Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Citizen Support Services is a group of people from our community who volunteer their time, talent, and financial assistance to support and advocate for needs that exist within Lake Wales, where existing service organizations are not well positioned to support or coordinate. Citizens of Lake Wales, in partnership with leadership from several community service organizations, aim to ensure support and equity is provided to citizens in need. During the month of December, members...
Central Florida's Visitor Information Center (CFVIC) will host the "Caturday Kitten Cuddle" and adoption event on Saturday, Jan. 30, to benefit SPCA Florida. This family-friendly event will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors can enjoy five minutes of kitten cuddling time for a $5 donation and all proceeds go to SPCA Florida. Cash and credit cards will be accepted. Vendors will be on-site selling items such as homemade pet treats, leashes, collars and grooming...
To make people more aware about hunger at home and around the world the Lake Wales Care Center will hold its annual Empty Bowls Auction and Reception, starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26. The event is free and attendees can taste local soups and bid on bowls hand-painted by local artists and community "celebrities." It will take place outdoors and indoors at the Lake Ashton Clubhouse. Social distancing and masks are required. Empty Bowls is a nationwide program begun in...
Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and disease, so the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to skip a week or more of watering during the cooler months of January and February. According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn't need to be watered as often during the cooler months. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient. In fact, if your lawn has r...
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a sampling of new books available at our library. The list will be updated weekly. The Lake Wales Public Library continues to offer safe door-side pickup of materials during our current hours of operation. Call the library to request that holds are placed on items for pickup at the Lake Wales Public...
The next Polk County Sheriff's Office Concealed Weapons Permit Course is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 30. If the morning class fills up, a second class will be offered from 1-5 p.m. This is the class required by the Florida Department of Agriculture as part of an application to obtain a concealed weapons permit. To reserve a seat, call 863-298-6242, during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.) Callers will be given further instruction...
Polk County’s annual Environmental Lands Program calendar, which is dedicated to its volunteers and features natural sites throughout the county, is out and available to the public for free. The calendars can be picked up at the Nature Discovery Center at Circle B Bar Reserve, or at the reception desk in the Communications Division in Bartow. Polk’s volunteers know the ins and outs of what’s going on out in the field. They see and hear things no one else does. And their varie...
Fundraising is beneficial to our community, our club, and its members. Raising capital for a local project, recognized charity, affiliate organization, or an organization's outreach plans and operations, or a facilities maintenance, is an opportunity to make the achievements of an organization known throughout the community. As we work together on a fundraiser, we learn new skills and much more. Successful teamwork fosters cooperation, provides a sense of accomplishment,...
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a sampling of new books available at our library. The list will be updated weekly. The Lake Wales Public Library continues to offer safe door-side pickup of materials during our current hours of operation. Call the library to request that holds are placed on items for pickup at the Lake Wales Public...
With no announced opposition to date, Lake Wales City Commissioner Al Goldstein is pulling in some heavyweight endorsements for his re-election campaign. Goldstein was first elected in April 2019 with no opposition as the only candidate to qualify. Incumbent Tonya Stewart missed the deadline to submit the required 25 voter signatures to get on the ballot. The upcoming April 6 Municipal Election will include seven proposed city Charter amendments, Goldstein's Seat 4 and Seat...
Few of us over the age of four living in the United States, and indeed most of the whole world, will likely ever forget many of the unique events we encountered this year. We do remember that people have faced tough challenges before 2020, and challenges will certainly exist for many people after 2020. Below are some verses that we would do well to ponder [even in 2020]. May God grant us His blessings in this season and the seasons to come. Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD w...
How should we spend our limited time and energy? Which opportunities (no matter how small) do we need to pursue with our whole heart, and which opportunities (no matter how big) should we respectfully decline? When is a thing "right" to seek after, given the unique positions, talents, and gifts God has bestowed on us in this specific point of our lives? When we are tired, frustrated, confused, angry, and wondering if a thing should be pursued, here some passages worth...
Looking for a new fundraiser to help offset COVID-19 losses, the Rotary on the Ridge is now offering "Otter-grams" for special occasions. The regional after-hours service club had to postpone its Treasure Map fundraiser until 2021, so the club came up with a unique gift idea to make up some of the lost revenue. The club has a human-sized otter costume it uses to make presentations of the Josh the Otter water safety program to area kindergartens and day cares. A costumed club...
