Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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I have served with several committees that organize the large events in town like Orange Blossom Revue and I am on the Mardi Gras Committee currently. I can understand why the decision to cancel the Christmas parade was made this far out. Large events like this are VERY expensive to put on and take months of planning. The city passed a ban on permits for public events, and until the State and Federal guidelines change, we won't likely see the city change. Protecting the life a...
Well into the 20th century, bank accounts, credit cards, and household finances were legally left to the control of men. Women's lack of financial freedom was one of General Federation of Women's Club's founder, Jane Cunningham Croly, foundational rallying cries for women across the country. GFWC Clubhouses have come to play a significant role in the preservation of America's historic buildings. Many clubs are situated within historic buildings or were constructed or...
The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales' 35th Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser is set for Nov. 12. "Curb-side" pick-up of boxed dinners will be offered in lieu of a "sit-down" dinner and will take place between 4 and 6 p.m. There is a pre-paid delivery service included in the price of the ticket if one individual orders 10 meals or more at one location or 10 individuals or more from one location order a meal. The cost of the dinner will be $10, which will include pasta with...
The Polk County Democrats held a press conference on Oct. 28 at Lake Mirror in Lakeland which was highlighted by the appearance of Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Florida Democratic Leader Nikki Fried. Also appearing was Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo, as well as the Democratic candidates running in Polk County. CDC guidelines were followed. Polk County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Kathie Sutherland, M.D. welcomed all to the...
Supporters of President Donald Trump will host their second parade starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 - just two days before the General Election. Participants will line up at Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern, 1010 Scenic Highway North. Special guests include Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell, Frostproof Vice Mayor Austin Gravley and Republican candidates Fred Hawkins for Florida State Representative Seat 42 and Bill Olson for U.S. House of Representatives District 9. More...
The chair of Warner University's agricultural studies department, Justin Sharpless, is one of three alumni being recognized by the National FFA for outstanding support of the organization. The other two honorees are from Wisconsin and Oregon. The awards honor FFA alumni and supporters across the nation who donate their time, talent and financial resources to support current FFA members. They are being presented this week at the 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo. In...
Ed Palmer officially became the Lake Wales Police Department's community liaison officer on Sept. 14. But if you ask James "Perly" Sermons, it's been Palmer's calling for a lifetime – Sermons' lifetime. The two first met when Palmer served as the School Resource Officer at Hillcrest Elementary when Perly was a student there. As luck might have it – others might call in Divine guidance – Palmer followed Sermons as an SRO when the youngster went to Roosevelt Academy and to La...
The Boy Scouts of America's regional Greater Tampa Bay Area Council will honor local sheriff's offices with Participating Citizenship Awards in a series of virtual events from Oct. 26-28. The local Council previously honored Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd with the 2008 Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award for service to young people. The Badge of Honor Virtual Event "recognizes the selfless service of local heroes" in the nine departments serving the Council's...
The Rotary Club of Lake Wales is holding a drive-thru Barbecue fundraiser this Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Family Elder Law, 122 E. Tillman Ave. in Lake Wales. Tickets are $12 and proceeds go to support education and student scholarships. The meals, brought to your car, include chicken or pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw, roll, dessert and a drink. Here is the direct Eventbrite link for tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rotary-club-of...
John Clifford is Florida King, but the pandemic postponed his official coronation. The 83-year-old Lake Wales man lost more than 100 pounds through the international Take Off Pounds Sensibly program, making him the 2020 reigning king of Florida. "I'm a king in name only but someday I may have a court," said Clifford, noting he has been able to keep within a few pounds of his goal weight of 185. Clifford joined TOPS 15 years ago while living in Connecticut. He and wife Barbara,...
The holidays are right around the corner and you can help make incredible holiday memories for over 1,500 local children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect. Heartland for Children is the local not-for-profit serving Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties that promotes the prevention of child abuse and oversees the provision of services for children who have been abused and/or neglected. These services include in-home family strengthening, adoption, case management, foster...
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is a community conscious, action oriented organization. The Gamma Phi Zeta Chapter of Polk County, through service within the community and the international initiative of Zetas Helping Other People Excel (Z-HOPE), have identified five (5) schools for their Adopt-A-School initiative. • Zone 1 – Greater Lakeland – Kathleen Middle School • Zone 2 – South Lakeland/Mulberry/Bartow – Gibbons Street Pre K Center • Zone 3 – Davenport/Haines City – Sandhil...
Acknowledging that all God's creatures are important, so the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd will hold its annual "Blessing of the Animals" at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3rd in the open field across the street from the Sanctuary at 221 S. 4th St. in Lake Wales. The event, held by Episcopal churches all over, honors St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. The hostesses for this event will be the Daughters of the King. After the Animal Blessing Service, light...
