Halloween Fun Coming To Enchanted Fairytale Hollow This Month

Lakeland

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October 8, 2020

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Halloween Fun Coming To Enchanted Fairytale Hollow This Month

by James Coulter

Looking for safe Halloween fun this month? Then put on your favorite costumes, pick up your trick-or-treat pail, and come on down to Enchanted FairyTale Hollow in Lakeland.

All this month, the local entertainment venue is hosting various Halloween-themed events that will allow children of all ages to dress up, meet their favorite fairy tale characters, trick-or-treat for candy, and engage in other family-fun activities.

Make your RSVP today and join them for the following upcoming Halloween event:

Thurs., Oct. 15 @ 5:30-7:30 PM: Moonlight Mischief with Maleficent

Come join the Mistress of all Evil and revel in some spooky fun. Visit her as she pays a visit to the Enchanted Forest, then have fun making a Halloween craft and collect candy along the Trick-or-Treat trail through a few local Downtown shops.

Sun., Oct. 18 @ 1:00-3:00 PM: Frightfully Delightful Princess Masquerade Party

Even the prettiest princess loves to have fun with spooky thrills. Guests will visit a trick or treat table, and decorate their own masquerade mask. Then, Cinderella and the Frog Princess will host a Halloween themed story time and sing and dance along. March in a costume parade for a chance to win a fantastic prize in the costume contest.

Sat., Oct. 31 @ 5:30-7:00 PM: Enchanted Trick or Treat Trail

What could make for a more magical Halloween night than collecting candy from your favorite characters? Hike along the Trick-Or-Treat trail and meet your favorite princesses, fairies, and superheroes. Once you’re done collecting candy, enjoy other fun activities from a fun Halloween parade to costume contests and dance parties.

About Enchanted FairyTale Hollow:

Amy Sharpe, Owner of Dreams Come True Entertainment, always loved performing as a child. She and her cousins would often put little plays together for the rest of her family. Her love of acting drove her to attend theater in high school and major in theater at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

After graduating college in 2008, she worked at Geico, Disney World, Cypress Gardens and other places, but found it difficult to find opportunities in theater. She returned to college, obtained her teaching certification, and went on to teaching art at Garner Elementary in Winter Haven, then Bartow Middle School, and,most recently, Tampa Day School.

As she still had a love for performance, she wanted to channel her interests through her own venue. She purchased her own costumes and started her own company, Dreams Come True Entertainment, which initially started as a mobile entertainment service in 2011.

She hosted her first birthday party in Winter Haven in 2012. She continued hosting birthdays, tea parties, and other special events through her mobile service until last year, when she left teaching for good and opened up a permanent space with Enchanted FairyTale Hollow.

“That was my whole goal, making a place where everyone can come to for fun and unique events and get away from the world to experience the magic. We just want to create happiness for everyone we meet,” she said.

Since opening last year on Nov. 9, Enchanted FairyTale Hollow has been hosting at least five events each month, allowing young children and their family to enjoy family fun activities with their favorite fairy tale characters and superheroes.

Currently, to maintain safety and health during these uncertain times, their venue has been compliant with the city’s mask mandate. All of their support staff members are required to wear masks, and participants over the age of 8 are likewise required to wear masks unless seated at a table six feet across from others. They are also maintaining social distancing when possible and providing extra sanitation, while taking special precautions to clean everything.

Aside from the events this October, Enchanted FairyTale Hollow will be hosting two major events later this year. The first will be their birthday on November 7, celebrating their first year in operation.

Their second major event will be the Merry Magical Holiday Ball for Charity on Dec. 6. The fundraiser will help raise money to finance free tickets they offer to children and adults with special needs. The event will allow attendees to meet and greet such holiday favorite characters like Santa Claus and the Frozen Characters.

Whether they are attending one of the many Halloween events this month, one of their major events later this year, or simply any of the smaller events they host every month, children and adults alike will be able to enjoy the magic of meeting their favorite characters and otherwise making happy memories together.

“They can expect to have unforgettable magical memories that will last a lifetime,” Sharpe said.

