Local Entrepreneurs, Pastors Encourage Next Generation Through Youth Empowerment Seminar
by James Coulter
If God gives you a talent, you have to share it with the world. That’s what Asha Davis firmly believes, and it’s that belief that allowed her to share her talent of dancing through her dance school, Davis Dance Academy.
Ever since she was 7 years old, she wanted to be a lawyer. Her life’s dream inevitably became re-routed at age 18 when she learned that she was becoming a mother. Having to provide for her new son, she went to nursing school and became a nurse.
Though she was making good money, enough to support her new family, she discovered that her life was missing something: a dream. As she had a talent for dancing since a young age, she decided to set a new life’s dream by opening up a dance studio, she said.
She continued to work in nursing for eight years in order to raise enough money to continue supporting her family and to follow her dream. After all, following a dream takes more than wishing, she said.
“I had to make sure that I built a foundation, I had to make sure that I started in an area that would allow me to follow my dreams,” Davis said. “Because so many people…don’t want to put in the work. You have to be able to put in the work.”
She started working at Ultimate Dance Studio for free to learn the ins and outs of running a dance school and studio. She took what she had learned and rented a small room to open her academy.
What started within a small room soon grew into a larger room, and now she has a dream to open a dance art studio in Auburndale. She has come so far in achieving her dream, and she will continue to strive to make it a reality, she said.
Following the verse in the Bible that states “write the vision and make it plain”, her advice to others is to make their own dreams plain and work hard every day to get themselves a little bit closer to their ultimate goal.
“How do you become successful? Start doing something towards your dreams tomorrow or tonight or now,” she said. “Start doing something right away. Doing a little bit every day, so when you turn around, you are the best in your field because you started doing it from this stage.”
Davis was one of four local community figures, ranging from entrepreneurs to pastors, who offered such words of wisdom to inspire the next generation through the Youth Empowerment Seminar “Keys To Success” on Saturday.
Hosted by It’s A Girls World Foundation, Inc. (IAGWF), a local non-profit organization, the annual seminar drew in nearly three dozen children to the Rotary Park Clubhouse in Winter Haven to participate within self-help exercises and listen to motivational speeches.
Pastor Trevor Allen, Senior Pastor of Imprint Ministries, outlined four important steps towards achieving one’s goals: pray, plan, people, and perspire. To achieve your dream, you must pray to God and listen for his plan for you, plan out your strategy towards achieving that plan, surround yourself with positive people to help you with that plan, and finally work to make it all a reality, he said.
The first step, obviously, is to pray to God. That involves more than simply talking to him. You also have to be willing to listen and obey him, Pastor Allen said.
“Most of us know how to talk to God, but many of us don’t know how to listen to God,” he said. “You have to realize that it is more about listening to God about what he wants you to do than you telling him what you want to do.”
Of course, praying is not enough. Prayer requires action. So you need to plan out your strategy, surround yourself with people willing to help and encourage you, and work hard to achieve what God wants you to, he said.
“In order to succeed in life, you have to sweat,” he said. “Those sweat and those tears will accomplish something great. It takes hard work to get where you want to be.”
The children attending that day also participated in several activities, from teamwork exercises to creating “vision” boards. One exercise had them coloring in their own “keys to success” and highlighting their own plans to achieve their dreams.
Sheenna McKenzie, IAGWF CEO, hosts these youth empowerment seminars each year to help encourage the next generation to follow their own dreams and achieve their own success.
Her non-profit organization offers such motivation through these events, as well as through scholarships to graduating high school seniors and volunteer work with Boys and Girls Club of Winter Haven and Florida Baptist Children’s Homes.
“I am extremely passionate about being able to make a difference in the lives of our youth by being a leader, mentor, and role model,” she said. “The vision that I have for this organization is to continue to empower youth by developing events that empower the youth to become successful leaders in the community.”
For more information about IAGWF, visit their website at: https://iagwf.org/
Nature’s Reserve Offers Affordable Homes Close To Orlando
by James Coulter
Looking for an affordable quality home that provides the peaceful solitude of the country while remaining close to the pulsing energy of the city? Then consider Nature’s Reserve.
Located off of Highway 98 in Davenport, this new housing development is only a short drive from Posner Park and I4. With such close proximity to Orlando, you’re only minutes away from Walt Disney World and the other attractions, shopping, and dining experiences within the Greater Orlando Area.
Nature’s Reserve is so close to the city life of Orlando, Davenport, and the surrounding Polk County area, yet far enough away that you can enjoy the serenity of the rural setting, which is much appreciated after a long day at work.
The houses themselves, as offered by Maronda Homes, are sold at affordable prices, with available units ranging from $209,000 to more than $270,000, according to Buzz Buzz Homes.
