Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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As you read this, you may see yourself. Parts of the story might remind you of someone that you know. Maybe you've heard similar stories. The number of stories are as limited as there are people, 'cause everyone has their own. No two are exactly alike but the conclusions are the same. How about the hookers, the junkies, the drug dealers, the homeless because they want to be, etc.? The so-called "dregs of society." I've even heard them called "pimples on the ass of humanity."...
A famous photo, featured in psychology textbooks, shows a lineup of infant ducklings following a baby elephant around a barnyard. The phenomenon is called "imprinting" – the tendency in fowls, within hours of being hatched, to follow the first moving object and regard it as their mother. Scientists have long attempted to determine to what extent the imprinting principle can be extraplated to the experience of human beings. It is widely felt, for instance, that adolescence i...
There's just something inherently wrong about people who clearly don't understand social media trying to regulate others' use of it. Lake Wales City Manager Ken Fields, through the city's HR director, proposed a social media policy that required not only employees, but also city officials to get approval prior to posting on social media. At 72, Fields is at the upper end of the Baby Boomer generation. According to a 2018 Facebook demographic study only one in four people over...
Just four months ago the Lake Wales City Commission leased a 2019 Ford Explorer XLT for the police department. That vehicle apparently wasn't good enough for City Manager Ken Fields. Instead Fields wanted the 2019 Ford Explorer Limited, which comes loaded with luxury, comfort, power and cosmetic features not included in the XLT. It also comes with 60 monthly payments of $773.17 – about $227 more per month than what the XLT costs. The Limited is a really nice vehicle. It comes...
Noemi Fort, Administrative Assistant in Engineering, was named Employee of the Month for February for Lake Wales Medical Center. Fort was honored for picking up additional responsibilities in the department after some personnel changes. "She does whatever is necessary to help keep the Engineering department running smoothly," a supervisor wrote in nominating her for the award. Lake Wales Medical Center is a 160-bed acute care hospital that has been serving the greater Lake...
Congratulations to "Team Planktons," winners of the third annual Big Kahuna Paddle Challenge on Saturday April 6 at Webber International University. Team members Jennifer Nanek, Richard Moody, Dan Hurst and Webber students, along with Bill Redmon at the helm, were victorious, but gave the winning prize to their competitor, The Vanguard School of Lake Wales. It's the third year for Nanek, Lake Wales city clerk, to compete in the event. "The secret to success is teamwork,...
At 83 years young Lake Wales' own Claudette Braswell garnered a whopping 20 gold, eight silver and a pair of bronze to capture the highest total: 30 individual and team medals in 32 events at the PSG (www.polkseniorgames.org) that ended Mar. 11. Braswell earned the honor of being awarded Outstanding Women Competitor 2019 besting more than 1,000 other female athletes and 127 in the 80-84 age group, which means she will return as Torch Bearer to kick off the Olympics-style...
While some of the world's finest pilots demonstrated their skills at the 45th Annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-in & Expo in Lakeland a contingent of teenagers gathered nearby rebuilding a wing and tuning up a jet engine. Babson Park's Jackson Gerard and his friends in the Lakeland Aeroclub hosted hundreds of visitors to the Fly-in, including officials from the Federal Aviation Administration who were interested in meeting the next generation of aviators. Sixteen-year-old Gerard is in...
Visit Central Florida is looking for some CATS – not the feline kind, but volunteers to become Certified Ambassadors of Tourism and Sports (CATS). CATS can be anyone – longtime or new resident or even snowbirds. Some are hospitality industry professionals: hotel concierges, restaurant servers, UBER drivers, local attraction employees – anyone who comes in contact with guests. CATS go through training to become experts on Polk County attractions. They are pioneers in hosting th...
Capt. Beau Mabery loves being part of the Blue Angels team. It's the second year for the U.S. Marine captain from California to fly "Fat Albert," the C-130 transport that carries the U.S. Navy aviators and their equipment to about 60 air shows a year. Mabery said flying into Lakeland Linder Airport for the 45th Annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-In and Expo was an interesting experience, "like flying into a hornet's nest of planes all around." Thousands of private pilots fly to Lakeland ea...
Hosting 200,000 guests is a big undertaking. More than 2,000 volunteers helped make things happen at the 45th Annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-in & Expo at Lakeland's Linder Airport April 2-7. They shuttle guests in golf carts, offer hospitality as greeters and serve in many different roles, selling tickets, checking wristbands and helping with media or in a variety of logistical jobs. Jack Madden from Frostproof has been volunteering for eight years. He and wife Sandy moved from Key...
It's blueberry season, and blueberries are good for your health. Crown Jewel Farms U-Pick season opened April 1 for blueberries. We are fortunate to be able to get certified organic produce this good in our back yard. Their address is 106 Egg Farm Road in Lake Wales. Their phone number is 863-528-2402. Their website is https://crownjewelorganic.com/ Right now they also have cabbage, cucumbers, and kale. Egg Farm Road is on the west side of Scenic Highway between Mountain Lake...
