Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Over the course of my life, I have heard many people say something along the lines of "time flies." The older I get, the faster time does seem to "fly by." For the sake of my young readers, I am not speaking literally. Why does that seem to be true? In pondering the idea of the perceived speed of 'time', I remember two of the responses people gave me to an implied rhetorical question: "We acquire more responsibilities, the older we get," and "We realize how much time we have...
It's starting to feel like the Holiday Season! Whatever it may be that gives you that festive feeling – the festive lights being switched on in the city, the first pumpkin pies appearing in the stores or that friend who always seems to put up the tree in the middle of November– for many of us, the festive period is a time to look forward to. However, for some of us, it may not be such a joyous time as we seem to find ourselves at loose ends on that Special Day. Maybe lov...
Marilyn Dye Edwards, 88, of Belleair Beach, FL died Saturday, Dec. 26, 200 in the home of her daughter in Sarasota where she was convalescing following a sudden illness. Born Oct. 3, 1932 in Plant City she moved to Bradenton and then to Avon Park, prior to moving to Lake Wales where she lived most of her life. It was in Lake Wales where she attended high school and was a member of the Glee Club and voted Homecoming Queen her senior year. She received her nursing degree from...
The Lake Wales City Commission Dec. 1 approved its first permit for a large-scale event in 2021 – the 50th annual arts festival the weekend of Feb. 19-21. Lake Wales Arts Council Executive Director Andrew Allen described safety modifications being made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Allen said the artists' booths will be configured differently to allow a one-way flow and more green space between them. Marketing materials will stress the importance of wearing masks and f...
A lot was different about this year's "Shop With A Cop" event, except for one very important thing – dozens of local families will have a much merrier Christmas because of the Lake Wales Police Department. In fact, a total of 70 area children will have presents under the tree and holiday food on the table thanks to the annual program, run by the Lake Wales Police Officers Association. Normally, children and their families meet at the Lake Wales Wal-Mart to pick out C...
Responding to complaints from downtown visitors, Lake Wales commissioners have unanimously approved the first reading of a new panhandling ordinance for the city. The new law is patterned after a similar statute from Osceola County, which has not been legally challenged since it was passed about five years ago. City Attorney Chuck Galloway said finding an ordinance that would hold up in courts is an important part of the new proposed law. "Several years ago, there was a United...
Lake Wales City commissioners in a workshop session Dec. 9 indicated support for continuing with their foreclosure action on the historic Seminole Hotel. Only Commissioner Curtis Gibson expressed interest in holding off on the foreclosure and working with Henry Kebabjian, who purchased the hotel in August at a bargain basement price of $10,500. "Here's the deal," Gibson said. "We want to be pro-business. We want entrepreneurs to come into our city and work with us." But City...
To brighten Christmas for local children, the City of Lake Wales is offering calls from Santa Dec. 21 and 22. The city Recreation Department is coordinating the calls both nights from 5:30-8:30 p.m. for children age 10 and younger to talk with Santa about their holiday wishes. Those wishing to participate should complete and return a form by 4 p.m. Dec. 18 to the city administration building at 201 W. Central Ave. The form, which includes information about the child to assist...
Lake Wales City Commissioner Al Goldstein has been appointed to serve on the "new and improved" Florida League of Cities' 2020-2021 Advocacy Committee. In appointing Goldstein, FLC President Tony Ortiz said advocacy is one of the primary missions of the Florida League of Cities. "This committee will be responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in the Advocacy Mission Statement and for developing ideas and activities that strengthen our influence with state...
The Citizens and Police Community Relations Advisory Council will hold its third public forum on Dec. 17. The town hall style meeting is designed for citizens to communicate with the police, ask questions and learn more about law enforcement operations and procedures. The forum will begin at 6 p.m. at the Lake Wales Woman's Club, 275 E. Park Ave. Masks are required and the room will be set up for social distancing. The newly reestablished committee includes five citizens, each...
Harvey Legrant Blocker, 57, of Lake Wales died Dec. 6, 2020 at Advent Health in Haines City. He was born May 20, 1963 in Lake Wales. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is handling arrangements....
Holiday shoppers looking for a locally grown or handmade gift will revel in the news that the Lake Wales Farmer's Market is once again re-open in the city's historic downtown district. The market returned with almost 40 vendors on Nov. 14, and is expected to host upwards of 50 or more vendors on Saturday, December 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market operates on the second and fourth Saturday each month, and will be open Dec. 26 as well. Market manager Lynn Greenfield said the...
Henry Kebabjian is not giving up on his plans to redevelop the historic Seminole Hotel and is still hoping to convince Lake Wales city commissioners to drop their foreclosure action, waive code enforcement fines and allow him to go forward with the project. Kebabjian told commissioners at their Dec. 1 meeting that he now has more than $40,000 invested in the hotel, which he purchased for $10,500 in August. He said he has purchased property for parking south of the hotel on...
