner Troller has given me the little incentive to watch what I eat as I try to exercise more.”

Troller said, “I wear my pedometer every day. May the skinner man win and I’ve already identified my charity of choice to Commissioner Merritt because I’m confident that I’ve got this.” Commissioner Merritt said, “On the first Tuesday of each month I meet up with walkers at a destination around Lakeland for a brisk walk. No timers, no medals, just an opportunity to get up, get out and start walking.”

The next Walk Lakeland event will take place at Lake Hunter.  Walkers will meet at the Lake Hunter Boat Ramp located at 650 Sikes Blvd.on Tuesday, July 2^nd at 6 p.m.  Keep track of where the next Walk Lakeland event will take place on the City’s website atwww.lakelandgov.net or receive updates through social media by searching City of Lakeland once you are logged-into Face Book or follow us on Twitter @ lakelandgov.  All ages and fitness abilities welcome.

-END-

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Amy Zubaly (850) 224-3314, ext. 7

June 5, 2013

(Tallahassee) Because hurricanes can devastate any community taking these deadly storms lightly, the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) offers “One Dozen Hurricane Season Tips,” outlining important yet often overlooked safety tips Floridians can follow before, during and after a hurricane strikes.

FMEA and the 34 municipal electric utilities it represents used insight gained during past hurricane seasons to develop the helpful tips. In past hurricane emergencies, FMEA and its members mobilized to restore power quickly and safely to customers around the state.

“While we hope for another mild hurricane season, we always need to be prepared for the possibility of several storms,” said Barry Moline, executive director of FMEA. “FMEA and its members are ready to act in the event of an emergency and we urge all Floridians to do the same.”

One Dozen Hurricane Season Tips

1. Following a power outage, unplug all your large appliances and electronics to prevent power surges when electricity is restored, which can often damage equipment and create fire hazards.

2. Remember the “three don’ts” when using generators:  DON’T run a generator in the house; DON’T run a generator in the garage; and, DON’T plug the generator directly into your home’s main electrical system. The first two can lead to asphyxiation and the third can send an electrical charge back into the power grid, posing an electrocution hazard to utility workers. DO run the generator outside in a well-ventilated area and DO plug individual appliances directly into the generator.

3. If your home is flooded, turn off your electrical power until a professional inspects it thoroughly.

4. If you smell gas evacuate immediately and contact your gas company’s emergency phone number.

5.Make sure you have current identification. You might have to pass through identification check points before being allowed access to your home or neighborhood.

6. After the storm, check to see if your home’s weatherhead is damaged – it is located above the electric meter where the wires come out of the pipe. Utility workers cannot reconnect service if this piece of equipment – which is the homeowner’s responsibility – is damaged. If your weatherhead needs repair, please contact a licensed electrician.

7. Utilities often cannot respond to individual customers with special needs during or immediately after a storm. When warned of an incoming storm, have a plan in place for evacuating people with special needs. Know the location of special needs shelters in case you are unable to evacuate. If you or someone in your family has special electrical medical equipment needs, notify your electric utility prior to a storm’s arrival.

8. Visit www.FloridaDisaster.org to determine your hurricane evacuation route.

9. Capture water in your water heater by turning off power to the unit and closing the water valves. If you lose water pressure, you will have about 40 gallons of fresh water stored in the tank. Store additional water in your bathtub and fill the washing machine with water. This water supply can be used for cleaning or to operate your toilets.

10. Clear your patio and yard of lawn furniture, toys, potted plants, and other debris that can blow around in high winds, causing damage or injury. Bring these items indoors or place them in a garage.

11. Prior to the storm, identify the places around your home where you can shut off your gas, water and electricity. In an emergency, you might need to turn them off quickly.

12. Create a hurricane survival kit that includes:  first aid supplies; water (at least one gallon/person/day); batteries; flashlights; battery powered radio; manual can opener; prescriptions; baby food and diapers; pet food; canned foods; cash; tarps; rope; bleach; trash bags; charcoal or gas grill with plenty of fuel; wooden kitchen matches; and a portable cooler. Don’t forget a hardwire, corded phone; cordless phones will not work during a power outage.

About FMEA: The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) represents the unified interests of 34 public power communities across the state, providing electricity to more than three million Florida residential and business consumers.

