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When To Watch Your Town’s Christmas Parade

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When To Watch Your Town’s Christmas Parade

When To Watch Your Town’s Christmas Parade

by James Coulter

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. Why? I’m telling you why! Because Santa Claus is coming to town.

That’s right! Christmas is right around the corner, and soon, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas himself will be coming right around it.

Each and every Christmas season, Santa Claus makes his grand apperance during the annual Christmas parade in every town across the country, and even here within Polk County.

Find out when Santa Claus will appear near you during your own hometown’s Christmas parade—and make sure that you’re good for goodness sake!

Polk City

Polk City Christmas Parade

When: Sat., Dec. 1 @ 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Downtown Polk City: Broadway Boulevard, Commonwealth Avenue

Enjoy a visit with Santa Claus and his wife at Freedom Park, and celebrate an afternoon of Christmas festivities with vendors and other activities. Before that, watch the annual Christmas parade, starting from Broadway Boulevard and ending at the park along Commonwealth Avenue.

Frostproof

 

A Caribbean Christmas Parade & Celebration

When: Sat., Dec. 1, 2018 @ 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Where: Downtown Frostproof: Scenic Highway

The Caribbean may be more than 100 miles away, but Frostproof residents won’t have to leave their hometown to enjoy some island fun. Their city will be ushering in the Christmas season with a reggae-style parade and celebration. The parade will start from Third Street, move along Scenic Highway, and end at Wall Street Park, where the Christmas in the Park celebration will commence immediately following the parade. There enjoy an evening of holiday fun with bounce houses, live music, and even a visit from Santa himself.

Fort Meade

Old Fort Meade Christmas Festival and Parade

When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 @ 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Where: Downtown Fort Meade

Whether it’s the tapping of dancers from Wendy’s Dance Co, the flying kicks of martial artists from Champions Tae Kwon Do, or the singing of the local High School Chorus, Fort Meade’s local talent will be shining bright during this annual parade. The parade will start at Monument Park and end at City Hall along Main Street. Afterwards, enjoy an evening of food vendors, street dancing, and other holly jolly holiday activities during the after party.

Lakeland

The Lakeland Christmas Parade: A Storybook Christmas

When: Thur., Dec. 6, 2018 @ 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Where: Downtown Lakeland: Lemon, Main, & Orange Street

Whether “Twas The Night Before Christmas” or “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, nothing compliments the holiday season than a good old-fashioned storybook. That’s why this year’s parade is themed after storybooks with “A Storybook Christmas”, with floats based off of classic stories, Christmas-related or otherwise. The parade will start and end at the Civic Center, working its way through downtown along Lemon, Main, and Orange Street, passing by Munn Park and Lake Mirror.

Auburndale

Havendale Christmas Parade

When: Fri., Dec. 7, 2018 @ 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Where: Havendale Boulevard: Spring Lake Plaza (Winter Haven) –Havendale Blvd (Auburndale)

Over the past 17 years, this parade has become so big and festive that it requires the combined efforts of the City of Winter Haven and Auburndale to pull off. This year’s parade will start from Spring Lake Plaza in Winter Haven, work its way along Havendale Boulevard toward Auburndale, and end at Wells Fargo at 42nd Street.

Winter Haven

The Chain Life Annual Christmas Boat Parade

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 @ 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Where: Lake Howard and Lake Shipp

The Chain of Lakes will light up the night during the annual Christmas Boat Parade, hosted by Chain Life Winter Haven. The procession, led by the Winter Haven Police Department, will start near Marine Supply in Lake May and work its way along the shores of Lake Howard and Lake Shipp. The parade can be viewed from most city boat ramps, as well as the many lakeside resturaunts, including Harborside, Old Man Franks, Idle Zone, and Tanners Lakeside.

Lake Wales

Lake Wales Kiwanis Christmas Parade

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 @ 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: Downtown Lake Wales: Central Avenue

We all have fond memories of Christmases past, whether from the rockin’ Fifties, hip Sixties, groovy Seventies, gnarly Eighties, or tubular Ninties. No matter when your favorite Christmas memories originated, you’ll be sure to re-live them with this year’s parade themed to “Christmas Through The Decades.” The parade will start at Lake Wailes Park and make its way along Central Avenue through Downtown Lake Wales and towards City Hall.

