Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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As you read this, you may see yourself. Parts of the story might remind you of someone that you know. Maybe you've heard similar stories. The number of stories are as limited as there are people, 'cause everyone has their own. No two are exactly alike but the conclusions are the same. How about the hookers, the junkies, the drug dealers, the homeless because they want to be, etc.? The so-called "dregs of society." I've even heard them called "pimples on the ass of humanity."...
Just four months ago the Lake Wales City Commission leased a 2019 Ford Explorer XLT for the police department. That vehicle apparently wasn't good enough for City Manager Ken Fields. Instead Fields wanted the 2019 Ford Explorer Limited, which comes loaded with luxury, comfort, power and cosmetic features not included in the XLT. It also comes with 60 monthly payments of $773.17 – about $227 more per month than what the XLT costs. The Limited is a really nice vehicle. It comes...
Wow! It's hard to believe our Lake Wales online news site is almost 1-month-old. We did a "soft launch" with little fanfare Feb. 13 so we could load the site with great content before most people even got their first look. Our online readership is growing daily and many more are accessing the highlights on our Facebook page. In the last five days our posts reached more than 2,000 people, and more than half engaged in some way. We're the "new kid on the block," but we're...
Chair yoga is a great way to get the wonderful health benefits of yoga for those who of us who aren't flexible or have strength limitations. Yoga is an excellent way to stretch muscles and increase that strength and balance. Remember that yoga shouldn't hurt. Don't overstretch. Start slow, but keep moving. Here are some links to free chair yoga sites to give you options. I hope you are inspired to move. Check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine....
When Lake Ashton resident Al Goldstein became the only candidate to qualify for April's District 4 City Commission election, he won automatically, leaving plenty of Lake Wales residents wondering: "Who is Al Goldstein?" In a rambling two-hour conversation, Goldstein revealed much about himself and his strong opinions about several pending issues but left plenty hidden as well. Critical of some proposals before the Commission, Goldstein offered his respect for the positions...
Fans of live theatre will enjoy some spine-tingling chills during March as Lake Wales Little Theatre presents "The Assassin's New Friend." The psychological thriller features a very reluctant "friend" who finds himself dragged into a murder plot by a crazed killer. Faced with a "Hobson's choice," the true-crime writer is pulled deeper as the plot twists and turns. Featuring Jeff Herman as the scheming Kendrick, and Robert Connors as often-horrified writer Brian Hollander, the...
Lake Wales Vice Mayor Robin Gibson gave City staff a stern lecture Tuesday on the importance of full disclosure to avoid the appearance that they are "gilding the lily or hiding something." His concerns stemmed from the fact that a March 5 agenda item omitted important details: the leased Ford Explorer was for City Manager Ken Fields' use and the monthly cost was nearly double what they had approved for Fields the previous month. In February Fields asked to use a City car "in...
You want to make a difference in the world in a way that reflects your deeply-held beliefs. Increasingly, investors are defining long-term value as not only realizing attractive returns, but also generating positive social or environmental impact. To that end, they are looking for ways to align their portfolios with their purpose, using their wealth as a force for change. What It Means to Invest with Impact Impact investing refers to investments made into companies, organizati...
Housing has been in high demand in the Lake Wales area, and planned single-family developments have been building out rapidly, but demand is equally strong for apartment homes. Some of that demand will soon be met as Equinox of Florida LLC moves forward with their plans to build 335 new units on the north side of town. The new complex will consist of 13 buildings on two separate parcels totaling almost 50 acres. They are located about 500 feet north of Chalet Suzanne Road, dir...
Carolyn "Carol" A. Neumeyer of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, March 12 at Lake Wales Medical Center. She was born February 3, 1947 in Dennison, Ohio to the late Robert and Rebecca (Fouts) Hursey. She has been a permanent resident of Lake Wales for three years and a part-time resident for eight years coming from Dover, Ohio. She was a Homemaker and a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She attended High school in Port Washington, Ohio. Carol was a member of the...
When the phrase, "Every time we speak, one way or the other we are selling ourselves," is used in a promo, I am ready to give it a shot. Webber International University on March 5 hosted a workshop on selling yourself in the modern business world. Ron Weber, Assistant Professor & Chair for Marketing, was the speaker for this seminar. Director of Admissions Bobbi Andrews introduced Weber and opened the evening with the institution's desire to deliver great content to the commun...
The Lake Wales Public Library's Lifelong Learning series will host Victim Services Specialist, Theresa Adlam at noon Thursday, March 14 as she presents Facts about Identity Theft. Adlam is a Victim Services Program Specialist with the Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs in the Florida Office of the Attorney General, specializing in the area of Identity Theft. Adlam began her career in the field of criminal justice serving as a county probation officer. Sh...