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The RAMINATOR is a 10ft tall, 12.5 foot wide, 10,300 lb. Monster Truck complete with a 2,000+ Horsepower Supercharged Hemi engine, and Dodge of Winter Haven and Posner Park Chrysler are bringing it to you!  This not a small “look alike wannabe”, but a real Monster Jam Circuit Truck and the 2012 General Tire Monster Truck Thunder Drags National Champion.  Driver Mark  Hall has won “Driver of the Year” a record 7 times, and the RAMINATOR truck has been named “Truck of the Year” 6 times.  You won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to meet the driver, take photos and see this truck in action just a few yards away!  You’ll be right on the sidelines during two FREE Car Crushing shows.

Every event on the 4-day tour through Polk County is FREE and open to the public.  RAMINATOR driver Mark Hall will be signing autographs and taking photos.  Merchandise, including shirts, hats and toys, will be available for purchase.  A portion of all the proceeds being donated to the Make a Wish Foundation Central Florida Chapter helping to give hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Dodge of Winter Haven and Posner Park Chrysler want to invite you to join us at these FREE Raminator events:

Thursday, November 29th, 9:00a.m.-8:00p.m. - Display, Autographs & Photos, Merchandise Available

            Dodge of Winter Haven (299 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33880)

Friday, November 30th, 9:00a.m.-6:00p.m. - Display, Autographs & Photos, Merchandise Available

            Posner Park Chrysler (42650 Hwy 27, Davenport, FL 33837 - on Hwy 27, One Mile South of I-4)

Saturday, December 1st, 1:00 p.m. - FREE Car Crushing Show, Autographs & Photos, Merchandise Available

            Posner Park Chrysler (42650 Hwy 27, Davenport, FL 33837 - on Hwy 27, One Mile South of I-4)

Saturday, December 1st, 5:00p.m.-11:00p.m. - Display, Autographs & Photos, Merchandise Available

            Celebration of Voices Event at the Celebration Town Center (701 Front St. Celebration, FL 34747)

Sunday, December 2nd, 2:00 p.m. - FREE Car Crushing Show, Autographs & Photos, Merchandise Available           

            In the Winter Haven Chain of Lake Complex off Cypress Gardens Blvd (Behind the new Chick ‘fill A,

            Starbucks, and Pan era Bread)

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and our websites to see photos, videos, and up-to-the-minute updates on Mark Hall and the RAMINATOR as they tour the county. 

www.WHDodge.com/raminator.htm

www.PosnerParkChrysler.com/raminator.htm

For More Information:

Katrina Hill - Marketing & Event Coordinator, Mahalak Auto Group

Katrina@MahalakAutoGroup.com

863-837-3110

 RAMINATOR.pdf

 LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Aug. 9, 2012 – School superintendents from Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties today joined Disney VoluntEARS and Mickey Mouse to celebrate a record 3.1 million supplies and 13,000 backpacks that are on the way to students across Central Florida.

 

The supplies, all donated by Disney Cast Members and Walt Disney World Resort, were collected during the annual Back-to-School Supply Drive. The initiative is part of Disney’s long-standing tradition of supporting school children in Central Florida from early learning through college.

 

“With the Back-to-School drive, our mission is to help set students up for success, even if it is one pencil at a time,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of community relations for Walt Disney World Resort. “We not only want to make a difference for the students, but also inspire others to support and nurture the children who are the future of our community.”

 

Orange County Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins, Osceola County Superintendent Melba Luciano, Lake County Superintendent Dr. Susan Moxley, Seminole County Superintendent Walt Griffin and Polk County Superintendent Dr. Sherrie B. Nickell all were on hand to accept the donations and ring a bell celebrating the start of the upcoming school year.

 

In addition to the Back-to-School drive, Disney supports education through several other efforts including:

 

·         Financial support – such as annual contributions to local school districts and grants to Early Learning Coalition centers and other non-profits that focus on education (e.g., A Gift for Teaching, STARS and Junior Achievement);

 

·         Individual recognition – achievement in academics and community service are recognized through the Disney Dreamers and Doers program; and

 

·         Expertise – every day, Cast Members share their expertise and knowledge in classrooms all over Central Florida; last year alone they volunteered 14,622 hours in local schools.

PHOTO CAPTION: 

School superintendents from Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties today joined Disney VoluntEARS and Mickey Mouse to celebrate a record 3.1 million supplies and 13,000 backpacks that are on the way to students across Central Florida.

From left to right: Orange County Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins; Polk County Superintendent Dr. Sherrie B. Nickell; Seminole County Superintendent Walt Griffin; Director of Community Relations for Walt Disney World Resort Nancy Gidusko; Osceola County Superintendent Melba Luciano; Lake County Superintendent Dr. Susan Moxley and WDW Ambassador Norman Vossschulte.

