Edward Arthur Keeley 73 of Winter Haven passed away on October 25, 2024 at his residence. Born in Pontiac, Michigan he moved to the area in 1972 from Clarkston, Michigan. Edward was a retired Registered Land Surveyor and co-owner/operator of The Office Pub & Lounge in Winter Haven with his late wife Jody. A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend he will be dearly missed. Edward is preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Constance Keeley and his wife Jody Keeley. He is survived by son Robert Keeley, daughter Carrie Postell and husband Nate, brother Wayne Keeley and wife Carrie, sister Elaine Schultz and husband Skip. Four grandchildren Jasmine Gardner, Marshall Keeley, Lillian Gardner and Symphony Postell. Graveside funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 29th at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Hill burial Park in Lakeland Florida.
Patricia (Patty) Williams Crowley, 54, of Lakeland, passed away October 17, 2024, at Winter Haven Hospital.
Patricia was born on February 27, 1970 in Winter Haven, Florida to Donald Williams and Sandra Williams.
Patricia was immensely proud of her family, and leaves behind nothing but beautiful memories.
Patty is survived by her life partner, Dan Spoor; her mother, Sandra Thomas Richey; her siblings: Gary Williams and Rhonda Williams; two children: Tiffany Crowley (Matthew Rosenkranz) and Christina Knotts (Jerry Knotts). She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Hunter Wright, Tytus Knotts, Porter Rosenkranz, and Holden Rosenkranz. She is survived by her nephew and nieces Nate Brewer, Aliyah McLaughlin, and Olivia Pugh; her great nephews and great niece Milani and Sebastin Brewer, and Carter McLaughlin.
Patricia was predeceased in death by her loving husband, Douglas Crowley in 2004; and her father Donald Williams.
Funeral service were held on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 3 p.m. at Steele’s Funeral Home.
Come Break Your Fall with Fun and Games This Saturday at Garden Grove Church
by James Coulter
Halloween may be over, but there’s plenty of fall fun to be had, especially with Thanksgiving right around the corner. Come celebrate fall fun at Break Your Fall at Garden Grove Church.
This Sat. Nov. 16, Garden Grove Church will be hosting its annual fall festival with plenty of carnival games, bounce houses, live music, and free food.
Yes, you heard that right! Every guest receives a ticket to redeem for a free hot dog, popcorn, and soft drink!
Since 2009, Garden Grove Church has been hosting Break Your Fall to allow its local community to engage in fun, games, and fellowship.
The fall fest is normally hosted the weekend after Halloween, though this year’s event is being hosted one week later.
Pastor John Schreck is heading this year’s event as the church’s new head pastor. He started serving at the church in 2007 with his wife, Joy, who was the daughter of the church’s former head pastors, Frank and Sherri.
This year, after the former head pastors stepped down, John took up the role as the new pastor. He has high expectations for the coming months and years, especially with this year’s Break Your Fall.
“Things have been great,” John said. “I think anytime you have a relationship with a group of people before a transition like this, it is very helpful. So it is helpful that the congregation knew my heart for them as well as the direction that God has given me and the direction that we have already been heading under the great leadership of Pastors Frank and Sherri, and so I think there has been some great momentum because of that relationship, and we have seen some good growth this year and are looking forward to what the coming months and years have.”
Break Your Fall will be hosted on Sat. Nov. 16 from 4 PM – 7PM at Garden Grove Church, located at 3379 Cypress Gardens Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33884.
Pastor John recently appeared on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss Break Your Fall. Listen to the full episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-47-break-your-fall-at-the-intergalactic-flea-market-wpast
Visit the Intergalactic Flea Market This Saturday for Sci-Fi Fun!
by James Coulter
International Market World in Auburndale is known for out-of-this-world deals. And this weekend, it will be hosting out-of-this-world fun as it transforms into the Intergalactic Flea Market.
This Sat., Nov. 16, come experience the inaugural pop-up comic convention from the folks who brought you SyFy Bartow and PrehistoriCON in Mulberry.
You’ll be taken to a sci-fi convention in a galaxy far, far away with countless vendors along with other fun activities including a costume contest, lightsaber demonstration, magic show, and trivia contests.
