Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Communications and information about City of Lake Wales activities and services should be easier to find, as a result of the hiring of Marketing and Communications Director Eric Marshall, who started his orientation in mid-December. Marshall, 48, is a graduate of the University of South Florida, where he studied mass communications, multimedia, and communications law. He comes to Lake Wales after a stint at Polk County Parks and Recreation. That was preceded by 13 years in...
Some 100 persons gathered at noon Friday in Lake Wailes Park to walk "The Way of the Cross," a shared Christian tradition marking the passion of Christ. Cooled by a slight breeze, the group listened intently to prayers offered by ministers from the various denominations on what is considered one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar. Held under the sprawling grandfather oaks of the park, the devout procession wound its way through eight stations scattered around the...
Lake Wales area residents dealing with foot ailments due to the effects of diabetes should know that it is a serious health problem that demands treatment, according to Dr. Prerna Mall, a podiatrist who specializes in diabetic foot care along with her regular practice. “Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common complications in patients who have diabetes which is not well controlled. These ulcers are usually caused by poor sugar control, underlying peripheral n...
Being a hero and helping repair the world may be easier than many people realize. How? Become a blood stem cell or marrow donor, volunteer or a supporter. Every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society estimates that 186,400 people will experience this frightening news just this year. While a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant can serve as a cure for leukemia...
On Jan. 27, 1931, residents along Tillman Avenue in Lake Wales got good news. The oak trees would be saved. A plan drawn up by the world renowned landscape-architect Frederick Olmsted Jr. for extensive tree planting in the city had called for some of their nearby oaks to be removed. Residents petitioned Olmstead to reconsider, and he did. As noted in a letter from his firm on that date, Olmsted's plan took many things into consideration, simplicity being chief among them....
A special event this Tuesday, March 22 will honor three area "Women Who Made History." The event will be hosted by the Lake Wales chapter of the American Association of University Women. "Women Who Made History on the Ridge" will honor Johanna Buscher-Shedler, Kathe Galloway, and Ethel Austin, (posthumously) will be feted for their work. Charlene Bennett, speaking on behalf of the AAUW, invited area residents to "join us in learning about the contributions, challenges, and...
Local Resident J. Lawton Lilly has completed his initial training assignments and has been assigned to the Navy's Seventh Fleet in the Pacific. He shipped out 3/16/22 as a US Navy Sailor to the Yokosuka, Japan Naval base outside of Tokyo. Lilly has been assigned to the USS Howard, a guided-missile Destroyer supporting Carrier Strike Group Five, consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, supported by the guided missile cruisers USS Antietam, USS Chancellorsville and...
Nearly two dozen middle school girls from Lake Wales and the surrounding area spent the weekend March 11-13 at camp learning about female empowerment and being encouraged to be "fearless" and to never stop reaching to achieve their goals. Rotary on the Ridge and the Lincoln Community Development Corp. partnered to host the first ever Camp Fearless at Lake Aurora Christian Camp. The girls participated in adventure activities, such as a zipline, giant swing and the gaga ball...
Behavioral health services are easier to access for Polk HealthCare Plan members seeking treatment now that it is a covered benefit. The addition, which was approved by the Citizens HealthCare Oversight Committee, began this month and is one of many enhancements that targets Polk's growing vulnerable population. The committee also has revised the plan's eligibility criteria twice in the last year to mirror the growing minimum wage and make the program more accessible to those...
Although most Lake Wales residents aren't even aware of it, Lake Wales is famous for thousands as the site of the largest group of landscape designs ever created by the legendary firm of Frederick Law Olmsted. So how did it come to be that the firm responsible for creating New York City's Central Park and for designing the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. played such a vital role in the planning – and now future – of Lake Wales? Our destiny as a "City in a Gar...
A number of community volunteers and organizations will host a free food giveaway at the B Street Center, which has been approved to be a Food Distribution site in collaboration with Central Florida Health Care. The announcement by Kassandra Noel, Food Distribution Coordinator, provides a handy location for homebound, needy and elderly persons to access a food bank that can help meet critical nutritional needs. Narvell Peterson, Executive Director of the B Street Center, and...
A nationally-syndicated and web-streamed radio show aimed at veterans originates in a Lake Wales for most of the year. Local residents Mike and Irene Spotswood record the "Cup of Joe Radio" show, often with Mike's service dog Truman at their feet. Mike, a Marine who did two tours in Vietnam over the course of 19 months, and Irene, a former nurse say their two-hour radio show is "80% music, 20% information." Their mission statement is "The healing power of music." Their show...