Davenport

Winterfest and Parade

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 @ 6 PM – 9 PM

Where: Downtown Davenport: South Boulevard, Suwannee Avenue, Bay Street West, Highway 547 North

For the tenth year in a row, Davenport will be able to celebrate the start of the holidays with real snow and a visit from Santa Claus at Winterfest in Wilson Park. The festivities begin after the conclusion of the annual parade through Downtown. The parade will start on South Boulevard and work its way along, Suwannee Avenue, Bay Street West, and Highway 547 N before ending near Wilson Park.

Mulberry

The Mulberry Christmas Parade

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 @ 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Where: Downtown Mulberry

We all have favorite Christmas stories, whether it be about Santa, Rudolph, or even the very first Christmas nativity. All of these stories and more will come to life during this year’s parade, themed to “Christmas Storybook.” Afterward, enjoy a stroll through the Christmas Village at Spence Park.

Dundee

Dundee Christmas Parade

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 @ 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Where: Dundee Road

Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be stopping by the Dundee Community Center to visit good little boys and girls, who will all have an opportunity to take a photo with them, as well as receive a special present from the Mayor. Santa will be making his trip there during the annual parade, which will start at Winn Dixie Plaza and head towards the community center along Dundee Road.

Lake Alfred

2018 Lake Alfred Christmas Parade

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 @ 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Where: Downtown Lake Alfred: Cumming Avenue

Usher in the holiday season at Frank C. Gardener Park with their annual tree lighting ceremony and a visit from Old St. Nick at the Gardner House. Before all that happens, be sure to check out the parade through downtown Lake Alfred. The parade will start at Central Park, make its way along Cumming Avenue, and end at the holiday celebration at Gardener Park.

Bartow

Magical Illumination Christmas Parade

When: Fri., Dec. 14, 2018 @ 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: Downtown Bartow: Broadway Avenue & Main Street

Bartow sure knows how to put on a parade, and their annual Christmas parade is no different. Watch as the streets of downtown light up with festive Christmas lights and floats. The parade will start at Mosaic Park, make its way along Broadway Avenue and Main Street, and end at First Avenue.

Fourth Annual Haven Holiday Market Draws In Largest Crowd

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Fourth Annual Haven Holiday Market Draws In Largest Crowd

Fourth Annual Haven Holiday Market Draws In Largest Crowd

by James Coulter

The only thing worse than getting a flat tire is figuring out what to do with the old tire. You could easily throw it away—or, with some ingenuity, you could turn it into a swan or turkey or any other bird.

That may sound crazy, but that’s exactly what local artist Marly Warner has been doing with old tires, using them to create artwork through her venue, Tire’d Art.

For the past seven years, Marly has created thousands of art pieces ranging from alligators, swans, turkeys, and other animals—and she’s yet to grow tired of making it all.

The only thing she never grows tired of is seeing the reactions of other people’s faces when they see what she can make using old tires.

“They can’t believe it is made from a tire and that they are cut from hand,” she said.

Marly was one of several hundred local artists and craftsman who showcased their work during the Fourth Annual Haven Holiday Market in Winter Haven on Saturday.

All throughout Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven, nearly 156 vendors were set up showcasing a variety of artwork, wares, and food items, ranging from holiday-related items such as ornaments and wreaths to unique artwork such as tire art, crochets, and glass mosaics.

All three park areas were filled with such vendors. The northern park hosted vendors selling food items such as homemade dips, salsas, and baked goods. The other two parks, including the new South Central Park area, showcased vendors selling arts and crafts.

One such vendor was local artist Stacey Randolph, whose venue, Alchemy and Artistry, sells special lantern terrariums and dioramas.

Each of these lanterns are decorated using clay work or paintings created on clear plastic, and are illuminated with fairy lights.

Many of her lanterns contain scenes from popular media, from movies such as Beauty and the Beast, Harry Potter, and Nightmare Before Christmas, and even theme park attractions such as The Haunted Mansion.

Randolph has been creating art since she was a little kid, and these lanterns for nearly a year. While she loves to create art pieces with original concepts such as octopi, her visits to comic conventions has had her art gravitate more towards pop culture.

