Pamela L. Skudlarek, age 61, of Lake Alfred, Florida, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.Pamela was born on January 26, 1964, to Paul Salyers and Carol F. Carver. She was the heart and voice of RS Reliable Services, where her kindness and dedication touched many. Above all else, Pamela was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished daughter, and loyal sister.Pamela enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, sharing her love of cooking with family and friends, and finding joy in every gathering. She enjoyed attending the First Baptist Church of Lake Alfred.
Pamela is survived by her mother, Carol F. Carver; her husband, Richard Skudlarek; her sons, Thomas Skudlarek and Kevin Skudlarek; and her daughter, Sara Skudlarek. She also leaves behind extended family and friends who will forever treasure her memory.Pamela will be remembered for her strength, warmth, and unwavering love. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, and she will remain forever in our hearts.“She is clothed with strength and dignity; She can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31: 25-26
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of food, drinks, and fun at the Central Florida Food Fest, happening Friday, October 18 from 5–9 PM at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland!
Presented in partnership with Visit Central Florida, this 21+ ticketed event offers an array of mouthwatering bites and craft sips from top local restaurants, all priced between $7–$10. Enjoy live music, a lively artisan market, and exclusive specials throughout the night.
Perks include a welcome drink on arrival, and the first 100 ticket holders will score a free wine tasting!
Whether you’re coming for the flavors, the vibes, or the cause—supporting the beautiful Bonnet Springs Park—you won’t want to miss it. Note: the park will be closed to the public during the event.
The Chain of Lakes Trail Pedestrian Bridge will be temporarily closed for maintenance from 8 AM to 4 PM, starting Monday, September 15, 2025, and continuing for one week.
The bridge will reopen each evening after 4 PM for public use. For your safety, please do not move or bypass barricades during closure hours.
This temporary closure is necessary to clean and clear the bridge for continued safe use. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time. Thank you for helping keep Lake Alfred’s trails clean and safe!
Professional Engineering Services Approved for Lake Marion Boat Ramp
by James Coulter
A larger boat ramping with more parking spaces and better maneuverability will be coming soon to Lake Marion now that Polk County commissioners have approved engineering services.
At their regular meeting on Tues. Sept. 2, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) voted unanimously to approve a consultant services agreement Dewberry Engineers Inc. to provide proffesional engineering services for a boat ramp at Lake Marion.
Located northwest of Lake Hatchineha, Lake Marion currently has public boat launching access on the southwest side of the lake; however, a larger ramp has been proposed for the northeast side.
“Parking and maneuverability are limited,” the agenda item explained. “Additionally, the current launching facility is located off a 90-degree corner along Jim Edwards Road, making it difficult to safely back into the facility due to passing traffic.”
The proposed boat launch area will provide “a larger boat launching facility with ample parking, better maneuverability, and safer year-round access.”
The engineering agreement would permit Dewberry Engineers to provide “permits, construction plans and specifications for a boat ramp, dock, access road and parking facilities for boat launching.”
Funding for the proposed ramp is available in the Parks and Natural Resources CIP within the East Park Impact Fee District Fund and Lake and River Enhancement Trust Fund.
County Manager Bill Beasley stated that he and County Staff will be seeking state and federal grants to cover the cost of the project’s construction.
“The logic behind that is that the state looks for shovel-ready projects,” he said. “If we can pay for that design, we can get that project shovel ready, then I think we get a higher priority from the state because now the project is ready to go. The state wants their money spent quickly, and it’s not though the planning or design process.”
Once the new ramp is complete, the old ramp will be decommissioned, as the new ramp will provide better parking, a more stabilized area, and it will allow for more people to access the lake, explained Gaye Sharpe, Director, Parks & Natural Resources Division.
Welcome, World Travelers! Did You Hear This Tomorrowland Easter Egg in the New Fantastic Four Movie?
by James Coulter
I’ve discussed the new Fantastic Four movie both in my movie review and on the Chattin’ on the Ridge Podcast. What makes the movie especially “fantastic” is how, unlike most other movies set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fantastic Four: First Steps is practically its own self-contained story set within its own unique world.