 

 

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Contact:          Wilma Colón Walt Disney World Media Relations

                        (407) 828-3814; (407) 484-6378 (cell)

Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After

Jolts the Ice with a Superstar Lineup of Disney Talent

Disney•Pixar’s New Adventurous Heroine Merida from the Hit Film BRAVE Makes Her Skating Debut

Tickets for Lakeland, FL on Sale July 20 at 10 a.m.

Lakeland, FL – July 10, 2012 – Mickey and Minnie have searched the globe for the hippest and hottest acts to perform in the most sensational talent showcase to rock the ice in Lakeland, Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After. Tickets for performances at The Lakeland Center go on sale July 20 at 10 a.m.

In a new twist on fairytale fun, favorite Disney characters compete to be the next superstar in comical segments leading up to the tales of show stopping princesses – Ariel, Rapunzel, Belle, and Merida from Disney•Pixar’s BRAVEin her ice debut!

“The most exciting part of bringing a fearless and independent character like Merida to the ice for the first time is knowing that she has a powerful and inspiring message to deliver about finding the courage to determine one’s own fate,” says Producer Nicole Feld. “We think her story translates well to the ice and will really resonate with today’s audience.”

Produced by Feld Entertainment, Rockin’ Ever After remixes the stories of Disney’s most adventurous heroines with upbeat music and energetic choreography that will have audiences singing, dancing and cheering for their beloved Disney idols. Mickey and Minnie encounter the most talented performers in the land with an all-star lineup that includes Sebastian and the Daughters of Triton from The Little Mermaid, the rowdy pub thugs from Tangled and the spunky enchanted servants from Beauty and the Beast. The journey continues to the Scottish highlands where audiences will be captivated and star struck by Merida, as an exhilarating archery contest ensues for the right to marry the fiery redhead.

“Our challenge in developing Rockin’ Ever Afterwas figuring out how to highlight moments from these beloved stories in a way that reflects the type of entertainment that families value today,” says Producer Juliette Feld. “By pulling elements from the talent show trend on contemporary television, we developed a truly unique way to lead into each fairytale.”

-more-

Sister producers Nicole Feld and Juliette Feld have composed their own lineup of talent to create this star studded skating extravaganza:

• Patty Vincent (Director) – Directed numerous Feld Entertainment ice and stage shows including Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream; began her career at Feld Entertainment as a skater 27 years ago, and has advanced in the company to become Character Development Director for all touring Disney On Ice and Disney Live!productions
  • ·         Jeremy Desmon (Writer) - Credits include The Girl in the Frame, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie & Other Storybooks, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® Presents BARNUM BASH^SM and Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival.  He received the 2007 Kleban Award for excellence in Musical Theatre Bookwriting, and is also a recipient of the Dramatists Guild’s Jonathan Larson Fellowship

• Cindy Stuart (Choreographer) – Collaborated with Olympic Gold Medalist Robin Cousins on multiple projects; choreographed for Katarina Witt, Brian Orser, World and Olympic Champions Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao, and Olympic Champions Jamie Salé and David Pelletier; lead choreographer for several Disney On Ice productions, including Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream

• Walt Spangler (Scenic Designer) – Created sets for theatre, opera, dance and ice; his credits include the Broadway revival of Desire Under The Elms, The US National Tour of A Christmas Story The Musical, Maury Yeston's Tom Sawyer Ballet, Kenneth Lonergan's Medieval Play, the upcoming world premiere of Tuck Everlasting The Musical and the upcoming Beijing premiere of White Snake

• Cynthia Nordstrom (Costume Designer) – Designed costumes for more than 15 original dance shows in Downtown Disney; designed costumes for Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy and Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!

• Sam Doty (Lighting Designer) – Credits as a lighting designer include Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show, Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival, Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents BARNUM BASH. He has assisted in the building and planning of every Feld Entertainment show since 2006 in roles ranging from head electrician to lighting designer.

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About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

For more information about Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After, members of the media should visit www.feldentertainment.com/rockineverafter.  To download high resolution photos, visit www.feldinc.com/hrp(username “feldmedia” and password “photos”).

For the tour schedule and to find out more about Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After, go to www.disneyonice.com. Follow the producers of the show on Twitter @Nicole Feld or @Juliette Feld, and visit us on Facebook and YouTube.