Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Lake Wales pioneer and historic preservationist Mimi Hardman may soon have a city building named in her honor. The Lake Wales History Museum will be seeking donors to help restore and rehabilitate the historic 1916 Seaboard Airline Freight Depot, and repurpose the interior of the building as the new permanent Mimi Hardman Collections & Research Center. Items in the city collection date back to 1852, when the original government survey of Lake Wales was completed. A project of...
Overcoming significant challenges of language and poverty, the Lake Wales Charter Schools maintained or improved their 2019 school grades released July 11 by the Florida Department of Education. "We are very, very proud of their improvement and success, of the work that's being done," said charter schools Superintendent Jesse Jackson. "What we have done over the years is try to build a system for success. . . create a structure. Personalities come and go, but we're building a...
Lake Wales City Commissioner Curtis Gibson may be bucking for a new nickname: Robin Hood. It wasn't exactly robbing the rich to give to the poor, but at the July 16 commission meeting Gibson did propose giving the higher paid city staff members smaller raises this year in order to give more to the city's lower paid workers. Commissioner Terrye Howell immediately supported the idea, but other commissioners said they would withhold judgment and wait for further analysis and a...
Zachary Kirkland is a caring teenager committed to helping young people have a better hospital experience. Through his Silly Sock Saturdays nonprofit, Zachary delivers gift bags with socks, games and other comfort items to patients in the pediatric unit at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. A rising junior at Lake Wales High School, Zachary formed his nonprofit when he was in middle school at Bok Academy. "This helps the kids by taking their mind onto other things, not the...
When you have a middle school science classroom full of about 30 incoming sixth graders, most people would not expect much productivity. However, I recently saw these soon-to-be Edward W. Bok Academy students fully immerse themselves in the project brought to them by Keith Young, a scientist from Illinois. Mr. Young works with an organization called EcoTek, which is focused on bringing real-world issues to students interested in science. He taught the students not only about...
When I met Roberta "Bobbie" Halfacre, director of The Vanguard School Summer Camp program, she explained it is named "Beyond..." because students, faculty, indeed anyone associated with this school for gifted and lifted young people with individual challenges definitely do not think inside the proverbial box. This philosophy starts from the top down and everyone works to make life better for those who need it most. Teaching and learning take on a whole new meaning here, and...
The Florida Sportsmen's Conservation Association (FSCA) honored Linda Collins of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for her work managing the agency's Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP). The award, which was presented July 17 at the FWC's meeting in Stuart, recognizes Collins' commitment to public safety. Collins has worked for the FWC for 18 years. She started as an administrative assistant with the Alligator Management Program and now...
In 1914 Nellie Stewart gathered 17 Lake Wales women for a "thimble party" and while they chatted and sewed they decided to form a club. Now 105 years later, members of the GFWC Lake Wales Woman's Club gathered July 10 for a tea and luncheon where they encouraged guests to join their organization. Secretary Mary Walkup described the club's history, which included an amazing list of accomplishments. The Woman's Club over the years has spearheaded or been involved in many local...
Early D. Pride, 63 of Lake Wales, died at home July 13 under Vitas Hospice Healthcare. He was born Oct. 6, 1955. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is in charge of arrangements....
Gela Mathews, 103, passed away Friday, July 12 at The Groves Center in Lake Wales. She was born December 26, 1915 in Bronson, Michigan to Fred Smith and Zelta (Wilbur) Smith. She was married to Roy Mathews November 9, 1935. They were together over 60 years till he passed away. Gela had 3 children, Lucille Watkins of Fort Worth, Texas, Dale Mathews of Menden, Michigan and Dwaine “Butch” Mathews of Frostproof; 21 grandchildren, many foster grandchildren, many great grandchildren and many great great grandchildren; sisters, Win...
Richard Anthony "Dick" Dragonetti, 91, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born December 7, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Richard and Mary Rose (Marcello) Dragonetti. He has been a resident of the area since August of 1990 coming from Miami. He was a mechanic for the City of Miami Beach where he retired as the lead mechanic for the Miami Beach Fire Department. Richard loved his car, hiking, gardening, Sunday family drives,...
Many doctors in their eighth decade would be golfing, traveling or just enjoying retirement. But Dr. Eusebio "Jon" Salud Jr. is spending his later years treating patients with a new procedure that he says is helping to restore their vision. According to Salud, dry macular degeneration is a leading cause of permanent blindness and for 56 years there has been no treatment available for it. He started a noninvasive, safe, simple and painless protocol about five years ago. He...
The Central Florida Media Group will host the Central Florida Family Fun Day and Health Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 19. The event will be held at the International Market World Flea and Farmers Market at 1052 US Hwy 92 W in Auburndale. The Family Fun Day and Health Expo Day is a day of fun-filled activities including games, prizes, dancing, face painting, back-to-school supplies, live entertainment, health info, and screenings. Admission to Family Fun Day is free...
Polk County Public Schools is opening a call center to handle school bus inquiries and issues for the beginning of the 2019-20 school year. Parents and guardians can dial 863-534-7300 for assistance from Monday, July 29 through Friday, Aug. 23. The temporary call center will be staffed on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.* Staff will be able to provide help with all manner of transportation questions, including student bus numbers; stop times and locations; transportation...
