Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 626 - 650 of 668
The process of converting barren downtown streets into a shady pedestrian oasis got a financial boost as the City expects to receive a Federal grant. In a presentation to area citizens via an Internet link from Washington DC Tuesday evening, Congressman Darren Soto mentioned that an $800,000 infusion for downtown street rehabilitation had been included in the recent bi-partisan Infrastructure package approved by the US House. The package is now awaiting Senate approval. Soto gave Mayor Eugene Fultz credit for having brought...
Plans and proposals for new housing developments in Lake Wales have come in waves during 2021 and show no sign of abating. More than 8,300 new dwellings are now "visible" on the planning documents at the City of Lake Wales Development Services. Those residences are likely to house more than 23,000 new citizens, an expected population increase of some 140%. "Everybody wants to come where we are," said City Commissioner Robin Gibson, when asked about the growth spurt. "It's a...
The small-town spirit shone through in Lake Wales Thursday as a thousand spectators gathered to watch the annual Homecoming Parade organized by the students of Lake Wales High School. Representatives of area elementary schools and cheer clubs also participating in the show, one of the events marking the special week in the school year. Each class in the school placed and entry in the parade, as did several of the school's athletic teams including the soccer, football,...
After being stymied by the stout defense of the Naples Trojans for most of the first half, the Lake Wales Highlander eleven found the winning formula in the second half, opening with four straight touchdowns to chalk up a 32-0 victory Friday night in front of a Homecoming crowd at Legion Field. With the win the Highlanders advance to 3-1 on the season as they face their first district for next Friday night when they host Melbourne Eau Gallie. Senior RB sensation Marquish...
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has announced changes to rules governing camping reservations on District lands. These rules went into effect June 23 and will be enforced beginning Oct. 1, 2021. The draft rules were submitted to the Florida Legislature during the 2021 legislative session. The newly implemented rules "provide more fair opportunities for all users and create greater consistency with the other water management districts," SWFWMD stated in a news...
Seat 2 on the Lake Wales City Commission will have a new occupant after the April 6 municipal election – either Ricardo Navarro or Daniel Williams. Incumbent Commissioner Curtis Gibson is not seeking re-election, but is instead considering a run for Lake Wales mayor in 2022. Navarro, 33, is an internal medicine physician, owner and president of Navarro Medical. He also is a consulting physician for Vitas Healthcare and medical director for the hospitalist medicine program a...
In the April 6 municipal election political newcomer Kris Fitzgerald faces off with incumbent Al Goldstein to represent Seat 4 on the Lake Wales City Commission. One of the few similarities between the two candidates is they both served in the military – Fitzgerald in the U.S. Air Force and Goldstein in the U.S. Marines. They are very different in age, race, work status and political affiliation. Despite the position being nonpartisan, both accepted and then returned c...
Carl Weeks, 98, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born March 22, 1922 in Walton County; he moved to Lake Wales from Walton County in 1948. Carl was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving in World War Two; he was an excellent gardener and loved fishing. Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Weeks; and grandson, Mark Noble. He is survived by his daughter, Shirley Connors of Lake Wales; son, Carson Weeks and wife Kay of Winter Haven; brother, Marzel Weeks and...
LakeWalesNews.net recently celebrated our one-year anniversary. During our first year we published more than 1,200 stories and about 1,500 photos. This online news site is still a volunteer venture. The editor, writers and photographers receive no compensation. Most of us consider it a public service and a labor of love. We hope you enjoy LakeWalesNews.net and will continue sharing it with others. For those of you with time on your hands (like, most of you) now is the time to...
The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales' 35th Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser is set for Nov. 12. "Curb-side" pick-up of boxed dinners will be offered in lieu of a "sit-down" dinner and will take place between 4 and 6 p.m. There is a pre-paid delivery service included in the price of the ticket if one individual orders 10 meals or more at one location or 10 individuals or more from one location order a meal. The cost of the dinner will be $10, which will include pasta with...
A vision of restored brick streets and sidewalk cafes under the shade of umbrellas and spreading Live Oaks changed many viewers' ideas of the future of downtown Lake Wales Thursday evening. Those images were among many shared during a 90-minute presentation by consultants and engineers hired by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to create the "Lake Wales Connected" plan. The plan is designed to attract crowds, and thus business investment, to the neighborhood...
Efforts to beautify and green Lake Wales streets got another boost Saturday as community volunteers led by the Lake Wales Woman's Club prepared three street "triangles" along Lakeshore Boulevard for new floral plantings. "I'm totally stoked!" said Bonnie Poller, who is chair of the Environment Committee of the Woman's Club, which is spearheading the project. "Neighbors came out to help." More than a dozen volunteers participated. "This was only Phase one," Poller added....