And what a unique world it is! Fantastic Four: First Stepsrevels in its retro-futuristic setting with Space Age architecture, flying cars, and talking robots. It’s as if the world technologically progressed from the 1960s onward while maintaining its overall aesthetics.
The retro-futuristic setting of Fantastic Four: First Steps feels reminiscent of Walt Disney’s vision of the future circa 1960s Tomorrowland. In fact, the only thing missing is “A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” from the Carousel of Progress playing in the background.
However, while that song doesn’t play in the movie, another song from Tomorrowland can be heard in one scene.
One of the montages played earlier in the movie is set to the instrumental composition, “Nation on Wheels.” The song was composed by George Bruns, who composed music for Disney attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion.
“Nation on Wheels” was originally featured in the 1958 episode of the Disneyland serial, “Magic Highway, U.S.A.”, which examines the history of automobiles and highways, both past and future. The song would later be played as background music on the Disneyland Peoplemover in Tomorrowland.
Its bouncy, optimistic tune served as the ideal anthem for Tomorrowland in the 1960s, which was often referred to as a land set in perpetual motion with attractions like the Peoplemover, Monorail, Skyway, and Autopia all running in conjunction with each other.
So, it’s no surprise then that a song associated with old-school Tomorrowland would be included in the soundtrack of a movie that reflects the overall aesthetic of old-school Tomorrowland.(Also, fittingly enough, the Fantastic Four have appeared as meet-and-greet characters in Tomorrowland at Disneyland.)
Evelyn (Lynn) Murchake Sangster passed away peacefully on September 3, 2025, surrounded by her family.
Lynn was born on February 18, 1947, in Washington DC to John P. and Evelyn (Graninger) Murchake. Along with her younger brother Stephen (Steve), she was fortunate to have a wonderful childhood in Silver Spring, Maryland. She graduated from Springbrook High School in 1965, and attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio for three years before moving to Florida. In 1973 Lynn was working at a real estate office in Clearwater, Florida when she met Wayne, who became the love of her life. They were married one year later, to the day. They moved to Brooksville and later to Gainesville and had two daughters along the way. Lynn was always surrounded by friends and organized a parenting co-op with friends and neighbors in Gainesville. They moved to Lakeland in 1984 and became active in First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, where Lynn later worked for 22 years. She was busy and involved in church life and her family life, co-teaching Sunday school for several years, volunteering with her daughters’ choir and children’s groups, organizing school fundraisers and activities, and cheering on her kids at softball. She inherited a green thumb from her parents and spent many happy hours gardening alongside Wayne. Their yard was always filled with beautiful plants and flowers. Her orchid collection grew over the years until eventually she and Wayne built a greenhouse to contain them all. Lynn enjoyed being in the kitchen, cooking and baking. She made multitudes of Christmas cookies every year making sure that everyone’s favorite was ready for them on Christmas morning. Her grandchildren and her great-granddaughter were the joy of her life. Lynn spent many blissful hours rocking babies, reading stories, chasing little feet, and sharing her love of cooking and gardening with them. She remained involved at church even after retiring in 2014, participating in Bible study, helping to organize and bake for events, and regularly playing bridge with a group of women. Like her own father, Lynn never met a stranger and was friendly with everyone. She was also an extremely thoughtful person who was always ready to help someone in need.
Lynn is survived by her husband of 52 years, Wayne Sangster, her daughters Kathleen, Kristen and husband Owen, her grandchildren Holly and Finn, her great-granddaughter Leilani, her brother Stephen Murchake, and many cousins and extended family members. She will be deeply missed and always remembered.
Lynn’s family is especially grateful to the many caregivers and medical professionals for the compassion, comfort, and expert care they provided throughout her journey. If you’d like to honor her memory, please consider a donation in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association. A private family service will be held later to honor her life.
One Movie Later: Freakier Friday is, As Kids These Days Say, Cringe!
by James Coulter
Disney, I think you need an intervention. You haven’t been yourself lately. You used to be so cool. You made unique, original movies. But you’ve fallen into a slump. Like you’resuffering a midlife crisis.
It’s like you feel your best days are behind you, and you’re desperately trying to relive the good old days. That’s why most of your recent content has been live-action remakes, soft reboots, and sequels to decades-old movies. Like Freaky Friday.