If you drove through Lake Wales neighborhoods this summer, you may have seen them at work - dozens of young people painting, roofing, cleaning – serving their community. Local youth have undergone a lot of changes this year, but it seems nothing can stop them from coming together with caring hearts and working hands for Lake Wales Care Center's annual Stay-At-Home Work Camp (SAHWC). With modest beginnings in 1985, SAHWC started with a handful of individuals completing yard w...
Rotary on the Ridge was honored Sept. 22 as the 2019-2020 Club of the Year in Rotary District 6890, which includes 37 clubs in four counties. District Governor Kip Kipnis announced the selection during an awards ceremony online event attended by more than 100 Rotary district leaders from Polk, Highlands, Hardee and Hillsborough counties. 2019-2020 Rotary on the Ridge President Herb Gillis accepted the award remotely, joined by his wife, Megan, who served as club president in...
Crystal Higbee gave up a good job as a surgical tech to answer a special calling to become president of Circle of Friends Ministry. Higbee admits like in the story of Jonah and the whale she resisted at first, challenging God to offer clear direction by having retiring ministry founder Mertice Kelly approach her directly about the job. Higbee started part-time in February and stepped out on faith in June to become the ministry's full-time leader. In just a few short months...
Polk Vision welcomed 18 members of Leadership Polk Class XIV on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Lone Palm Club. As the only countywide leadership development program in Polk County, Leadership Polk is comprised of individuals who have demonstrated a high level of civic engagement in their local community. Started in 2007, the program brings together accomplished leaders from across the county with the goal of developing a diverse network of resourceful, informed and proactive...
Rotary on the Ridge named Mike Baccus as its 2019-2020 Rotarian of the Year. Delayed due to the COVID-19 virus, the presentation was made Sept. 14 as the club began meeting back in person. As his last official act Immediate Past President Herb Gillis presented Baccus with a plaque at an early dinner gathering of members. Then during the club's regular meeting in-person and on the online Zoom platform, 2018-19 Rotarian of the Year Drew Truitt re-presented the award so the rest...
Marking the occasion of his 36th birthday, Lake Wales City Commissioner Curtis Gibson on Sept. 11 announced the start of his re-election campaign. Gibson plans to qualify for the April 2021 ballot, seeking a 3-year term to continue his service as the District 19, Seat 2 commissioner. Before announcing his candidacy in a live online video, Gibson paid tribute to those killed or impacted by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, reading out details of the historic day's events. "N...
COVID-19 did not deter volunteers from the American Association of University Women from delivering nearly 100 framed prints of famous fine art paintings to area schools for public display. This year the selections range from Middle-Ages masters Durer and Brueghel to more modern artists such as Matisse and Dali. Advancing through their K-12 school years, with displays changing annually, students see a wide variety of styles and periods of art through this program. More pieces...
Lake Wales City Commissioner Al Goldstein has been tapped to chair the Florida League of Cities Land Use and Economic Development Committee. FLC President Tony Ortiz, an Orlando city commissioner, appointed Goldstein, who also is currently serving on the league's Federal Action Strike Team, which visits Washington, DC to discuss legislative issues at the national level. Ortiz said Goldstein will be responsible for working with other committee members to discuss the many...
The Polk County Democrats will be holding their annual fundraising gala from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 as a unique, virtual event. The Celebrate Blue theme reflects ongoing efforts to elect Democrats in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. Keynote speaker will be Nikki Fried, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Special guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. Val Demings from Orlando. Others participating include U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, Florida...
The Lake Ashton Veterans Association is facilitating an initiative by Wreaths Across America to remember "the sacrifice and impact upon our great country" on September 11, 2001 from the terrorist events in New York City, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. The organization is asking Lake Ashton residents to wave the U.S. flag outside of their homes at 8:46 a.m., 9:37 a.m. and 10:03 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 to honor those lost and those first responders who still suffer the after-ef...
Rotary on the Ridge has been recognized with a 2019-2020 Water Safety Advocacy Award by the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation. The regional after hours service club kicked off its water safety initiative in the spring of 2019 using the foundation's Josh the Baby Otter program materials. The club presented the water safety program to more than 500 children at Chain of Lakes and Spook Hill elementary schools and at day care centers in Dundee and Lake Wales. Planned 2020...
The pandemic forced some changes, but First Baptist Church of Lake Wales went forward with a modified Back 2 School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 22. Children's Ministry Director Candice McKeon said each year around this time the church is polishing the final details for the church's Back to School Bash. Normally there are bounce houses, water slides, shaved ice and of course, food. Each year an estimated 50 families attend to celebrate the start of a new school year. Unfortunately,...
