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An ATV Weekend For a Cause at Triple Canopy

Miguel Castro — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:57:03 +0000

Are you in need of some outdoor fun? Come out to Triple Canopy Ranch and tear up the mud this weekend complete with excitement and thrill at the Benefit for Bailee event! This ATV weekend fundraiser hosted by Triple Canopy Ranch in partnership with SKY Powersports will benefit Bailee Kent, a local Polk County soccer star who recently suffered a severe stroke. Bailee, like a true Webber Warrior, battled the hospital bed and is on her way to an impressive recovery.

The event will feature:

Live Entertainment
ATV Rodeo Events
ATV Demos & Trail Rides
Monster Truck Rides
Swamp Buggy Rides
Prize Raffles
Bonfires
A Corn-hole Tournament
An Auction
Fun, Food and Games

Save the date, and bring your family and friends this weekend, beginning Friday, May 11 and lasting through Sunday, May 13!

Vote for Polk’s Ultimate Fishing Town!

Rebecca Thompson — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:05:32 +0000

It’s an exciting time for Polk County fishing, with three municipalities nominated for WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town! Home to more than 550 lakes with hundreds of anglers competing in fishing tournaments weekly, Polk makes the perfect fit.

What exactly is the Ultimate Fishing Town? The World Fishing Network has opened a contest for voters to select their pick for the town they feel is most passionate about fishing and a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts, and Lakeland, Lake Wales and Winter Haven are among the nominees.

Aside from the “Ultimate Fishing Town” title and honors, the town receiving the most votes will earn $25,000 to be donated to a cause benefiting local anglers. In addition to the contribution, the World Fishing Network will produce a television feature about the region, which will be broadcast on-air and online throughout the year. Second and third place winners will also receive community donations with $5,000 being awarded to second place and $2,500 to third.

The voting has already begun, so don’t wait to participate and help your community win! Cast your votes at World Fishing Network or click: Lakeland, Lake Wales or Winter Haven. The contest opened on Tuesday, May 1 and will close Thursday, May 31. The three winning cities will be announced around June 6.
Vote up to a maximum of four times per day per email address, with one vote every six hours.

Voting is limited to one vote cast during each of the following blocks:

Voting Block One 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Voting Block Two 6:01 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET
Voting Block Three 12:01 p.m. ET to 6:00 p.m. ET
Voting Block Four 6:01 p.m.ET to 12:00 a.m. ET

You can also earn up to eight additional votes by referring friends, adding local business listings or sharing your vote on Facebook or Twitter.

Don’t wait to help your county win! Recognized as the Largemouth Bass Capital of the World, it seems only fitting for Polk County to be the home of the “Ultimate Fishing Town”.

Sports Central: May 4th, 2012

Joe Cutler — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:04:28 +0000

Event Links

Interviews:

Brenda Friedman, Mayfaire Coordinator
Maya Beck, Mayfaire Coordinator
Rich Humber, Source Sports Academy
Patrick McGee, Ironman 70.3 Haines City

Show Packages:

Bartow High School Stinger Shoot Out
Detroit Tigers Major League Scramble
Arts & Culture Update with Jessica Roberts

Show Sponsors:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lakeland North I-4
Abuelo’s
Travelodge Lakeland North
Peebles Bar-B-Q
Sunsplash Vacation Rental Homes
Hampton Inn Lakeside Village
Texas Cattle Company
Holiday Inn Winter Haven

Original Air Date: May 4th, 2012

Next Show Date: May 18, 2012

What’s Happening in Polk County Sports

Rebecca Thompson — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:15:39 +0000

Lakeland Flying Tigers
Dates: Now – September 1
Venue: Joker Marchant Stadium
-The Lakeland Flying Tigers have returned to Lakeland for the 2012 season.
-This week’s home games are:
May 8 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals, 6:30 PM
May 9 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals, 10:30 AM
May 10 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals, 6:30 PM
May 11 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals, 7:11 PM

Benefit for Bailee
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: Triple Canopy Ranch – Lake Wales
-Sky Powersports and Triple Canopy Ranch are holding an ATV weekend fundraiser to help with Bailee Kent’s medical expenses.
-The three-day event will feature live entertainment from several artists, a corn-hole tournament, activities, bonfires, raffles, prizes, and an auction along with swamp buggy rides, monster truck rides and ATV Demo rides.
-All proceeds will be donated to Bailee Kent, 18 year old Webber student who recently suffered a massive stroke.

