February is often talked about as the month of love, but here in the Heartland, love shows up a little differently. It looks like neighbors helping neighbors. It looks like familiar faces at local events, small businesses opening their doors every morning, and people who genuinely care about where they live.
This paper exists because of that love.
We don’t see Pulse of the Heartland as just something to read and set aside. We see it as a reflection of our community—your stories, your milestones, your challenges, and your wins. Every edition is built with the hope that when you flip through these pages, you feel seen, informed, and connected.
If you enjoy reading the paper, one of the best ways you can support us is simply by engaging. Reach out through email. Follow us on social media. Like, comment, share, and tell us what matters to you. A community paper works best when it’s truly a conversation, not a broadcast.
And if you’ve ever thought, “Someone should write about this,” there’s a good chance that someone could be you.
We are always open to hearing from community members who want to share a story, highlight a cause, celebrate a local win, or offer a perspective that deserves space. You don’t have to be a professional writer—just someone who cares enough to speak up. Some of the most meaningful stories come from everyday voices.
Thank you for welcoming us into your homes, your businesses, and your routines. We’re grateful for every reader, every message, and every moment you spend with these pages.
This paper is for the community—because of the community— and with your continued involvement, it will only grow stronger. With appreciation,
The Pulse of the Heartland Team 'Where chaos becomes purpose"
Turning Trauma Into Hope How Project ACE Is Changing Lives
By
SOME STORIES ARE NOT JUST MEANT TO BE told. They are meant to be felt. This is one of them.
For the founder of Project ACE, life began inside the foster care system. Born to a mother struggling with untreated mental illness, she entered the world already entangled in a system designed to protect but often stretched thin. While her older sister was adopted by family overseas, she remained in foster care for nearly two years before being reunified with her biological mother.
What followed was a childhood marked by instability, homelessness, and repeated involvement with child welfare. After Florida hurricanes displaced her family, her sixth birthday was celebrated behind a dumpster with a small ceramic doll that she still keeps today as a reminder of survival. Eventually, a welfare check revealed unsafe living conditions, leading to her final removal at age seven. She was placed with family and later adopted. She has not seen her biological mother since. That journey could have ended in silence. Instead, it became the foundation for purpose.
Years later, after a serious car accident led her into therapy, she received a diagnosis that finally put language to her lived experience Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It was there she learned about Adverse Childhood Experiences, often called ACEs. Watching a TED Talk by pediatrician Dr Nadine Burke Harris connected the dots between childhood trauma and lifelong health outcomes.
For the first time, her struggles made sense. And once she understood them, she knew she could not keep that knowledge to herself.
Project ACE was born from that moment. Adverse Childhood Experiences are traumatic events occurring before age eighteen that disrupt brain development through toxic stress. High ACE scores are linked to long term physical illness, mental health struggles, substance abuse, and even the leading causes of death in the United States. While most of the general population has experienced at least one ACE, children involved in foster care are almost universally affected.
Statistics tell a harsh truth. Only about half of foster youth graduate high school. Many face homelessness within years of aging out. Mental health and substance use issues are alarmingly common. Yet these realities are rarely discussed openly. Project ACE exists to change that.
That moment said everything. Love, support, and stability are not luxuries. They are essential to healing trauma. While trauma may never disappear, research shows that strong, loving relationships allow people to grow around it. Healing, she believes, is prevention. Trauma is often passed down through generations. Addressing it breaks the cycle.
The organization works on two fronts. One is direct action, creating Positive Childhood Experiences to counterbalance trauma. Through programs like TechConnect, Project ACE has provided MacBooks to transition age foster youth, along with digital literacy and online safety education. In rural areas like Highlands, Hardee, and Polk counties, access to technology can determine whether a young person can apply for jobs, attend school, or connect with resources.
Another initiative, Hop Into Action, delivers custom packed Easter baskets to children in foster homes and group placements. These are not last minute gifts. They are thoughtfully assembled with intention and care.
That intention matters.
As a Guardian ad Litem volunteer, the Project ACE founder visits foster youth monthly, serving as a consistent advocate and mentor. During one Hop Into Action distribution, a child looked at his basket and quietly asked, “You mean people actually put this together for me?”
One of the most damaging misconceptions Project ACE works to dismantle is the idea that foster care is a pathway to adoption. In reality, the system prioritizes reunification. Another misconception is that children from foster care are broken or difficult. Trauma can create walls, but connection is still possible. There are proven ways to reach traumatized youth when communities choose to care instead of judge.
Today, Project ACE invites the community to be part of the solution. Volunteer opportunities are shared regularly. Donations support programs year round. The organization is currently collecting supplies for its upcoming Easter basket drive and continues to seek partners and stories for its documentary series highlighting voices across the foster care system.
This work is deeply personal. But its impact reaches far beyond one life.
To learn more about Project ACE, visit www.theprojectace.org or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Donations and volunteer information are available online. For direct inquiries, email info@theprojectace.org.
Because when a child learns that someone took the time to care, it changes everything.
Tiffanie Nicole | Pulse of the Heartland
Self-Love Isn’t Selfish
By Haley Stough
FEBRUARY IS OFTEN FILLED WITH TALK ABOUT love, flowers, cards, date nights, and the quiet pressure to feel “chosen.” But love isn’t only romantic. Love is also steady. Love is safe. And sometimes, love begins with the way people treat themselves.
The phrase self-love can sound selfish or even wrong. But true self-love isn’t about putting oneself above others. It’s about valuing life the way God does, because every person is His creation. Scripture tells us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). That verse is often used to emphasize loving others, but it also reminds us that how people value themselves is closely connected to how they love those around them.
