The magic of the holidays is getting ready to shine in Davenport as the city prepares for its Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. This beloved tradition brings the community together for an evening filled with music, cheer, and festive spirit.
The celebration takes place Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:30 PM at the Tom Fellows Community Center, located at 207 North Blvd W., Davenport, FL 33837. Families, friends, and neighbors are invited to gather as the community lights up the night and officially welcomes the season.
Whether you come for the glow of the tree, the joyful atmosphere, or simply to kick off December with those you love, this event offers a warm and memorable way to start the holidays in Davenport.
Bring the family, soak in the season, and help make the night shine.
A two-year old child playing near her driveway on her birthday was struck by a vehicle Sunday afternoon as the driver pulled onto the property. Despite the efforts of first responders, the child succumbed to her injuries.
On November 23, 2025 at approximately 1:55 p.m., a two year-old girl was playing near the driveway of her home located at 675 Ave. G SE in Winter Haven. A visitor arriving at the home driving a black Tesla started backing into the driveway and did not see the child. The Tesla struck the child as the mother stood a short distance away. First responders arrived within five minutes and began life-saving measures. Despite attempts to save the child, she was pronounced deceased at Winter Haven Health at approximately 3:30 p.m.
The driver of the Tesla, 31 year-old Sinyel St. Eloi was cooperative with investigators. Impairment nor foul play appear to be factors in this case, however the investigation is ongoing.
“Our hearts go out to this family losing their precious daughter at such a tender age,” said Police Chief Vance Monroe. “Entering into the holiday season compounds the pain they must be enduring and we will continue to keep them in our prayers.”
A minor traffic crash occurred at around 8:38 pm, on Sunday, November 23rd, on US 98 South at East Ethelene Street in Bartow (near Ruby Tuesday’s).
Fortunately, there were no injuries…not that one of the drivers seemed to care; 37-year old Francisco Marin-Matildes of Mexico immediately fled the scene in his 2007 Ford Edge following the crash.
As luck would have it, the crash occurred right in front of a PCSO deputy.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop on Francisco’s Ford.
That is when the deputy discovered that Francisco had no driver’s license, and he was in the United States illegally.
Francisco Marin-Matildes was arrested and taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center. He was charged with Driving without a Valid Driver’s License and Leaving the Scene of a Traffic Crash without Injuries.
Due to Francisco’s illegal alien status, both of his charges were enhanced one degree, so both 2nd degree misdemeanor charges were elevated to 1st degree misdemeanors.
Welcome, World Travelers! Take A Look At Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship: The Disney Destiny
by James Coulter
The Disney Destiny set sail on its maiden voyage on Nov. 20., 2025, after being christened on Nov. 10. The ship is the seventh ship built by the Disney Cruise Line and the third ship in its Wish class, following the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure.
At approximately 1,119 feet long and weighing 144,000 gross tons, the Disney Destiny is designed to accommodate 4,000 passengers with approximately 1,256 cabins.
The ship will port at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fl., with trips in the Western Caribbean at ports in The Bahamas, Mexico, and Disney’s private islands like Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the exclusive offerings this new cruise ship has to offer:
Disney Heroes and Villains Theme
The Disney Destiny has a heavy emphasis on heroes and villains from both Disney and Marvel. That theme is displayed with the ship’s name, along with a sculpture of Spider-Man with his Spider bots, located near the ship’s stern.
The ship’s theme is also showcased within the ship’s grand hall, which, as the Disney Parks Blog states, “transports you into a world of heroes and villains from the moment you step on board.”
The Grand Hall takes heavy inspiration from Marvel’s Black Panther with “thoughtful design details crafted by Walt Disney Imagineers.” This striking three-story venue will serve as a gathering space and entertainment hub for guests, with opportunities to meet many hero and villain characters alike.
Themed Adult Bars
Adult passengers will be able to let loose their heroic or villainous sides with the ship’s many themed bars and lounges.
For those feeling rather villainous, De Vil’s provides a “perfectly wretched” lavish lounge and piano bar styled after the iconic villain from 101 Dalmatians.
