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Welcome, World Travelers! Spider-Man: No Way Home Is Way Cool! (Spoiler-Free Review)

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Welcome, World Travelers! Spider-Man: No Way Home Is Way Cool! (Spoiler-Free Review)

Welcome, World Travelers! Spider-Man: No Way Home Is Way Cool! (Spoiler-Free Review)

by James Coulter

Reviewing a Marvel movie is a hard thing to do, because convincing people to watch one seems rather pointless. You’re either on board with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or you’re not. If you haven’t seen any of the previous Spider-Man or MCU films, then you’re not going to bother watching the third Spider-Man installment. And if you have seen the other movies, then not only will you watch the new one, but you’re probably going to avoid reading reviews like this to avoid potential spoilers. Rest assured, true believer: this review will be spoiler-free.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” starts where the last movie, “Far From Home”, ended: with Peter Parker having his secret identity as Spider-Man revealed to the public and his friends and family facing the repercussions. Wanting to undo this damage, he visits Doctor Strange to have all memory of his identity magically erased. However, after the spell goes horribly wrong, villains from other universes (read: other Spider-Man movies) are summoned and start causing havoc. Can Spider-Man stop them in time to set things right?

Again, reviewing a Marvel movie is hard because, at this point, people are either invested in the MCU or they’re not. And if they are, then they’re going to watch this movie regardless of what some random review says. The Marvel movies essentially sell themselves, and this year has been especially phenomenal for the Marvel machine with countless movies and television series. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” serves as the cherry on top. Not only am I confident enough to say this is the best Marvel movie of the year—and not only is it the best MCU Spider-Man film—but it is, hands down, the best Spider-Man movie of all time—third only to “Into The Spider-Verse” and “Spider-Man 2.”

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” essentially gives everything you’d expect and love from a Marvel movie. To quote movie reviewer Bob “Movie-Bob” Chipman: “The new Marvel movie is a totally rock-solid front-to-back action blockbuster, the humor lands, the fight scenes are terrific, basically the only studio that still knows how to do plot structure in a big movie anymore, there’s great looking effects work, huge mind-blowing twists in act 2 and 3, etc., etc.”

Like Spider-Verse, this movie is a true love letter to the Spider-Man franchise. As a crossover between various Spider-Man movies, it offers everything you’d come to expect from such an ambitious crossover. While watching Tom Holland fight established villains like Doctor Octopus and Green Goblin is exhilarating, perhaps the most entertaining moments come from seeing multiple characters in the same room together and having their personalities bounce off of one another through casual banter. And, yes, many Spider-Man characters make an apperance in this movie, even those not advertised in the trailers. (No spoilers, but if you’ve heard rumors about certain cameo appearances, this movie, more or less, pleasantly answers those rumors.)

Outside of providing mere fan service, this movie encapsulates the overall spirit of Spider-Man. The franchise’s main theme is personal responsibility. Many events within most Spider-Man stories are either a direct or indirect result of Spider-Man’s actions or lack thereof. For example, in his origin, Spider-Man allows a criminal to run free, only for that criminal to kill his Uncle Ben, who, in his dying words, imparts to Peter those immortal words: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

This theme serves as the crux of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The movie begins with Peter facing the consequences of his actions in the last movie, and this movie’s impetus starts with his attempt to undo the damage caused by those actions. The rest of the movie, consequently, involves him having to overcome the other villains, all of whose backstories and fates were a direct or indirect result of their respective Spider-Man. Again, no spoilers, but while most other superhero movies involve the hero defeating the villian, Spider-Man in this movie attempts an alternate approach towards addressing the bad guys.

In short, if you love Marvel, you’ll love this movie. If you love Spider-Man, you’ll especially love this movie. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” will certainly become recognized as the best Spider-Man movie ever alongside “Into The Spider-Verse” and the original Rami movies. Go see it in theaters, but be sure to do it safely!

PUBLIC NOTICE

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PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned pursuant to the fictitious name statutes 865.09 Florida statues will register with the division of corporations of the state of Florida upon receipt of proof of publication of this notice the fictitious name to wit   CCS Delivery, LLC under which we are or intend to do business as in Polk County Florida that parties interested in said business enterprises are as follows Names or officers Robyn Prater.

Lakeland Man Arrested by Polk Deputies For His Fifth DUI

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Lakeland Man Arrested by Polk Deputies For His Fifth DUI

A tip from a witness Thursday night, December 23, 2021, helped Polk County deputies locate and stop a man who was driving recklessly, and it was subsequently determined that he was driving while impaired.