Body Bar Women’s National Championship
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-The 2012 Body Bar Women’s National Championships features freestyle competition for five (5) separate age groups: Girls Division I, Girls Division II, Schoolgirls, FILA Cadet and FILA Junior.
-Winners become members of the USA Wrestling Team and go on to represent the United States in the World Championship. Over 400 wrestlers are expected to compete in this tournament.

Florida Orange Blossom Table Tennis Series Spring Classic
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Saturday, May 12
Venue: Lakeland
-Sanctioned by the United States Sandpaper Table Tennis Association and the Lakeland Table Tennis Association Table Tennis.

Florida Suncoast Sports – Florida State Championship
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park – Auburndale
-Baseball teams from all over the state will be coming to the Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale to compete in the Florida State Championship.

Freestyle Greco State Championship
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-This state championship will consist of elite competitors from across the state of Florida coming to wrestle in two different styles: Freestyle & Greco.
-Wrestlers will compete for the chance to wrestle at Nationals.

Auburndale Hoops – Polk Pride Challenge
Dates: Saturday, May 12 – Sunday, May 13
Venues: Polk State College, Florida Southern College
-This boys basketball tournament is a YBOA sponsored event that will be played at basketball gyms across the county including Polk State College in Winter Haven and Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

Mayfaire by-the-Lake
Dates: Saturday, May 12 – Sunday, May 13; 6:30pm–8:30pm
Venue: Lakeland
-The 41st annual Polk Museum of Art MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake 2012. Mayfaire is a free community weekend that features children’s art activities, musical performances and food, all centered around beautiful, award-winning art.

Mayfaire Saturday Night
Date: Saturday, May 12; 5pm–11pm
Venue: Lake Mirror Promenade – Lakeland
-A free street party at the Lake Mirror Promenade featuring live music and fireworks.

Youth Summer Slam
Dates: Saturday, May 12 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: Bartow Park
-This ISA qualifying tournament is expecting to bring in over 600 softball players to the Bartow Softball Complex.

Upcoming Events:

Ironman 70.3 Florida – May 19-May 20 (Lake Eva Park-Haines City)

Carillon Classic 5k Run/Walk – May 26 (Bok Tower Gardens-Lake Wales)

Legends & Legacies- Reflections of Vietnam – June 8-9 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Florida’s Sunshine State Games: Polk County Festival – June 15-17 & 23-24

Red, Brick & Boom – July 4 (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

Polk NatureFest – October 4-7 (locations across Polk County)

Brick-or-Treat – October- Saturdays & Sundays (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

Legends & Legacies- Letters Home: Love, Courage & Survival – October 12-13 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Go LEGOLAND – It’s Your Birthday – October 15 (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

Bok Tower Gardens Hosts the Carillon Classic 5k

Rebecca Thompson — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:27:13 +0000

For all runners, walkers and those just looking to get into shape, the Carillon Classic 5k Run/Walk on May 26 is your opportunity to run a course that’s never been ran before! Held at the beautiful and historical Bok Tower Gardens, the Carillon Classic is an experience like no other. With a tranquil setting on 157-acres of garden woodland and home to the magnificent bell tower housing one of the world’s greatest carillons, Bok Tower makes an ideal location for a picturesque 5k.

Runners and walkers will trek the natural rolling hills of the course and navigate through the gardens while carillon music, the tower and gorgeous views serve as the backdrop.

Participants will receive a dri-fit t-shirt and post-race refreshments, and the top three winners from standard age divisions will receive a trophy. Following the race, all participants and spectators are invited to enjoy the gardens for the day free-of-charge making it a great way to spend Memorial weekend with the family.

This inaugural event will be hosted by the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, and proceeds will benefit its educational and professional initiatives, as well as the George W. Harris, Jr. Runaway and Youth Crisis Shelter.

The Carillon Classic will take place rain or shine on Saturday, May 26, and the entry fee is $25 for adults and $15 for students (1st-12th Grade) who are registered by Friday, May 11. Registering after May 11 will incur an additional $5 charge. Race day registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., while the 5k Run & Walk gun time is scheduled for 7:30 a.m.

