Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Renowned Lake Wales artist, Tom Freeman and his companion, Marcia Pennington, have released a new book, Tom Freeman's Florida. Freeman has selected one of his paintings that is representative of each of Florida's 67 counties. The paintings and background stories are featured in Tom Freeman's Florida. Also included is poetry written by Freeman. Tom Freeman's Florida is a beautiful collection of Mr. Freeman's works, featuring text by Ms. Pennington. Tom Freeman was the Lake...
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...
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....
Circle of Friends Ministry will hold its annual Chili Challenge Fundraiser beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, March 6. The meal includes all you can eat chili, cheese, corn chips, crackers and sour cream. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children age 12 and under. Beef stew and the snack shack will be available for those who don't eat chili. All proceeds go to the ministry, which for more than 20 years has been enhancing the lives of friends with disabilities. Chili cooks...
In addition to his wife Jean, Robin Gibson has two major loves – the Lake Wales Charter Schools system he helped create and historic downtown, which he is committed to help redevelop. It was a tough choice, but Deputy Mayor Gibson announced at the March 3 city commission meeting he will give up his job as general counsel for the charter schools to avoid an ethical conflict. His resignation takes effect March 15. Gibson said the potential sale of the city's 1919 school p...
It's not quite New Orleans, but Lake Wales no doubt throws one of the greatest Mardi Gras parties most people will ever attend. Unbound revelry, crazy costumes, colorful floats, beads and brew will highlight the 36th annual event scheduled for Feb. 21-22. The Lake Wales Mardi Gras attracts an estimated 15,000 people, making it one of the largest events of its kind outside of New Orleans. Mardi Gras starts at 6 p.m. Friday Feb. 21 with the annual 5k GLOW run around the...
The Lake Wales History Museum will hold its next history bus tour from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 1. The tour will feature old Florida history, driving through the heart of downtown Lake Wales and beyond, stopping at historic buildings such as the Rhodesbilt Arcade, the old Lake Wales State Bank, Dixie Walesbilt Hotel, Bullard Building, Lake Wales Arts Center and more. Along the way, participants will learn about the historic district, buildings and lakes of Lake Wales....
On Thursday Jan. 23 Legacy Real Estate Center, Inc. held the Grand Re-Opening of their new offices located at 218 East Park Avenue in Lake Wales. The event was attended by business associates, members of the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce, dowtown merchants and many clients. Legacy Real Estate Center opened in 2007 and has been located in downtown Lake Wales since that time. The Center is managed by Broker Dolores Vogel and has four sales agents and a property manager, all of...
The Lake Wales Car Show will celebrate its 10th Anniversary Saturday, Jan. 25. Classic and antique cars and trucks will be on display from 4-7 p.m. on East Stuart Avenue in Historic Downtown Lake Wales. Registration is free. The show will offer lots of door prizes including 10th Anniversary T-Shirts, professional DJ by Hot Rod Nights, a 50-50 drawing and more. Shops and restaurants will be open. The show is sponsored by Lake Wales Main Street....
Bellies-2-Babies LLC has recently added something new that is all a buzz in downtown Lake Wales. In addition to offering Doula services and Childbirth classes to help families prepare for the arrival of their baby, they now have a Baby Boutique! Janet Farmer, owner of Bellies-2-Babies says she loves the downtown area of Lake Wales and for years she has aspired to own a downtown business. Adding the Baby Boutique just made perfect sense since she already helps families in the...
The Lake Wales City Commission Tuesday, Jan. 14 approved $150,000 in incentives to help a taproom locate downtown and a café open on Lincoln Avenue. Since the two commitments would deplete their $200,000 incentive fund budget for 2019-20 commissioners agreed to make another $300,000 in Community Redevelopment Agency funds available for future food-related businesses seeking support. Lake Wales Main Street Director Karen Thompson said the two projects would serve as catalysts t...
Lake Wales Main Street Director Karen Thompson is so excited about the possibility of a tap room breathing life into downtown Lake Wales that she's asking city commissioners to allocate $100,000 in incentives for a proposed "specialty tavern" that would feature a self-serve, high-tech "beer wall" with 40 taps. That's half of what the city budgeted for incentives for the entire 2019-2020 year. Operating as the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, the commission will consider...