The arrest of 64-year old John Scott of Lakeland was his fifth arrest for DUI.

“Most people get it…they know that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a bad thing. But this guy clearly doesn’t get it. The witness who called to report the reckless driver, then helped deputies locate him may have saved some lives tonight.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

A witness had called Lakeland Police Department at around 9:30 PM to alert them of the reckless driver, and the call was transferred to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office due to the location of where the vehicle was driving.

The witness continued to update dispatchers, who relayed the information to the deputies.

A few minutes later, a deputy located the white Chevy van driving with its high-beam lights on and failing to stay in its lane, and a traffic stop was conducted.

In the arrest affidavit, the deputy reported of Scott, “his speech to be slurred, his eyes to be blood-shot and glassy, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath and person.”

The deputy also reported that he had to grab Scott three times as he would start to fall backwards.

Scott was so unsteady on his feet that he was unable to perform two of the three parts of the Field Sobriety Test.

Scott told the deputy that he left work at about 5:30 PM and went to a friend’s house to drink, where he “only had six beers.” Restrictions on Scott’s driver’s license only allow for him to drive to and from work only.

Scott was arrested at that point for DUI, and transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center.

At the SPC, Scott became belligerent with the deputy, and refused to provide a breath sample. He told the deputy, “I’m not doing a thing you say,” and called the deputy a racially derogatory word.

John Scott was charged with DUI: 4th or Subsequent Offense (F3), Refusal to Submit to DUI BAL Test (M1), and Violation of DL Restrictions (M2).

Scott’s four prior DUI arrests in Polk County occurred in 1976, 1978, 1981, and 2000. 

Reward Offered for Information Related to 2020 Christmas Eve Homicide

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Reward Offered for Information Related to 2020 Christmas Eve Homicide

Reward Offered for Information Related to 2020 Christmas Eve Homicide

UPDATE: Fatal crash in Winter Haven – Cypress Garden Blvd

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UPDATE: Fatal crash in Winter Haven – Cypress Garden Blvd

Just after midnight on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, the PCSO ECC received a call regarding a single-vehicle crash on Cypress Gardens Boulevard near Reflections Boulevard in unincorporated Winter Haven.

According to the evidence and witnesses, 38-year-old Stephanie Nichole Chancy of Lake Alfred was driving a maroon 2006 Ford F-150 Pickup truck eastbound and in the outside lane on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. Chancy attempted to pass a vehicle in front of her, and when she changed lanes, she over corrected and lost control of her vehicle. The truck began to rotate clockwise and struck the Reflections subdivision wall and a large concreate utility pole.

Chancy died at the scene.

Chancy was wearing her seatbelt. Speed appears to be a possible factor in the crash. The roadway was closed for approximately three hours during the investigation, which is still ongoing.

Fatal Crash in Polk City Early Tuesday Morning

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Fatal Crash in Polk City Early Tuesday Morning

Around 5:20 a.m. on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, the PCSO ECC received a call regarding a two-vehicle crash on SR 33 North (Commonwealth Avenue) near Bloomer Road in Polk City. According to the evidence and witnesses, 51-year-old Luis Alberto Gonzalez Nadal, of Polk City, was driving a black 2022 Honda Pilot northbound on SR 33 near Bloomer Road, when at the same time, 20-year-old James Parish, of Clermont, was driving southbound on SR 33 in a 2001 white Dodge 2500 Pickup truck.  It was then Nadal attempted to pass a vehicle in front of him and entered into the southbound lane of SR 33 and into the path of Parish’s pickup truck. Both drivers attempted to avoid the collision by steering onto the west shoulder of the roadway and collided head-on.

Nadal died at the scene. He was not wearing his seatbelt.

Parish suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released. He was wearing his seatbelt.

The roadway was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation, which is still ongoing.

PCSO Detectives Searching For Suspect Who Burglarized Lakeland Home and Stole Christmas Presents

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PCSO Detectives Searching For Suspect Who Burglarized Lakeland Home and Stole Christmas Presents

PCSO detectives searching for suspect who burglarized Lakeland home and stole Christmas presents

Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives are searching for a suspect who forced his way into the home of a Lakeland family and stole Christmas presents and other items.