“I like creating new pieces, making an original outlook on something,” she said. “We do a lot of comic conventions, and they really tend to like the fan base stuff.”

This year’s event drew in the largest turnout since the event started four years ago, with more than 13 to 15 thousand people attending, an overall growth of 40 to 50 percent since previous events, explained Event Manager, Sergio Cruz.

Cruz and his wife, Andrea, both publishers of 863 Magazine, started the event following the success of their other annual art show, The 863 Local FiArt Fest. Both attendees and vendors at the event suggested that a similar event be held for the holiday season, and Cruz was more than happy to oblige.

“We felt there was a need for a very special holiday Christmas event, and we decided to do come up with this one because we felt there was a need and demand, and people requested it,” he said. “So it was because of the demand. People suggested it, and we came forward and did what people suggested.”

The past four years have seen the holiday event grow bigger and better with larger turnouts from both attendees and vendors alike. This success have been due to the threefold strategy of promotion, advertising, and marketing, with the event being promoted and planned at least nine months in advance, Cruz said.

This year saw nearly a 50 percent overall increase with the event, and Cruz is expecting it to only get bigger and better next year for their fifth consecutive year.

“We are looking for 200 vendors next year and expecting 20,000 people,” he said.

Help Identify These Suspects Who Stole Shoes from Foot Action

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Help Identify These Suspects Who Stole Shoes from Foot Action

On November 17, 2018 at 6:40pm officers from the Lake Wales Police Department responded to Foot Action, located at 725 Eagle Ridge Drive, in reference to a theft. The employee reported the suspects in these photographs entered the store, tried on several different pairs of shoes, and asked the employee to get other sizes. When the employee went into the back room to find the sizes the suspects requested, the suspects fled the store with three pairs of shoes, valued at $339.99.

Anyone who knows the identity of the suspects is asked to contact Detective Aubrey Davis at (863) 678-4223 extension 276 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

Mother In Critical Condition After Being Thrown From The Roof Of A Van Trying To Stop Her Sons Abduction In Lake Wales

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Mother In Critical Condition After Being Thrown From The Roof Of A Van Trying To Stop Her Sons Abduction In Lake Wales

On November 20, 2018, at approximately 6:29 PM, the Lake Wales Police Department responded to a disturbance at the Kirkland Gym located at 409 North 3rd Street in Lake Wales.  Upon arrival, they learned Travis Edward Stephens went to the gym to get his son who was there practicing with his basketball team.  Travis’ estranged wife, Beverly Smith Stephens was there with their son.  Travis began to argue over the custody of their 9-year-old son when Travis removed his son from the gym.  Travis physically put their son in his GMC Safari van and locked the door.  Witness and coach, Burney Hayes, attempted to intervene and calm the two down.  Travis then entered the van as Beverly tried to keep Travis from taking their son.  Travis would not open the doors so Beverly jump onto the hood of the van and climbed up on the roof of the van.  Travis accelerated quickly and made a sharp right turn throwing Beverly from the top of the van. This caused Beverly to strike her head on the road. Travis continued to drive away.  He never stopped to check on Beverly and never called the police to report the incident.

Beverly sustained major head trauma from being thrown from the van.  Beverly was air lifted to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and is in critical condition.

Travis was located in Winter Haven by Polk County Sheriff’s Office.  The son was still with Travis and was okay.  Travis did not offer any resistance during his arrest.  Lake Wales Police transported Travis back to the police department as the investigation continued.  Lake Wales Detectives charged Travis with aggravated battery domestic violence and transported him to the County Jail.

The son is safe and with family. The Stephens family is from Lake Wales.  Travis is 38 years of age and Beverly is 34.

The Lake Wales Police Department is sad to see a family torn apart due to unnecessary domestic violence.  It always hurts even more around this time of year when families are supposed to be together enjoying each other.

If you have any other information about this case, please contact Detective Ben Metz at 863-678-4223. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).

***** Editors Note ***** Travis Edward Stephens has a previous arrest and conviction in Polk County for domestic violence and contempt of court – violation of injunction protection domestic violence back in 2010.