Those feeling a little bit more heroic can visit The Sanctum, themed after Marvel’s Doctor Strange. The bar and lounge will feature many unique themed drinks, including a cocktail served in “a special glass that reacts to touch.”
Dinner Entertainment and Stage Shows
One of the biggest productions to be hosted onboard will be a Broadway-style stage show based on Disney’s Hercules. The show will feature larger-than-life performances with larger-than-life props, including a large puppet version of the many-headed monster Hydra.
Those seeking dinner and a show can visit Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King, which Disney Parks Blogs describes as “a first-of-its-kind family dining experience” featuring a colorful ensemble bringing to life the beloved story and music of the animated classic.
Villain Mountain Water Ride
Guests seeking thrilling adventure can hop on board the AquaMouse, a two-seater water slide with 760 feet of twisting tubes and water fun.
This ship’s attraction will be themed as “Villain Mountain”, with the launch hill showing whimsical animated scenes with Mickey and Minnie turning many scenes with iconic Disney villains on their head.
Former East Polk County Association of Realtors CEO Jennifer Garula-Mers arrested for grand theft; CEO Jennifer Garula-Mers stole over $81,000 from the realtor association
A Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigation culminated in the arrest of the former CEO of The East Polk County Association of Realtors (EPCAR) on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Garula-Mers was terminated from her employment with EPCAR in August 2024.
Detectives issued a warrant for the arrest of 53-year-old Jennifer Garula-Mers of Spring Hill, Florida yesterday, November 20, 2025 for Grand Theft over $20,000 and less than $100,000, F.S.S. 812.014(2)(b)(1). She was taken into custody yesterday by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. She is being held on No Bond until First Appearance.
“Our investigation found that she made unauthorized raises and bonuses to herself, and non-business credit card charges that began within a few months after she was hired in 2020. Jennifer Garula-Mers’ is a thief and stole tens of thousands of dollars from the association. I urge all nonprofit associations to have effective checks and balances in place. ” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Garula-Mers was hired in 2020 with an annual salary of about $80,000. Four months later in November of 2020, she increased her own salary to about $85,000, and issued several bonus checks to herself.
By November of 2023, Garula-Mers raised her salary numerous times without authorization. Her final annual salary was $99,472a total of $43,105.86 in unapproved increases and deposits.
Records showed additional unauthorized payroll checks totaling $20,348.89, improper reimbursements totaling $2,112.97, and unauthorized $12,500 in bonuses. These checks were issued and signed by Garula-Mers.
Many non-business transactions were also discovered. Garula-Mers used the EPCAR credit card for: dining, shopping, personal grooming, household goods, and orders on Amazon. These purchases totaled $3,267.51. Garula-Mers changed EPCAR’s contribution rate to her individual retirement account, netting her an additional $7,938.27.
PCSO detectives found that EPCAR suffered a total loss of $81,453.92 as a result of Jennifer Garula-Mers’ fraudulent actions.
She will be brought from Hernando County to Polk County and will be charged with Grand Theft, $20,000 – $100,000 (F2).
***Sheriff Judd also mentioned David Stachowiak’s involvement in the case. He was arrested by the PCSO in October of 2024 and charged with: Extortion (F2), Tampering (F3), and Use of 2-Way Communication Device in the commission of a crime. He has since bonded out of jail, and his trial is pending
Auburndale is getting ready to kick off the holiday season in a big way. The City of Auburndale will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 4, transforming the area near the Downtown Historic Train Depot—right across from the Parks & Recreation office at 119 W. Park Street—into a festive celebration for all ages.
The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the official tree lighting set to take place at 7:00 p.m. Families can look forward to an evening packed with holiday fun, including bounce houses, glide ice, live music, dance performances, food vendors, a sprinkle of “snow,” and a visit from Santa himself.
With activities for kids, entertainment for all, and plenty of Christmas spirit, this beloved community tradition is the perfect way to welcome the season in Auburndale.
Former East Polk County Association of Realtors CEO Jennifer Garula-Mers arrested for grand theft.
