Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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A blue-ribbon committee of residents will spend the next few months reviewing the Lake Wales charter – the document that details how the city is governed – with an eye towards putting any suggested changes in front of voters next spring. The five-person group will conduct all its meetings publicly, and ultimately can only suggest changes. Those suggestions are then considered by the current city commission, and then go on the ballot if they give them a thumbs up. The com...
The Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club is hosting a Free Community Shred Day Saturday, June 13 to help with post quarantine cleaning. People with material to shred can drive up to the parking lot at the Peterson Myers law office at 100 W. Stuart Ave. in downtown Lake Wales between 9 a.m. and noon. Rotary volunteers, who will wear masks and gloves, will unload the materials so people don't have to leave their cars. Things that can be shredded include: paper, credit cards, paper...
Polk County Rotary Clubs are participating in a Million Meal Challenge being coordinated by Rotary District 6890 through Feeding Tampa Bay. The clubs and district are working to raise $200,000 during the month of May to help people in Polk, Highlands, Hardee and Hillsborough County impacted by the COVID-19 virus. According to Feeding Tampa Bay, the demand for meals has quadrupled due to the global pandemic. Many people who never needed help before, especially seniors...
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...
Edward Earl Pilkington, 81, passed away and joined the Lord on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Edward was born on June 18, 1938 and raised in Miami, where he graduated from Jackson High School and started his career as an architect. He opened his own architectural firm, Edward Pilkington, A.I.A., Architect, P.A. in 1973 in Miami, before moving to Lake Wales in 1982. He continued...
Since September Raymond had been living in his car. The music education major at Polk State College said he had two blankets for cold nights, but if he didn't remember to tape his car's door gaps on rainy nights the water poured in and woke him. Raymond stayed committed to his studies despite spending most nights in a WalMart parking lot. Two weeks ago he left the ranks of the homeless and moved into the new Lenfestey Scholarship House at the Manse on Avenue Q in Winter...
Five days before the April 7 city election, 1,041 Lake Wales citizens had returned their vote by mail ballots. That's about 41 percent of the 2,541 who requested ballots to vote by mail and 82 percent of the total 1,275 who voted by mail in the 2019 city election. Only one race will be decided Tuesday, Seat 5 between incumbent Commissioner Robin Gibson and challenger Bob Wood. Although the Seat 3 race will appear on the ballot, votes won't count because incumbent Commissioner...
In an abundance of caution to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus various organizations in the Lake Wales area are canceling events or taking extra safety measures. As of 1 a.m. March 14 the Florida Department of Health still reported no cases in Polk County, and a total of 83 cases statewide, which resulted in three deaths. Updates are available online at http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/index.html Walt Disney World and Universal...
NOTE: The city has canceled this event due to concerns about the COVID-19 virus. The City of Lake Wales Recreation Department will host Lake Wales Live starting at 6 p.m. Friday, March 20. The first entertainment will be provided by Cory Greenway. The Autumn Brown Band will begin performing at 8 p.m. The free event is held in the park in front of the Lake Wales Public Library at 290 Cypress Gardens Lane. Food will be available for purchase from food trucks. Rotary on the...
The Lake Wales City Commission Candidate Forum is still scheduled for Monday, March 16 but with a change of venue and other modifications to restrict attendance. The event will be videotaped and broadcast on Facebook Live to grant public access while limiting group contact due to concerns about the COVID-19 virus. Rotary on the Ridge is coordinating the event, which now will be held in the community room at the Ouellette Law Firm, 151 E. Central Ave. in downtown Lake Wales....
As the 2020 elections take shape, one race for circuit court has drawn the interest of a prominent civil, family and general law attorney from Lake Wales. Attorney Cassandra L. Denmark filed as a candidate for the 10th Judicial Circuit, Group 19 seat now held by Judge John Radabaugh. "If given the opportunity, I assure I will serve with integrity, respect and fairness," Denmark said in announcing her candidacy. Denmark has practiced law in the state for 18 years. Prior to...
The four candidates in the April 7 Lake Wales City Commission election will answer questions and meet the public at a forum on Monday, March 16. The candidate forum is being sponsored by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council, the Lake Wales Arts Council, Rotary on the Ridge and LakeWalesNews.net. Candidates will set up tables with campaign literature and meet informally with attendees during a reception starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Michael...