Fleeing Suspects Captured By Police In Crash On Cypress Gardens Blvd & Hwy 27

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Fleeing Suspects Captured By Police In Crash On Cypress Gardens Blvd & Hwy 27
Polk County Sheriffs Office Press Release
On Tuesday, November 20, 2018, Winter Haven P.D. officers and Polk County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended 17-year-old Kyra Ploof of Apoka, and 21-year-old Jamal White of Orlando, just minutes after they committed strong-armed robbery and attempted theft at one Walmart in the city, a retail theft and battery at another Walmart in the city, and then attempted to flee. 
 
“Two violent shoplifters were arrested Tuesday and they face a cornucopia of charges from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Winter Haven Police Department.  Their families don’t need to bother saving a place for them at the dinner table for Thanksgiving. – Grady Judd, Sheriff
 
According to their affidavits, just before 3:00 p.m., the PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call for service at the Walmart located at 7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd (CGB), near U.S. 27, in reference to two suspects who were caught shoplifting by Walmart loss prevention. 
 
As witnessed by Walmart personnel, White and Ploof attempted to remove hoverboards, but were thwarted by the anti-theft devices. They then went to the electronics section, and took four streaming video devices, and headed over to the sporting goods section for a backpack, which they used to conceal the stolen goods. They headed towards the garden center to exit the store when they were confronted by loss prevention personnel and four managers. While Ploof ran out to the parking lot, White shoved one manager in the chest, and struck another one. He then approached them in a fighting stance with his fists up. Meanwhile Ploof brought the car around – a grey Nissan Altima. She yelled to White, who ran to the car and got in, and they both fled. 
A PCSO deputy sheriff on patrol was the first to spot the suspect vehicle leaving the parking lot and heading east on Cypress Gardens Blvd towards U.S. 27. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. The suspect vehicle then caused a traffic crash on U.S. 27 in the intersection, striking two other vehicles. Fortunately no one was injured. 
 
After striking two vehicles, the suspects continued to flee, making a U-turn on 27 and heading back westbound on CGB, and purposely hitting the deputy’s patrol car. The deputy turned around and followed, then executed a P.I.T. (precision immobilization technique) maneuver, effectively stopping the car. Both suspects were taken into custody without further incident. 
 
During the subsequent investigation, WHPD and PCSO learned both suspects had previously gone into the other Walmart in the city (located at 355 CGB) earlier, and attempted to steal two Razor electric scooters, and two hoverboards (total value $872.00). When confronted by a loss prevention representative there, White threatened to “beat his a**” before he and Ploof fled.
 
White has been charged by Winter Haven P.D. with:
  • Robbery (F-2) 
  • Conspiracy to commit robbery (F-3) 
  • Grand theft (F-3) 
  • Conspiracy to commit grand theft (F-3) 
  • 2 counts battery (M-1) 
  • Resisting retail merchant (M-1) 
  • 2 counts Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (M-1) 
 
He’s currently in the Polk County Jail, with no bond for the robbery charge and various bond amounts for the other charges. White’s criminal history includes five previous felonies and 12 previous misdemeanors, including arrests for grand theft of a motor vehicle, battery, DUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash, aggravated fleeing, resisting arrest, no valid DL, DWLSR, and failure to appear.
 
Ploof is being charged by both agencies with:
  • Aggravated battery on a LEO (F-1) (PCSO charge)
  • Aggravated fleeing to elude (F-2) (PCSO charge)
  • Leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage (PCSO citation)
  • Accessory after the fact (F-3) (WHPD charge)
  • Conspiracy to commit robbery (F-3) (WHPD charge)
  • Petit theft (M-2) (WHPD charge)
 
She was booked in at the Juvenile Assessment Center, and is now being housed in the juvenile dorm at the Polk County Jail. She has a juvenile criminal history in other counties.
 
The investigation is ongoing by both agencies into other crimes White and Ploof may have committed, and more charges are pending. Their relationship to each other is unknown.