According to the initial investigation, the victim left her home early on Monday, December 20, 2021 to meet family members for breakfast. When she returned home around 11:30 a.m., she found her front door forced open and her home ransacked. She also discovered all the wrapped Christmas presents were missing, as well as a company laptop and a flat screen television.

The victim called PCSO immediately to report the burglary, and detectives were able to capture images of the suspect from the home surveillance system.

The suspect may be driving a 2019 or newer dark colored 4-door Chevrolet Malibu. “This Grinch needs to be caught and held accountable for his criminal actions. Thankfully, detectives are working with Polk Sheriff’s Charities to ensure these children have a Merry Christmas in spite of this horrible act. Please contact our detectives with any information about this burglary, or call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS to remain anonymous.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Welcome, World Travelers! Encanto is Muy Encantada!

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Welcome, World Travelers! Encanto is Muy Encantada!

Welcome, World Travelers! Encanto is Muy Encantada!

by James Coulter

Encanto is Disney’s latest animated feature, directed by the people who created Zootopia and Tangled, and with music composed by the acclaimed musician behind Moana and Coco. Honestly, that’s all I have to say to promote the film. With a pedigree like that, Encanto essentially sells itself.

Encanto is about a young girl named Mirabel who lives in Colombia. Her family lives in a magical house and owns a magical candle that grants each of them a magical gift like super strength, super hearing, or the ability to shapeshift. Everyone has a magical gift—except her. However, one evening Mirabel receives a premonition about the magic fading away and the house crumbling apart. So to stop her family’s home from being destroyed, she embarks on an epic journey—all without leaving her house!—to solve the mystery.

As I mentioned earlier, Encanto is a film that essentially sells itself. It’s an animated movie by Disney, so you know the animation will be superb. It was created by the same directors who made Zootopia and Tangled, so the story and characters are evidently engaging. And the music is composed by the great Lin Manuel Miranda, so the songs are real toe-tapping earworms that will keep you humming their tunes long after you leave the theater.

By far, the soundtrack is the biggest selling-point of the movie. As always, Lin Manuel Miranda utilizes his extensive songwriting experience and proud Hispanic background to write Latino-inspired songs that absolutley slaps. That fact becomes quite apparent with the opening musical number, “Welcome to The Family Madrigal”, which not only provides great exposition that introduces the main character and her extended family, but also revs up the audience for a good time.

Encanto stars a colorful cast of characters with different magical powers and personality quirks. Watching them bounce off of each other and especially the main protagonist is amusing. No spoilers, but my favorite scene involves all of the characters eating dinner together, where rising tensions and character conflicts created by the plot really allows them to clash with very colorful emotional sparks.

The main thing tying everything together is the story. A wise person on the internet once said that all good stories ask one question: “who am I?” Since the Animation Renaissance of the 90s, the best Disney movies have been character-driven stories about identity, about characters who feel out-of-place and who seek to discover their true selves. Ariel doesn’t feel comfortable “under the sea”, and she wants to be on land. Belle feels stuck in her poor provincial town, and she wants adventure in the “great wide somewhere.” Mulan feels confined to her society’s assigned gender roles, and she wants to be who she truly is inside.

Enancto essentially takes the subtext of these movies and makes it the text of the story. Mirabel’s character arc is literally about her grappling with her own identity and how she, as a remarkably unremarkable person, fits in with her family of remarkable people with remarkable talents. Anyone who has ever struggled with not being the best can truly relate to her character.

In the end, she not only comes to terms with not being gifted, but learns to better empathize with her other family members and the struggles they go through living up to the great expectations hoisted upon them with their gifts. Two of the movie’s biggest musical numbers involve two characters discussing the great pressure they face from everyone else because of their great gifts, with one character struggling to carry the weight on her shoulder, and another struggling to keep up her apperance of being “perfect.”

In short, Encanto is truly an enchanted movie with the lively music of Coco, the character development of Wreck-It Ralph, and the family dynamic of Meet The Robinsons. (What? Am I the only one who remembers that movie?) Currently, the movie is playing in theaters, and is certainly worth a matinee viewing. However, it will be streaming on Disney Plus on Dec. 24, so it’s also well-worth waiting until then.

More Than 1,500 Cars Line Up for Journey to Bethlehem Live Nativity

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More Than 1,500 Cars Line Up for Journey to Bethlehem Live Nativity

More Than 1,500 Cars Line Up for Journey to Bethlehem Live Nativity

by James Coulter

Mary and Joseph traveled more than 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. While people visiting the “Journey to Bethlehem” live nativity at First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland did not travel that far, the queue for cars to pass through the live performance felt that long for many attendees.

