Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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The City of Lake Wales will undertake an internal study to hopefully find ways to make its business-friendly approach even friendlier in 2020. Officials revealed recently a group of employees is undertaking a comprehensive review of the city's building permitting process. "We're looking for ways to make that more efficient and effective. Can we improve our software? One big thing were going to be looking to do is to accept everything electronically," City Manager Ken Fields...
In Law School, one of the first things we learn is why our U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights (the first ten Constitutional Amendments ratified in 1791) is critical to the United States. The First Amendment to our U.S. Constitution guarantees Freedom of the Press. This right was so important that it is in the First Amendment! Freedom of the Press is critical to our U.S. way of life; it plays a vital role in informing citizens about public affairs, monitoring the actions...
The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida will facilitate the loan process for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, for small businesses in 10 counties in the Tampa Bay region, including Polk County. The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, activated by Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday, March 16, is available to small businesses in Florida that are experiencing economic damage as a result of COVID-19. "We understand the urgency...
Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM this week announced that it has received the honor of being named a 2020 CarGurus Top Rated Dealer. The CarGurus Top Rated Dealer awards are given to car dealerships that have received the highest average review ratings from shoppers who have submitted dealership reviews on the CarGurus platform. CarGurus uses verified dealership ratings along with other factors like pricing analytics to help shoppers search for a great deal on a vehicle. "We...
Due to the widespread impact of coronavirus (COVID-19), the application process for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program changed this week. Eligible small businesses interested in applying for the Bridge Loan program, a short-term loan designed to help business owners bridge the gap between the time of impact and when the business has secured long-term assistance, should apply for the program through one of two ways: • Apply online and upload required s...
This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available. CDC is working across the Department of Health and Human Services and across the U.S. government in the public health response to COVID-19. Much is unknown about how the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads. Current knowledge is...
The Low Payment Kings were the presenting sponsor of the 17th annual St Jude Radiothon on WPCV 97.5 Country. The radiothon raised a record $214,067 dollars. WPCV has raised over $2.5million dollars for St Jude. This year in addition to sponsoring the Radiothon, the Low Payment Kings donated over $5,000. The four Central Florida dealerships donated money for every oil change or test drive done in February. The Low Payment Kings dealerships include Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM of...
Life is full of unexpected happenings. Like all good and bad things, death is also a part of life. Florida residents should acknowledge this reality and plan in advance. It ensures that a person's estate will be distributed among the relatives and friends, according to the decedent's will. Make 2020 the Year you "see clearly with 2020 vision" to making your will and estate plan crystal clear. There are times when prolonged legal issues surrounding estate administration occur,...
Mike Mahalak, president of the Mahalak Auto Group recently announced the hiring of Nick Woodrum as Body Shop Manager for the Mahalak Auto Group. The Body Shop is located on the campus of Alfa Romeo FIAT of Winter Haven dealership. The Body Shop handles body repairs for all makes and models. Nick recently relocated from West Virginia where he was General Manager of a body shop for over six years. "Many people do not know that the Mahalak Auto Group offers exceptional body shop...
Mike Mahalak, president of the Mahalak Auto Group recently announced that Robert Boggess has joined Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM as Service Manager. "We are very excited to have Rob join our award-winning service team," Mahalak said. "Rob brings over a decade of Central Florida service experience to our dealership". Boggess said service customers today have higher expectations and it's the goal of his team to meet and exceed those expectations: "I am working with the Lak...
CenterState Bank and South State Bank have announced plans to merge, with John Corbett of Winter Haven to serve as Chief Executive Officer. Their combination will create a leading Southeastern-based regional bank with a market value of approximately $6 billion. The combined company will operate under the South State name and trade on the Nasdaq stock market using the South State ticker symbol SSB. The company will be headquartered in Winter Haven, and will maintain a...
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...
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...
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...
Your relationship is about living a happy life together, not dollars and cents. A little financial planning may help you get there. There’s nothing more exciting than tying the knot with the person you love. Of course, there are conversations you’ll want to have with your partner as you take this step. To avoid disagreements and finance-related pitfalls down the road, one of the most important ones is about money. Here are some top tips for talking about money with the per...
A Wawa convenience retail store manager who completes 25 years can retire a multimillionaire because of the company's lucrative profit-sharing program, according to George Wood, who will become the company's chairman of the board next June. Wood will take over from his brother Dick, who is also his next door neighbor in the exclusive gated community of Mountain Lake, just outside the Lake Wales city limits. The brothers are the third generation to own homes in Mountain Lake,...
On the heels of a sale yesterday of a 1971 VW kit car featured in a previous Florida Pickers column in addition to the sale last week of a rare 1936 Buick Roadmaster I immediately began searching for new listings of old classic cars to fill the void and generate future sales and stories. Then I found this 1968 Chevy Camaro survivor, blast from the past online. I called and made an appointment with owner Tim to scope out his original Camaro convertible in showroom condition. A...
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...
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...
As we move through our career, we often accumulate a number of different retirement accounts: A traditional IRA here, a rollover IRA there, and two or three scattered 401(k) accounts left in the plans of former employers. As the accounts add up, it can become difficult to get a clear picture of your overall retirement preparedness. Consolidating your retirement accounts into one central account can help you make sure your retirement assets are invested appropriately for your...
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,"...
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...
Since 2009, Publix has donated more than $2 billion in dairy, deli, meat, produce and fresh-baked goods to people in need. The company is now pledging an additional $2 billion in food donations over the next 10 years. "You can't always see hunger, but it is all around us," said Publix CEO Todd Jones. "As a food retailer, our greatest opportunity to give back is by helping to alleviate food insecurity. That's why for more than a decade we have worked to ensure millions of...
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...
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...
