Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Wow, what a week! People are important in each community. Yes, even in Lake Wales. We honor the Pioneer every year, we elect city commissioners, and there are many other important people who don't hold city positions who affect our daily lives. Although what I am about to write about isn't directly related to the City proper, all of these helped shape me to become the person I am. I now understand the importance of bringing these outside experiences back to my town. For 10...
Just in time for the Fat Tuesday celebrations happening across Europe and the Americas, a new Carnival club has been conceived for Lake Wales. The "Krewe Renaissance" will be a step back in time to the roots of Lake Wales' 35-year traditions of Mardi Gras. They announced plans to sponsor a black-tie-optional masquerade ball, complete with a dance band, food, and drink, to highlight the 2020 celebrations. "We are conspiring to ramp up the fun for next year!" said a krewe member...
Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs set the tone with famed jazz singer Billie Holiday's haunting 1939 classic "Strange Fruit," a musical tale of lynchings, burning flesh and dripping blood. Her Black History lecture Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Lake Wales Museum continued with fascinating but disturbing stories, statistics and photos of far too many black men and women hung from trees in the South. While many Black History lectures celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans, Hobbs...
The Lake Wales Branch of the American Association of University Women is offering Educational Achievement Awards to mature women residents of Polk County who are interested in continuing their education. Recipients must be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education. The postmark deadline is Friday, March 8 for applicants to write a letter with proof of college admission. Award winner will be chosen by March 31, and selected recipients must attend AAUW luncheon o...
Nearly a month into his new position as Dean of Academic Affairs on the Polk State College Lakeland Campus, John Glenn already has his finger on the pulse of what students need because "I am our students," he says. "I was the student who didn't know how to go to college," Glenn explains, pointing to the demographics of Polk State's students, including the 52 percent who are the first generation in their families to go to college. In addition to 75 percent of students enrolled...
In 1975, Florida's Escambia County and the city of Pensacola experienced a pernicious chain of events. A sheriff's deputy killed a young black man at point-blank range. Months of protests against police brutality followed, culminating in the arrest and conviction of the Reverend H. K. Matthews, the leading civil rights organizer in the county. Viewing the events of Escambia County within the context of the broader civil rights movement, Dr. J. Michael Butler demonstrates that...
The Reverend Tim Nunez is committed to helping families raise their children in the faith so they can become leaders for the next generation. Nunez is the new rector at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd at 221 S.4th Street in Lake Wales. He began preaching at Good Shepherd in December, became Rector Jan. 1, and had the celebration of a new ministry on Sunday, Jan. 27, followed by a reception. Nunez served under Bishop Greg Brewer as Canon to the Ordinary for the...
Rotary on the Ridge has installed William Heath III as a new member. "Trey" is a REALTOR ® with Century 21 At Your Service Realty in Lake Wales. Trey's wife, Michelle, mother, Sara, and in-laws Ruthie and Ken Welch attended the installation service Jan. 28. "Trey obviously has a servant's heart," said sponsor Chevon Baccus, co-founder of the regional service club. "I am honored to sponsor him to become a Rotarian so he can put his energy and commitment to work serving our...
Got a garden? Want one? So where do I start? (Is that a question or a statement – I'm not sure.) One thing for certain is you have to start where you are. Unless you're planning to move real soon, and then you could plant in containers and take them with you. Or you could dig it all up and move stuff and watch your plants either die or thrive. Or, like most of us do in life, struggle somewhere in between. I know I have and still do. Hi, my name is John and I'm a gardener - N...
Rotary on the Ridge installed Jonathan Lamont White as a new member Monday, Feb. 18. White is an investor with Empower Through Enterprise and also works to promote the Bartow real estate business of his wife, Destini Lewis, Heavyweight of Real Estate. Curtis Gibson sponsored White into the club and vouched for his character and commitment to community service. "Jonathan wants to really make a difference in the community," Gibson said. "He will be a great addition to our...
Tom Freeman turned 93 years old on October 19, 2018. Who is Tom Freeman? Well, he's kind of a legend around here - a Lake Wales treasure. He's somewhat of a renaissance man: an artist, poet, farmer, educator, businessman, war hero, golfer, historian, fisherman, storyteller, wildlife expert and activist. His life is an inspiration to many, and his art is a fabulous and important legacy. As are many, I am honored to know Mr. Freeman, and I am grateful for the privilege of...
Another dream came true for Barney Moore four years ago when he was able to go swimming for the first time in 30 years. After fellow Lake Wales resident Bill Redmon and Redmon's Kings Trail Church of Frostproof raised $2,000 to purchase a Mobi Chair fully equipped to roll from the beach at Lake Aurora Christian Camp into the water, Moore was floating across the lake, his face glowing as the sun came out of the clouds and the rain stopped long enough for a second swim. "Let me...
BOOK REVIEW: Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness (1991) by Jon Kabat-Zinn I am sure that not everyone interested in a "mindfulness" practice is ill or in pain or stressed out, but certainly a large number of Americans appear to be. If you are well, the 8-week program in the book can still help you. This is a secular program and different from Centering Prayer or Christian meditations. From a December 2017 article by...