Look! I get it. I was a teenager when Freaky Friday was released in 2003. I was the target audience for the movie. I thought it was a cool and hip take on an old classic. The movie really vibed with me and other millennials. But no one was demanding a sequel. Especially 20 years later!
I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Because there’s no question about it. This movie was bad. The only real question is, “How bad?” Let’s answer that question and jump straight into the review.
Freakier Friday takes place two decades after the events of the original Freaky Friday. Anna (played by Lindsay Lohan) is now a single mother raising a teenage daughter with her mother, Tess (played by Jamie Lee Curtis). Anna is about to tie the knot with her fiancée. There’s only one problem: their children don’t get along.
Following some wacky supernatural shenanigans (thankfully not caused by Chinese stereotypes like in the old movie), Anna and Tess end up swapping bodies with Anna’s daughter, Harper, and soon-to-be step-daughter, Lily. Can the four of them break the curse in time for the wedding?
Anyone remember “Gen Z Hospital”? The SNL skit where a bunch of 30-to-40-something actors pretended to be “modern” kids? And how that skit was “cringe” because they were trying to speak in “modern” lingo? And how it was even cringier because it starred Elon Musk?
Stretch that skit out over two hours, and that’s what this movie feels like.
Freakier Friday is a prime example of a piece of media written by people 30-and-older trying to appeal “young” and “hip” with “kids these days” by misusing their language. (Or rather, what language the writers imagine people 30-and-younger use!)
IMDB Poster
Here’s a few notable offenders:
• A sign on Harper’s door that reads: “No triggering. This is my safe space.”
• Lily arguing her dad misused the word “gaslighting.”
• Tess recommending Harper and Lily braid each other’s hair in styles that aren’t “culturally-appropriative.”
• The teacher in detention telling his students to read something “in books, not on screens.”
• Lily (in Tess’s body) calling her tennis opponents “Boomers”, only for those opponents to rebuff that they’re”Gen X” (or, actually, “Elder Millennials.”)
• Anna’s assistant reading out several potential magazine feature headlines, one of which uses the word “slay”, prompting Harper (in Anna’s body) to ask “what out-of-touch adult wrote that?” (I’m asking that very question about the dialogue in this movie!)
Ugh! Screenwriters! Some free advice: you’re never going to appear “young” and “hip” with “kids these days” by trying (and failing) to use modern slang. You’re only going to come across like Steve Buscemi in 30 Rock with a backward baseball cap and skateboard, saying, “How do you do, fellow kids.”
Not going to lie: I never felt “older” watching a film since I reviewed Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. But give that filmcredit. At least it was written specifically for young children.
I have no clue who Freakier Friday was made for. The movie feels like it was made for older audiences who grew up watching the original and younger audiences to get them interested in the original. And it feels like Freakier Friday failed in both regards.
And I don’t know what makes me feel older: watching the older women in the younger girls’ bodies saying how much they love having faster metabolisms and not suffering from fragile bones and arthritis, or the younger girls in the older women’s bodies finding out that older people wear adult diapers and dentures?
Take one scene where the younger girls in the older women’s bodies decide to speed through LA despite neither of them knowing how to drive. I know younger people are supposed to feel liberated imagining themselves as the kid characters driving, but I could only scream out in horror, “Dear Lord! They’re going to get killed or arrested!”
Actually, you know the worst part about this movie? It has a Walgreens commercial in the middle of it. No, I’m not kidding. An entire scene takes place in a Walgreens, and that scene opens with an exterior shot of the building that lasts two to three seconds. (Just so moviegoers are reminded where the characters are shopping! And where those moviegoers should go shopping after the movie!)
What else is to say about Freakier Friday? The story plays out like any other body swap story. The characters learn to empathize with the person they swapped bodies with. And Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are still decent actors even 20 years later.
Look! I know I’m getting old. But it’s not like I can’t enjoy a movie aimed at younger people. I just gave a glowing review of an animated movie about pop stars in a musical genre I know nothing about. I can still be hip with what kids these days like.
Freakier Friday, on the other hand? This movie was made for me, a millennial who watched the original movie 20 years ago. But this movie didn’t make me relive my younger days. It just reminded me I’m 16 months away from turning 40!
