Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Editor's Note: Memorial is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at 1st United Methodist Church in Lake Wales, with musical prelude starting at 1:30 p.m. The grand lady in red, white and blue, Lake Wales legend Mimi Hardman died Friday, Dec.13. A driving force for historic preservation and celebrating the pioneers who built Lake Wales, Hardman left behind an extraordinary legacy. Her service as chair of the Bicentennial Commission led to the opening of the Depot Museum on July...
Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council Board Chairman Maryemma Bachelder celebrated a successful year at the annual holiday luncheon Dec. 6 as she prepared to turn the reins over to Andy Oguntola. Past board chairmen, formerly called presidents, lined up in date order for the annual tradition of passing the gavel. First in line this year was Edwin Friedlander, who was Chamber president 60 years ago in 1959. Oguntola has the distinction of...
The Lake Wales Charter Schools Foundation has kicked off it's 2019-20 giving campaign, committed to improving the educational opportunities for all students in the community, according to campaign chairman and Foundation chair James Tully. With the opening of Bok Academy North two years ago, the charter system now operates seven schools, serving a total of approximately 4,750 students. For the fiscal year that ended June 30, the system realized overall revenues of $39.5 millio...
Thirty-two colorful and unique wreaths remain on display at the Polk History Center in Bartow through Dec. 12. Local businesses, individuals and organizations donate them for the annual Festival of Wreaths, with auction proceeds going to support History Center programming. The History Center, located at 100 E. Main St. in Bartow is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The interested in the wreaths can view them and place bids or purchase them online at...
Volunteers are needed Dec. 11 and 18 to help remove the invasive species Caesar's weed at Circle B Bar Reserve. Bring your favorite pair of gloves, and some water, and plan to spend a couple hours, or as long as you can last, removing the weeds. The work that has been done already is changing the landscape at the Reserve and we just need a couple of more hands to keep pushing forward. Invasive plant removal is from 8:15 to 10 a.m. Wednesdays Dec. 11 and 18. Another work day...
Circle B Bar Reserve volunteer guides on Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 will be taking visitors on a personalized tram tour through the marsh to view and learn more about alligators. The American alligator is a keystone species of the reserve, located at 4399 Winter Lake Road in Lakeland. This will be a great time of year to observe alligators and learn some facts about them and their behavior. To register, stop by the reception desk or call (863) 668-4673 ext. 205. This tour is limited...
Polk County Public Schools broke ground Dec. 4 on a new high school in fast-growing Davenport. The new school, located adjacent to Davenport School of the Arts, is scheduled to open in August 2021 and will accommodate 2,500 students, providing enrollment relief to nearby Ridge Community and Haines City high schools. It will offer programs in the fine arts, hospitality and hotel management, technology, computer modeling and gaming. At the groundbreaking ceremony,...
More than 550 students with Polk State College's 121st graduating class will walk the stage Thursday, Dec. 12, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland to receive their diplomas. The commencement ceremony, which is a free ticketed event, will start at 6:30 p.m. at 701 W. Lime St. The ceremony will feature remarks from Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti and December 2019 Distinguished Alumna Susan Copeland. "Commencement marks a significant milestone of perseverance and...
Lieutenant David McArthur Smith aka " June Bug", 77 of Babson Park died Dec. 9 at Advent Health Hospital in Lake Wales. He was born April 14, 1942 in Lake Wales. He was a retired Polk County Deputy Sheriff and longtime president of the local NAACP chapter. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. Location to be announced. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is in charge of arrangements....
Lake Wales NAACP Chapter President Wanda Howard died Sunday of cardiac arrest after an 18-year battle with cancer. "This is a very sad day for the City of Lake Wales. Wanda was such a bright light for our community. She will be missed in so many ways," said Mayor Eugene Fultz. Howard became NAACP Branch 5109 president in January 2017, the first female to serve in that capacity. She was named branch president of the year at the state conference in September. She joined the...
The Lake Wales Public Library is proud to announce a new service focusing on connecting individuals and non-profit organizations with foundations who provide funding opportunities, Foundation Center's the Funding Information Network and Grants to Individuals. The database of more than 13 million grants and 140,000 grant makers is available within the Lake Wales Public Library, during regular hours of operation. You are encouraged to bring your own device, use our computer...
Lakeland Regional Health, with support from the City of Lakeland, is planning to construct a three-building, 96-bed center to better serve the behavioral health inpatient and outpatient needs of the Polk County community. The $46 million Center for Behavioral Health & Wellness will be built near Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and will treat adults and adolescents for mental health problems, substance abuse, memory disorders and more. Outgoing LRH President Elaine...