Principal Donna Dunson may or may not have shed a few tears when she was interviewing Lillian Anderson a while back. But what is clear is Dunson was convinced Anderson needed to teach at Lake Wales High School, and that she was going to do whatever it took to get her there. Seven years later, Anderson has been named Teacher of the Year for the Lake Wales Charter System, honored recently along with teachers and support staff from each of its seven schools during the system's...
Lake Wales lawyer Cynthia Rignanese recently received the "Rising Star Award" from the Boss Lady Esquire Group. She was one of only four lawyers to be recognized. The recognition was for "engaging and meaningful" contribution to the group within the first month of membership. The Boss Lady Esquire Group is open by invitation only and has 5,851 attorneys. To qualify, the attorney must be a female attorney managing a law firm. Rignanese is the founder and Senior Managing...
In its efforts to get more voters to the polls this November, the Democrat Party moved its headquarters to a more centrally located place in Polk County. On Feb 2 the local political party had an open house at 1549 E. Combee Road in Lakeland moving from Haines City. "This is wonderful," said Polk state committeewoman Karen Welzel. "This is the beginning of what we'll turn in Polk County." About 100 people attended the opening of the office in Polk and Chair and the Executive...
A Celebration of Life honoring Carmine and Barbara Stango will be held at the Lake Wales First United Methodist Church on March 8. There will be a time for visiting with the family starting at 6 p.m. The service will be held at 7 p.m. Barbara Sims Stango passed away peaceably on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 at Pretty Pond Manor in Zephyrhills, FL. She was 96 years old. Carmine "Charlie" Stango died peacefully on March 26, 2016 after struggling with dementia and heart disease for...
Three Polk County chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution joined together to host a visit from Florida DAR State Regent Dawn Lemongello in January. Upon an early arrival at the Polk County History Center, Lemongello was welcomed by the chapter regents: Doris Wooden, Bartow chapter; Earlene Head, Lake Wales chapter; and Christine Page, Ponce de Leon Chapter in Winter Haven. Myrtice Young, Historic Preservation Manager for the historic old courthouse and a Bartow...
Low Carb Meatloaf 2 # grass fed ground beef 85/15 2 T butter, unsalted Zucchini 250g (8.8 oz.) 1 ½ red pepper 250g ½ large onion 125g 1 egg ¼ t red pepper flakes 2 t soy sauce 1/2 t table salt 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce ½ t thyme 1 serving = 1/8 of the loaf, carbs- 3.6725, protein- 91, fats- 20.7 Grate the onion, peppers, & zucchini then sauté in the unsalted butter until the liquid has evaporated. Combine the egg & seasonings in a large bowl. Add the meat & veggies to t...
An estimated 50-70 million Americans have some type of sleep disorder. About 25 percent of Americans experience acute insomnia each year, but about 75 percent of these individuals recover without developing persistent or chronic insomnia, according to a June 2018 article in Science Daily from a study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, That leaves around 40,712,500 with chronic insomnia. From a June 2016 Harvard Health Letter: T...
What do you think of when you hear the words "El Salvador"? Crime, gangs, earthquakes, a long war, refugees? But, El Salvador has a surprise, and it is none of the above. It is gourmet food! I am a "country counter" avidly trying to reach my personal goal of visiting 150 countries. I am at 107 currently. But to be truthful, El Salvador was not on the top of my list of countries I wanted to visit. It was not that I did not want to go there, it was just that I had not thought...
HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE WEEK Eat a salad every day Unless you have a health issue that forbids it, one of the best things you can do is eat a salad every day, even on a low carb diet. Sixteen ounces, one pound, of baby butter lettuce has only 10.67g carbs and when you subtract the fiber of 5.4g, your net carbs are 5.27g. For a pound! I'm probably the only person who has thought she could eat a whole pound of lettuce in one sitting. I don't recommend actually trying it. Bagged le...
Lake Wales City Commissioner Curtis Gibson recently received a Patriot's Award from the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Florida Committee. Gibson serves as head wrestling coach for Bartow High School and as a classroom assistant for the Polk County School Board at Chain of Lakes Elementary School. Gibson was nominated by George Sabillion for supporting his service in the U.S. Army Reserve. "The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through...
Wellness is a broad term, but my hope as editor of this section is to provide articles that are informative and practical to our lives. I plan to cover body, mind, and spirit since we need to be healthy in all these areas, at least as much as we can be, to get the most out of life. For instance, the City of Lake Wales web site has a link for adult activities that lists shuffleboard, tennis, pickleball, ultimate Frisbee, and bridge. The library and the YMCA both have yoga...
Sometime ago I read where a Japanese man died at age 113 in his sleep. It was a remarkably long time to live, especially for a male. On the average women seem to outlive men. A Puerto Rican man died in 2007 at the age of 115; extraordinary to say the least. The most recent was a man who served in our Army in World War Two, who died at 110. This man was the oldest centenarian in this country to recently die. My mother's father was born in 1827 and lived to be 84, which is not...
