Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Whether it is the half-anniversary of when the pandemic shutdowns began in full in Lake Wales, the 19th anniversary of September 11th, or listening to the rhetoric with being less than two months from "the most important election in our lifetime," or all of these and much more, life may seem scary and unprecedented these days to some. To the majority of others in the world (and even people in Lake Wales) daily life was extremely challenging before the pandemic, actually...
In 2016, I was compelled by something deep inside me to right a wrong. The wrong, I felt, was how I had been treating other people my entire life. At the time, Lake Wales News, print newspaper, was still in operation and I thought I would write a letter and submit the letter to the editorial department in hopes it would get published. I had never sent a letter to a newspaper before, but I had a heavy heart and I wanted to apologize. I was raised in the same town I live in even...
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...
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 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 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...
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...
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...
Polk County residents now have free access to Gale Presents: Udemy, an online learning platform that connects patrons to video-based courses taught by leading experts in business, technology, and more. Users can explore thousands of continuously updated, on-demand video courses. As the employment landscape continues to change, workers are being tasked to learn new technologies and skills to stay competitive. It is essential for libraries to offer services that help adults...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