For more information, please contact Danny Kushmer, FPRA Chapter President, at 863-559-8062 or by email. You can also contact Cindy Rodriguez or Jim DeGennaro .

What’s Happening in Polk County Sports

Rebecca Thompson — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:51:01 +0000

RussMatt Central Florida Baseball Invitational (Week 5)
Dates: Now— March 30
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park, Chain of Lakes Baseball Complex and other baseball fields around the county
-Over 200 colleges annually in all divisions (NCAA D I, II, III, NAIA & JUCO), that’s more college teams than all other Florida spring break tournaments combined come to Polk County area for this tournament.
-Follow @CentralFLSports on Twitter and “Like” CFSports on Facebook for daily game schedule, game results, and weather updates.
-Scores are posted on Twitter daily.
-Please visit Central Florida Sports for more information.

Detroit Tigers Spring Training
Dates: Now —April 3
Venue: Joker Marchant Stadium- Lakeland
-Spring Training for the Detroit Tigers has begun! Check the schedule for daily home games at Joker Marchant Stadium.
-All games begin at 1:05 p.m.
-For more information, please visit Detroit Tigers or Central Florida Sports.
This week’s home schedule:
Tuesday, March 20- ATL Braves, 1:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 21- MIN Twins, 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 24- NY Yankees, 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 25- PHI Phillies, 1:05 p.m.
Monday, March 26- MIA Marlins, 1:05 p.m.

Symetra Tour – Florida’s Natural Charity Classic
Dates: March 19 – March 25
Venue: Lake Region Golf & Country Club – Winter Haven
-The 54-hole golf tournament brings 144 of the best women golfers in the world to Winter Haven, and this is the fourth season this LPGA Tour has played in Winter Haven.
-Proceeds from the event are given to the Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation.
-For more information, please visit LPGA Symetra Tour or Central Florida Sports.

Family Fit Fest
Date: March 24, 2012
Venue: Central Park – Winter Haven
-The Junior League of Greater Winter Haven presents the 4th Annual Family Fit Fest, a day of fun for families with activities focusing on fitness, nutrition and overall health awareness.
-This is a FREE event that caters to children of all ages!
-For more information, visit Central Florida Sports.

FYSA State Cup Round 1- Soccer
Dates: March 24 – March 25
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park
-For more information, log onto Florida Youth Soccer Association.

Florida Suncoast Sports – State Championship Qualifier
Dates: March 24 – March 25
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Complex – Auburndale
-Baseball players from across the state will travel to Lake Myrtle Sports Park to compete in this State Qualifing tournament.
-For more information, please visit Florida Suncoast Sports or Central Florida Sports.

Florida ISA – March Jam
Dates: March 24 – March 25
Venue: Bartow Softball Complex
-The March Jam is an ISA qualifying tournament that is expected to bring over 400 softball players to the Bartow “555” Complex.
-For more information, please visit ISA Softball-Florida or Central Florida Sports.

Lake Wales Arts Council, Inc. “41^st Annual Lake Wales Art Show”
Dates: March 24 – March 25
Venue: Shores of Lake Wales
-A two-day event celebrating more than four decades of exhibiting fine art.
- Traditionally, more than 28,000 visitors – most from outside Polk County – come to Lake Wales to view and purchase artworks in categories of painting, drawing and graphics, sculpture, clay, jewelry, glass, wood, fiber, mixed media and photography.
-For more information please visit Lake Wales Art Council or Central Florida Sports.

Officer Crispin BBQ & Live Auction Benefit
Date: March 24, 2012
Venue: American Legion- Post 72 – Mulberry
-Come show your support at the Officer Crispin BBQ & Live Auction Benefit. Proceeds to benefit travel of Officer Crispin’s family and supporting officers to the DC National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this Spring when Arnie’s name is added to the wall of fallen heroes
-Ribs will be available for walk up while supplies last.
-For more information check out Central Florida Sports.

Enduring Warrior Dash Central Florida

Joe Cutler — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:45:18 +0000

As a young boy your mother expects you to play in the dirt, get muddy, ruin clothes and destroy shoes. Somewhere along the line you get older, take down the “no girls allowed” sign in front of the tree house, and eventually trade in the tree house for a real house in an effort to mature and move forward. No one expects that at age 25 you’d still be playing in the mud. Then again with an event like Warrior Dash, where you’re encouraged to throw on a pair of Superman briefs, a makeshift cape, crawl, swim, and jump through mud, on top of cars, under barbed wire and over fire, how could you resist?

