Around the World in a Day invites seniors 55 and older to experience iconic landmarks, diverse cultures and rich traditions without leaving their seats.
The program is designed for older adults who love to travel or have a passion for lifelong learning. It runs from 11 a.m. to Noon every second Thursday, now through December, at the Medulla Resource Center, 1049 Parker Road in Lakeland.
Space is limited to 25 participants and preregistration is required. For details or to register, call 863-647-4035.
It’s hurricane season, which is just one of several weather emergencies and other natural disasters companies may face, depending on location. Tornadoes, floods and wildfires also pose serious threats. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), about 25% of businesses never reopen after a major disaster. And many that do reopen struggle to recover.
To lower the risk of closure and improve your chances of a strong recovery, establish a comprehensive emergency plan before disaster strikes. FEMA recommends the following multi-step approach to help safeguard your business.
Set Goals and Assign Responsibility
Start by carefully defining the goals of your disaster plan and identifying who’ll create, manage and execute it. Your priorities will likely include:
Protecting employees and customers,
Minimizing damage to assets, and
Resuming operations as quickly as possible.
For legal and financial risk management, consider including an attorney and an insurance professional to your disaster planning team.
Craft Your Plan
Begin by identifying and prioritizing the risks your business may face. These will likely include physical injuries to employees or customers. Also important to consider are business interruption, revenue loss and damage to property, equipment, inventory or vital records.
Your plan should address:
Employee roles. Assign responsibilities to staff with relevant skills for different emergencies.
Evacuation procedures. Develop clear evacuation routes and protocols.
Safety equipment. Define needs for items such as first aid kits, fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems.
Data protection. Secure vital records and documents by means such as remote backups and physical copies.
Communication strategy. Establish how you’ll keep employees and customers updated as to status and recovery timeline.
Inventory and supplier list. Keep a current list of critical equipment and replacement suppliers.
Operational continuity. Create contingency plans to run essential functions remotely with a minimal team.
HR and payroll policies. Set guidelines for compensating nonexempt employees who can’t work during downtime.
Keep your plan thorough but manageable to ensure it’s practical, updatable and easy to follow.
Put the Plan to Work
To implement your plan, inform employees of their roles, assign responsibilities and provide any necessary training. Ensure that all essential emergency equipment is readily available and that your insurance coverage is sufficient to meet your needs.
Identify possible infrastructure gaps and address them promptly to ensure safety. An example would be inadequate emergency exits.
Do Run-Throughs
Regular practice strengthens preparedness. Conduct drills to ensure safe evacuation procedures are clear and compelling. Verify that safety equipment, data backups and other safeguards function as intended.
Be proactive. Don’t wait for a real emergency to discover weaknesses.
Monitoring and Tweaking
With a solid plan in place, relax, but not too much. Review and update your plan at least annually to reflect changes in staff, operations or layout.
Incorporate feedback from various sources, such as test results, employee input and new risks you’ve discovered or lessons learned. Adapting and refining your plan regularly will maintain its effectiveness and help keep your assets, especially your human assets, safe over time.
Assurance
Your business may never be directly impacted by a severe weather event or other natural disaster. But having a solid emergency preparedness plan can still offer tangible benefits, such as lowering certain business insurance costs. More importantly, it brings peace of mind that allows you to stay focused on running and growing your business, rather than worrying about the possibilities. Contact the office for guidance tailored to your situation.
This article is sponsored by Accounting & Tax Edge locally owned by Christina Hansen CPA
Join UF/IFAS Extension Polk County and the City of Lakeland Water Utilities for a free educational workshop on incorporating native plants into your Central Florida landscape. This informative event will take place on Friday, October 17, from 10 – 11 a.m. at Lakeland Electric, located at 501 East Lemon Street, Lakeland, FL 33801.
Learn how native plants can enhance your Florida-Friendly yard by conserving water, supporting local wildlife, and adding natural beauty. Discover the benefits of choosing plants adapted to Florida’s unique climate and environment, making your garden more sustainable and easier to maintain.
This workshop is ideal for homeowners, gardeners, and anyone interested in creating a more eco-friendly yard. Space is limited, and events may be canceled if minimum registration is not met—check Eventbrite for updates.
Need accommodations? Contact Julie Schelb at 863-519-1041 or [email protected] at least 10 days in advance.
The Winter Haven Police Benevolent Association (PBA) is excited to host its 3rd Annual Kickball Tournament on November 8, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Winter Haven Diamondplex, located at 85 Polk State College Access Rd, Winter Haven, FL.
This fun-filled community event invites professional and established organizations—such as churches, city departments, banks, and businesses—to register teams for $200. The registration deadline is Friday, October 31. Payment can be made via Cash, Check, or CashApp.
All proceeds from the tournament go directly to support youth organizations in the City of Winter Haven.
For registration or more information, contact SGT Cooper at 863-307-2296 or email [email protected].
Scan the provided QR codes on the flyer below for CashApp donations or to learn more about the PBA and its mission. Join the fun and help make a difference in the lives of local youth!
With fall quickly approaching, I’ve been feeling inspired to experiment with new recipes—especially when it comes to baking, my favorite kitchen pastime. I recently came across a delicious chocolate chip M&M cookie recipe that I just had to share. Just a quick note: I usually cut the ingredients listed below in half to avoid making a huge batch, and you might want to do the same—unless you’re ready for a mountain of cookies!