Polk County Public Schools began accepting applications March 4 for its Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) and Head Start programs. Each of the programs is designed to address students' developmental and educational needs. Eligibility requirements vary. Available programs include: • Voluntary Pre-kindergarten, or VPK, a free statewide program for all 4-year-old children. Children must be 4 on or before Sept. 1 of the 2019-2020 school year to participate. VPK is offered at 23 s...
Financial exploitation and physical abuse of senior citizens is a growing concern in Florida. Attorney General Ashley Moody has announced Florida's Senior Protection Team, an intra-agency group of experts working together to fight fraud and abuse that impacts Florida's older citizens. The team is comprised of leading members from the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution, Consumer Protection Division and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Seniors v. Crime and the...
Polk County Public Schools began accepting applications for its Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) and Head Start programs March 4. Each of the programs is designed to address students’ developmental and educational needs. Eligibility requirements vary. Available programs include: • Voluntary Pre-kindergarten, or VPK, a free statewide program for all 4-year-old children. Children must be 4 on or before Sept. 1 of the 2019-2020 school year to participate. VPK is offered at 23 sites throughout the county. All 4-year-olds must sub...
Auditions will be held Monday and Tuesday, March 18-19, for the Lake Wales Little Theatre June teen production of "Reality Stars: Greek Gods Edition." According to promotional material the play is a hilarious romp that explores the great Greek myths within a reality show framework: "Thirteen gods are put under one roof, but only one can survive to sit upon Mount Olympus." Director Robbie Hartley will be casting "8 guys and 7 girls," ages 12-18. The play is not a musical, but...
The Lake Wales Arts Council is presenting an evening of classical masterpieces at 7 p.m. Friday, March 22 with GRAMMY-Nominated Yamaha Performing Artist Tom Brantley. A professor of trombone, Brantley grew up in a musical South Louisiana household, listening to classical, jazz, Latin, soul, pop/rock, country, bluegrass, and Cajun. A third-generation trombonist, Yamaha soloist, clinician, and recording artist, Brantley performs with the University of South Florida Faculty...
The Polk County Democratic Executive Committee is hosting a Town Hall on Monday, March 18, to discuss education bills making their way through the Florida Legislature. Open to the public, the town hall is from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Bartow public library, 2150 S. Broadway, Bartow. County residents are invited to understand details of legislation that Florida politicians may be voting on during the 2019 legislative session. From arming teachers to the growing shift of tax dollars...
The Camp Mack Concert Series continues from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, March 16 with a live performance by Big Time Jukebox! Based in Central Florida, Big Time Jukebox is a 5-piece band of performing Rock and classic rock favorites, Motown, RnB, Soul, New Country, and dance music! Enjoy the best music of the 50s thru today's hits.https://www.bigtimejukebox.com/ The event will by the river is for all ages and will include good food & drinks, fun people, and great music! Camp Mack, a...
The third annual Virginia Lassiter Leadership Luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 6 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Parish Hall, 221 South Fourth Street, Lake Wales. The luncheon will be followed by A Conversation with Leaders of the Lake Wales Arts community: Robin Gibson, Jayne Crews-Linton and Marilyn Newell. Founded in 1972 by a small group of citizens, the Lake Wales Arts Council has led Lake Wales' reputation as community rich in arts and...
Lake Wales High School is getting its own athletic hall of fame. The Highlander Booster Club will be inaugurating its first class on Saturday, May 4, with nominations for potential honorees due by March 15. Applications are available by visiting the group's facebook page or at www.lwboosterclub.com. "The purpose of the Highlander Hall of Fame is to celebrate the Highlander athletic program, honor the past success of Highlander athletics, inform students and community about...
People wanting to become volunteers in the Polk County Public Schools can now complete volunteer applications online at polkschoolsfl.com/getinvolved With the introduction of this new system, the school district will no longer accept paper volunteer applications from the general public. For security purposes, the new volunteer system will screen applicants with a national criminal background check as well as a Florida Department of Law Enforcement background check. Approved...
"Connection is why we're here. It's what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. This is what it's all about." Brene' Brown says this three minutes into her Ted Talk recorded June 2010, The Power of Vulnerability, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o This video has over 36 million views. She has authored five books and has links to five videos on her web site, https://brenebrown.com. She says courage involves uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure and that learning...
Polk County Manager Jim Freeman will speak about current county and state legislative issues at the next meeting of the Tiger Bay Club of Polk County. The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 20 at the Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave. in Bartow. The buffet lines opens at 11:45 a.m. and the meeting begins promptly at noon. The charge is $15 for Tiger Bay members and $25 for nonmembers. Reservations are due by March 19 by emailing [email protected]...
If we at the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council were to survey people who travel through and around greater Lake Wales, I think we would be hard pressed to find even a fraction of them pleased with driving conditions here. If we were to narrow down the survey to a discussion only about U.S. Highway 27, the area's major north-south route, the fraction of pleased motorists likely would be even smaller. The issue here really isn't about road...