When people constantly pour out and never refill, it eventually catches up. It’s possible to be faithful, loving, and generous while still feeling worn down, resentful, or disconnected. God’s kind of love does not require people to disappear or exhaust themselves to be worthy, espe-
cially when He invites them to come to Him for rest and renewal.
Sometimes self-love looks like changing the way people speak to themselves. Many carry shame, replay mistakes, or doubt their worth in ways they would never do to someone they love. A helpful question to consider is simple: Would this be said to someone who is cared about? If not, it may be time to replace harshness with grace.
Self-love can also look like boundaries. Boundaries are not unkind; they are healthy. They protect peace and help people show up more fully in their lives. Sometimes they are small—saying, “That doesn’t work for me,” letting a call go to voicemail, or choosing rest instead of pushing through one more obligation. Even Jesus stepped away to pray and rest, which speaks to the importance of balance and trust in God’s care.
In other moments, self-love shows up through ordinary choices such as getting enough sleep, drinking more water, taking a walk, spending time with encou-
raging people, or being mindful of what is allowed into the mind and heart. Healing rarely happens all at once. More often, it’s built slowly, through small decisions made consistently.
Self-love also includes allowing love to be received. Many people give easily but struggle to accept care, help, or kindness in return. Compliments are minimized, support feels uncomfortable, and love is treated like something that must be earned. But love was never meant to be a prize; it was meant to be received.
If this season feels heavy—if there is grief, loneliness, healing, or simple exhaustion—this can serve as a reminder that no one is behind, failing, or forgotten. God’s love isn’t measured by relationship status or how “together” life appears. It is steady and patient, especially in seasons when wholeness is still taking shape.
Whether love is being celebrated with someone else this month, or peace is being quietly rebuilt from within, this remains true: self-love isn’t selfish. It’s a way of honoring the life God has given.
A Valentine Built to Last
ON JUNE 6, 1959 , at Fort Gordon, Georgia, John and Karen said “I do,” beginning a love story that has now spanned 67 years.
Married while John was serving in the United States Army, their early years were shaped by sacrifice and separation. John was deployed to Korea in December 1959, followed by service in Vietnam with Special Operations. When he returned home in January 1961, he completed his military service at Fort Gordon as an electronics instructor, serving a total of six and a half years.
Life together continued with new adventures and shared goals. John spent 34 years with IBM, retiring as a Senior Technical Engineer at the Personal Computer Design Center in Boca Raton,
FFlorida. He later worked 10 years with Seagate Technology in Colorado as an Engineering Manager, leading a team of ten technicians. Through every move and milestone, Karen was by his side.
When asked the secret to a marriage that has lasted nearly seven decades, John points to honesty, never going to bed angry, putting their children first, and truly enjoying life together. Travel, historical museums, and visiting meaningful places became shared passions that strengthened their bond.
Forgiveness, he says, has been essential. “Saying sorry is temporary. Outright forgiveness is the final process to a happy marriage.”
The thing John treasures most about Karen is her unwavering loyalty. She supported him through serious health
BLA FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA district 14 includes multiple counties from Florida including highlands county. As a member of FBLA at HVS its interesting being virtual it gives me a way to socialize and make friends. District 14 conference was on January 14 almost our entire group qualified to go to the state conference in Orlando in March for a weekend of competition, friends, leaders, and learning. I placed 4th our president placed 3rd our group made it to state and now we are doing everything we can to get there. At the conference David PowerTalk came and delivered a motivation speech that was very empowering and moving. To everyone who has helped the FBLA district 16 conference we are grateful. Congratulations to our District officers you all do amazing things. Ever since we found out we qualified for our state competition we have faced roadblocks. Thank you too all of our FBLA parents who helped with getting us ready for our conference. Our FBLA members are working our butts off to get to State we are doing a fun run for our school, we are asking for sponsors, and we are staying busy. Going to state means we have to have a proper dress code for a weekend, we need to raise money, we need to study, and we need to focus. Taking all of these things into account our group will be busy busy busy we have a million things to do and on top of it we are only a few weeks into the new school semester. Our FBLA students are going to keep working hard and we will get to state with all of our supporter’s help. We are so grateful for everything our amazing sponsors do. So thank you to everyone who helped and is helping and our wonderful FBLA parents.
By
challenges and provided years of around the clock care after a life changing automobile accident. “She has my back 100 percent,” he shared. “She is the love of my life, and I can’t imagine life without her.”
This Valentine’s Day, John and Karen remind us that lasting love is built on devotion, patience, and choosing each other every single day.
Tiffanie Nicole – Pulse of the Heartland
Love That Lasts Beyond a Lifetime
By
FEBRUARY IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH LOVE flowers, handwritten notes, shared moments, and memories made together. But love is also present in quieter spaces. It shows up in compassion, in patience, and in how people care for one another during life’s hardest moments.
One of the most compassionate places we’ve encountered in our community is Lakeview Memorial Gardens.
We don’t say that lightly.
We have personally witnessed how their team walks with families through grief—not just professionally, but personally. We’ve seen employees cry alongside families experiencing loss. We’ve watched them slow down, listen deeply, and treat every family as if they were their own. This isn’t just a job to them; it’s a calling rooted in care, dignity, and respect.
What stands out most is the love they bring into their work. The same love families have for one another is reflected back through the way Lakeview Memorial Gardens handles every detail, every conversation, and every moment entrusted to them. That kind of care can’t be taught—it comes from the heart.