Whether your loved one passed away recently or years ago, the holidays can stir up a sense of loss that overshadow any celebrations. Reminiscing about holiday traditions, knowing your loved one will not be present, can cause sadness and anxiety. While everyone grieves differently, it's important to know that intensified feelings associated with loss is common this time of year. Some may feel the need to hide their feelings from friends and family. They may be embarrassed or...
City Commissioner Al Goldstein has been appointed by the Florida League of Cities to its Federal Action Strike Team, also known as FAST. The appointment announcement said Goldstein was selected because of his leadership within the League and his relationship with the local congressional delegation. Goldstein recently participated in the League's FAST Fly-in to Washington, DC, which the organization said was successful in bringing attention to a number of key federal issues....
Juanita Meeks Branch, 83, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at her residence. She was born Aug. 14, 1936 in Eagle Lake to the late Thomas C. and Sally E. (Lane) Meeks. She has been a resident of the area since 1947 coming from Winter Haven. She was a retired administrator for the Public Defender's office in Polk County and has the distinction of serving under the first Public Defender LeRoy Horton and 3 of his successors. She was a member of the Lake Wales...
Polk State College and the Polk State College Foundation were collectively named the Philanthropic Corporation of the Year during the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Polk County's National Philanthropy Day Celebration, where student Makenna Hansel was also honored with the Youth in Philanthropy Award. Polk State joins corporations recognized in previous years including Allen & Company, Citizens Bank & Trust, Mosaic Company, Regal Lakeland, and Publix...
The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and the Central Florida Development Council recently hosted the 5th annual international trade symposium Polk Goes Global. Javier Marin, CFDC director of business development and global trade, moderated discussions on tariffs and their impact on global trade and local businesses. "As we seek to attract high tech and aviation opportunities to Polk County, we remain committed to helping existing business growth, specifically manufacturers and...
The Ritz Theater in Winter Haven will host a Winter Wonderland event Saturday, Dec. 7. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during Carols in the Park and will feature a picture with Santa and Mrs. Clause, cookie decorating, Christmas entertainment and create your own reindeer mix. Gift wrapping will be available for a donation Attendees who bring a new unwrapped toy, three non-perishable food items or make a $5 donation will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a...
The Polk History Center's monthly cemetery tour Dec. 7 coincides with National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and will feature a focus on the veterans of World War II interred at the cemetery. Oak Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Bartow, which was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The early gravesites date to 1860, and people interred there include Confederate Gen. Evander M. Law, Bartow land donor Jacob Summerlin and Polk pioneer settlers...
Library cards are still a thing. And now, every single student in the Lake Wales Charter Schools and Polk County School system has one. The Polk County Library Cooperative has partnered with Lake Wales Charter Schools and the Polk County School System to provide free access to public library materials and online resources. Tina Peak, Director of the Lake Wales Library, said the new program is beneficial on many fronts. "This is a wonderful partnership. We often see students...
A site-based assessment team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive Dec. 2 to examine all aspects of the Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. Verification by the team that the Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process...
Can you see it? Can you feel it? Something's in the air and although the holidays are fast approaching, I am specifically referring to the Dover Kohl "Lake Wales Connected" downtown revitalization plan that focuses our resources and attention to rejuvenating downtown. To keep connected, let's talk about what has happened since the Aug. 13 town hall meeting when Victor Dover unveiled the final plans. In full-speed-ahead mode, Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. posted on Nov. 15 the...
For the second consecutive year, Polk State College received a Chancellor's Best Practice Award from the Florida College System – this time for its First Year Experience and Guided Pathways programs focused on ensuring students persist on their paths to degrees and careers. College representatives accepted the award Thursday in Palm Harbor alongside colleagues from State College of Florida, Eastern Florida State College, and Florida SouthWestern Sate College who were also r...
Honk if you love bass fishing! Bartow Ford is investing in Florida bass conservation by partnering with FWC's TrophyCatch angler recognition program. The company has provided a Ford F-150 to be the "TrophyCatch Truck," which is being used to promote the program throughout Florida. The F-150 is also the designated tow vehicle for the TrophyCatch boat, donated by partner Phoenix Bass Boats. The colorfully wrapped duo of truck and boat provide a mobile billboard that encourages...
As the nation struggles to train enough cybersecurity experts and analysts to fill a shortage that has grown by 50% since 2015, four Polk County colleges are offering courses and degrees to help prepare students for this growing field. In the next two years, about half a million cybersecurity jobs will remain unfilled, according to the Principles for Growing and Sustaining the Nation's Cybersecurity Workforce. Around the world, that number could reach 3 million, according to...