If your kids enjoy the outdoors, here's a great way to let them have fun, and perhaps win a college scholarship at the same time. Florida State Parks and the Florida Prepaid College program are partnering to encourage families to get outside and explore Florida's award-winning state parks through the Junior Ranger Program as well as prepare for their little ranger's future with a risk-free college savings plan. As part of the promotion, ten Florida children will receive a...
Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. invites you to participate in this year's Great American Cleanup Event kicking off March 1st. The Great American Cleanup is a nationwide cleanup initiative led by Keep America Beautiful. This cleanup event has taken place across the country for the past 36 years throughout the months of March, April and May annually. The first 1,500 volunteers, who pre-register will receive a FREE T-Shirt and ticket to Bok Tower Gardens (while supplies are...
Jordan Colon, a student at Victory Ridge Academy in Lake Wales got a big surprise when City of Lake Wales police officers presented him with a Kaye Dynamic Stander, a multi-positional standing aid with 360 degrees of movement. Colon has a developmental disability that affects his balance and postural control, making it difficult to walk unaided. "This is something special the Police Officers Association wanted to do for Jordan," said David Black, Deputy Police Chief. "It's...
It took only a few months working in the Development Services Division at the City of Lake Wales for Autumn Cochella to realize she had found her passion and a life-long career path. After six years on the job she recently earned a coveted certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners. "This is my hometown," Cochella said. "I get it. The responsibility is more personal because I care on a different level. She stepped into the role in a bigger way recently...
Whether working on large projects like the Park Avenue Connector Trail or coordinating the usage of the city's recreation facilities, Stephanie Edwards is the one the city can count on. Edwards has also been tasked with overseeing the city's acquisition and rehabilitation of the YMCA, including setting up free swim access for residents. Edwards serves as the busy Support Services and Recreation Manager for the City of Lake Wales Parks and Recreation Department, so she meets...
For decades, medical researchers struggled to solve the mystery of how to reverse paralysis caused by serious spinal cord injuries. Finally, hope appears to be at hand. Five years ago, Codi Darnell, the daughter-in-law of Dr. Harold Punnett, a co-founder of NervGen, fell and became a complete T-11 paraplegic. Dr. Punnett discovered a revolutionary nerve regeneration technology in Dr. Jerry Silver's work at Case Western Reserve University which resulted in the formation of...
"Getting back to museum basics" was a large part of the motivation that moved Anderson Hanna, former director of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, to apply for what might at first appear to be a less-authoritative role as Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the Lake Wales History Museum. Hanna doesn't see it that way at all, and is very happy with his career decision. "It's about getting to your specialty," he said, in describing the change that also brings him...
A Thursday evening virtual presentation by a renowned speaker Dr. Vincent Adejumo, who will explore the history of race in the United States and the impacts of specific events such as the infamous Trayvon Martin shooting. The psychological effect of such events has repercussions for society in general. The on-line presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. and is part of the History Museum's guest speaker series, funded by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment fo...
The inspiration of hard-working parents who wanted their children to have a better life has led their son to "pay it forward" by leading others to higher callings through Polk State College. Dr. Andy Oguntola is the Director of the college's Lake Wales campus in the JD Alexander Center on Central Avenue downtown. He also serves as Dean of Workforce Development for the multi-campus institution. Under his five-year watch enrollment at the local campus has grown from 600 to...
It may come as at text message, a phone call, or an email. Someone may warn you that an account is in arrears, your Social Security Number is being "suspended," or that you may be arrested for "fraud." They may even have a portion of your SSN as "proof," and claim they are going to increase your benefit. They may claim that your SSN is being used to commit fraud in another state and that you need to call "them" back as soon as possible, or warn of pending legal action. They...
As anyone who has spent time following the Florida sports betting saga will know, it now appears to be moving slowly towards an end. Rows in the state legislature have persisted for well over a year but there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel as sports betting has finally been legalized in the state – although, as yet, it’s not quite ready to go. For gamblers, this signals time to think about a key new question: what sports betting app will be the best for cust...
(NAPSI)-Each year, the average American family of four loses $1,500 to uneaten food-that's about 1,160 pounds of food. At holiday or any time, it's a good idea to think about how you can keep household food waste in check. Thanksgiving may be different this year, but we can still have a special celebration with a few adjustments, while, at the same time, reducing food waste. As the USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison, I would like to share with you a few tips that can help...
World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was formed in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world and is observed annually on November 13 as part of the World Kindness Movement. It is observed in many countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the U.A.E. World Kindness Day presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon one of the most important and unifying human principles. It is a day devoted to the positive potential of both large and small acts of kindness. Kindness. Is it...