CEO Jennifer Garula stole over $81,000 from the realtor association
Sheriff Grady Judd will provide details of the arrest at 3:00 p.m. today at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center, 1891 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies issued a warrant for the arrest of 53-year-old Jennifer Garula-Mers of Spring Hill, Florida yesterday, November 20, 2025 for Grand Theft over $20,000 and less than $100,000, F.S.S. 812.014(2)(b)(1). She was taken into custody yesterday by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. She is being held on No Bond until First Appearance.
Calling it a “wonderful invention,” the article describes the machine’s capability: “…whoever has spoken or whoever may speak into the mouthpiece of the phonograph, and whose words are recorded by it, has the assurance that his speech may be reproduced audibly in his own tones long after he himself has turned to dust. The possibility is simply startling.”
“Speech,” the publication continued, “has become, as it were, immortal.”
Photo source Bettmann Archive Getty Images
Edison stumbled on the phonograph—one of his great inventions—while working on a way to record telephone communication at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. His work led him to experiment with a stylus on a tinfoil cylinder, which, to his surprise, played back the short song he had recorded, “MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB.” Public demonstrations of the phonograph made the Yankee inventor world famous, and he was dubbed the “Wizard of Menlo Park.”
Edison set aside this invention in 1878 to work on the incandescent light bulb, and other inventors moved forward to improve on the phonograph. In 1887, Edison resumed work on the device, using the wax-cylinder technique developed by Charles Tainter. Although initially used as a dictating machine, the phonograph proved to be a popular tool for entertainment, and in 1906 Edison unveiled a series of musical and theatrical selections to the public through his National Phonograph Company. Continuing to improve on models and cylinders over the years, the Edison Disc Phonograph debuted in 1912 with the aim of competing in the popular record market. Edison’s discs offered superior sound quality but were not compatible with other popular disc players.
During the 1920s, the early record business suffered with the growth of radio, and in 1929 recording production at Edison ceased forever. Edison, who acquired an astounding 1,093 patents in his 84 years, died in 1931.”
Bartow, Fla. — Polk County Fire Rescue was awarded a $16-million federal grant to fund 50 new positions.
PCFR was awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the 50 positions. The program is designed to help fire rescue departments nationwide increase and maintain staffing levels. It also helps with response and operational standards compliance.
PCFR Chief Shawn Smith is ready to start recruiting candidates for the new positions.
“Polk County Fire Rescue is excited to bring new talent into our organization with the help of the SAFER grant,” Smith said. “We are grateful for this new federal funding which will help us reach our staffing goals.”
The 50 new SAFER grant-supported firefighter positions are part of more than 100 positions PCFR is working to fill. The Polk County Board of County Commissioners recently approved funding for fire personnel positions.
LAKELAND, FL | The City of Lakeland Water Utilities will begin the next phase of the Western Trunk Gravity Sewer Line upgrade next week, affecting Highland Street. This critical infrastructure project is part of our commitment to enhance wastewater capacity, bolster public safety, and deliver long-term service reliability.
Construction Area & Traffic Impacts Beginning Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, Highland Street will be closed to all traffic for approximately three (3) weeks. During this time:
Traffic will be detoured to Josephine Street via Southern Avenue and Pinewood Avenue, with clearly marked digital message boards and traffic signage.
The nearby park will remain open during its regular hours, and all scheduled activities will continue as planned. Park access will remain via West Highland Street only; residents will not be able to access the park from the east side.
Construction activities will include increased equipment presence and daytime noise as crews work in the right-of-way adjacent to the park.
Scope of Work
This phase will include:
Installation of a new 42-inch gravity trunk sewer line
Construction of a modern wastewater pump station
New force mains and collector lines These upgrades will replace aging infrastructure that dates to the 1980s and will significantly improve system performance and emergency response capabilities.
Why This Work Matters
Increased Capacity: Replaces undersized, deteriorating pipe to meet current and future demands
Improved Public Safety: Mitigates system vulnerabilities and supports efficient emergency response
Enhanced Reliability: Upgrades to modern standards that reduce the risk of service disruptions
Stay Informed
The City is committed to keeping the public informed. Updates will be shared through:
