Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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The ambitious, $20 million transformation of the urban center of Lake Wales into a shady and inviting oasis for pedestrian shopping and outdoor dining was launched Thursday evening with a groundbreaking that was both entertaining and inspiring, featuring celebratory remarks and even a "flash mob" dance team that surprised the crowd of more than 100. Hosted by Lake Wales Mainstreet on Park Avenue, the event featured the signing of the actual bond documents that will fund the...
Advanced Drainage Systems has proposed the plant, which would be located on property adjacent to the former Hunt Brothers citrus packing plant. It would occupy a nearly 100-acre site just to the east of South 11th Street and north of Hunt Brothers Road. According to published reports, Advanced Drainage Systems is the largest maker of high-density polyethylene pipe in the United States, and is headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio. The most recent available data indicates that in 201...
An invitation to view and assess potential community investment opportunities in Lake Wales drew representatives from financial institutions looking for opportunities to invest in the community. Several banks and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency responded to the invitation to participate in a tour of the city, which was led by staff of the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency and the Main Street organization Thursday. Several reportedly left impressed with...
A Lake Wales zoning ordinance will create "a new district in form...architectural standards...and parking requirements," and give it economic incentive by "permitting and allowing," according to Amy Grove, a planner with Dover Kohl. The "downtown mixed-use" district is at the center of efforts to revitalize the area. Groves' remarks were made at a final public forum on the mapping of a new zone, which drew fewer than two dozen residents to hear a presentation by planners from...
In a step that could have enormous financial significance for decades to come, the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency board has received a Finding of Necessity (FON) report from a consulting firm they hired two months ago. The CRA is the source of millions of dollars that are currently funding major improvements to city streets, sidewalks, trail systems, lighting, and landscaping. Expansion of the area, if successful, would potentially balloon future revenue that could...
Eric Edwards has been appointed General Manager at Alfa Romeo FIAT of Winter Haven, according to a statement issued by Mike Mahalak, president of the Mahalak Auto Group. "We are very pleased to have Eric assume this position at our dealership.," said Mahalak. "He started working with us over twenty-five years ago. His experience in all areas of the automotive industry including customer service, It, training and sales makes him the perfect person to assume the general manager...
Ideal weather and a special anniversary celebration will make this weekend's Lake Wales Car Show an extra draw. The monthly show of antiques, classics and hot rods of all sorts and descriptions is celebrating 13 years of shows. Each month scores of cars line Stuart Avenue for the fourth Saturday Lake Wales Car Show. Local show organizer Larry Bossarte is eager to present the prizes and awe the fans with the colorful array of restored and maintained vehicles representing the...
Polk County Utilities (PCU) will host a Crooked Lake Park neighborhood community meeting to discuss the future of the wastewater collection and treatment system that serves that area on Monday, January 30, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. The county will present an overview of the proposed improvements and preliminary construction schedule for the wastewater facility. The meeting will be held at the South Lake Wales Church of God, 210 President's Drive in Lake Wales. In March 2021, the State...
Reida Hansford Keen of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at her residence. She was born August 22, 1952 in Lakeland to the late Henry and Eleanor Hansford. Reida was a retired teacher and a lifelong resident of the area. She was a member of The Church on the Hill and previously attended First Baptist Church of Lake Wales. Reida was the Senior Regent of Lake Wales Chapter 1974 Women of the Moose and a member of the Lake Wales Moose Lodge. She was the secretary...
Darrell Lee Papproth of Lake Wales and Paducah, Kentucky passed away Sunday, January 22, 2023 at home. He was born November 15, 1953 in Belleville, Illinois to the late John and Rose Papproth. Darrell retired from P&L Railroad after over 40 years. He was an excellent carpenter. He loved woodworking, golfing, and fishing, but most of all he loved his family and friends. He will be greatly missed. Darrell was proceeded in death by his son, Greg Pea in 1994; and infant daughter....
Sir Richard V. Giordano KBE, an iconic American business leader who led a transformation of British corporate culture, creator of the BOC Challenge sailing race and Knight Commander of the British Empire for his contributions to British industry, died on December 27, 2022 at 88 years of age at his home in Lake Wales, Florida, surrounded by his family. Born on March 24, 1934, in the Bronx, New York, Giordano was the youngest son of Italian immigrants. A proud product of New...
There's still time to register for those wishing to compete in the annual Polk Senior Games, but that window is closing fast!. The games are an annual two-week series of 33 Olympic-style sports and games for men and women 50 years of age and over. The 30th Polk Senior Games begin on Saturday February 25th and end on Saturday March 11. Registration began January 1 and ends February 10. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division. The Games...
Getting lost inside an enormous Ikea store leads to zany discoveries for one young couple and their "ghostly" matchmakers in the latest production from Lake Wales Little Theatre, running now through January 29. "Lost (and Found) in Ikea" features a charming, budding romance between Winifred, played by Julia Brown, and Lexington, played by Nicholas Bique. The stumbling flirtation, hindered by repeated but well-meaning intrusions by their invisible accomplices, carries the day...