At such an affordable price range, and with a variety of options to choose from, including granite kitchen counters, tile floors, and crown molding, you’re sure to find the perfect home for the perfect price within a perfect location to live, work, and play.
“Nature’s Reserve is a community variety of home-sites and home styles to choose from,” the Maronda Homes website states. “These homes are one of a kind and present the most beautiful and functional attributes Maronda Homes can offer.”
Nature’s Reserve celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Haines City Chamber of Commerce on Friday morning. The ceremony itself proved quite festive with live music provided by a mariachi band and a fajita bar provided by Moe’s Southwest Eatery.
Several prominent members of the local community attended the event, including chamber board treasurer Karen Tiner, Nell Johnson of the Haines City Historical Museum, and Dr. Carys Felton of Heart of Florida Chiropractic.
Lana Stripling, the Chamber’s executive director, considers the homes at the housing development to be “absolutley fantastic” and “beautiful”, making them the perfect addition to their city, especially in light of increased economic development, she said.
“It is a great family development,” she said. “It brings quality homes to our community, and it just helps us [to] be stronger and better. They are very warm and cozy [homes], and the rooms are large, and there are a lot of amenities that they have to offer.”
The housing development has been undergoing construction in three phases. The first and second phases have since sold out of their units, leaving only the third phase with 48 of its 61 units left, said Cindy Wilkinson, community sales manager for Maronda Homes.
“This is a very nice area,” she said. “It is convenient to everything, the location is exploding, prices are good, [and] so it is all good.”
Efrain Portas, lien officer for FBC Mortgage, which has been providing the mortgages and loans for the homes, expects a lot of traffic within the area, especially with it being close to Orlando and the rest of Polk County.
“It is close to Disney, the theme parks, and major highways, so we are expecting a lot of traffic to go through and expecting this community to grow,” he said. “This is their second phase, but we have already sold out the first phase. We expect to get a lot of financed homes from this project.”
Nature’s Reserve is located along Minute Maid Road in Davenport. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.marondahomes.com/fl/davenport/natures-reserve-33837.html
FSC Lecture Tells How Florida Was Almost Taken Over By Privateers
by James Coulter
Did you know that Florida was nearly taken over by a Scot and Mexican in an effort to help the Spanish colonies win their independence? Like most bizarre tales, fact proves stranger than fiction.
This little tidbit of Florida history was divulged by a University of Central Florida (UCF) professor and historian during a lecture at Florida Southern College (FSC) on Thursday evening.
David Head, a specialist in early American maritime history at UCF, entertained more than 100 attendees within the FSC Hollis Room as he offered a history lesson from his book, “Privateers of the Americas: Fighting The Spanish American Wars of Independence from Florida.”
The Spanish-American Wars For Independence
Following the overthrow of the King of Spain by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808, the Spanish colonies used this opportunity to seek their independence through the Spanish-American Wars for Independence.
These colonies commissioned privateers, or privately-owned warships, to intercept and capture enemy ships. The privateers would hand the captured ships over to the officials who commissioned them, while the privateers themselves would keep anything else they captured, Head explained.
During this war, the Spanish colonies took a keen interest in capturing Florida, which was then owned by the British and divided into two territories: East and West. As Florida rested near the Caribbean and Cuba, it served as the ideal location to intercept enemy ships.
The Invasion of Amelia Island
Amelia Island, which lay between Georgia and Florida, was initially invaded by a British-Scottish general named Gregor McGregor. He had previously served within the British army before eventually leaving for South America, where he became a general in Venezuela.
McGregor, who insisted on being called “Sir General McGregor, decided to lead his own expedition to attack Florida. His plan was to conquer Amelia Island and use it as a base of operation, then to push onward to the mainland to conquer St. Augustine and rest of Florida, Head said.
In 1817, McGregor successfully conquered the island and pushed away its 100 Spanish defenders. He declared the island “La Republica de Las Floridas” (“Republic of the Floridas”), and even designed its own flag and commemorative medal, the latter of which contained the inscription, “Amalia, Veni, Vidi, Vici, Libertas Floradarium duce Mac Gregorio.” (“I came, I saw, I conquered, Liberty in Florida under McGregor.”) Evidently, McGregor prided himself as a Caesar figure, Head said.
McGregor Steps Down, Aury Steps In
Only two months after conquering the island and using it as a base of operations to pull off raids along the mainland, McGregor would abandon his scheme to conquer Florida and retreated from the island, leaving it in chaos and disarray.
Amidst this chaos arrived a young 20-something privateer named Louis Michael Aury, who arrived on the island a few days after McGregor abandoned it, declaring himself “Chief of the Mexican Republic”, Head said.