City leaders are continuing to cast an eye towards improving the quality of life by approving the creation of a master plan for parks, trails and open spaces in Lake Wales. Commissioners have approved the hiring of S&ME to come up with the plan, a process that will involve a number of public workshops and meetings, and should take around 10 months to complete, according to the Orlando-based firm. "A master plan will serve as a guiding tool in order to elevate the current...
Karen Burcham, 43, of Babson Park passed away Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 at her residence. She was born August 17, 1977 in Lake Wales to Roger Wellman and Donna Ward. Karen was a gardener for Marshall Carolle. Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Donna Caraway on August 14, 2017; father, Roger Wellman; daughter, Melissa Burcham; and brother, Aaron Wellman in 2013. She is survived by her sons, Bobby Burcham and wife Jasmirelis of Vero Beach, and Rocky Lee Carter of Plant...
Design team members for the Lake Wales Connected downtown revitalization plan on Nov. 18 unveiled concepts for turning Market Plaza into a community gathering place. About 30 people participated in an online open house to see two concepts for the central square between Stuart and Park avenues. Attendees were told the 1931 historic clock, designed by the famed Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architects and relocated to the marketplace as part of the downtown revitalization in the...
The Lake Wales City Commission on Nov. 17 formalized its selection of James Slaton as city manager by approving his employment contract. The Commission voted unanimously Oct. 20 to offer the interim city manager the full-time position. Slaton has been a city employee for 17 years, including recent service as the deputy city manager in charge of nine departments and overseeing multiple special projects. Slaton also has completed an intensive two-year city manager training...
City Commissioner Al Goldstein said when he took office in 2019 he was a little unclear about what his official responsibilities entailed. The duties of commissioners were not defined anywhere in the city Charter or by ordinance. The duties of the mayor are defined in the city Charter, so the Lake Wales Charter Review Committee recommended adding the duties of commissioners. Instead, city commissioners agreed to define their duties in city ordinance, which is easier to change...
The Lake Wales Arts Council will host the opening reception and awards ceremony for the Chip Thullbery Fine Arts Invitational from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. This is the 2nd annual juried fine arts gallery competition for the Lake Wales Arts Council and it showcases more than 40 talented artists from across Central Florida. The exhibit features more than 60 pieces of work judged by Susan Altman, a practicing artist, educator, professor, and assistant chairperson in the Visual,...
The Lake Wales City Commission will give a final look Nov. 3 to seven proposed changes to the city charter that would go on the April 2021 municipal ballot. Commissioners decided to hold their meeting early at 10 a.m. at the city administration building to avoid election day conflicts. Two weeks ago commissioners approved seven ordinances to place before the voters changes recommended by the five-member Charter Review Committee. They decided to define the duties of city...
Well into the 20th century, bank accounts, credit cards, and household finances were legally left to the control of men. Women's lack of financial freedom was one of General Federation of Women's Club's founder, Jane Cunningham Croly, foundational rallying cries for women across the country. GFWC Clubhouses have come to play a significant role in the preservation of America's historic buildings. Many clubs are situated within historic buildings or were constructed or...
Lake Wales City Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 20 to appoint James Slaton as the next city manager. Slaton has been serving as interim city manager since June 2, when Ken Fields agreed to take an early retirement. Slaton has worked for the city for more than 17 years, most recently as deputy city manager in charge of nine departments. Commissioners considered other options for a search and decided Slaton had proven himself during his more than four and a half mo...
Ed Palmer officially became the Lake Wales Police Department's community liaison officer on Sept. 14. But if you ask James "Perly" Sermons, it's been Palmer's calling for a lifetime – Sermons' lifetime. The two first met when Palmer served as the School Resource Officer at Hillcrest Elementary when Perly was a student there. As luck might have it – others might call in Divine guidance – Palmer followed Sermons as an SRO when the youngster went to Roosevelt Academy and to La...
The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency has been presented with the prestigious Florida Redevelopment Association Award for outstanding "Planning Study for Small Cities." The FRA annual awards program recognizes the best in redevelopment in the state of Florida. Selected by a statewide jury of community development professionals involved in economic development, winners demonstrate originality and positive impact on their communities and serve as a shining model for...
Lee Alexander "Alex" Wheeler III passed away Tuesday, October 27, 2020 after unexpected complications following surgery. A third generation Lake Walean, Alex was born in Lake Wales on February 4, 1953, and was a graduate of Lake Wales High School and the University of Florida. Alex was a CPA practicing at Bunting Tripp & Ingley, where he specialized in not-for-profit tax law. Alex was an avid scuba diver who loved hiking, camping, and the outdoors in general. His underwater...