A special public workshop at Crystal Lake Park will give residents an opportunity to discuss ideas and options for a new connecting bike-and-pedestrian trail segment. Engineers and planners will be on hand to share design ideas and preliminary drawings. The proposed trail, linking Lake Wales Library and the Bok Academy North neighborhood with Park Avenue and the Lake Wailes Trail, will parallel Sessoms Avenue on the north side of Crystal Lake, and is expected to offer views...
Ongoing construction of a new roundabout will keep the intersection of Old Bartow Lake Wales Road and Rattlesnake Road (County Road 653) closed in Lake Wales through February. The project, which began in the fall, was expected to take about 60 days, but has been repeatedly delayed. Local access will be maintained to the point of closure, but no traffic will be permitted to cross the intersection. Local access is maintained to the point of closure, but traffic is not permitted...
A group of about a dozen citizens attended a Wednesday morning meeting at the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce to raise questions and seek answers about a manufacturing facility proposed for an industrial site on Hunt Brothers Road. Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) has proposed the plant, which will be located adjacent to the former Hunt Brothers citrus packing plant. The manufacturer is expected to hire scores of employees, including 56 for its primary shift. The plant...
Hurricane Ian is estimated to have caused more than $60 billion in private insured losses in Florida, effectively making it the second-largest disaster loss event on record, according to the industry trade group Insurance Information Institute. While Lake Wales residents dodged a bullet when it came to the severity of the late 2022 hurricane, many throughout Polk County still felt the impact. From how Ian has shed a light on hurricane preparation to what Lake Wales residents...
Louise Ann Whittle of Lake Wales passed away Monday, January 16, 2023 at her residence. She was born May 28, 1929 in Clearwater to the late Robert and Bertha Hammond; she has been a lifelong resident of the area. Louise was an outpatient registration supervisor for Lake Wales Hospital and was a former member of First Assembly Church. She loved to read and spend time with her family. Louise was proceeded in death by her husband, William Aution Whittle in 1981; brothers; and...
Allison Jennings McCance, beloved wife of Henry F. McCance, passed away peacefully at her home in Mountain Lake, Lake Wales, FL, on January 15, 2023, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. She was surrounded by her family and cherished caregivers. Allison Jennings was born in New Canaan, CT, on June 29, 1942. A graduate of Abbott Academy and Sweet Briar College, Allison worked from 1967-1975, first as a grader and then as an Associate for Special Projects at Harvard...
New requirements will be faced by those wishing to speak during the public access portion of Lake Wales City Commission meetings following action taken Tuesday. On a 3-2 vote the commission approved a resolution providing for a registration form to be completed by each speaker prior to the meeting containing their personal information and the purpose and topic of their statement. Commission chambers were filled during the meeting with several forced to watch a television feed...
A gathering of community and Chamber of Commerce leadership were present at noon Thursday to mark a new name and new ownership of the former Savannah Court assisted living facility at 12 East Grove Avenue, just off First Street in Lake Wales. Now under the management and ownership of Innovation Senior Living, the facility will host an increased bed count of 60, up from the 45 residents it formerly served, according to staff. Innovation CEO and founder Pilar Carvajal told...
Katherine Elizabeth Hart of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at her residence. She was born December 11, 1964 in Lake Wales; she recently moved to Lake Wales from Lakeland. Katherine was a teacher and she loved computers. In her free time, she enjoyed sewing and making dolls. Katherine was proceeded in death by her mother, Sandra Wienk; and sister, Robin Pike in 2018. She is survived by her father, William Wienk of Lake Wales; sons, Jackson Hart of...
Sukhni Meetoo of Lake Hamilton passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at her residence. She was born June 11, 1921 in Guyana. Sukhni was of the Hindu faith. Sukhni was proceeded in death by her husband, Uzagir Meetoo; children, Neelkhant Meetoo, Narine Uzagir, and Federick Uzagir; and son-in-law, Latchman. She is survived by her children, Dhaneshwar Uzagir, Lilawatee Mangru, Shandyal Uzagir, and Nandanie Mulchand; 25 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; 3...
A new ordinance governing water use and plumbing fixtures will soon be in place in Lake Wales in hopes of reducing future demand on municipal water supplies. Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) were in attendance at a recent meeting of the Lake Wales Planning and Zoning Board to provide information on the Florida Water Star Certification process and criteria. After approval by the P&Z board the ordinance was advanced to the city...
Feeding veterans and their families and aiding in preventing suicides is a pretty significant contribution to Polk County residents, and the Dyer family has taken the time to recognize that effort. Last year, the All Veterans Center in Polk County helped feed over 34,000 veterans and their families. You might think that's a pretty amazing accomplishment, and it is, but it's not all the All Veterans Center did last year. The nonprofit organization which assists veterans, their...