We have also seen firsthand the compassion that Gina brings through Lakeview Memorial Gardens. Her presence, empathy, and genuine concern for families shines through in everything she does. In moments when words often fall short, her kindness speaks volumes.
While no one wants to think about final arrangements, there is something deeply reassuring in knowing that when the time comes, there are people who will care for your loved ones as if they were their own. That reassurance matters. It brings peace. And it allows families to focus on honoring love and legacy rather than worrying about whether their loved ones are in caring hands.
Today, Lakeview Memorial Gardens stands as a quiet pillar in our community—not only for veterans, but for families, for love, and for hope. In a world that often rushes past grief, they remain steady, compassionate, and present.
And that, too, is love.
Ynot Folkner
- Valentine's Messages from our Community
Happy Valentine’s Day to our favorite little people Avery, Raylin,Cora,Opal, Raiden, and Lynlee Forever loved, forever proud.
Papa & Gigi
Happy Valentine’s Day, Susan!
Thank you for saving me and giving me a safe, loving home. Because of you, I have warm naps, full bowls, and a community filled with kindness. I’m one very grateful Marshmallow.
Allow unity to radiate with your love and light throughout Highlands County community and the world having a TadaSome Valentines Day
From Paul to Corinth
Love never fails ...
Anthony & Katrina Folkner — 20 Years
20 Years of Marriage, One Ongoing Choice
Being a veteran rated permanent and total means my life comes in good days and bad days. Being married for more than twenty years inside that reality is its own kind of commitment. On my bad days, my wife carries more than her fair share—and she does it in a way that still makes me feel loved, capable, and valued. She helps me stay positive through the hard moments so that we can have many more good days to laugh, joke, and enjoy each other.
My wife is a true gentle giant—able to shoulder the weight of the world, yet also one of the best people I’ve ever known at making sure you understand that she is worth what she carries. I don’t know that there’s any way I could ever repay her, and I hope her health never requires me to reciprocate in the same way. But if it ever does, I will make sure it’s a journey we walk through together, in stride.
Our marriage hasn’t been simple. We divorced once and chose each other again. Somewhere along the way, we made a quiet agreement: there’s no way out of this relationship alive. We say it with a smile, but we mean it deeply. This isn’t optional. I will give everything I have to this marriage for as long as I have something left to give.
That shared understanding—rooted in faith, trust, and determination—is what has carried us through more than two decades together. I am beyond blessed to have that many years with such an incredible person.
— Ynot Folkner
“You’re the Cherry on Top and we are so thankful for you!”
Thankful Hearts Avon Park
Let's Have Fun!!
By
VALENTINE’S DAY is right around the corner, and whether you are celebrating with a longtime partner, planning a first date, or simply looking for something special to do together, Highlands County offers plenty of ways to celebrate love close to home. From local festivals and creative experiences to outdoor adventures and small town charm, the Heartland provides meaningful ways to connect during Valentine’s week.
Local Events and Fun Experiences
Valentine’s Day is about shared moments, and several community events taking place in early February offer opportunities to make memories together.
The Lake Placid Arts & Crafts Country Fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday, February 7 and 8, 2026 from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., at Devane Park in downtown Lake Placid. This popular annual event features handmade arts and crafts, and over 200 artisan vendors, food, and entertainment, making it a perfect outing for strolling, browsing, and soaking in small-town charm.
Creative couples can also find opportunities to make something
meaningful together during Valentine’s week. The Highlands Museum of the Arts is hosting an event on February 14th from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. at $30 dollars per couple you get a welcome drink, dessert buffet, live music, and so much more!
Local farmers markets continue throughout Valentine’s week and provide a simple, casual date option. The Lake Placid Farmers Market is held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in downtown Lake Placid from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. , featuring local produce, handmade
goods, and artisan products. The Sebring Downtown Farmers Market also takes place during Valentine’s weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. , offering a relaxed atmosphere ideal for a morning stroll.
For couples open to a short road trip, the Florida Strawberry Festival runs from Thursday, February 26 through Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Plant City, Florida. While just outside Highlands County, this iconic festival features live entertainment, agricultural exhibits, rides, and strawberry-inspired treats, making it a popular post-Valentine’s getaway.
Love in the Heartland Love you!
Outdoor Romance in the Heartland
Highlands County’s natural beauty offers one of the most romantic settings of all for outdoors lovers. At Highlands Hammock State Park on Saturday, February 14 the 39th annual Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Festival will be running from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. The oak leave hammock, which gives the park its name, provides shade for the walking trails, towering ancient trees, and peaceful boardwalks through natural Florida landscapes. A picnic or quiet walk offers a simple but meaningful way to spend Valentine’s weekend together. The festival is free with park admission ($6 per vehicle up to 8 people, $4 per vehicle with one person and $2 per bicyclist and pedestrian) except for tram, pony and carriage rides, food and purchases. And with nearly one hundred lakes across the county, sunset outings remain a favorite Valentine’s tradition. Lakes such as Lake Jackson and Lake Istokpoga offer outstanding scenic views.
Supporting Local Love
Valentine’s Day is also an opportunity to support local businesses and organizations. From community events and art groups to markets and parks, celebrating locally helps strengthen the connections that make Highlands County special.
So whether your plans include an arts festival, a creative workshop, a farmers market stroll, or a peaceful walk beneath the oaks, Highlands County offers countless ways to connect in meaningful and memorable ways. This Valentine’s Day, celebrate close to home and let the Heartland set the scene.