Fans of Italian travel, or those who just dream about it, are invited to share lunch and enjoy an hour of fellowship Saturday, April 6 at l'Incontro Italian Restaurant in Lake Wales. "All About Italy" is the name of a "Meetup" group that draws Italophiles from as far away as Orlando, Sebring, and Clermont. The delightful art, architecture, history, and natural beauty of Italy have long made it one of the world's most desirable travel destinations. A stronger dollar has made th...
The third annual Virginia Lassiter Leadership Luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 6 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Parish Hall, 221 South Fourth Street, Lake Wales. The luncheon will be followed by A Conversation with Leaders of the Lake Wales Arts community: Robin Gibson, Jayne Crews-Linton and Marilyn Newell. Founded in 1972 by a small group of citizens, the Lake Wales Arts Council has led Lake Wales' reputation as community rich in arts and cu...
If you enjoy visiting old cemeteries, the Polk County History Center invites you to join them Saturday, April 6 for their last cemetery tour until November. The walking tour of historic Oak Hill Cemetery, where pioneer families and war veterans are interred, starts at the History Center with a short walk of about one mile, which includes historic landmarks along the route to the cemetery. The Polk County History Center is located in the old courthouse at 100 E. Main St. in...
The Life Long Learning Center at Melange Antiques and Art Gallery in historic downtown Lake Wales is planning its grand opening with a weekend retreat April 5-7. Lifestyle and well-being experts Cal Hauptle and Emme Simon from Asheville, NC will kick off the weekend with a free conversational evening on well-being, health, wealth, relationships and perfect self-expression. The gathering, open to the public, will take place from 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 5 in the Gallery at Melang...
Central Florida Health Expo will host an encore Health exhibit/expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 29 at the International Market World Flea and Farmers Market in Auburndale. Participants are invited to spend the day learning about medical resources and health options in the Central Florida Area. Exhibitors offer a host of services to improve health and lifestyle. The expo will have have giveaways and prize drawings. The Expo is sponsored by Central Florida Media Group,...
Easy Spicy Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili WFPBNO (whole food plant based no oil) Ingredients 1# butternut squash, after peeling and chopping 1 15.5 oz. can black beans 1 10 oz. can Rotel, Hot 1 medium onion (150g, although I used a large onion) 3 cloves garlic 2T mild chili powder 1t cumin 1/8t cinnamon 2.3 oz espresso 1 1/3 C water total or more to taste Avocado for topping, optional Instructions Dice onion Sauté in 1/3 cup water over medium heat Peel squash, cut in half...
The Knights of Columbus are having fish fry dinners every Friday night during the Lenten season. Upcoming events will be March 29, April 5 and April 12 in the Parish Hall at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 644 S. 9th St. in Lake Wales. The meal includes an entrée of fried fish, baked fish or fried shrimp and a choice of sides: French fries, corn, green beans, coleslaw and hush puppies. Coffee, sweet tea or lemonade are included with the meal. Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for a...
United Way of Central Florida will have a new president and CEO April 1. The Board of Directors named Christina Criser Jackson to lead the organization. Criser Jackson, vice president of resource development, began her career at UWCF in 2008 as the Director of the Leadership Giving Association. In 2012, Criser Jackson was named Vice President of Major Gifts and Young Leader Engagement. She was named VP of Resource Development in 2015. "Christina knows the ins and outs of this...
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is made up of 29 agencies and offices with nearly 100,000 employees who serve the American people at more than 4,500 locations across the country and abroad," states the website. For Wellness, we will focus on just a few things from this magnificent department: Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and National Agricultural Library (NAL). I have used the food database available...
Lake Ashton Veterans Association will be holding a breakfast to raise funds for Homeless Veterans in East Polk County from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, March 23 at the health and fitness center, 6052 Pebble Beach Blvd, Winter Haven. Tickets are $10 each for the meal of pancakes, sausage, biscuits and gravy....
Rotary on the Ridge inducted Destini Lewis as a new member March 18. Lewis is Realtor ® and founder of her own company, Unique Destiny. She was sponsored by the club's newest member, Jonathan White, who supports her in marketing her real estate business, Homeexpo. Rotary on the Ridge is family friendly, and members have enjoyed getting to know White, Lewis and their 3-month-old Lily and 9-year-old Charles-Anthony. The family lives in Bartow. The county's only after hours...
The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales raised more than $1,000 at its March 8 spaghetti dinner, reaching nearly half of their goal of $2500 in support of Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an international nonprofit that offers life-saving surgery to children with a cleft palate or cleft lip. Each year, Operation Smile conducts hundreds of medical missions in locations around the world. Club members donated all the supplies, prepared and served the food so the entire proceeds...
"Connection is why we're here. It's what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. This is what it's all about." Brene' Brown says this three minutes into her Ted Talk recorded June 2010, The Power of Vulnerability, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o This video has over 36 million views. She has authored five books and has links to five videos on her web site, https://brenebrown.com. She says courage involves uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure and that learning...