A group of Lake Wales police officers were treated to a free tasty lunch and desserts on Friday by a group of homeowners from Lake Ashton, who wanted to show their appreciation for the peace-keeping efforts of the department. "The Loop" is a five-block neighborhood of the sprawling development on the north side of Lake Wales, and home of a casual organization that organizes community events three times a month. Calling itself the Looplanders, the neighborhood group has been...
Lake Wales has long been known as "The Crown Jewel of the Ridge," but that didn't happen by accident. It took the efforts of Edward Bok and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. While many are familiar with Bok, the name of Olmsted, arguably the more significant historic figure, is an enigma. It was Olmsted who designed Bok's famous gardens, as well as Mountain Lake, and scores of private landscapes there. It was Olmsted who designed the Colony House, and our familiar Town Clock. And it...
The Polk County Democrats announce that Robert Connors of Lake Wales was elected to the office of Polk County State Committeeman. The vote was held April 13 during a virtual meeting of the Polk Democratic Executive Committee (DEC). The office of Polk County State Committeeman includes informing the Polk County DEC of any questions to be brought before the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) State Executive Committee, reporting all actions taken at both the FDP Central and State...
As Polk State College moves to an online learning environment for the remainder of the 2020 Spring Semester to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, faculty and staff have partnered and are taking innovative approaches to convert courses, motivate students, and assist each other through the challenging circumstances. Classes will resume online on Monday, March 30, including dual enrollment courses and Polk State's three collegiate high schools. For weeks, faculty have been...
The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales will participate in the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) efforts in Conservation. The GFWC Conservation Community Service Program encourages awareness of our natural resources and caring for the world around us. It offers information and ideas to promote environmental appreciation and protection. The Florida Federation of Women's Club, and particularly the Preservation Committee chairwoman May Mann Jennings, took a deep interest...
Vincent DePaul Connors of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, June 30, 2019 at Lake Wales Medical Center after a long battle with pneumonia. He was 64. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Vince came to Lake Wales as the infant son of Mary L. and Paul T. Connors. He attended St. Williams' Academy as well as local public schools and graduated from Lake Wales High School in 1973. He enjoyed sports, wildlife, weather, and nature in general. Generous "to a fault," he often gave away favorite...
Memorial Day is about far more than beach outings and barbecues. Now students of Bok Academy in Lake Wales have a special understanding of what Memorial Day means, thanks in part to Lieutenant Colonel William Rumse, a veteran of what was then known as "the war to end all wars," which ended 100 years ago. A childhood neighbor of Bok Academy teacher Nicole Sealey, Rumse impressed upon her the significance of the day. Sealey takes special pains to pass her appreciation to her...
Lake Wales' busy downtown Alexander Center of Polk State College is again facing possible closure, according to College President Angela Garcia Falconetti. The crisis is due to the failure of the Legislature to include funds for the campus in the general budget. Instead they have once again been listed as a separate line item, tempting a gubernatorial veto of the funds. "It is critical for the College to receive these funds," Falconetti said in a prepared statement. "For many...
Bok Tower Gardens has finished third in a USA Today reader's choice poll of Best Botanical Gardens in the nation conducted by USA Today and 10best.com. Bok Tower's famed Mountain Lake Sanctuary, actually older than the tower itself, was designed by the Olmsted landscape design firm. The term "landscape architecture" was coined by firm founder Frederick Law Olmsted, who was renowned for his designs of such landmark parks as New York's Central Park, the grounds of the US...
New restaurants, coffee shops, micro-breweries and grocery stores planned for the heart of Lake Wales are eligible to take advantage of up to $50,000 from a new CRA grant program to help get them off the ground. The grants are designed to stimulate the development of new food-related businesses in Lake Wales' two Community Redevelopment Districts. They are administered through the City's Community Redevelopment Agency. Targeting a variety of food and beverage businesses, the...
Bok Tower Gardens is currently ranked third in a USA Today reader's choice poll of Best Botanical Gardens in the nation. The voting is ongoing, and the poll allows readers to vote for their favorite garden once a day. The poll leaderboard may be found at 10Best.com. In the final days of the contest, the leaderboard is not visible, so the winner will be a surprise. Bok Tower's famed Mountain Lake Sanctuary, actually older than the tower itself, was designed by the Olmsted...
Long a local favorite with a big reputation, Crazy Fish restaurant may have gotten even better since two ambitious young men assumed control last year. Now run by Matthew Brock and his partner, Dwayne McQuillen, their years spent managing popular Disney Springs restaurants is proving valuable as they steadily tweak the menu and atmosphere of the place. The pair purchased the restaurant last year. "Jim and Jeannie did a great job," Brock said of the former owners, who created...
Good food and fun are drawing crowds into the popular Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern, but there's also a fascinating bit of Babson Park history behind the success. Featuring a large and diverse menu and a full bar, the Crooked Bass is already a familiar dinner-time destination for folks in Babson Park and Frostproof, but as its reputation grows, people are making the drive from Lake Wales, Avon Park, Winter Haven, Haines City, and surrounding towns. The project of Tammy and...