Tray Folkner - Pulse of the Heartland
How a Marine and a local DAV chapter are quietly showing up for veterans living in senior care
AT THE MANOR, the visit doesn’t feel like an event. There are no banners, no microphones, no speeches. Just veterans sitting with veterans sharing a meal, trading stories, and reminding one another that service doesn’t disappear with age.
Each month, a small group makes its way into The Manor and several other senior living facilities across Highlands County with a simple purpose: to feed veterans living in those homes and, just as importantly, to sit with them. To listen. To be present.
At the center of that effort is Joe Kozic, a United States Marine whose steady leadership helps keep this outreach moving. Joe is also instrumental in supporting and organizing Disabled American Veterans Ridge Chapter 49, a local chapter whose work mirrors the DAV’s core values of camaraderie, companionship, and servitude. Those values are easy to spot during these visits. The food matters but it isn’t the point. What matters is the time spent across the table. The shared understanding that needs no explanation. The familiarity of being among people who once raised their right hand and now find themselves
in a quieter chapter of life.
Highlands County is fortunate to have many organizations that care deeply for seniors, and those efforts are both necessary and appreciated. This outreach is different only in its focus. It exists to ensure that veterans living in senior care facilities men and women who once served loudly and now live quietly are not overlooked. The goal is not to replace other programs or exclude anyone else, but to meet veterans where they are and remind them they are still seen.
While The Manor is one of the locations where this outreach takes place, it is not the only one. Other senior living facilities throughout the county are included as opportunities allow. Flexibility is part of the mission showing up where veterans are welcomed, without pressure or promises that can’t be kept.
For Joe and the volunteers involved, this work isn’t about recognition. It’s about consistency. Veterans taking care of veterans, long after uniforms are folded away.
In moments like these over a shared lunch, a quiet laugh, or a story told for the hundredth time the meaning of service becomes unmistakably clear. Love from veterans isn’t loud. It’s faithful.
If you are a veteran or someone who supports veterans and feel called to be part of efforts like this, you’re encouraged to reach out through the publication. There is always room for more hands, more hearts, and more conversations at the table 'Where chaos becomes purpose"
FolknReal Crew folknreal.com
By Ynot Folkner – Pulse of the Heartland
Local Student Earns Prestigious All State Choir Honor
By Tiffanie Nicole | Pulse of the Heartland
AVON PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL and Highlands County are celebrating an outstanding achievement by Lydia Virkler, who was recently selected to the Florida Vocal Association All State Middle School Treble Choir.
Lydia earned her place through a highly competitive audition process, joining a prestigious ensemble of approximately 300 of the most talented middle school vocalists from across Florida. On January 15 and 16, she traveled to Tampa for intensive rehearsals alongside fellow top performers from around the state.
The experience culminated in a performance conducted by Dr. Jennifer Sengin during the annual Florida Music Educators Association Conference, one of the most respected music education events in the state. Selection to an All State choir is considered one of the highest honors a middle school student can achieve in choral music. Lydia’s accomplishment reflects her dedication, talent, and hard work, and she proudly represented her school and community on a statewide stage.
Photo courtesy of Avon Park Middle School
A Love Chosen, Again and Again: Russ and Sylvia Marling
SOME LOVE STORIES DON’T BEGIN WITH FIREWORKS. They begin with familiarity, with crossed paths, with life lived nearby for years before the timing is right.
Russ and Sylvia Marling had known of each other for most of their lives. They moved in the same circles growing up, worked alongside each other’s families, and even spent time working together at the same factory. But it wasn’t until later— after life had already taught them some hard lessons—that they truly met.
Both Russ and Sylvia had been married before. Both carried the weight of past relationships, responsibilities, and children. That history made them cautious. But it also made them honest.
Russ has said that what drew him to Sylvia was her joy—her love of dancing, of laughter, of enjoying life fully. There was something different there. Something real. Real enough that after a divorce, he found himself open to marriage again— not because it was expected, but because he couldn’t imagine being without her. That difference would become clear over the next 46 years.
When Russ and Sylvia married, they didn’t just join lives—they blended families. Sylvia brought two boys into the marriage. Russ brought three girls. Those early days came with uncertainty, including the very human question of whether the kids would get along. Some of their favorite stories now come from those first moments, when everyone was figuring out how to be together.
What emerged wasn’t “his kids” and “her kids,” but their kids.
Russ considers Sylvia’s boys his own. Sylvia considers Russ’s daughters hers. Today, you’d never know there was a divide at all. Their family feels less like a technical blending and more like a real-life Brady Bunch—held together by intention, patience, and a lot of love.
Now, nearly in their 90s, Russ and Sylvia move through life a little slower. They have good days and bad days, often at different times. But even then, love shows up in the smallest ways. They leave handwritten notes on the counter so the other knows what’s going on. They sit together and talk as often as they can. They still tease each other—something that feels familiar to anyone who knows them well. And they share a list of inside jokes that’s probably longer than most people’s used-car warranties.
They’ve weathered the storms of life together: loss, financial changes, health scares. Through it all, there’s one thing you’ll never hear from either of them—that staying together was just the easy choice.
When Russ spoke about their marriage, he paused. He got choked up.
“I never realized what true love was,” he said. “I thought I was doing what I was supposed to do the first time I got married.
The second time, I did it because I couldn’t imagine being without her.”
That sentence says everything.
Russ and Sylvia’s story reminds us that love can come later. That blended families aren’t a compromise, but an opportunity for deeper connection. And that commitment isn’t something you stumble into—it’s something you choose, again and again. What’s most remarkable may be how many people they’ve inspired without ever realizing it. Their children. Their grandchildren. And anyone who’s watched them quietly live out a love that didn’t demand attention, but earned respect. Their marriage has shaped how I see love, partnership, and what it means to build a life with someone—not perfectly, but faithfully.