Enchanted FairyTale Hollow is located at 214 Traders Alley, Lakeland, FL 33801. For information and tickets of upcoming events, visit: http://www.facebook.com/DreamsComeTrueEntertainment/Events

Bicyclist Dies after Crashing with a Car on Kathleen Rd Early This Morning

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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October 8, 2020

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Bicyclist Dies after Crashing with a Car on Kathleen Rd Early This Morning

At 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, the PCSO ECC received a 911 call in reference to a car versus a bicycle crash on Kathleen Road.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the bicyclist, 29-year-old Dominique Lyon of Pine Avenue NW in Lakeland, was riding his Schwinn bicycle southbound along the fog line on the two-lane road. A black Ford F-150 being driven by 32-year-old Carson Shelby of Old Dade City Road in Kathleen was also heading southbound. As he approached Block Prine Road, Shelby observed the bicyclist riding without his hands on the handlebars. The bicycle then suddenly entered into the southbound lane and Shelby could not avoid striking the bike. Lyon was ejected from the bike after impact, and Shelby stopped and administered CPR until first responders arrived on-scene. Lyon was declared deceased. The area of the roadway was dark at the time, with no street lights, and the bicycle was not equipped with rear or front lights. Lyon was not wearing reflective clothing or safety gear.

Kathleen Road was shut down for approximately four hours during the investigation. The investigation is ongoing

Pearly Whites Thief- Man Steals Water Flossing Device From Walmart

Staff Reporter

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October 7, 2020

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Pearly Whites Thief- Man Steals Water Flossing Device From Walmart

Release by Winter Haven Police Department

Wanting to keep those pearly whites, pearly white doesn’t give anyone permission to take a water flossing device without paying. But this guy did.
He entered Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd) and selected a water flossing device from Health & Beauty Aids. He is seen by an associate in the Garden Center leaning over the cart. They hear plastic ripping open and see the man place the device inside a pocket and leave the Garden Center.
The associate finds the empty packaging and reports it to store loss prevention. Video shows the man at the self checkout pay for shoe inserts and leaves.
Anyone who recognizes him should give Detective Maldonado a call at 863-291-5676.

Woman Tries Stealing Floor Cleaner and Baby Formula From Walmart – Alarm Sounds

Staff Reporter

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October 7, 2020

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Woman Tries Stealing Floor Cleaner and Baby Formula From Walmart – Alarm Sounds

When the alarms sound and you only leave one of the items in the cart you didn’t pay for?
That’s what happened here. The female in the video with a baby in the cart went to Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd) and selected a case of formula and an automatic floor cleaner.
She didn’t go anywhere near the registers and as she is walking out, the alarms did what they were designed to do – stop people. However, she only took the floor cleaner out of her cart. She waved one associate off and as she’s departing, she showed a second one where she deposited the cleaner.
She still had the formula and went on her way.
Recognize her? Call Det. Maldanado at 863-401-2256.

Camp Mack Kicks Off Inagural Fire On The Lake Chili Cookoff

Lake Wales

Staff Reporter

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October 6, 2020

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Camp Mack Kicks Off Inagural Fire On The Lake Chili Cookoff

by James Coulter

What better time to cook and enjoy a bowl of hot chili then when the weather is getting chilly? Camp Mack seemed to have the right idea when they postponed their first annual chili cook off to late September.

Nearly a dozen chili teams traveled from across the state and even as far as Mississippi to participate in the inagural Fire On The Lake Chili Cookoff and Cornhole Tournament at Camp Mack, A Guy Harvey Resort, in Lake Wales.

Teams set up their booths six feet apart according to social distancing guidelines and spent all-day Saturday cooking theirbest pot of chili, be it homestyle, traditional red, or verde.

Tony Perry, leader of HD Chili, won first place in the traditional red division. As someone who has been cooking for the past eight months, he attributes his success to preparing his chili with only the freshest ingredients.

He has competed in several cooking contests previously. Often, he competes against his own brother, who also participated in this year’s event.

Overall, aside from winning first place, Perry loved enjoying the camraderie with his fellow teammates and competitors. Any time spent over a pot of chili is a good time for him, he said.

“I love the camraderie,” Perry said. “We enjoy it. We will be back when they have the next one.”

Perry and his team won first place in the traditional red division. Barker’s Best won first place in homestyle, and Jonathan Everett and his team won first place in verde.

Originally, the chili cook-off was to be hosted in the spring earlier this year. However, due to COVID-19, the inagural event had to be postponed to late September.

To maintain social distancing, teams were to be set more than six feet apart from each other, and tasting was only to be conducted by the judges.

“Turnout was great,” said Kevin DeNell. “My hat’s off to the cook teams. Today was a little different with everything going on today. They came out with great competition.”

DeNell himself loved cooking chili. He loved being able to watch the other teams work their own magic and prepare chili their way.

Next year’s event will be hosted in the spring as intended. However, even in spite of the late season and the looming COVID-19 crisis, the turnout proved more than fantastic, and DeNell hopes to see an even larger turnout next year.

