Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Frostproof's Red Barn Farmer's Market Frostproof will host a special event Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to support A HEART FOR H.E.R.O.s, a local 501c3 non-profit serving the Special Needs community of Central Florida. The market is located at 800 Ulmer Road. Fundraising activities planned include pony rides, a raffle with 34 items, yard games, artwork from one of the horses, a petting zoo and photo ops with the famous Unicorn pony. The Friday event will be accompanied by...
Running your own company is never easy, regardless of what type of business it is. If you happen to own a local business in your area in 2025 and have noticed that you aren't bringing in as much revenue as you hoped, you're not alone. We've found that many businesses are struggling these days due to various economic factors. The good news for those of you who are willing to try is that there are a few clever marketing strategies that can potentially help attract new customers...
Polk County Campgrounds have added a new online reservation system to make it simpler to arrange your next outing at one of the many county parks. Campgrounds operated by Polk County Parks and Recreation will start accepting online reservations and payments on March 28. This system, already used for pavilion rentals, aims to streamline the process and provide a more efficient booking experience for Polk County campground visitors. Campgrounds can now be reserved online up to...
Springtime is here, and that means that lawn maintenance becomes a growing chore for homeowners as the grass begins to grow rapidly. A busy personal schedule might keep you away from that chore, or sometimes you may only need a break. While most lawn service companies want annual, year-around contracts that leave you paying even when the grass isn't growing, there's one company serving this area that has a different solution: on-demand lawn mowing. Lake Wales area homeowners n...
The Lake Wales Arts Center is offering two impressive performances to the public this Saturday, March 8, and they are both completely free. The Classern String Quartet promises a spectacular evening of music as they return to the Lake Wales Arts Council for this unforgettable double feature concert. The Classern Quartet will kick off the evening with a 4 p.m. performance that brings together the best of the two worlds they share - classical favorites with modern twists. The...
AdventHealth Lake Wales has announced the addition of cardiologist, Saiyed Mohib, MD to its roster of expert physicians. Dr. Mohib is a board-certified cardiologist who is now accepting new patients in Lake Wales at the AdventHealth Medical Group General Surgery Office, located at 423 Linden Lane. With over 20 years of experience in cardiology, Dr. Mohib is an expert in assessing and preventing heart attacks and other heart-related diseases. He offers nutritional counseling...
Certain Florida college students still have time to apply for one of three $1,200 scholarships to be awarded by the Florida Supervisors of Elections to Florida college students in 2025. Interested students should contact the Supervisor of Elections in their county of residence to request an application packet. Polk County Supervisor of Elections Melony Bell reminded applicants that they must: • Be registered to vote in the State of Florida; • Enrolled or accepted as...
The most romantic day of the year is an opportunity for area couples to "tie the knot" in a legal wedding ceremony. While the normal $30 ceremony fee is waived, standard marriage license fees do apply. On Valentine's Day at noon, Clerk & Comptroller Stacy Butterfield is hosting the 12th annual group wedding on the historic lawns of Fort Blount Park in Bartow. Registration is now open for courting couples wanting to tie the knot for free "We are thrilled to host this cherished...
A celebration to mark the anniversary of the official recognition of the Ridge Scenic Highway will include music, refreshments, and a historical presentation highlighting the significance of the designation, which took place 20 years ago. Representatives of the municipalities, organizations, and communities along State Road 17, now known as the Scenic Highway, joined forces with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in 2003 to advocate for the designation of a...
In a move that will open the door to obtaining additional historic preservation program funding, grants, training, and technical assistance, Polk County has been designated a nationally Certified Local Government Program by the United States Department of the Interior. In addition to access to resources for the county, the designation will also be a tool to help Polk County property owners who are seeking historical designations, according to Polk officials. "Polk County's...
Drivers using city streets around Lake Wales have likely noticed improvements to area streets as a six-year program of resurfacing continues. The aggressive effort to catch up on deferred maintenance began in 2021 and has resulted in miles of smoother new surfaces under the city's Pavement Management Program. Portions of 12 roadways were resurfaced in early November, and the effort will resume today with another eleven segments of roadways in Lake Wales. The streets, selected...
The City of Lake Wales has once again been awarded two prestigious awards by the Government Finance Officers Association, GFOA. City staff received the Distinguished Budget Presentation award for its 2024 fiscal year budget. To receive the award, budget documents must be rated "proficient" in four categories: policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communications device. The award marks the fifth consecutive win. A certificate of achievement for excellence in...
A new bicycle and pedestrian trail will connect the Lake Wailes Trail and the Lake Wales Trailway paths with Bok Tower Gardens as a result of a newly-awarded $282,380 grant. Plans for the development of the new multiuse trail along Tower Boulevard include the construction of a 12-foot-wide surface to connect Lake Wales Park Trail to Bok Tower Gardens. Five park benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and directional signage will complement the trail. Lake Wales was one of four...