I had the opportunity to partake in Warrior Dash Central Florida 2012. My friend and I showed up an hour before our start time so that we could grab our registration packets: a horned warrior helmet, athletic Warrior Dash t-shirt, bib and timing chip.

There were around 500 people in our 11:00 a.m. wave, and we started off with a light jog for 100 yards. The first obstacle was getting through the thickest, heaviest, black muck I’d ever encountered. It was military grade mud, if such exists. Overzealous participants had to look for help getting out after sinking knee deep. The wave had thinned. Now weighting about 20 pounds more than when I started, I jogged to the next obstacle – a barricade breakdown where we had to lift ourselves over a bar and immediately under barbed wire several times. Remember, my hands and shoes are caked with mud.

Just past the barbed wire, we got our balance and walked up and over a six inch wide ramp. After a short jog, we jumped and crawled over a 50 yard stretch of tires and junk cars. Past the last car I could see the climbing wall. Not too difficult to pull myself up with the rope, slide over and crawl down. I’m feeling good at this point.

Immediately after the wall there was a deep pool of what appeared to be clean water. I was relieved. The sign said, “Deep Water.” I’m good, I can swim. Easy part, right? Splash! The sign should have read, “Freezing Deep Water.” My body was stunned; it was pretty difficult to swim and pull myself up, and over, the floating barriers in my path. Once out of the water, we had a half mile jog through sand lined with motivational signs saying things like “Don’t worry, we didn’t train for this either,” and “Don’t let Dale from Accounting beat you.”

The next obstacle was a large manmade sand dune we had to climb up and over. Simple enough I thought, but stationed on the back side of the dune was an airboat blowing water directly into my face. A nice breeze in the middle of Warrior Dash? Not exactly. Next up was elevated cargo nets we had to crawl across. I was careful not to slip for fear I wouldn’t be able to get back upright in a timely manner.

At this point we had a mile to go. After a quarter mile run through sand, the next obstacle was a 50 yard trek through a waist deep section of mud. Done. My legs are good and tired as I approach the next obstacle of army crawling under ropes hanging less than a foot off the ground. My whole body was feeling the burn, literally, as I attempted to leap over rows of thigh high flames. Yes flames, as in real fire. I remember thinking, “This can’t be safe,” but I’d made it to the final obstacle. Or did I? After clearing the last smoky pile, I turned towards the finish line and saw a murky, muddy trench with barbed wire strung across, close to 20 yards long. Back to crawling and swallowing gritty, sandy, smelly clay water. I was ready Warrior Dash to be over. After sprinting through the finish line, I was thrilled to receive my medal and a fresh drink of water.

Repeat! Yes, I had so much fun the first time, I ran Warrior Dash again that same day.

After the race, my friend and I walked around, turned in our timing chips, watched a concert for a little while, and soon noticed that the race crowd had grown into a huge outdoor party. Surprisingly, everyone was outgoing and friendly; the post race camaraderie was like nothing I’ve been involved with before. You can expect to see me at Warrior Dash Central Florida 2013!

Polk County’s Bar-B-Que Festival Season is Underway

Jessica Roberts — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:52:18 +0000

Polk County residents – and visitors alike – are fortunate to have the 2012 barbeque festival season looming on the horizon. Celebrate mouthwatering barbeque with the return of annual sanctioned competitions such as the Lakeland PigFest, Smoke on the Water, and Ribs on the Ridge. And this year, a new entrant joins the field… the Southern Smokers BBQ Competition. All four events offer live entertainment and FREE admission. Come hungry, as many competing teams will be selling their savory fare for the public to enjoy.

The Southern Smokers BBQ Competition took place last Saturday, and the inaugural event was a success. Sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association, over 25 teams competed in the event.

This weekend, Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th, Lakeland PigFest will celebrate its 16th year at the Tiger Town Sports Complex. Lakeland PigFest is the is the area’s largest barbeque competition. It is a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned event and the KCBS is the largest international organization of barbeque enthusiasts. Each year PigFest welcomes close to 200 teams to compete in the Pro Division, BackYard Division and the Kid’s Q competition and proceeds benefit Lakeland-area charities.