“It is always a hard challenge for a pandemic,” he said. “But people are anxious to go outside and cook. I think that is a good place to do that.”

More Than 100 People Proudly Drove In Trump Car Parade

Polk County

Staff Reporter

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October 6, 2020

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More Than 100 People Proudly Drove In Trump Car Parade

by James Coulter

Nothing can stop the Trump Train, or so Trump supporters claim. From boats on the water to trucks on the road, supporters of President Trump have been more than happy to fly their colors across the country, especially in Polk County.

More than 100 people from across the county and even the state participated in a Trump car parade on Saturday. The event started with a flag wave at the Winter Haven Republican Headquarters at Inman Park Baptist Church.

The procession of cars then drove off onto Highway 17, turned onto Highway 17/92, and continued along Highway 27 to the real estate office in Haines City, where participants enjoyed hot dogs and other refreshments.

Participating vehicles flew their colors proud with flags ranging from the traditional Red, White, and Blue to flags for Trump 2020 and Blue Lives Matter. Many attendees were from Winter Haven, while others came from as far as Kissimmee and Orlando.

“People are excited about this election,” said Steven Larsen, President of the East Polk County Republican Club. “They want to see some changes in this country.”

Like many Trump supporters, Larsen has been proud of what the President has accomplished within the past four years, and he firmly believes that he deserves to win another four years in the coming election.

“All across the country, there has been a good turnout,” he said. “We want to get the energy for this election, and the more we promote Trump, the more likely he will win the election. So it is almost like the silent majority is waking up.”

The Winter Haven Republican Headquarters has especially experienced an influx of requests for campaign promotional material. More than 8,000 yard signs and 90 4×8 signs have been distributed thus far, said Glynda White, Headquarters Manager.

Even with many signs being allegedly defaced, the number of Trump campaign paraphernalia being proudly displayed in yards and from cars across the county show that the President has good standing among his supporters.

“It is not dampening the enthusiasm,” White said. “Not one bit; in fact, it’s enhancing it.”

Both she and Larsen have attested that many former Democrats have arrived to their headquarters to change their registration so they can vote for Trump in the upcoming election.

“My hopes are that the hype for Trump grows even further,” she said. “He is a great President, these people know it, and they love him. He is not only a President: he is trying to do something for the citizens of the United States.”

Local Politicans Chew Fat At 38th Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally

Haines City

Staff Reporter

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October 6, 2020

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Local Politicans Chew Fat At 38th Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally

by James Coulter

Normally, when people think of pork and politics, they think of pork barrel spending. However, here in Polk County, it’s been a long running tradition for local politicans to chew the fat with constituents during the Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally in Haines City.

This year’s event was hosted poolside at the scenic Balmoral Resort in Haines City. Normally, the event is hosted in August at the Lake Eva Event Center; however, due to COVID-19, the date was pushed to late September with Balmoral hosting the event at their bar and grill.

Nearly a dozen politicans set up booths near the pool to distribute campaign material and to talk with local constituents. Whether you were Team Trump or Biden, every politician of every political affiliation had a chance to join in the camraderie and dinner.

Speaking of dinner, true to its name, the pig roast included a barbecue dinner catered by Balmoral Resort. Attendees could pig out on barbecue chicken and pork, along with other fixings like green beans, potatoes, and yeast rolls.

Sam Killebrew (R), is currently running for re-election to the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 41. He has been attending this event for the past 12 to 14 years, even long before he ever ran for political office. Since running for office, he has proudly attended for the past four years.

“Haines City is a great community,” he said. “[The Pig Roast] is good and gives us a chance to talk with people and [discuss] policy that we believe in, and they get to tell us what our concerns are. So it turns out good for all of us.”

Killebrew was especially pleased at the turnout this year, even in spite of the current COVID-19 crisis. He was glad that the govenor eased on mandates concerning masks in public, and he’s expecting the economy to keep going strong moving forward.

“Tonight’s event is great,” he said. “I cannot complain at all. I got to see a lot of people. People I didn’t know, people I knew. I met my opponent for the first time, he seemed like a nice guy. So it was good. I was happy with it.”

Darren Soto (D), running for re-election to the U.S. House for Florida’s 9th Congressional District. He also appreciated the great turnout, and especially with how everyone did their best to stay safe with social distancing and mask wearing.

Being able to communicate with constituents at events like this is what he loves most about the Pig Fest. Especially in uncertain times like this, it is important to reach out and make sure everyone is doing well for himself, he said.

“It is great to meet up with a lot of people you have not seen for a long time,” Soto said. “We need events like this to meet with constituents. Without talking to folks, whether it is a labor community, business community, environmental community, or some of the many other different groups who work, you can lose touch.”