Forty-six years later, Russ and Sylvia are still choosing each other.
And that choice has made all the difference
By Ynot Folkner | The Pulse of the Heartland
Love Built on Friendship
By Tiffanie Nicole | Pulse of the Heartland
For Ed and Sharon Westberry, the key to a lasting marriage has always been friendship. From the very beginning, they built their relationship on being best friends, a foundation that has carried them through every season of life. They believe love grows when couples remain sensitive to each other’s feelings and consistently show care and understanding. Those small, everyday choices have helped their marriage remain strong and deeply connected over the years. What continues to bring them joy and gratitude today is knowing they will always stand by one another, no matter what challenges come their way. Their story is a reminder that enduring love is often rooted in friendship, compassion, and unwavering support.
25 Years of Love: Crissy and Josh
By Tiffanie Nicole – Pulse of the Heartland
WHEN CRISSY AND JOSH
talk about their marriage, one word comes up again and again: together. Through deployments, long shifts, raising daughters, career changes, and new chapters, their love story has always been rooted in faith, friendship, and an unshakable commitment to walking life side by side.
Looking back to the very beginning, both knew almost instantly that they had found their person. For Josh, it was Crissy’s faithfulness and unwavering commitment that stood out from the start. For Crissy, it was his heart. “He’s my best friend,” she shares. “His heart is just so big. When he looks at me, he makes me feel like the richest person in the world.”
Like many military families, their marriage was tested early. The hardest seasons were deployments and shift work, times when distance was unavoidable. Ironically, they married with the intention of never wanting to be apart. “We truly love being together in all things,” they say. Those stretches of separation only strengthened their bond, reinforcing how deeply they valued one another and the life they were building.
Josh credits his faith as the foundation for how he views marriage, commitment, and family. While military service required discipline and sacrifice, it was his relationship with God that shaped his devotion to his wife and children. Living far from extended family forced them to rely fully on God and each other, creating a closeness that remains one of their greatest blessings. “Crissy and I have a special bond because of that,” he reflects.
For Crissy, supporting Josh during his military career was always a priority. Support meant holding everything together at home, caring for their children, and making sure Josh knew he could focus on his mission and his safety without worry. “I wanted him to know everything at home was always going to be okay,” she says. That reassurance allowed him to serve with peace of mind, knowing his family was secure.
Communication became one of the cornerstones of their marriage. Over time, they learned that expressing feelings openly had to be natural and intentional. Life brings stress, disagreements, and challenges, but talking through those moments allowed them to grow in trust and understanding. They live by simple but powerful rules: never go to bed upset, never leave the house angry, and always talk things through. Just as important, they emphasize positive communication, making sure praise, encouragement, and gratitude are shared as often as concerns.
At home, faith always came first, followed closely by family. While raising two daughters and balancing work and service, they were intentional about modeling the life they hoped their girls would one day choose. They wanted them to see balance, commitment, and priorities lived out daily. “You always have time for what you choose to prioritize,” they explain. Their home was built on making time for God, health, family, and relationships.
When Josh transitioned from military service into civilian life, the roles naturally shifted. Crissy had supported his career for years, so when she felt called to open a business in her hometown, Josh never hesitated. “He told me I had always supported him, and now it was his turn to support me,” Crissy says. Rather than being difficult, the transition was exciting. It marked a new adventure and a new chapter they could step into together. With Josh’s skill set, he was able to find employment quickly, and once again, together proved to be home.
After 25 years, love looks different than it did at the beginning, but in the best possible way. What once felt like a fairy tale has grown into something deeper and stronger. Their appreciation for one
another has only increased with time. “As our marriage grew, our love grew,” they share. Learning together, growing together, and evolving side by side has become one of their greatest joys.
It is the small, everyday habits that keep their connection strong. They show up for each other, even when it means doing things they might not naturally enjoy. They offer daily encouragement, compliments, and affirmations. Text messages throughout the workday simply saying “I love you” or “I hope your day is going well” keep them connected even when apart. These little moments, repeated consistently, have built a strong and lasting bond.
When asked what advice they would give younger couples, their answer is simple and heartfelt. Put God at the center of your marriage. Show up for each other. Do life together. Remember your values. Never take marriage for granted. Take care of yourself and your relationship, and treat every day like your first date. Marriage may not always be easy, they say, but it is always worth it.
After 25 years, gratitude flows easily for both. Josh is most thankful for Crissy’s love for God, her commitment to their marriage and family, and her constant positivity. “She is the glue,” he says. Crissy is grateful for Josh’s heart, his protection, and his selfless love. “He has always put us first before himself,” she shares. “His heart for God and for our family is something I am forever grateful for.”
Their story is not just about enduring time, but about choosing each other every day. Through faith, friendship, and unwavering love, Crissy and Josh remind us that the strongest marriages are built not only on romance, but on devotion, communication, and the joy of growing together.
When Love Looks Like Access: A Small Business Spotlight on Community Yoga
By Tiffanie Nicole | The Pulse of the Heartland
LOVE IS OFTEN DESCRIBED as something we feel or something we say. But sometimes love shows up in quieter, more practical ways. Sometimes love looks like removing barriers.
Inside Unity Tower in Lake Placid, a local yoga studio is redefining what wellness can look like when it is built around people instead of price points. Tada’ Yoga Studio operates as a nonprofit with a simple belief at its core: wellness, breath, and connection should be accessible to everyone.