The Social Security Administration continues to make it easier for you to access programs and benefits. The official website at www.ssa.gov offers a convenient way to apply online for benefits. Using the SSA website you can apply for: • Retirement or Spouse's Benefits – You must be at least 61 years and 9 months and want your benefits to start in no more than 4 months. Apply at www.ssa.gov/retirement. • Disability Benefits – You can use our online application at www....
The City of Lake Wales has earned the designation of Tree City USA, joining a list of more than 160 communities in Florida who have won that designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation. "This is a prestigious honor for our city," city Horticulturist Kevin Polk said. Polk now leads a team of parks employees who are planting and maintaining hundreds of trees and thousands of shrubs across the city. Lake Wales met all criteria to qualify for the designation by operating a...
World-renown master cellist and conductor Diego Carneiro will perform two live concerts in a special one-day appearance in Lake Wales on Sunday, December 15. Carneiro has performed for audiences around the world, including at the London Promenade and the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC. Carneiro has won multiple international prizes and awards including the the Leonardo Smith Duo Competition, Solti Prize, the Barbirolli Award, the Tillett Trust, the Myra Hess Trust, 'Solo...
The enormous task of removing the thousands of tons of debris created by Hurricane Milton damage across Polk County is a challenge for both residents and those doing the removal work. While most cities in the area have made great progress in the cleanup, for Polk County residents the task is a bigger problem, according to county officials.. "Polk County spans more than 2,000 square miles, so there's a lot of ground to cover," said Michel Teate, Polk County's Roads and Drainage...
Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Polk County families are invited to receive a free frozen turkey that they can bake at home. The free turkey giveaway will take place on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at three Polk County locations. The turkeys are limited to one per family, one per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No identification or pre-qualification will be required to receive a turkey. The giveaway is an effort of Polk Sheriff's...
Polk State College has opened the pre-registration process for students who plan to attend the four-year school during the upcoming spring semester. Priority registration for the Spring 2025 semester at Polk State College has started for students who have completed at least 50% of their program requirements and students in the following programs: Honors, TRiO, Disability Services, Collegiate High Schools, and Athletics. Open registration will begin on November 13 for all stude...
Lake Wales residents Mike and Irene Spotswood produce Cup of Joe Radio show, a nationally- syndicated radio show aimed at veterans with "the healing power of music." The show is intended to ease the symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome, or PTSD, that continues to affect veterans who experienced the stresses and horrors of war. Mike, who is a Marine who did two tours in over the course of 20 months in Vietnam, and Irene, a former nurse, say their two-hour radio show has...
Spook Hill Elementary science teacher Cynara Appling has been named the 2024-25 Polk County Teacher of the Year. Appling's honor was announced at the Inspire Awards at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland Friday night. The Inspire Awards are presented by the Polk Education Foundation and PCPS' Department of Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships. In making the announcement, the school system said "Cynara Appling makes an impact wherever she goes. She has a special role in our...
The 3rd Annual Fall Fest will feature a day of fun in Lake Wailes Park, offering food trucks, face painting, a DJ, carnival games, bouncy houses, vendors, petting zoo, selfie photo spots and more on Saturday, November 9. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and is sponsored by the GFWC Lake Wales Junior Woman's Club. "The club is excited for the event and we look forward to seeing the community," said President Shelley Clemons Proceeds from the event will support our...
Amy Prill of Davenport said she believes if it were not for a routine mammogram, she might not be alive today to share her story of surviving breast cancer. Now, she's working to impress upon others how important early detection and getting an annual check-up is. "It was very scary to hear those words and not know what your future is going to be," she said. My son was 16 years old at the time. So, it's like, you know, talk about shaking up somebody's world." Prill said that in...
In honor of Veterans Day, veterans and active-duty military personnel are being offered free passport photos during November. The fee for a passport photo at the Clerk's office is normally $15. To be eligible, veterans and active-duty personnel must present their DD-214, military ID, or have a veteran designation on their driver's license. Passport photos and applications are available at all three locations in Bartow, Lakeland, and the Northeast Government Center in Lake...
A three-weekend "Pumpkin Patch" fundraising effort generated more than $2,000 in support of Mothers of Veteran Suicide, a non-profit offering support to those suffering due to those tragedies. Funds raised by the effort will provide assistance serving to help prevent suicides among veterans disturbed by PTSD and other emotional challenges. The October weekend fundraisers were held at the Red Barn Farmer's Market Frostproof and The Gravely Red Barn. The events allowed allow...