More than 1,500 cars passed through “Journey to Bethlehem” hosted Sunday evening at First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland. The live nativity was hosted by nearly 90 volunteers, including 40 actors, 30 support staff, and 10 to 15 choir members.

Vehicles lined the road along Lake Hollingsworth Drive and into the church parking lot. There, they could drive by a live performance of the church choir, with displays by the local Boys Scout troop. The nativity itself contained several scenes from the Biblical story performed by live actors, from Mary being visited by an angel to the wise men traveling to visit baby Jesus in the stable.

The entire experience, true to its name, was created to make participants feel as though they were taking the same “Journey to Bethlehem” that Mary and Joseph traveled, complete with being greeted by Roman centurions at the gates of the city and being told by inn keepers that there was no vacancy at the inn.

“Patrons are themselves turned away from the inn by guards the same way Mary and Joeseph would have been greeted as they entered Bethlehem seeking to fulfill their obligation with the Roman census at the time,” said Rev. Zac McGowen. “So they come for a sense of connection, and families come out so the kids can hear in a fun way the story of Christmas. And they do not have to come out of their car. That way, they can stay in pajamas if they want to and have a fun evening.”

Rev. McGowen has served as the outreach pastor for eight years, and he has overseen Journey to Bethlehem ever since. The live nativity has been hosted for nearly 14 years. The only exception was last year, when the holiday event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Journey to Bethlehem initally started as a simple nativity scene. It has since grown to a full-scale performance with nearly 100 participants, including assistance from the local police department and Florida Southern College. The success has been to the overwhelming support from the community, which drives in droves to visit it.

“There is a lot of entertaining Christmas programs in our community, but this gets to the heart of the Christmas story which is the birth of Jesus Christ and the salvation that he brings the sacrifice leaving the glory of heaven and coming to Earth, and people need to hear that story,” Rev. McGowen said.

The best part comes at the very end, where volunteers offer to pray with people in need of prayer. Rev. McGowen mentions how many attendees have approached with stories of cancer diagnosis and broken relationships with families, and how he and his volunteers have prayed over them for wholeness and healing.

“We realize it takes a long time to get through the queue, to get there, but it is not dissimilar from the business that Mary and Joseph would have experienced coming into Bethlehem as well, so we feel like it is appropriate that it may frustrate people, but Mary and Joesph had to travel some 100 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to go to a very overcrowded city, so it is appropriate that people have to wait and deal with travelers.”

Believers’ Fellowship of Lakeland Hosted 5th Annual Family Christmas Festival

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Believers’ Fellowship of Lakeland Hosted 5th Annual Family Christmas Festival

Believers’ Fellowship of Lakeland Hosted 5th Annual Family Christmas Festival

by James Coulter

For two straight nights, Believers’ Fellowship of Lakeland helped usher in the holiday spirit one week before Christmas with their 5th Annual Family Christmas Festival and Live Nativity.

More than 500 visitors attended the annual holiday festival last Friday and Saturday. Each attendee received a ticket for a free hot dog meal, and a card that allowed them to partake in such activities as roasting s’mores over an open fire, creating holiday crafts, riding a hayride, and enjoying free popcorn and hot chocolate.

Highlighting each evening was the performance of a live nativity. Church members dressed the part of Biblical characters and even brought along live animals to re-enact the nativity story twice a night. Each performance ended with an altar call encouraging people to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Jonathan Kimmel served as the narrator of the play each evening. He has been attending the church for more than 30 years, and has volunteered to participate in church functions and events such as this. With plenty of experience serving in plays, on the worship team, and as a vocal coach, he utilizes his skills to help spread the gospel message.

“So anytime we can come out and proclaim Christ, it is good,” he said. “Bringing the community together, especially during these days and time we want to bring joy of the Lord to everyone. And if they can accept Christ and be saved that is where we are going for.”

Jon Friedt hosts this event every year to not only offer a “family-friendly” holiday event for the local community, but also a “Christ-centered” event to help bring everybody together and remember the reason for the season.

“We are here to celebrate the birth of Jesus,” Friedt said. “We love this community, and we want to have an event that is absolutley free for the entire community to come out and have a good time and hear the real message of Christmas which is Jesus…We have a lot of good feedback. A lot of good people who have come two to three years in a row. They really appreciate the atmosphere and the stuff for the family and the blessing for the community, this year has been wonderful.”

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