Yoga has always been about unity. The connection between breath and movement. The relationship between mind and body. The shared energy created when people come together with intention. Yet for many, access to wellness spaces has long depended on income or circumstance. This studio is intentionally changing that experience.
Through a contribution based model, participants are invited to give what they can while ensuring no one is ever turned away. Those who are able to contribute help sustain the space and make it possible for others to participate when finances may be tight. In return, everyone who walks through the door is met with dignity, respect, and a genuine sense of belonging.
This approach shifts the focus away from transactions and back to care. It allows yoga to remain what it was meant to be: a supportive practice for managing stress, improving mobility, increasing breathing capacity, and supporting long
term wellbeing in a space where every person matters equally.
Tada’ Yoga Studio is an example of what community centered care looks like when compassion is built directly into the structure. Where unity replaces obligation. Where wellness is shared, not gated.
For some, a contribution becomes an act of support. For others, it becomes an open door. For everyone who steps onto the mat, the message remains the same. You belong here.
Beyond regular classes, the studio actively creates opportunities for connection throughout the community. On Sunday, February 8, Tada’ Yoga Studio will partner with Tropical Winery for a Valentine’s Pop Up Market featuring yoga in the vineyard, live music, local vendors, and a celebration centered on connection and community.
Later that same evening, the studio will also host a Super Bowl Party, offering a relaxed and welcoming space for people to gather, enjoy the game, and connect outside traditional wellness settings.
Looking ahead, community education continues to be a priority. On Sunday, March 1, the studio will host an Informative Yoga, Medical Prevention and Nutrition Seminar. This event is designed to empower participants with practical knowledge focused on movement, preventive care, lifestyle habits, and healthy nutrition.
How the Community Connects
All classes, special events, workshops, and space reservations are managed
directly through the studio’s website, making it the most reliable and up to date place to plan your visit.
Plan your visit and reserve your space at www.towerplazayoga.org
New Offering Beginning February 1
Beginning February 1, Tada’ Yoga Studio will expand its offerings to include Pilates with instructor Nicholl Stengel. This new class option reflects the studio’s continued commitment to accessible, well rounded movement practices that support strength, flexibility, balance, and overall wellbeing.
Full details, schedules, and reservations are available at www.towerplazayoga.org
35 Years of Learning, Laughter, and Legacy
FOR 35 YEARS, the Children’s Museum has been a place where curiosity is encouraged, imagination runs free, and families grow together, one playful moment at a time. In a rural community where children’s museums are rare, its very existence is a testament to vision, resilience, and unwavering community support.
That vision began with Linda Crowder, the museum’s founder and original director, whose belief in the power of learning through play laid the foundation for everything that followed. At a time when most children’s museums were found only in large, well funded cities, Linda imagined something different, an accessible, welcoming space where families could learn together, explore together, and play together. Under her leadership, the museum didn’t just survive, it thrived for more than 25 years. Linda retired in 2014, leaving behind not just a museum, but a legacy.
Today, the museum is led by Kelly Dressel, Executive Director, whose own journey with the Children’s Museum spans more than a decade and some of its most pivotal chapters.
The years that followed Linda’s retirement would test the museum’s future.
In 2015, the museum’s original building suffered severe roof damage due to age and structural failure, forcing a heartbreaking closure. For a children’s museum, closing its doors means more than lost revenue. It means lost laughter, lost discovery, and lost moments of childhood. Yet even in the face of uncertainty, the mission never wavered.
With determination, community backing, and countless hours of behind the scenes
work, the museum found a temporary home at Lakeshore Mall in 2017. Families showed up. Supporters rallied. The story continued. And in July 2019, something extraordinary happened. The Children’s Museum returned home to downtown Sebring at 219 N. Ridgewood Drive, reopening in a brand new steel building with a completely reimagined interior.
“It was a trying time for our future,” Mrs. Dressel reflected, “but with the support of our community, the City, the CRA, and our Board of Directors, we accomplished something we are incredibly proud of.”
Mrs. Dressel’s connection to the museum began years earlier. Around 2010, she was invited by Linda Crowder to serve on the Board of Directors, an opportunity she describes as deeply meaningful. In January 2017, during the height of the building crisis, she stepped off the board and into the role of interim director, tasked with helping chart a path forward while the museum remained closed due to safety concerns.
By July 2017, the museum reopened in its temporary Lakeshore Mall location, marking the next phase of its story. Mrs. Dressel became executive director full time, guiding the organization through
transition, rebuilding, and renewal. Two years later, in July 2019, the museum proudly reopened its doors in its original downtown location, stronger than ever. Through it all, one thing has remained unchanged. The museum’s heart. Learning through play isn’t just a slogan. It is the guiding principle behind every
By Tiffanie Nicole – Pulse of the Heartland
exhibit and every decision. Inside the museum, children shop for groceries in a mini Publix, cook meals in a play kitchen, care for patients in a hospital, and climb aboard an airplane headed anywhere their imagination takes them. Ask a child where they are flying, and don’t be surprised if the answer is Canada or Ohio.
There are no screens. No video games. Just hands on discovery, creativity, and connection. Parents play alongside their children. Families laugh together. Memories are made organically, the way childhood was always meant to be.
And those memories last.
Mrs. Dressel says one of the most rewarding parts of her role is hearing families share their stories. Parents who once visited as children now bring their own kids through the doors. Grandparents return every summer with their grandchildren. Families make the museum part of their routine for generations.
For Mrs. Dressel, it’s personal. Her own sons grew up in the museum. As a young mom with a husband who worked
weekends, Saturdays often meant playtime at the Children’s Museum, followed by lunch, cartoons, and naps at home. Years later, she now watches other families create those same traditions.