Sean L. Serdynski, founder of Bartow Con LLC, has been hosting conventions like this for more than a decade. He started on the convention scene back in the 1960s. Now, he hosts more than five to six each year across Polk County.
His longest-running convention has been SyFy Bartow, which has been drawing thousands of guests to Downtown Bartow for nearly 12 years. The most interesting part? It all started as a joke.
Nearly 14 years ago, he saw a post on social media inquiring about potential ideas to draw people to Downtown Bartow. Sean jokingly suggested hosting a comic convention.
He expected that suggestion to be shot down. Instead, he was asked by Trish Pfifer to meet with her the next Monday to discuss plans for the convention.
That year, he was given one block of road to host at least 10 vendors. The roads weren’t even blocked off. Everything was hosted on the sidewalk. That inaugural year drew in 2,000 guests to downtown.
The next year expanded the event to three blocks and drew in 5,000 guests. Now, Syfy Bartow encompasses 15 blocks (including a two to three-block car show) and attracts 5,000 visitors per year.
“It is a real phenomenon that keeps growing year after year, and it has been a real joy and pleasure to put it on,” Sean said.
He has high expectations for the Intergalactic Flea Market. Anyone who has never attended a comic convention before is recommended to attend an event like this.
“If you have never been to a comic convention before, Bartow Con is a good starter event for you to come and see what it is all about,” Sean said. “Come and wear your cosplay. Everyone is welcome.”
Intergalactic Flea Market will be hosted this Sat. Nov. 16 from 10 AM – 4 PM at International Market World, located at 1052 US-92, Auburndale, FL 33823.
Sean L. Serdynski recently appeared on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss Bartow Con LLC. Listen to the full episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-47-break-your-fall-at-the-intergalactic-flea-market-wpast
The City of Winter Haven Water Department is excited to announce our upcoming job fair! Come learn about the variety of opportunities within the department, meet the team, and apply on-site. Our jobs offer great benefit packages, competitive pay rates, opportunities for growth, and more. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Peter Howard Fray of Lake Wales, formerly of Jamaica, passed away Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at AdventHealth Lake Wales.
He was born April 21, 1964, in Kingston, Jamaica; he came here from Jamaica 40 years ago. He was a retired independent contractor, member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Poinciana and served in the U.S. Air Force. He loved to cook, play golf, garden and entertain.
Peter was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Faith Fray and father, Ronald Fray. Survivors include his daughters, Orinthia Richardson of New York and Toni Reid and husband, Howard of Nevada; mother, Ruby Medora Fray of Tyrone, GA; sisters, Adessa Fray, Valerie Fray, Marcia Davis and Sonia Fray; brothers, Leroy Fray, Vernon Fray, Errol Fray and Rohan Fray; four grandchildren, Vladimir, T.O., J.T. and Dante; brother-in-law, Enroy Wedderburn; companion, Beth Gipson; step-children, Janylah Gipson and Ayden Vasquez; and many friends, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Poinciana.
Lake Wales Police Department released information on November 14, 20234 regarding public assistance in an attempt I identify a person of interest.
“On November 13, 2024, the man pictured below entered the McDonald’s at 2500 Ridge Way in Lake Wales and took a cell phone that was not his. Police are seeking to identify him for questioning in connection with the theft.
“If you have information pertaining to this case for the identity of this person, please contact the Lake Wales Police Department at 863–678–4223. Or, if you would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers: call 1-888-400-TIPS (8477) or from your cell phone, dial **TIPS, or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on ‘Submit a Tip’, or download the free ‘P3tips’ app on your smartphone or tablet.
Rita Hamilton Bass, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on October 23, 2024, at the age of 76. Born on February 3, 1948, to the late Robert and Mary (Lang) Hamilton in Winter Haven, FL, she led a life marked by kindness and generosity.
Rita is survived by her husband, Polie Stroup; her daughter, Lisa (James) Jennings; and is preceded in death by her brother, Robert J. Hamilton, who passed away on October 3, 2008, and her son, Lenny Bass, who passed away on October 25, 2022. She is also remembered by her grandchildren, Casey Bass, Jake Bass, and Abby Jennings; her daughter-in-law, Mendy Bacon; her sister-in-law, Flo Hamilton; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Her impact on those around her will be lasting.