Lake Wales City Commissioner Terrye Howell has been declared re-elected for another 3-year term following the withdrawal of her opponent Greg Massey. Massey submitted a signed statement to Lake Wales City Clerk Jennifer Nanek Tuesday, March 10 indicating his decision to end his campaign. It is possible Massey would have been ruled ineligible to run since he had a felony conviction for second degree murder and hadn't had his voting rights restored. City officials were awaiting...
Lake Wales lost a special friend when Jerry Miller passed early in the morning of Feb. 24 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The community and government relations manager with what is now Duke Energy, Miller touched countless lives throughout Central Florida and left a lasting imprint. Faith, family, friends and service were Miller's top priorities. His smile, some might call it an impish grin, lit up a room, and he loved to dance. The 61-year-old Miller fought cancer...
Jerry Miller, 61, of Lake Wales passed Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born December 25, 1958 at Lake Wales Hospital to the late Clarence and Helen Miller; he was a proud 5th generation Floridian and lifelong resident of Lake Wales. He had a great love for his hometown. Miller played on the tennis and baseball teams at Lake Wales High School, where he graduated in 1976, and remained active in sports until he could no longer play...
Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club's mission is "to be a service club that focuses on caring for the youth of our community while participating in Rotary's global efforts". Our Rotary Club held an annual Boys' Camp for 27 years, but needed enough women in the club to band together to organize a Girls' Camp. Girls' Camp was created in 2011 with the theme "I AM Smart, Unique, Important, Beautiful, and Fun." Girls' Camp is an annual event, held at Lake Aurora Christian Camp in...
Dr. Eugene John Landry, 94, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 at the Palm Gardens of Winter Haven. He was born April 14, 1925 in Dexter, ME to the late Louis and Olivine Landry; he came here from Moline, IL in 2000. He was a retired surgeon and served as a deacon at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Winter Haven. Dr. Landry was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army as a medic under George Patton. He was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W.,...
The Lake Wales Charter Schools are looking to breathe new life into the old high school complex by locating Bok Academy North on the site off Seminole Avenue. Charter Schools Superintendent Jesse Jackson said his staff is working with Lake Wales City Manager Ken Fields and may have a proposal for the city commission at their next meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency Feb. 18. The charter schools approached the city two years ago asking for a donation of the school...
The annual Crooked Lake Heritage Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1 to celebrate the rich history of Babson Park. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. lakeside on the campus of Webber International University at 1201 N. Scenic Hwy. in Babson Park. The event will feature live music, family fun, food trucks, history displays and art activities. The performance schedule includes: Bok Academy steel drums, 10-10:30 a.m.; Babson Park Elementary Chorus, 10:45-11:15;...
The City of Lake Wales Recreation Department will host Lake Wales Live starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17. The entertainment will be Back Porch Revival Folk Music. The free event is held in the park in front of the Lake Wales Public Library at 290 Cypress Gardens Lane. Food will be available for purchase from food trucks. Rotary on the Ridge will offer beer and wine for donations to support community service projects. For more information, contact Recreation Coordinator...
Lake Wales' longtime historian, visionary, beloved wife, and mother, Mimi (Mary Leigh Reid) Hardman, died at age 85 on Dec. 13 following an extended illness. A driving force for historic preservation and celebrating the pioneers who built Lake Wales, Hardman left behind an extraordinary legacy. In her adopted hometown and beyond, Mimi will be remembered as the founder and director of the Depot Museum, host of the annual Pioneer Days festival, red outfits and patriotic...
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...
Sixty local organizations helped promote holiday cheer by participating in the Lake Wales Christmas Parade Saturday, Dec. 14. Thousands lined Central Avenue to enjoy the band, floats, cars and other festively lit entries in the nighttime event, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Lake Wales. Walkers passed out candy, and costumed elves interacted with fascinated children. Studio 6 Academy of Dance won the President's Choice Award for best float, with its Whoville float complete...
The City of Lake Wales Recreation Department will host Lake Wales Live starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20. The Jonathan Kaufman Trio will perform a night of jazzy holiday favorites. The free event is held in the park in front of the Lake Wales Public Library at 290 Cypress Gardens Lane. Food will be available for purchase from food trucks. Rotary on the Ridge will offer beer and wine for donations to support community service projects. For more information, contact Recreation...
Thousands of barbecue, craft beer and music lovers will converge on the shores of Lake Wailes this weekend for the 2019 Orange Blossom Revue. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Lake Wales, the event runs from 4:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 and noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Admission is free and proceeds from food sales and raffles will support arts and education programs for Lake Wales area youth. The event, in its 6th year, grew out of an annual barbecue hosted by the club....