Reaching a 35 year milestone speaks volumes, not just about longevity, but about trust.
Few organizations last this long without deep roots. The museum’s success reflects the loyalty of Highlands County families, the support of local businesses, and a community that understands the value of investing in children.
Now, with the rebuild complete and the challenges of the past behind them, the museum is looking forward. A new five year strategic plan is underway, marking the beginning of a fresh era focused not on recovery, but on growth, innovation, and impact.
“This museum is special,” Mrs. Dressel said. “I’m deeply grateful for the trust of our board, our community, and our families. It’s truly an honor to be a small part of this story.”
As the Children’s Museum celebrates 35 years, one thing is certain. The laughter will continue. The learning will continue. And generations of children will keep discovering the joy of play, together.
Officer Conrad: A Quiet Force of Dedication at Lake Placid Police Department in Florida
LAKE PLACID, FL — In a world often focused on accolades and recognition, some individuals leave a lasting impact through their steadfast dedication and consistent action. Officer Conrad of the Lake Placid Police Department is a prime example, showcasing reliability and professionalism that goes above and beyond the call of duty.
Time and again, Officer Conrad has stepped in to fill staffing gaps and responded to emergency calls at a moment’s notice, ensuring that public safety remains a top priority even during challenging times. His readiness to serve reflects not only a strong work ethic but also a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of the community.
“Officer Conrad’s efforts never go unnoticed,” shared Chief Schneider. “He consistently steps up when we need him, often on short notice, and does so with professionalism, dedication, and a positive
attitude. He is not only an exceptional officer but also an integral part of our team.”
Beyond his operational duties, Officer Conrad is known among his colleagues as dependable, approachable, and teamoriented. These qualities not only bolster internal morale but also build trust within the community, reassuring residents that they are being served by officers who are prepared and invested in their safety.
The Lake Placid Police Department has publicly extended its sincere appreciation to Officer Conrad for his hard work and dedication. His service serves as a reminder that public safety is founded on more than just policies and procedures— it’s rooted in the people who care enough to step up time and again.
“Service is more than a responsibility; it’s commitment,” noted Captain Troutman. Officer Conrad exemplifies that commitment every day, demonstrating the true spirit of public service.
By Chief Schneider
As the Lake Placid community continues to navigate its safety needs, Officer Conrad’s dedication stands as a testament to the importance of steadfast service, showing that true impact often comes from those who work quietly and diligently behind the scenes.
Preserving Identity When Voices Fall Silent
THE
WHO
I AM FOUNDATION
was not created in a meeting room or planned years in advance. It was born in a hospital room during the final days of a father’s life, at a moment when words were no longer possible but identity still mattered deeply.
In July 2020, Don Serdynski was rushed to the hospital with serious respiratory complications and placed on a ventilator in a COVID isolation unit. Like so many families during that time, his loved ones were separated from him due to strict visitor restrictions. For days, he fought alone.
Then, unexpectedly, his family was granted access during his final five days. Knowing he could not speak or communicate, they searched for another way to make sure he was seen not just as a patient but as a person. They filled his room with photocopied photographs that captured his life and his journey, along with his beloved University of Florida Gator football flag.
Those images changed the atmosphere of the room. Doctors and nurses paused to look at them. Conversations began. Staff members shared how isolating it felt to care for patients who could not communicate or had no visitors. The photos created a connection. They told Don’s story when he could not.
One nurse, Tim Lanier, immediately noticed the Gator flag. As a fellow Florida Gator, he felt an instant bond. That small shared detail brought comfort during an unbearable time. As Don’s condition declined, Tim stayed with him, holding his hand and ensuring he was not alone in his final moments.
That experience became the foundation’s turning point.
Out of grief came purpose. Out of loss came the Who I Am Foundation, created to help healthcare providers, caregivers, and families connect with individuals who are unable to share their stories on their own.
The name Who I Am reflects the heart of the mission. It speaks to personal identity, life experiences, and dignity, regardless of age, illness, trauma, or ability. During
the pandemic, many patients could not express who they were. Today, that same challenge affects individuals with dementia, Alzheimer’s, special needs, trauma, and children navigating the foster care system.
Through Life Story Communication Kits, the foundation helps bridge that gap. Photos, written prompts, and simple notes allow caregivers and medical teams to understand the person behind the diagnosis. Preferences, fears, routines, and personal history become visible, often improving care and restoring a sense of humanity.
By late 2021, the foundation expanded into memory care communities, supporting thousands of rooms across senior living and dementia care facilities. These life story displays help staff see residents as individuals with rich histories rather than tasks on a schedule.
In 2023, the foundation expanded again after hearing from foster parents looking for better ways to connect with children entering care. Many of these children arrive carrying trauma, uncertainty, and very little sense of control. To help, the foundation partnered with community organizations to include scrapbooking kits in first night bags for children entering the system.
Each kit allows a child to express who they are through words, drawings, and photos. The scrapbook travels with them from home to home, offering a sense of consistency and identity during an otherwise unstable time. Foster parents use the books as a way to build trust and understanding during placements.
In 2024, the foundation was approached by the Ridge Area ARC to support children and adults with special needs who are non verbal or cognitively challenged. In response, 2025 became a year of focused expansion into special needs services. More than 1,200 specialized kits were distributed, each designed to help caregivers better understand individual needs.