Rita had a close bond with her dog, Lang Lang, who recently passed before her. Her interests included playing golf, making jewelry, and watching birds around her home, especially the cardinals. Her favorite time of day was sitting on her patio ordock, watching the beautiful sunsets. She cherished the summer she lived in Virginia with Polie. Rita always found peace and calm around water, especially the ocean.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Winter Haven, FL.
Mike Collins of Frostproof passed away Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at AdventHealth Davenport.
He was born January 15, 1956 in San Pedro, Dominican Republic; he moved to Frostproof from the Dominican Republic in 2012. Mike loved his career of being a mechanic. He enjoyed playing guitar and loved flowers.
Mike is survived by his daughters, Krowley DelGado of New York, Ruth DelGado of the Dominican Republic, Katherine DelGado of New York, Vanessa DelGado of the Dominican Republic, Wally DelGado of the Dominican Republic, Miguelina DelGado of the Dominican Republic; sons, Jaime DelGado of Dominican Republic, Nelson DelGado of New York, Miguel DelGado of the Dominican Republic, Miguel DelGado of the Dominican Republic; sister, Mercedes Willilo; and 17 grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 15, 2024 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Pastor Louis Simmons.
The Lake Wales Highlander Band is on a roll, and not just a drum roll.
At MPA, Music Performance Assessment, last week, the Highlanders earned straight superior marks in all categories. Here was their performance:
Band Director Meagan Delacerda is over the moon about the group’s performance at this particular event.
“This is not a band competition,”she explains. “In a way it’s like a state test for bands. There are several different scores you can get but superior is the highest.”
Lake Wales has not recieved full superiors since 2009. In the 1960s and 70s the had straight superiors ever year which is when MPA first started.
“But MPA has changed drastically over the last 3 to 4 decades,” says Delacerda. “It definitely got harder for outside reasons to get superiors and Lake Wales slowly started not receiving them anymore.
“When I first came on to the Lake Wales High staff, one of their main goals was to get straight superiors again, and I told them I wasn’t sure if I could because so many other great band directors had tried years before and so I told them I would come in and create an environment that would make the kids proud of where they come from, proud to be apart of the Highlander Band and proud to be musicians and that’s all I could promise them at the time.
“This year our goal was state; it was never superiors. Some band directors put so much pressure on kids to get perfect scores and sometimes that’s not how it works, so I just asked them to be better everyday and continue on striving for excellence.
During the warm-up, Dela Cerda says she told the kids that they weren’t there to get superior marks, but they were there to make a mark, and to have fun.
‘We are here to show off what Lake Wales is about,” she says she told students prior to their performance at Dennison Stadium in Winter Haven on Nov. 9. “I want you to have fun. I want you to give them everything you got and use this as a practice for state.”
Both Delacerda and her assistant, Allison Irizarry, thought they would get a mixture of excellences and superiors; excellence is the 2nd highest possible score.
“When we went up to the press box at Denison Stadium to see our scores, we could not believe what we were looking at,” Delacerda says. “Straight superiors clear across the board…The amount of love for the show we were receiving from band directors of other schools, parents, band kids from other schools, retired band directors and so on was incredible. It was a great night but our job is not done. This Saturday is state and this is a completely different level than MPA. This is the real goal all along. If we make it to the top 5, we will have the opportunity to play in the finals for the state champs. This year our goal was not to go and win as this is our first year and we are still a very very young band but if we pull out a win that would be an A plus situation.”
Delacerda is grateful for what the students have achieved, and for the band staff who contribute countless hours of dedication.
“I would like to thank the band staff for all the help this year. Everyone in the community is thanking me but I could not do my job without them. My assistant band director, Allison Irizarry, my brass instructor, Alex Irizarry, my front ensemble instructor, Katie Konger, my drumline instructor, Justin Butler and of course all the people who have came and helped in anyway. I could not do this alone. So thank you to them.
“And I have my husband to thank, Michael Delacerda. Literally could not do this without him. He is the one that does all the sound for the show.”
The Lake Wales Highlanders state competition is scheduled for November 16 at Jupiter High School.