Aury would go onto succeed where McGregor failed. Under his leadership, he would smuggle more than $500,000 of prized goods and 600 to 900 slaves to help aid in their efforts to potentially invade Florida for the Spanish colonies. He even planned to create an official government and draft a constitution.
The U.S. Intervenes
At that time, the United States was a neutral party during the Spanish-American War for Independence. However, with the situation on Amelia Island violating American law and posing a national security threat, the Monroe administration would address it as their first foreign policy crisis.
The U.S. Navy lands on the island with superior forces and inevitably drives out Aury and his men. Amelia Island is then claimed for America, with Florida eventually being claimed and made an official state several years later.
So had the U.S. not intervened, would McGregor and Aury have succeeded in their plans to invade Florida? That would have been theoretically possible. How much control they would have had over the territory was another question, Head explained.
With enough man and naval power, their forces could have invaded St. Augustine, which was then the capital of East Florida, but they would not have remained in power very long, as America would have inevitably stepped in to take over, Head said.
“America wanted Florida,” he said. “It was a high priority for policy at the time…The U.S. would have found a way to acquire Florida one way or another.”
FSU History Lecture Series
This lecture was the fifth within this year’s Lecture Series presented by FSC. This month’s lecture drew in nearly a hundred guests, which was surprising considering other events occurring at the college, explained James M. Denham, FSC history professor.
“I think we did not have many people this time as we did last month, but we had a good turnout,” he said.
For Head, this was his first time hosting such a lecture at the college, as well as visiting the college himself. He was most impressed by the discussion and questions that his lecture elicited afterwards, he said.
“It is wonderful [lecture] series that they have here, such a vibrant intellectual life between the college and the larger community,” he said. “Everyone has been a wonderful host here, they came out here, [and] they were very enthusiastic.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, the second positive Rabies case in Polk County for the year.
On February 11, 2019, PCSO received a call for service in reference to three German Shepherd dogs that were in a fight with a raccoon in the Winter Ridge Drive area of Auburndale. The raccoon was killed by the dogs’ owner. The dogs were not seriously injured.
The raccoon was collected and sent out for rabies testing. Results of the test were received on February 13, 2019, which confirmed rabies.
All three dogs were placed into the appropriate quarantine.
There were three confirmed rabies cases in Polk County in 2018.
Haines City Police Department Press Release
Haines City man arrested for exposing self, striking multiple officers
HAINES CITY, FL – Efrain Lopez-Gregorio is being charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, indecent exposure, resisting arrest with violence, battery on a police dog and resisting arrest without violence after exposing himself and striking multiple officers on Sunday afternoon.
Officers came to Lopez-Gregorio’s Oak Avenue home about 5:30 p.m. Sunday after neighbors accused him of exposing himself while urinating in his front yard. Officers responded to the residence where multiple men were inside. They were asked to exit the residence where one responded with a “no”. Two men were seen running to the back of the residence to a second-story porch.
After being told to come down the stairs, one man identified later as Antonio Martinez Gabriel complied and was detained without incident. Lopez-Gregorio, 45, was asked multiple times to come down the stairs and refused before ultimately complying. As Officer Sabina Rivera attempted to handcuff Lopez-Gregorio, he spun around and tried to pull away from her.
Lopez-Gregorio was ordered to sit and was assisted by officers after refusing to do so. Lopez-Gregorio again stood back up, at which time K-9 Officer David Heptinstall assisted him to the ground and ordered him to remain seated. As he was sitting, Lopez-Gregorio swung his right arm in an apparent attempt to strike K-9 Fenix who was nearby. Officer Heptinstall was able to pull Fenix away, but was struck in the chest.
Since Lopez-Gregorio stood up after being told to remain seated, Officer Rivera and Officer Hannah Armbruster assisted Lopez-Gregorio to the ground again; the suspect swung with a closed fist and struck Officer Armbruster in the leg. Lopez- Gregorio remained combative. K-9 Fenix was deployed and was able to apprehend Lopez-Gregorio on his left knee and calf. Lopez-Gregorio then struck Fenix in an attempt to fend him off.
Lopez-Gregorio continued to resist, striking officers with his elbows and fist. He was eventually taken into custody. Three witnesses interviewed identified Lopez-Gregorio as the man who exposed himself.
Lopez-Gregorio was taken to Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center to be treated for puncture wounds to his left knee from the K-9 bite. Lopez-Gregorio’s only prior criminal incident was in 2008 when he was arrested for driving without a license.
“We tried and tried to get Mr. Lopez-Gregorio to comply, but he instead chose to be violent,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “We’re just thankful that none of our officers were seriously hurt.”