Some of the most impactful details are also the simplest. Notes explaining sensory fears, communication preferences, or daily
routines can prevent distress and create calm during medical care. Small insights can change an entire interaction. Despite growing demand, the foundation continues to face challenges. Raising awareness remains critical, especially for those who have never experienced communication barriers themselves. Funding is another ongoing hurdle. Since COVID, production costs have more than doubled, yet the foundation has worked hard to ensure no one is turned away.
Support from donors, community partners, and hundreds of student volunteers has helped sustain the mission. Looking ahead, the vision includes expanded life story kits, an online platform for families to create stories digitally, and partnerships with hospitals and care facilities that allow life story boards to be printed and displayed on site. The foundation has already begun expanding beyond Florida, reaching hospitals and care facilities in South Carolina that sought out the program after seeing its impact.
One of the most meaningful moments for the foundation came in 2023, when it was recognized as Non Profit of the Year by the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce and the Mason G. Smoak Foundation. That recognition confirmed what the founder already knew. The work mattered. The community saw it. And somewhere, her father’s story was still being told.
By Tiffanie Nicole – Pulse Media
Hidden Treasures
FIND THE HIDDEN BIBLE VERSE
This month, we’re inviting our readers to take part in something new — our very first printed-paper community challenge.
Hidden somewhere in this issue is a Bible verse. Not the entire verse, but a meaningful portion of it. Your mission is simple: find it.
This isn’t a race meant only for the fastest eyes. Because our paper is delivered to different places on different days, we’ve designed this challenge to be fair, welcoming, and fun for everyone. Here’s how it works.
There will be a “first to find it” winner — the first verified correct submission will receive a special prize.
But don’t worry if you’re not first.
Throughout the entire month, everyone who finds the verse and submits a correct answer will be entered into a random drawing for additional prizes. That way, everyone has a chance to participate and win. A Helpful Hint
To get you started, here’s a free tip:
The hidden verse is not located on the devotional page.
How to Submit Your Answer
We want this to be easy and accessible for all of our readers.
You may submit your answer in any of the following ways:
Send us a message through our Facebook page
Email the editorial email listed at the front of the paper
If you see one of us out in the community, you’re welcome to tell us in person
If you’re able, one of the easiest ways to submit is to circle or highlight the verse in the paper, take a photo with your phone, and send it to us.
If you’re not comfortable sending photos — or don’t have the ability to do so — that’s absolutely okay. You can simply tell us what page it’s on and where it appears, and we’ll take it from there.
We especially want our senior readers to know: no technical skills are required to participate. If you found it, we’ll work with you to make sure your entry counts.
By Ynot Folkner – Pulse Media
This is our first time running a challenge like this through the printed paper, and we’re excited to learn and improve as we go. Our hope is that Hidden Treasures becomes a fun, ongoing tradition that encourages people to slow down, read closely, and enjoy the paper in a new way. So keep your eyes open, read carefully, and most of all — have fun with it.
Happy hunting.
Celebrating churches, faith, and fellowship across our community
Love That Covers All Things Faith in the Heartland
By Tiffanie Nicole
A 28-Step Devotional Journey Through Grace, Compassion, and Understanding
Scripture Focus
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:7
Love is not limited to moments of agreement.
It shows itself most clearly in how we listen, how we speak, and how we respond when differences arise.
This devotional is designed to be flexible. You may walk through it in one sitting or move at a slower pace, taking one step at a time. There is no right speed—only an encouragement to be intentional, thoughtful, and honest as you practice love in everyday life.
Step 1 – Defining Love Honestly
Reflection: What does love truly mean to you—not ideally, but realistically?
Practice: Write one honest sentence describing how you currently understand love.
Step 2 – Choosing Love Daily Reflection: Love is not only a feeling; it is a decision.
Practice: Notice one moment today where you choose response over reaction.
Step 3 – Love Bears All Things
Reflection: To bear something is to carry it without passing the weight to others.
Practice: Identify one burden you can carry without spreading frustration.
Step 4 – Grace Before Agreement Reflection: Grace does not require understanding first.
Practice: Extend kindness in a conversation where agreement feels unlikely.
Step 5 – Listening as an Act of Love
Reflection: Listening without interruption is a rare and meaningful gift.
Practice: Give someone your full attention without preparing a response.
Step 6 – Slowing Judgment
Reflection: Love pauses before assuming motives.
Practice: Ask yourself, “What story might I be missing?”
Step 7 – Compassion Through Curiosity Reflection: Curiosity opens the door to understanding.
Practice: Ask a sincere question instead of making an assumption.
Step 8 – Believing the Best Reflection: Love believes the best unless proven otherwise.
Practice: Release one negative assumption you’ve been holding.
Step 9 – Separating People From Opinions Reflection: Disagreement does not require disconnection.
Practice: Affirm the value of a person even when you disagree.
Step 10 – Noticing Insecurity Reflection: Defensiveness often reveals fear.
Practice: Name one topic that triggers a strong emotional response in you.
Step 11 – Speaking Without Wounding Reflection: Words have the power to heal or harm.
Practice: Consider your tone before speaking difficult truth.
Step 12 – Staying Present in Discomfort
Reflection: Avoidance often feels easier than love.
Practice: Stay present in one uncomfortable moment today.
Step 13 – Letting Go of Scorekeeping
Reflection: Love does not keep a record of wrongs.
Practice: Release one grievance you’ve been replaying.
Step 14 – Extending Grace to Yourself
Reflection: You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Practice: Offer yourself the same compassion you offer others.
Step 15 – Making Room for Difference
Reflection: Love creates space rather than crowding others out.
Practice: Listen to a differing viewpoint without preparing a rebuttal.