Where To Play In The Snow In Polk County (& Florida)

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Where To Play In The Snow In Polk County (& Florida)

Where To Play In The Snow In Polk County (& Florida)

by James Coulter

While the colder weather up north may let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, the warm weather down here leaves Floridians merely dreaming of a White Christmas. However, even though Florida may never truly be a Winter Wonderland, there are some places where it’s gonna snow down here in Dixie—and you don’t even need to reconcile the feud between Heat and Snow Miser! All you need to do is attend one of several events occurring this December throughout Polk County and several other places in Florida. Here are just a few upcoming events where you can play in the snow:

Now Snowing in Celebration

When: Nov. 24 –  Dec. 31 @ 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Where: Town Center @ Celebration, FL

Info: http://www.celebration.fl.us/events/now-snowing-november-24-december-31/

Only in the town of Celebration can you go walking in a winter wonderland every evening during the holiday season. From Thanksgiving to New Years Eve, the town center experiences a nightly snowfall, which is perfect for much mistletoeing and hearts that are glowing when loved ones are near. Guests can also go skating on a synthetic ice rink, ride a holiday train, and listen to talented Christmas carolers.

 

Winter Wonderland at Bartow Ford

Where: Bartow Ford @ 2800 US-98, Bartow, FL 33830

When: Sat., Dec. 1, 2018 @ 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Info: https://www.bartowford.com/en/news/view/winter-wonderland-with-bartow-ford/51621

For the fourth year in a row, Bartow’s local Ford dealer will allow children of all ages to frolic and play the Eskimo way in a winter wonderland, featuring 60 tons of real snow. Children can sled down snow slides or play within the snow play area, while adults have a chance to win a new car through the annual F150 Holiday Extravaganza truck giveaway. Best of all? It’s all free family fun!

 

Glitter, Glisten & Snow

Where: Lake Eva Community Park @ 555 Ledwith Ave., Haines City, FL 33844

When: Sat., Dec. 1, 2018 @ 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Info: https://hainescity.com/357/Glitter-Glisten-and-Snow

The children of Haines City better not shout, better not cry, and they better not pout. Why? Because Santa Claus is coming to town! Not only will he be lighting up the 31-foot Christmas tree at Lake Eva Park, but he’s bringing with him plenty of white snow to play and sled in. Of course, what snowy evening is complete without hot chocolate, sugar cookies, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire?

 

Davenport Winterfest

Where: Wilson Park @ 5 State Street, Davenport, FL 33836

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 @ 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The City of Davenport kicks off the Christmas season every year with an annual nighttime holiday parade that concludes with Winterfest at Wilson Park, which will feature plenty of vendors, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, visits from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and of course, plenty of snow from a snow machine. There’s no other place to go, so let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

 

Downtown Lakeland Snowfest

Where: Munn Park @ 210 E Main St, Lakeland, FL 33801

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 @ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Info: https://www.mydavenport.org/index.asp?SEC=F8985BCF-71DD-4F29-9F5C-51DBFC361005&DE=60B3D433-11BC-4511-91B4-2F4F855126A1

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go in Downtown Lakeland, and that will certainly be the case during the 38th annual Snowfest. True to its name, there will be plenty of snow, especially with the towering Snow Mountain where children can slide down and play in. Afterward, be sure to enjoy the artesian craft fair, inflatables, and other activities.

 

Snow on 7th Parade

Where: 7th Ave @ Ybor City, Tampa, FL

When: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Info: https://yborcityonline.com/events/ybor-city-snow-on-7th-holiday-parade/

Ybor City in Tampa may be known for its Cuban sandwiches and Cuban cigars, but for the past eight years, it’s also been known for snow during its annual Christmas parade and event, as provided by Ybor Collaborative. Watch as snow falls from the rooftops as marching bands and local krews pass by in a holly, jolly celebration.

 

ICE! featuring A Christmas Story

Where: Gaylord Palms @ 6000 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746

When: November 16, 2018 – January 6, 2019

Info: https://www.marriott.com/hotel-info/mcogp-gaylord-palms-resort-and-convention-center/gaylord-christmas/csyr9pd/ice.mi

Floridians rarely need to bundle up in layers of warm clothes, but those visiting Gaylord Palms are advised to do just that if they decide to participate within the annual Ice! indoor event. This year has several life-sized ice sculptures and hand-carved scenes based on the holiday classic, “A Christmas Story”, along with five two-story ice slides. Afterward, guests can go tubing down giant snow slides, enjoy hot chocolate, or visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

 

Winter Haven Snow Central

Where: Chain of Lakes Park @ 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven, FL 33880

When: Fri., Dec. 14 @ 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Info: https://www.mywinterhaven.com/event/snow-central-18/

Once every December, the City of Winter Haven lives up to its name with more than 70 tons of real snow for children to play in with snowball fights and snowmen building, as well as snow sledding on snow slides. When not frolicking in the snow, guests can also bounce about in bounce houses, decorate their own holiday cookies, and take photo opportunities with Santa Claus himself.