Facing vocal opposition to eliminating the citizen Code Enforcement Board, Lake Wales city commissioners expressed support for a hybrid system where they would keep the board but also hire a magistrate to handle more complex quasi-judicial issues. City commissioners Terrye Howell and Curtis Gibson at their Jan. 7 meeting opposed the staff recommendation to eliminate both the Code Enforcement Board and Board of Appeals, saying they wanted to encourage more citizen involvement...
Yesterday's Treasures owners Betty and William (Bill) Schermerhorn have collected for over 50 years mostly in New York state, and many of those finds are displayed and for sale at their shop in a house located at 125 W. Park Ave. a few blocks west of the Lake Wales Post Office. For any of you who know the place, but haven't stopped to look, you are in for a visual and virtual walk down memory lane. "We have an eclectic assortment of treasures from yesterday's past," says...
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...
Twenty years ago one determined Lake Wales mother decided children with disabilities deserved better. Mertice Fehringer (now Kelly) didn't like the fact that her daughter Connie and other children with special needs were pretty much ignored by the community. What started as one Sunday School classroom at First Assembly of God (now IMPACT) Church grew into the full-time Circle of Friends Ministry, which will celebrate its 20th Anniversary Reunion Saturday, Jan. 11. The...
Lake Wales Assistant City Manager Kathy Bangley is asking city commissioners to eliminate the citizen-staffed Code Enforcement Board and Board of Appeals and turn their duties over to a special magistrate. The change would require two public hearings to change city ordinances related to the boards. The first public hearing will be at the Jan. 7 commission meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. in the city municipal building. The current ordinance calls for a Code Enforcement Board...
Juanita O. Durso (Mrs Carl F. Durso) died Dec. 7, 2019. She was born Sept. 23, 1920. A sixth generation Kansan of Scottish descent, Juanita Orrick an original "Designing Woman" was owner of Nita Durso Interiors with customers in the Alameda Plaza and Kansas City area. Attending Kansas City Business College and Chicago Arts Institute, she was a Mid West Tennis Champion, and musically talented as a pianist and trumpeter performing with the Wyandotte High School Band and on local...
A City of Lake Wales incentive program to draw new restaurants to downtown has reeled in its first big catch. Melanie's Seafood Co. is scheduled to open in January at 120 Park Ave., thanks in part to $50,000 in grant funds from the city's Community Redevelopment Agency. The 35-seat eatery will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the site of the former Pedro's Downtown Deli, and will be owned and operated by Steve and Melanie Manwell, a couple who spent 17 years in a partnership at...
Mission Statement: Lake Wales Care Center is a faith-based community service organization which demonstrates Christ's love by building bridges between people in need and people with a desire to serve. When you read and comprehend the Care Center's directive Kathryn's Christian Books makes total sense. It's about providing "the local dad who brings his daughter in to get ice cream, and help her with her homework," says store co-manager Lauren Wilkinson. "Or the businesswoman,"...
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...
Following on the heels of Black Friday, local businesses are encouraging shoppers to participate in Small Business Saturday Nov. 30. Lake Wales Main Street Executive Director Karen Thompson said shops in historic downtown will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. "Every time you pick up a coffee at your local café, grab lunch at the mom-and-pop shop, or buy a new bag from a local store, you're making an impact in your community," Thompson wrote. "In fact, for every dollar spent at...
The Lake Wales Family YMCA will hold its annual 5K Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot leaving from 160 E. Park Ave. downtown. Pre-registration ended Nov. 24. Race day entry fee is $35 for adults and $15 for students. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. with the race start at 8 a.m. The race is bib chip timed, family and walker friendly. Participants receive a T-shirt and finisher medal....
A downtown Lake Wales fixture since 1976, Cliff's True Value Hardware will be closing the end of May. Owner Larry Tonjes announced plans in a letter posted Nov. 16 on Facebook. Tonjes said both of his parents recently celebrated their 80th birthdays, his sister was pursuing other career options and he was ready to join his wife Cindy in retirement. Cindy Tonjes has been a longtime local school teacher. "We have always appreciated the support that we have received from Lake Wal...
The Lake Wales History Museum is offering a bus tour to explore the community's history from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7. The new, air-conditioned History Bus will take riders on a tour through old Florida history, driving through the heart of downtown Lake Wales and beyond, stopping at historic buildings such as the Rhodesbilt Arcade,the old Lake Wales State Bank, Dixie Walesbilt Hotel, Bullard Building, Lake Wales Arts Center and more. Along the way, participants will...
