Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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A famous photo, featured in psychology textbooks, shows a lineup of infant ducklings following a baby elephant around a barnyard. The phenomenon is called "imprinting" – the tendency in fowls, within hours of being hatched, to follow the first moving object and regard it as their mother. Scientists have long attempted to determine to what extent the imprinting principle can be extraplated to the experience of human beings. It is widely felt, for instance, that adolescence i...
Lake Wales Mayor Eugene Fultz declared June 4 as Richard Deloach Recognition Day to honor him for his more than 35 years of service as a youth football coach. Vice Mayor Robin Gibson read the proclamation at the city commission meeting, where friends and family of Deloach gathered to celebrate. According to the proclamation, Deloach started with the city youth football league in 1984 and led his team to 14 league super bowls, 11 of which they won. "Richard Deloach is a...
The hills are alive with the sound of music during the fifth annual Sandy's MusicGirl Camp 2019 at the Lake Wales Arts Center. Following the Junior MusicGirl program for girls ages 6-9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 10-11, girls ages 10-19 will attend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 12-14. Free lunch and snacks are provided. "We offer fun-filled activities such as singing, percussion, crafts and instrument introduction or advancement in small groups," explains Steve Morrison, who...
Maria Tovar just achieved two major milestones: she obtained her high school equivalency diploma (GED) and became the 100th person to accomplish that goal with the help of the Lake Wales Family Literacy Academy. Cleaning houses for a living and taking care of her 5- and 8-year-old children kept her so busy that there were times she thought about quitting. She dropped out of Lake Wales High School her junior year and wasn't sure she would ever be able to earn a GED or go to...
Osubi Craig, a multi-talented higher education administrator, traditional African percussionist and arts advocate, joins the University of Florida College of the Arts as its inaugural director of a new center focused on arts, migration and entrepreneurship. (Before becoming a special assistant to the president of Virginia State University, Craig served as director of arts and cultural affairs for Polk State College in charge of the Lake Wales campus.) The new center, which wil...
The forecast rains stayed away so there was a whole lot of paddling going on at the first ever Beach Battle hosted by Tanner's Lakeside Restaurant and Bar in Winter Haven. The event raised funds to support the Rotary on the Ridge water safety initiative. An adult-size version of Josh the Baby Otter made an appearance, dancing and posing with event participants. The water safety program uses Josh the Baby Otter materials to remind young children to stay away from the water...
Katina "Kat" Green, Wound Care Manager, was named Employee of the Month for April at Lake Wales Medical Center. Green was honored for the exceptional job she does making sure all wound care patients are well cared for. "She always thinks ahead and anticipates what patients and the doctors will need," a coworker wrote in nominating her. "She doesn't hesitate to jump in and do whatever needs to be done to help each patient. She completes everything with a smile on her face....
Andy Oguntola, director of the Polk State College J.D. Alexander Center, was presented with the Community Leadership Award at the Thursday, May 9 annual awards gala of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council. Past winner Brian Marbutt of Citizens Bank and Trust presented the award and announced to the crowd that Oguntola had recently completed his doctorate in higher education leadership. Oguntola started out by thanking "Jesus Christ, my Lord...
City Manager Ken Fields was named Public Servant of the Year at the May 9 Annual Awards Gala of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council. The award was presented by last year's winner, Kathy Bangley, the city's director of planning and development. She said when she won the award she didn't realize she'd be presenting the next one to her boss. She cited his 30 plus years' experience in government and the private sector. "To be a public servant...
The Lake Wales Family Literacy Academy was recognized as the Community Service Organization of the Year at the May 9 Annual Awards Gala of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council. Academy Board Member, longtime tutor and volunteer Howard Kay presented the award to founders Deming Cowles and Gail Crum and also praised the volunteers and staff: "They're so selfless, they truly deserve this award. Kay announced that just this week two more adults...
Rotary on the Ridge installed a new member Monday, May 6. Professional photographer LaVaughn Williamson was sponsored by John Walldorf. Williamson moved to Indian Lake Estates four years ago from the Atlanta area, where he grew up. He owns Williamson Photography of Lake Wales, a full-service photography business that produces still photography and videos. He also has a remote pilot's license from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly a drone, which he uses for aerial...
Longtime Lake Wales area educator Harold Maready has announced plans to retire after 50 years in education at the end of the 2019-20 school year. Maready has been Head of the Vanguard School since July 2014. "Harold's commitment to Vanguard School and to every child who walked through its doors has inspired us all," said Peter Phillips, chair of the Vanguard Board of Trustees. "In concert with a team of extraordinary educators, Harold has led Vanguard to reach its highest...
Lake Wales Family Literacy Academy friends and volunteers celebrated founders Deming Cowles and Gail Crum at a dinner Friday night, April 26. The Lake Wales High School orchestra, directed by teacher Meg Smith, performed a special concert for the event, closing with "You Raise Me Up," as a tribute to what Cowles and Crum do for others. Howard Kay, a longtime academy volunteer and board member, praised the commitment of Cowles and Crum: "I never dreamed of all the families...