You want to feel nostalgic for Freaky Friday? Watch the original movie on Disney Plus.
Your home’s first big impression is its curb appeal, so if your place is in need of some sprucing up, you may wonder how you can make some updates without breaking the bank.
These 10 ideas are easy on budgets, but they can also make a big impact on your home’s exterior image.
Paint your front door. As long as your front door is in good condition, there’s no need to replace it completely. A fresh coat of paint can instantly update your home’s facade. Go bold or stick with a classic hue – it’s all up to you. Need professional help? Call Gator Pressure Cleaning & Custom Painting at 863-238-6030.
Dress up the windows. Add character and charm by enhancing your front windows. You might add wooden shutters, window box planters or both. Also look at the trim around the windows. If it’s chipped and peeling, adding a fresh coat of paint doesn’t just look nice, it can protect your windows from damage, too.
Clean up flower beds. An unkempt flower bed can drag down an otherwise stunning home. Keep beds tidy and vegetation trimmed, even during the offseason. Watch for weeds and replenish mulch or rock ground cover as needed to keep the beds looking healthy and inviting.
Install new lighting. Replacing outdated light fixtures can give your exterior an instant upgrade. There’s no right or wrong style; just choose a color and look that matches the rest of your design.
Replace worn welcome mats. A cheerful mat at your front door can be an inviting sight for visitors, but those mats inevitably wear with time, and what was once bright and charming becomes dingy and dull. A new mat can help bring back that cheery entry you once cherished.
Pressure wash the drive and walk. Over time, driveways and sidewalks collect an incredible amount of grime. Pressure washing not only eliminates the filth, but the clean surfaces also add to your home’s visual appeal. No pressure washer? No problem! Call Gator Pressure Cleaning & Custom Painting at 863-238-6030.
Add new vegetation. Landscaping is a relatively inexpensive way to introduce more personality to a yard. Aim for a mix of pretty and practical, such as some low flowering bushes and some trees or bushes that offer privacy and shade.
Keep up with basic maintenance. When your home is in poor repair, it shows. Pay attention to bent or rusting gutters, imperfections in the roof and other maintenance matters that aren’t just aesthetic; left unrepaired, they can also result in major damage.
Pay attention to details. Functional items like the mailbox might not seem like much of a design element, but these small details can be a big distraction if they’re not in good condition. Update or replace as needed to keep your aesthetic in sync.
Add seasonal decor. Fall is right around the corner so this is a great time to turn your home into an Autumn feel- Fall wreaths, sunflowers, mums, pumpkins, etc. There’s no need to go all out for every occasion, but some timely decorations that celebrate the holiday or season can make your entry fun and festive.
Herbert A. Hattaway, 93, of Haines City, FL went home to be with the Lord and our mother on September 9, 2025.
Herbert was born in Alamo, GA and moved to Waverly, FL with his family as a young boy. He went to Lake Wales schools. In his high school years Herbert played Orange Belt League Semi-Pro baseball and was scouted by the NY Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals as a left-handed pitcher and catcher.
Herbert joined the US Army in 1951 and served in the Korean War. He was also sent to college by the US Army. Herbert retired after 29 ½ yrs with a medical discharge in 1980. He was a member of DAV, VFW, American Legion and Military Officers Association. Herbert was a past member of Baptist Training Union and a Deacon of Eastside Baptist Church. He was a member of NorthRidge Church in Haines City.
Herbert is preceded in death by his wife, of 65 years, Evelyn; parents, Charles A. and Mattie Lou Hattaway; brothers, Jim Hattaway, Thomas Hattaway and Charles Hattaway. He is survived by his sister, Lucille Miller; daughter, Brenda Ryan (Dennis); son, Phillip Hattaway (Kelly); grandchildren, Justin Ryan (Kristin), Dallas Ryan (Dana), Ashley Hattaway (Felisha), Brandon Hattaway (Autumn) & Brice, Camryn Hattaway, Connor Hattaway & great grandson, Riley Ryan.
A visitation with the family will be Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10 am until the funeral at 11 am, all at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City. Burial will follow at Lakeside Memorial Park, Winter Haven, FL.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Florida Baptist Children’s Home or Cornerstone Hospice.