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup M&M’s (plus extra for topping, if desired)
How to Make M&M Cookies
Cream the Butter and Sugars In a large mixing bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together for about 1 minute until well combined.
Add Wet Ingredients Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract until fully mixed together.
Combine Dry Ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until combined.
Add Mix-ins Gently fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes—this helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
Shape and Bake Preheat your oven to 375°F. Use a large cookie scoop to portion out dough balls and place them on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra M&M’s on top for a colorful finish.
Bake and Cool Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops are just turning golden. Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy!
I’m no professional cook or baker, so I know they don’t look perfect, but these are delicious in my opinion!
The Hispanic Leaders Network and The Young Pros Sports Foundation are proud to present the 2nd Annual Hispanic & Latin Cultural Festival in Dundee.
This vibrant celebration will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Dundee Community Center.
The festival promises an exciting afternoon filled with music, food, and fun for the whole family. Attendees can enjoy a lively DJ, a variety of food vendors, live entertainment, and a dedicated Kidz Fun Zone.
The event is designed to highlight and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Hispanic and Latin communities through music, cuisine, and community spirit.
Whether you’re looking to explore new flavors, enjoy festive performances, or connect with the community, this cultural festival is the place to be.
For sponsorship or vendor opportunities, contact Marisol at 863-440-1780. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate culture and community in Dundee!
Polk County is starting the week with cloudy skies and mild temperatures. Today, expect a high of 87°F with thunderstorms anticipated around 6 PM. Winds remain light with gusts up to 6 mph. Rain chances are at 70%, so it’s wise to keep an umbrella handy.
The stormy trend continues through midweek, with Tuesday seeing an 80% chance of storms and temperatures ranging from 74°F to 86°F. Wednesday and Thursday follow suit, with rain chances at 70% and 65% respectively, and highs around 85°F.
Rain tapers off slightly by Friday, with a 50% chance of showers and a high of 84°F. The weekend brings a welcome change—Saturday will be partly cloudy with a high of 84°F, while Sunday is expected to be sunny and pleasant, reaching 84°F after a cool morning low of 68°F. Overall, prepare for a wet week with a bright finish.
*This weather report is courtesy of Apple Weather and is subject to change at any time.
Winter Haven Police Bring Home Bronze in Special Olympics ProAm Event
Members of the Winter Haven Police Department had the honor of taking part in the 2025 Special Olympics Unified Fore Joy ProAm at TopGolf in Orlando on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Deputy Chief Greg Goreck, Lieutenant Garrett Boyd, Sergeant LaDarius Cooper, Detective Nikki Ellegard and Special Olympian Ryan represented the Winter Haven Police Department and the citizens of our community. The team rallied together to bring home the bronze and placed third out of the Law Enforcement Agency teams participating that night.
The Unified Fore Joy ProAm is a collaborative fundraising event between Special Olympics and TopGolf locations across the nation during the first week in September. The teams for the ProAm are all inclusive and consist of Special Olympians being teamed with members of our local law enforcement, business, and educational communities.
These events not only help to maintain the partnerships between Special Olympics and the community, but also ensure quality sports training and competition opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“The dedication and strength of these athletes is inspiring to our members and community”, said Police Chief Vance Monroe. “Our commitment to Special Olympics Florida will continue to grow as we participate in events, such as this, to ensure the success for all of the athletes.”
For more information on how to donate to the Winter Haven Police Special Olympics Florida, visit their FB page at Winter Haven PD’s Events for Special Olympics Florida or contact Sgt. David Keigan at [email protected].
Shane Stephen Weeks, 49, of Haines City, Florida, passed away on August 26, 2025. Born on November 5, 1975, to Steve and Debbie Weeks, Shane was a lifelong resident of Haines City and a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend.
For more than 30 years, Shane dedicated his career to Quality Petroleum Corporation, where he served as Vice President. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Shane will be remembered for his love of the outdoors and his adventurous spirit. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and airboating, and was a proud member of the Port Hatchineha Airboat Club.
Shane’s life was deeply enriched by the friendships he built along the way. Known for his loyalty, generosity, and easy laugh, he treasured the company of friends and made a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Family was at the center of Shane’s life. He cherished every moment spent with his loved ones, especially with his new grandson, Conway.
Shane is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Ivory Weeks; his parents, Steve and Debbie Weeks; his son, Walker Weeks (Hannah); his grandson, Conway Weeks; his sisters, Heather Rhoden (Jason) and Brittany Griego (Chris); and his father- and mother-in-law, Jim and Annie Jackson.
Shane’s legacy of love and devotion to family and friends will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
A visitation will be held Friday, September 5, 2025, at 4:00 pm and a celebration of life will follow at 5:00 pm. Both will be at Haven Worship Center, 1835 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to Haven Worship Center where Shane was an active member
Road closures are scheduled for Friday, September 5, from 4 PM to 9 PM for the popular First Friday Car Show in Downtown Winter Haven.
Magnolia Avenue, between Ave B NW and 2nd St NW, will be closed, and nearby traffic patterns may shift. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and use caution in the area.
First Friday is a beloved monthly event that brings the community together for an evening of fun, food, and entertainment. From 5 to 8 PM, guests can enjoy outdoor dining under market lights, food and drink specials, and extended shopping hours at local businesses. Live music and performances will be featured at various downtown venues, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just looking for a great night out, First Friday in Winter Haven promises something for everyone. Don’t miss it!
