Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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As the government puts orders in considering this new named Pandemic with the Coronavirus, we have things to keep in mind regarding who is at risk and how to prevent it. The elderly and those who are unhealthy or have a compromised immune system are at risk of this becoming fatal for them. People who fall under this category should take precaution immediately. Addicts and alcoholics most definitely fall under this category due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, lack of...
As severe thunderstorms are rolling through Lake Wales this morning, I am reminded that we are truly at God's mercy, and He sustains us. It can be frustrating to plan our day, our week, our job search, our special event, our retirement, our funerals, etc; only to have things like ailments, illnesses, flat tires, weather, power/wi-fi outages, other people, newly discovered home repair needs, company layoffs, or world-wide pandemics upset our plan. Personally, I have attempted...
This is the second installment in the Lake Wales Renaissance series. Robin Gibson is a city commissioner and deputy mayor, who chairs the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency.A Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a proven commodity adopted in 44 states and over 220 areas in Florida. CRAs can be the vehicle for spectacular success or they can be badly abused. Succeeding articles will cover Lake Wales' history of CRA mistakes, lessons learned, and the way we can turn...
Ilene Marie Kalem, 70, of Lake Wales, Florida passed away Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born September 9, 1949 in Gloversville, NY to the late Philip Kalem and Bertha E. (Lamb) Baker; she moved to Lake Wales from New York 32 years ago. She was a retired CNA at The Grove Center. Ilene is survived by her daughters, Crystal Ambrosino St. Andrews (Robert) of Gloversville, NY, and Melissa Morse of Gloversville, NY; son, Michael Bruse Jr. of...
Lake Wales City Commissioner Al Goldstein wants a return to in-person commission meetings sooner rather than later. He says while technology is improving he laments the loss of citizen participation since the commission started online meetings. Goldstein said through a Florida League of Cities conference call he found out some other cities, including Auburndale, have restarted in-person public meetings, but with precautions. "I feel Lake Wales can also take the lead on this...
The Polk County School Board is making arrangements to hold traditional graduation ceremonies in June. Seniors expressing their opinions in an online survey overwhelmingly chose traditional ceremonies over virtual or drive-through graduations. School district officials said they belive they will be able to provide a traditional graduation experience to students and their families while adhering to CDC guidelines. Full details will be announced once the new schedule is...
Polk State College is celebrating more than a thousand graduating students this Spring 2020 Semester and is getting creative to publicly recognize their milestone accomplishments. Due to the need to cancel the May 7 commencement ceremonies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Polk State is offering a variety of virtual opportunities for graduates to participate in, including the creation of lifelong keepsakes for them and their families. "Polk State College's 122nd...
The Lake Wales Care Center needs donations for its food pantry to help hungry people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Items can be brought to a drive-up dropoff Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the back of the old Care Center Thrift Store, 201 N. Scenic Hwy. in Lake Wales or from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Care Center Thrift Store on 29696 U.S. 27 in Dundee. Most needed items are canned meat, canned milk, pasta and pasta sauce, breakfast items, peanut butter and...
"Small gestures in everyday life," like showing compassion and performing random acts of kindness, help us feel loved. During this time of the Covid-19 "Stay at Home" rules that so many are diligently upholding, what happens to those elderly and infirm people who don't have the luxury of being in their own homes with their loved ones around them? They are stuck in a nursing facility where they cannot interact with other residents and everyone looks strange in their masks and g...
Over the last month, we've been forced to make some major changes in our personal and professional lives. In times like these, we can be thankful that, in many cases, our businesses can still survive if we are able to move them to a virtual setting. Due to social distancing, many companies are holding online conferences and meetings, as it's a great way of staying productive and engaged despite distance. However, if you're new to working remotely, it can feel intimidating at...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was first produced for a presentation to a retired teachers' organization. We thought the content might be helpful to share. Not quite a year and a half ago I retired. After working close to 50 years, I figured I deserved a break. But after a few months of reading books and sitting around - a lot - I realized my memory was getting worse and my brain was becoming a lot less sharp. I called it mushy brain. I'm no expert, but for years I've been...
Polk County Public Schools and Polk Vision have teamed up to help improve internet access for students through a new initiative: Synced for Students. With campuses closed through the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, PCPS students are engaging with their teachers and lessons online as part of a statewide transition to distance learning. However, the change has been difficult for many families who lack internet service at home, or have limited internet options in their...
Chandra Denise Bickers, 51, of Lake Wales, died at home April 25 under Good Shepherd Hospice Care. She was born June 22, 1968. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is handling arrangements....
Billy L. Smith, 84, of Lake Wales passed away peacefully at Advent Health Orlando on Saturday, April 18, 2020. The COVID-19 virus took him from us very quickly. Bill was born in March 20,1936 to Thomas and Ruby Bunch Smith of Carrollton, IL. His beloved sister, Ethel Mae (Babe) was born two years later, and although times were tough during the Depression, Billy and Babe had a wonderful childhood. Just when Bill started high school, the family moved to Cheyenne, WY where they h...
As a little girl growing up in Lake Wales Cassandra Denmark set her sights on first becoming an attorney and then a judge. That determination resulted in her current successful law practice in Bartow, and 18 years' experience that prepared her for her new role as a circuit judge in January. Denmark was elected without opposition Friday, April 24 when she was the only person to qualify to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Judge John Radabaugh. Circuit judge...
Samuel Bealle Hardin, 70, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, April 24, 2020 at Advent Health Care of Lake Wales. He was born May 27, 1949 in Jacksonville, Florida to the late Jack Bealle and Doris (Peebles) Hardin. He grew up in Miami, moving to Lake Wales in 1985. He was a retired heavy equipment operator, who loved nature and motorcycles. A true family guy and big brother, he had an easy going and friendly nature. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era. He is...
Frances B. Prescott, age 97, passed away peacefully at Palm Garden in Gainesville, FL on April 26, 2020. Frances was born in Detroit, MI and graduated from Holly High School. In August 1943, Frances traveled by train to Santa Fe, NM and married her high school sweetheart, U.S. Army Cpl. Jesse A. Prescott, who was stationed at Los Alamos. In October 1944, Frances traveled by troop train with her infant son back to Michigan, where she lived with family until Jesse's return from...