The Lake Wales Arts Council is excited to announce that Executive Director Andrew Allen will be performing a tribute to the Modern Jazz Quartet at 7 p.m. May in Updike Hall. We had a conversation with Andrew on his career, accomplishments, and inspiration. We hope you enjoy this interview! How has the Modern Jazz Quartet's music influenced your career as a musician? I first heard of the Modern Jazz Quartet when I was studying for my Bachelor of Music degree at the University...
Step into Steve Warner's office at Eagle Lake Elementary and your eyes will be drawn to the whiteboard, where he's drawn a large, pyramid-shaped illustration. The names of the two Winter Haven-area high schools he serves as Polk County Public Schools' first community liaison director are at the apex, followed by the names of four middle schools and 12 elementary schools. The drawing is more than just a way to help Warner remember school names. It's also a depiction of what he...
Jim Davis is well known for rigorously training highly-skilled professionals for Central Florida fire departments, and that includes instilling in firefighters the importance of honor. After 42 years in the fire service, 30 years as a part-time fire instructor at Ridge Technical College, and nearly a decade as a Polk State Fire Science Technology Coordinator, Davis continues to pass on his traits of respect and selflessness in addition to the technical skills individuals need...
he Lake Wales Arts Center was filled with music April 13-14 as more than 40 talented young people shared their talents in the 17th Annual Marilyn Newell Youth Music Festival. Judging their talents were classically trained vocalist Katie Bell Lippert, jazz composer and saxophonist Zachary Bornheimer and Bok Tower carillonneur Geert D'hollander. "The Lake Wales Arts Council was impressed by all 2019 youth music festival participants," said Arts Council Executive Director Andrew...
The Lake Wales Little Theatre Board of Directors recognized its 60-plus volunteers Saturday, April 13 with an afternoon reception at the theater. Board President Leslie Grondin thanked the assembled volunteers for their contributions to the non-profit organization, which has been providing live entertainment to the community since 1978. "Without all of you this theater would not be able to run as smoothly as we're running. Even if you're working out front, back stage, on...
Richele Floyd got the ride of her life this week in the back seat of a U.S. Navy fighter jet, courtesy of the elite Blue Angels. A pilot herself, the Lake Wales native serves as education director for Sun 'n Fun, which is hosting nearly 200,000 aviation enthusiasts April 2-7 during its 45th Annual Fly-In & Expo at Linder Airport in Lakeland. "Best day of my life," Floyd enthused, relating the one-hour experience that included rising straight up into the air, flying upside...
Lake Wales Chorale Musical Director Vince Treadway bid a fond farewell after receiving a standing ovation from the packed audience on Sunday, April 7 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lake Wales. Students from the Warner University Chorus and Chorale members were accompanied on piano by Dr. Jonathan Reed, Warner University assistant professor of music, and on organ by Lee Cobb, who serves as organist and choirmaster at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Ft. Myers. Treadway, who...
Noemi Fort, Administrative Assistant in Engineering, was named Employee of the Month for February for Lake Wales Medical Center. Fort was honored for picking up additional responsibilities in the department after some personnel changes. "She does whatever is necessary to help keep the Engineering department running smoothly," a supervisor wrote in nominating her for the award. Lake Wales Medical Center is a 160-bed acute care hospital that has been serving the greater Lake...
At 83 years young Lake Wales' own Claudette Braswell garnered a whopping 20 gold, eight silver and a pair of bronze to capture the highest total: 30 individual and team medals in 32 events at the PSG (www.polkseniorgames.org) that ended Mar. 11. Braswell earned the honor of being awarded Outstanding Women Competitor 2019 besting more than 1,000 other female athletes and 127 in the 80-84 age group, which means she will return as Torch Bearer to kick off the Olympics-style...
While some of the world's finest pilots demonstrated their skills at the 45th Annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-in & Expo in Lakeland a contingent of teenagers gathered nearby rebuilding a wing and tuning up a jet engine. Babson Park's Jackson Gerard and his friends in the Lakeland Aeroclub hosted hundreds of visitors to the Fly-in, including officials from the Federal Aviation Administration who were interested in meeting the next generation of aviators. Sixteen-year-old Gerard is in...
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partners celebrated the 25th anniversary of the FWC's Ridge Rangers Program on Saturday, April 6, at Lake Kissimmee State Park. The guests of honor were many of the volunteers, visionaries and agencies that have made this program a success, both past and present. "The Lake Wales Ridge is one of Florida's most highly imperiled ecosystems," said Jeff McGrady, FWC Division of Habitat and Species Conservation...
Visit Central Florida is looking for some CATS – not the feline kind, but volunteers to become Certified Ambassadors of Tourism and Sports (CATS). CATS can be anyone – longtime or new resident or even snowbirds. Some are hospitality industry professionals: hotel concierges, restaurant servers, UBER drivers, local attraction employees – anyone who comes in contact with guests. CATS go through training to become experts on Polk County attractions. They are pioneers in hosting th...