Local Frostproof Resident Current Top Ranked Collegiate Bowler in the United States

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Local Frostproof Resident Current Top Ranked Collegiate Bowler in the United States

Local Frostproof Resident Current Top Ranked Collegiate Bowler in the United States

By Allison Williams

Photos provided by Andrea Medico-Elkins

Nash Medico is a student at Webber International University and is a part of the men’s bowling team.

Medico grew up bowling. He tried various sports at a young age, but bowling was the one sport he did not become tired of, and he stuck with it.

“I was looking for something different that would challenge me both physically and mentally,” Medico said.

When he was young, Medico and his mother attended their local bowling alley in Kinston, North Carolina. This is where he first tried bowling. The owner of the bowling alley at that time introduced Medico to their children’s league, where children would bowl every Saturday morning.

“When I found out that I could go there and bowl every Saturday morning, I was excited and quickly became hooked,” Medico said.

Nearly 15 years later, Medico now bowls on the collegiate level and is breaking records and competing in many competitions.

“There have been so many competitions over the years,” Medico said. “I bowled in youth league competitions from 2003-2016 earning scholarship money for college.”

He has also participated in several adult tournaments since he was just 12 years old.

“I earned thousands of dollars that the tournament directors sent in to my SMART fund account through the USBC for college,” Medico said.

Medico shared other accomplishments he has received over the years:

  • Qualified twice for the USBC Junior Gold National competitions.
  • Became a S.C. State Champion with my team in 2014.
  • I have won Championship Titles in the TSR, Barnstormer’s, Carolina Classic, ABT and a few others since moving to Florida in 2016.
  • I have rolled several perfect 300 games, with one USBC Sanctioned 300 game that I rolled at Golden Lanes in Simpsonville, SC on 11/07/15.

His greatest accomplishment to date is making it on the Webber Warrior team at Webber International University.

“I compete on the prestigious Webber Men’s bowling team,” Medico said. “My coaches are Del Warren, Rick Wiltse and Ruben Ghiragossian. I consider this to be my greatest accomplishment because being a part of the Webber Warrior team has been a goal of mine for many years.”

Bowling athletes train just like players from others sports would.

“We practice daily,” Medico shared. “We have individual training, team training and mental fitness training. We watch our diet and work out with our trainers to target any weaknesses from front to back, top to bottom and side to side. We are dedicated to being the best that we can be.”

Medico is proud, yet respectful about all he has accomplished. “I show up with my team and always try my best to give 100%,” he said. “We are there to do a job and together we work to figure it out. Getting to this level is simply being dedicated, focusing on what you want, paying your dues and refusing to quit.”

Medico’s mother Andrea Medico-Elkins has watched her son first-hand grow into this exceptional bowler.

“I have never seen a young man so focused and driven, especially at such a young age,” she shared. “I knew when he was about 9 years old that we were in for a ride with him in this endeavor. I saw him researching everything he could to learn as much as possible about the game, the lanes and the equipment. When he began explaining to me things like oil patterns, the thickness of the oil, the approach, release, follow through, trajectory, topography, etc. I knew that he had found his niche. This sport required just the right combination of physical endurance and science to keep him hungry and thirsty.”

Cooking on the Ridge: Pumpkin Bread

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Cooking on the Ridge: Pumpkin Bread

Cooking on the Ridge: Pumpkin Bread

2 cups white sugar

1 1/4 cups light brown sugar

1 cup walnut oil

1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin puree

4 eggs
4 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup cream sherry

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
Directions

Prep 20 m
Cook 1 h 5 m
Ready In 1 h 25 m

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease three 8×4 inch loaf pans.

In a large bowl, beat together white sugar, brown sugar and oil. Stir in the pumpkin. Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, coriander and salt. Stir dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture until smooth. Stir in cream sherry. Beat till thoroughly blended, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into 3 greased 8×4 inch loaf pans, filling no more than three quarters full.

Bake in preheated oven until a tester inserted into center of a loaf comes out clean, about 65 minutes.