Lana Stripling, Director of the Northeast Polk County Chamber of Commerce, loved how many people turned out for the event. She especially appreciated how Balmoral was able to host it on such short notice, with less than a month to prepare, she said.

“Balmoral Resort has done a fantastic job,” she said. “We had a great turnout tonight. So the weather is perfect, and it is Chamber of Commerce weather, and we are loving it.”

For the past three decades and counting, the Pig Roast and Political Rally has allowed local residents to meet with their elected officials and with running candidates to discuss the politics of the day. The support from the local community has allowed it to continue growing strong, she said.

“Our business members are great supporters, and they support us in our events,” she said. “Being able to connect them with possibly helpful for our businesses, and also the canidates being able to talk with them and the people can come out and talk with them and show their concerns and see where they stand.”

Eyes On Lakeland Celebrates Grand Opening

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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October 6, 2020

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Eyes On Lakeland Celebrates Grand Opening

by James Coulter

There’s no part of your body more personal than your eyes. Without them, you wouldn’t be reading this article. When you are looking for eye care and wear, you want a practice that brings you a personalized service and care. That’s why you should consider Eyes on Lakeland.

This family-owned practice offers a personalized level of service to their patients. Whether you need a new pair of glasses, an eye exam, or any other eye treatment, their family is ready to see your family and take care of your eyes.

“As a patient, you can expect friendly and attentive care from our experienced team of eye care professionals,” their website states. “We leverage advanced diagnostic technology to provide modern eye care services, including comprehensive eye exams, vision correction, and more.”

Eyes On Lakeland recently celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. Located along Florida Avenue, this new practice is run by a local family for local patients.

Dr. Ornella Aluwiesi purchased the building around two years ago. COVID-19 pushed back their initial opening date, but they have since recently opened to the public and are ready to provide their local community with their optometry needs.

“Best Eye appointment I have ever had,” one Facebook reviewer write. “Dr. Aluwiesi did the most thorough exam I have ever had. She never seemed rushed and explained things to me in a way that was easy to understand. She took her time talking with me, making sure that all of my questions were answered.”

With assistance from their staff, the reviewer was able to find the exact pair of glasses that they needed, selecting a “fun” pair. They were more than willing to visit again for a second pair.

“I have found my new eye doctor for life,” they wrote. “I walked in as a new patient and walked out feeling like family! I highly recommend giving them a try!”

Their on-site lab contains state-of-the-art equipment that provides “advanced diagnostic technology”, ensuring that their patients receive the best top-of-the-line care. Their equipment can provide precise measurements. They can even cut lenses on-site, so the turnaround for new glasses are much quicker than other practices.

Their optical department offers a wide selection of designer frames and specialty contact lenses from the top brands. One brand even plants a tree for every pair of frames sold.

“With guidance from our knowledgeable staff, you’ll find the look you want and the features you need,” their website states.

As a family-owned local practice, Dr. Aluwiesi and her family are here to provide you and your family with the care that you require. Her own experience allows her to help patients as young as six-months old. So whether you are nine-months or 99 years old, you know your eyes are in good hands with them.

“My expectation is to just become the community’s go to eye care provider that is family-owned,” Dr. Aluwiesi said. “We want to be basically your mom and pop shop for your eye care needs”

Eyes on Lakeland is located at 1400 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33803. For more information, call 863-250-5553, or visit their website at: https://eyesonlakeland.com/

Believers’ Fellowship Church Hosted Rally To Keep America Great

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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October 6, 2020

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Believers’ Fellowship Church Hosted Rally To Keep America Great

by James Coulter

When asked about her thoughts of the past four years under President Donald Trump, Leena Watson, a Navy disabled veteran, simply replied with “promises made, promises kept.”

Watson was one of the many people who arrived to Believers’ Fellowship Church on Saturday to participate in the church’s Keep America Great rally on Saturday.

While clouds may have darkened the skies and the rain came down, the gloomy weather could not darken nor dampen the spirits of attendees such as herself. She was proud of everything accomplished within the past four years under Trump, and she is expecting four more.

“He is the first to give me a pay raise,” she said. “We are going to win by a landslide.”

Keep America Great was hosted by Believers’ Fellowship Church in Lakeland to help raise patriotic fervor within the local community and to promote “biblical conservative values.”

While the rally was not advertised as a “Trump rally”, undoubtedly, most everyone who attended and participated were fans of the President. Many wore the signature red “Make America Great Again” hat, wore “Trump 2020” shirts, and some even participated in a flag wave alongside the road, waving Trump flags and carrying signs showing their support of him.