It should be noted that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has obtained a warrant for deportation for Mr. Lopez-Gregorio.
Haines City Police Department Press Release
Man faces deportation after stealing city vehicle, prompting police pursuit
HAINES CITY, FL – Pedro Ayala Flores, 24, of 232 N. 24th St. in Haines City, was arrested Monday afternoon after stealing a city vehicle, which prompted a police pursuit.
Before 3:45 p.m. Monday, a city employee was inspecting a well at a city water plant, 2003 Angle Ave. The employee left the keys to a 2002 white Ford Ranger, with a city crest on both side doors, inside the truck as he made the routine inspection.
When the employee finished inspecting the well, he noticed a man in the driver’s seat of the city vehicle. The employee watched the man, later identified as Flores, speed away in the vehicle despite the employee’s demands for him to stop. Flores drove the truck through the security fence and the employee called 911.
Officers Ryon Green and George Gonzalez located the stolen city truck and began pursuing the truck in a marked Police Department car, activating lights and sirens in the area of Laurel Hills and South 10th Street. Flores refused to stop, causing officers to utilize the PIT maneuver, which forced the stolen vehicle into the concrete sign at Advance Auto Parts, 1015 E. Hinson Ave.
Both vehicles sustained about $1,000 worth of damages. The damage to the security fence at the water plant is estimated at $5,000 and the now cracked concrete sign at the auto parts store is estimated to have sustained about $4,000 in damages.
The man was apprehended and identified as Flores by a Mexican Consular ID issued in 2016; given the card’s poor print quality, inconsistency in texture and that the photo is generated on the laminate that has been detached from the card itself, there was reason to believe the card was fraudulent. Flores’ fingerprints revealed no records. He has no driver’s license.
Flores is being charged with burglary with damage over $1,000, fleeing to allude, grand theft auto, felony criminal mischief, possessing a fraudulent ID and driving without a license among other civil violations. The Department of Homeland Security has obtained a warrant for deportation for Flores.
“Mr.Flores not only damaged both public and private property, but he put a lot of people in harm’s way with his actions,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “I can’t say enough about the job our officers did to make sure that no one, including Mr. Flores, was seriously injured.”
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
Early Tuesday morning (about 1:00 a.m.), February 12, 2019, PCSO deputies located and arrested a Honduras man who crashed into two vehicles while intoxicated, left the scene and later registered 2.8 times the legal BAC (blood alcohol concentration) limit.
25-year-old Juan Doblado-Gutierrez is charged with the following:
DUI with Property Damage (M-1)
Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Injury (F-3)
No Valid Driver’s License (M-2)
Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage
Around 1:00 a.m., deputies responded to U.S. 98 and Innovation Drive in Lakeland after Doblado-Gutierrez hit two vehicles and left the scene without attempting to render aid. The crash sent one person to the hospital.
The crash was reported and a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) was issued-an observant deputy noticed Doblado’s car with significant front end damage turning onto Combee Road from US 98 and stopped the vehicle on Commerce Point Drive about 2 miles north of the crash.
The deputy determined Doblado-Gutierrez was under the influence of alcohol after he failed a sobriety test. He was arrested and taken to the Polk County jail where he registered an alcohol level of .223 BAC, nearly three times the legal limit of impairment, which is .08.
He did not have a valid Florida driver’s license-only an ID card from Honduras.
“As drivers we have a fundamental moral obligation to stop if involved in a crash and render aid to those injured. We also are legally and morally required to have a valid license. Doblado-Gutierrez didn’t do or have any of these things. He got drunk, decided to drive, and caused a crash that hurt others and caused thousands of dollars of damage-thank God no one was seriously hurt. We don’t know if he is in the country legally, but we have notified ICE that he is in our jail. If ICE gives us a legal detainer, we will hold him.” Grady Judd, Sheriff
Doblado-Gutierrez is being held in the county jail on a $2,000 bond.
Saturday Market in Downtown Winter Haven- Opportunity to Shop Local
**As seen in the Winter Haven Print Publication**
By Allison Williams
Every second and forth Saturday from 9:00-3:00 in Downtown Winter Haven, the Saturday Market takes place.
Local vendors from all around set up tents to showcase what their businesses are known for. There are a variety of items showcased at the market every other Saturday including clothes, jewelry, nail polish, pet items, desserts, popcorn, bath/body items, vintage collectibles and so much more. Food trucks also line up along the street for some hungry shoppers.
This is a family-friendly event located at Central Park and it is even pet-friendly!
To support local businesses, stop by the Saturday Market located at 41 5th Street NW.
Interested in setting up a tent at one of the markets to showcase your business? Vendors can visit www.CentralFloridaEventVendors.com for more information.
The next February market date is February 23.
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