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Dec. 23 the appointments of Ashley Bell Barnett, Greg Littleton, Teresa Martinez, and Mark Turner to the Polk State College District Board of Trustees. All members are continuing their service to the Board along with Chair Cindy Hartley Ross and member Dan Dorrell. "Our District Board of Trustees is comprised of dedicated members whose unwavering support of our students and steadfast commitment to providing affordable access to quality...
It's starting to feel like the Holiday Season! Whatever it may be that gives you that festive feeling – the festive lights being switched on in the city, the first pumpkin pies appearing in the stores or that friend who always seems to put up the tree in the middle of November– for many of us, the festive period is a time to look forward to. However, for some of us, it may not be such a joyous time as we seem to find ourselves at loose ends on that Special Day. Maybe lov...
We all want the Norman Rockwell Christmas with the perfect family gathering of laughter and well-behaved children. We want our homes to look like something out of a magazine. We want to create precious memories with our children that will last a lifetime. These are all good desires, but bad idols. In the blink of an eye, an honorable desire gets out of hand when we put it above the people who come into our lives. Life happens, and in our quest for perfection, we forget that...
The Lake Wales Public Library will conduct the annual Holiday Food for Fines program through Dec. 31. Food for Fines is an annual fine amnesty program that provides library patrons the opportunity to "pay" overdue fines with a donation of food to the Lake Wales Care Center's Food Pantry. Overdue materials may be returned with at least five non-perishable food items, or outstanding fines owed may be "paid" with the same donation. The library will accept returned library...
Lake Wales City Commissioner Al Goldstein has been appointed to serve on the "new and improved" Florida League of Cities' 2020-2021 Advocacy Committee. In appointing Goldstein, FLC President Tony Ortiz said advocacy is one of the primary missions of the Florida League of Cities. "This committee will be responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in the Advocacy Mission Statement and for developing ideas and activities that strengthen our influence with state...
Rather than allow the COVID-19 pandemic to eliminate its annual Christmas celebration, the First Baptist Church of Lake Wales is offering "Drive-Thru" Christmas Dec. 12 and 13. Each evening from 6-8 p.m. vehicles will be directed to pass from one scene to the next along a marked route. The event will feature musical elements and visual depictions of the biblical Christmas story. The final stop will include carolers, a snow fall and distribution of child-focused gift bags from...
The Polk County Democratic Executive Committee organizational meeting & election was held Monday, Dec. 7 via the ZOOM online platform and also live on Facebook. Elected to serve as the 2020-2022 Board Officers include: Catherine Price, Chair; Veysel Dokur, 1st Vice-Chair; Jiwa Farrell, 2nd Vice-Chair, Polly Burkhart, Secretary; Norman Wilderson, Sergeant-At-Arms and Cindy Ransbottom, Treasurer. Also elected to serve from 2020-2024 were Karen Welzel, State Committeewoman, and...
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a sampling of new books available at our library. The list will be updated weekly. The Lake Wales Public Library continues to offer safe door-side pickup of materials during our current hours of operation. Call the library to request that holds are placed on items for pickup at the Lake Wales Public...
Holiday shoppers looking for a locally grown or handmade gift will revel in the news that the Lake Wales Farmer's Market is once again re-open in the city's historic downtown district. The market returned with almost 40 vendors on Nov. 14, and is expected to host upwards of 50 or more vendors on Saturday, December 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market operates on the second and fourth Saturday each month, and will be open Dec. 26 as well. Market manager Lynn Greenfield said the...
An active swimmer since age 5, Mary Leigh Hardman dreams of some day competing in the Olympics. The Lake Wales High School freshman moved closer to her goal last weekend by winning Florida state swimming championships in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events. "This is my first ever high school win. I'm very excited," said Mary Leigh, noting "I just knew I was going to do my best." Mary Leigh is following in the footsteps – or swimming strokes - of her mother, Molly Magill H...
Fortunately for Angela Lopez, her 6-year-old daughter Esperanza knew to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. On Oct. 21 Lopez fell at her Frostproof home and couldn't get up or call for help. When Esperanza couldn't find anyone to help, she retrieved her mother's phone and called 9-1-1. Polk County Fire Rescue personnel on Nov. 18 honored the Spook Hill Elementary first-grader, designating her a "9-1-1 hero." Fire Rescue public educator Rosa LaLonde used the special recognition event...
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a sampling of new books available at our library. The list will be updated weekly. The Lake Wales Public Library continues to offer safe door-side pickup of materials during our current hours of operation. Call the library to request that holds are placed on items for pickup at the Lake Wales Public...