The 8th Annual Budweiser Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition returns to Winter Haven on Saturday, February 4th as the 2012 Florida BBQ Association State Championship. Funds raised benefit the Citrus Center Boys & Girls Clubs of Winter Haven, Lake Wales and Haines City. More than 80 teams from across the country will compete for the Florida State Grand Champion title. Unique entertainment includes a Cypress Water Sports Ski Show on beautiful Lake Cannon.

The 4th Annual Ribs on the Ridge takes place at Lake Eva Park in Haines City on Friday, February 24th and Saturday, February 25th. This growing event has been the Florida BBQ Association’s largest competition for the past two years; with approximately 100 teams competing. Don’t miss performances by The Pork Chop Review featuring “Oink” the singing pig!

In October 2012, the festivals start over again with the Florida BBQ Association sanctioned Fine Swine at the Pit in Mulberry offering up more delicious barbeque to please your palette. Visit www.fineswine.org.

Polk County offers numerous barbeque restaurants so you won’t have to suffer withdrawal in the off-season. Historic eateries include Peebles Bar-B-Q, a Central Florida landmark that has been serving up barbeque for more than 55 years, and Jimbo’s Pit Bar B-Q, a Lakeland tradition since 1964. Brock’s Smoke Hut in Winter Haven was recognized in 2011 by National Barbecue News as one of the “Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurant’s in America.” Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q and Woody’s Bar-B-Q are familiar names with locations all around Polk County. This list hardly scratches the surface. For a comprehensive listing of restaurants in Polk County, go to www.VisitCentralFlorida.org.

Sports Central: January 13, 2012

Joe Cutler — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:11:48 +0000

Links:

Interviews:

Richard Murvin, Bartow High School Girls Head Basketball Coach
Jeff Meeks, Red Trail Racing
Feddy Azofeifa, Operations Manager, Lakeland Raiders
Jeremy Burnett, Defensive End, Lakeland Raiders
Ingrid Burch, Event Coordinator, Southern Smokers BBQ
Lora Donley, BBQ Chair Southern Smokers BBQ Competition

Show Packages:

Lake Wales Pioneer Days
Roar N’ Soar
Arts & Culture Update with Jessica Roberts

Show Sponsors:

The Ledger
Sunsplash Vacation Homes
Days Inn Lakeland North
Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille
Holiday Inn Winter Haven
Travelodge Lakeland North
Ramada Inn Lakeland Hotel & Conference Center
Peebles Bar-B-Q
Hampton Inn Lakeside Village

Original Air Date: January 13th, 2012

This Week in Sports

Rebecca Thompson — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:24:42 +0000

Disney Soccer Showcase
Dates: 12/27 – 1/3
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park

The Boys Showcase Dates: 12/27-30/2011
Times: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 27^th-29^th, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM 30^thGames: 151, Unique Teams: 152
Athletes: Approximately 2,700 unique athletes
Age groups: U15-U19

The Girls Showcase Dates: 12/31/11-1/3/12
Times: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 31^st – 2^nd, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM 3^rd
Games: 138, Unique Teams: 96
Athletes: Approximately 1,900 unique athletes
Age groups: U15-U19
For more information, visit www.espnwwos.disney.go.com

Polk Museum of Art “Hunt Slonem Paintings” – Exhibition
Dates: 12/17-3/24
Venue: Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland
-Internationally renowned American artist Hunt Slonem will be featured in a solo exhibition at Polk Museum of Art beginning in December 2011. Slonem, 60, has had more than 250 exhibitions at prestigious galleries and museums around the nation and world since 1977. More than 100 museums include his work in their collections, among them the metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City and Polk Museum of Art. He has been commissioned to paint large-scale murals, including at the former World Trade Center in New York. Slonem received the prestigious “Stars of Design” award in art October 2009 in New York City, the Greenshields Foundation award in 1976, the national Endowment for the Arts Grant in 1991, and numerous others. This year, Vendome Publishers will publish a monograph on Slonem that includes a 20-year survey of his work. Slonem divides his time between Louisiana and New York. www.polkmuseumofart.org or www.visitcentralflorida.org