The event also unabashedly reveled in its support for the sitting president. Trump Burgers were served alongside Sloppy Joes, many vendors sold Trump merchandise including life-sized cardboard cutouts, and even a giant Trump 2020 was raffled off.

John Friedt, Pastor of Believer’s Fellowship Church, wanted to host the event to help spur excitement and interest in the upcoming election, and to help “stir up a conservative vote for conservative values.”

“I think it will be a close contentious race,” Friedt said. “My hope is beyond the presidential race, the other seats that are vacant and being voted on, that we have a conservative wave across the nation, all the way from local seats to the White House.”

Being 42, Friedt claims he had not seen many presidents accomplish so much in one term than Trump has. He firmly believes that the decision for the upcoming election is clear: the Republican Party and candidate, in his opinion, aligns more closely with Biblical Christian values, which is why they should win the next election.

“When you look at the two platforms of the Democrat and Republican parties, it is with no question what platform most aligns with Biblical values,” he said. “Our world is confused in a lot of ways because our world no longer has a Biblical worldview, they have a contemporary worldview. Our goal is to show people we have strayed from our Biblical values and so when it comes to how we vote, we must vote for those who must closely align with our Biblical values.”

Many church attendees attended the event, along with other local residents in the nearby area. Even many local candidates and politicians like Bill Braswell, attended the rally to show their support and promote their own cause.

“Kat” Gates-Skipper, who currently sits upon the Veterans for Trump Advisory Board serving as a national veteran’s advocate, was more than happy to attend the event, even in spite of the not-so-good weather.

“No rain, sleet, or snow can keep people away when you are a Christian and you honor your president,” she said. “Rain can’t keep people away. They want to come out, they want to show their respect for their Commander in Chief. This is all about God and country. God is the reason we are here, God and our president.”

As a veteran, she appreciates how Trump has looked out for veterans such as herself. She especially loves his “no nonsense” approach to politics, acting more like a businessman than a politicans. She is more than confident that he will win the upcoming election.

“We are going to win,” she said. “He is going to win. We are going to see four more years. He has done great, and he will do four more years of taking care of our country and taking care of America.”

Mixer’s Nutritional Bar Celebrates Grand Opening

Bartow

Staff Reporter

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October 6, 2020

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Mixer’s Nutritional Bar Celebrates Grand Opening

by James Coulter

What’s a better way to start the morning than with a shake or a cup of tea? How about a meal replacement shake or a tea bomb infused with supplements to give you an extra boost of energy?

Whether you want to boost your metabolism or kick start your weight loss, Mixer’s Nutritional Bar in Bartow serves specialty shakes and tea bombs of all sorts to help you leave feeling refreshed and healthier.

You’ve probably prepared tea and shakes at home, but have you ever had a savory strawberry daquiri tea bomb? Or a delectable pineapple upside-down teabomb? Or a creamy cinnamon toast crunch shake? You can have all of these drinks and more when you come on down to Mixer’s.

Located along Main Street in Downtown Bartow, the new nutrition bar offers drinks made with products by Herbalife Nutrition, a global nutrition and weight management companythat sells dietary and nutritional supplements.

Raychel Carroll opened the store earlier this year. She had previously worked as a store manager at CVS Pharmacy, and she has spent the past 10 years selling Herbalife Products.

She not only sells Herbalife, but she lives Herbalife. She has used many of their products and considers them extremely helpful in aiding in her health and that of her family. She especially considers the aloes helpful with digestion.

Wanting to share the wonders of Herbalife to a wider demographic, she decided to open up her nutrition bar to share its products with more people by serving them in shakes and tea bombs.

“I thought we could grow and try our best,” she said. “Hopefully, [we want] to expand and open more shops and reach more people. Because it is helpful in your health all around with weight and digestion and mental health.”

The past few weeks have been slow for her business, but it’s starting to grow with more and more people dropping by to learn about Herbalife and how its supplements taste and work for them.

One reviewer on Facebook praised Mixer’s for its variety of teas, meal supplements, and specialty shakes: “Clean place and friendly staff! Love these nutritional drinks.”

Carroll has high expectations moving forward. She knows from experience how Herbalife helped change her life, and she hopes that she can share it with others so that it can help change their lives as well.

“We have good weeks and slow weeks, but overall, it is okay,” she said. “We wanted to reach out to other people and show them this great product.”

Mixer’s Nutrition Bar is located at 435 E Main St., Bartow, FL 33830. For more information, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mixers-nutrition-bar-108218124284642

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