Let stand 5 minutes in pans before turn out onto wire racks to cool completely. Can be kept at room temp. for 4 days or frozen.

Hundreds Of Toys Collected At Inagural Toys 4 Our Town

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Hundreds Of Toys Collected At Inagural Toys 4 Our Town

Hundreds Of Toys Collected At Inagural Toys 4 Our Town

by James Coulter

Winter Haven children who would have otherwise gone without Christmas presents can look forward to finding something underneath their Christmas tree this year thanks to the hundreds of toys that were collected during the inagural Toys 4 Our Town on Saturday.

Hosted at the Winter Haven Moose Lodge 1023, and organized by The Freedom Church in Lake Eloise and by local resident Melanie Brown, the toy drive allowed guests to enjoy live music, bounce houses, and barbecue in exchange for either an unwrapped toy or $10 for admission.

While the event experienced some competition from other events within the area that day, the turnout nevertheless more than exceeded expectations, as hundreds of toys were collected throughout the day from the very start of the event at 10 a.m. until the very end at 7 p.m., with an after party hosted at Old Man Franks afterwards, explained Brown.

“We are doing well because we received a lot of toys, and that was my main goal,” she said. “It all came together. I don’t see any problems.”

Brown wanted to host the event as a way to collect toys for local children, as most other toy drives usually have people donating toys without knowing exactly where their donations will end up.

“Sometimes you give toys to an organization and they give them to places where you don’t know where they are going,” she said. “I wanted to make sure the kids in our own town was going to be getting toys and that we knew where those toys were going.”

Brown has vast experience volunteering at and organizing many charity events within the past, and currently sits on various committees for such events.

She teamed up with the Moose Lodge, which allowed her the space to host the event, as well as provided the food, beverages, and indoor activities within the lodge such as cornhole.

Rob Hanrahan, an administrator at the Moose Lodge, who had been working with the organization for 16 years, was quite impressed by the turnout for this inagural toy drive, and expects future events to become bigger and better.

“I am overwhelmed with the number of toys we collected for the community, and it has been a success,” he said. “Hope we can do it next year, grow it, and make it bigger.”

The donations were collected by The Freedom Church in Lake Eloise, which plans on delivering and distributing the toys to local children on Christmas Day.

Bobby Williams, Pastor of The Freedom Church, agreed to participate within the event, as he believed in its goal of collecting local toys for local children, and which this inagural event more than exceeded his initial expectations.

“We all worked together [with] the ministry and the people coming together [and] working together for the good of the community,” he said. “So hopefully when they see the results on Christmas days, all the families and children will be blessed, [and] this will all build on that.”

Guests who presented their unwrapped toy or $10 donation were then provided admission to the other activities occurring that day. This included live music as provided by local bands such as Troy Thompson Band, Southern Blend, and Hype Entertainment.

Children attending the event had the opportunity to participate in various fun activities such as bounce houses, face painting, and live music and entertainment as provided by Too Infinity.

Keith Jr., who oversees Too Infinity, has been involved with many other events hosted by Brown. Whether there are 50 children or 250 presents at these events, he always ensures that they have a fun time.

“Being one of those less fortunate kids growing up, it helps to do something like this,” he said. “I wanted to help out and give back because I have been in that situation, so I wanted to give my helping hand.”

Over the years, Brown has been supported by various individuals and organizations that have allowed her fundraising events to be put on flawlessly.

Most prominent have been folks like John Straughn, who organizes the annual Rockin on the River event, and Carl Fish, publisher of The Daily Ridge, who helps promote such events.

Additional help has been provided by close personal friends such as Adrienne Richards and Travis Williams, both of whom have been more than willing to help her as much as she herself wants to help the local community.

“Melanie does so much for the community,” Williams said. “She is always there when people are in need. She does a great job organizing and bringing things together. So anytime we can be a part of the event and help out the community, we are there.”

More Than $3,000 Raised At Patron Saint of the Arts Fundraiser

Staff Reporter
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More Than $3,000 Raised At Patron Saint of the Arts Fundraiser

More Than $3,000 Raised At Patron Saint of the Arts Fundraiser

by James Coulter

They say an elephant never forgets, and local artist Ron Malone will never forget his painting of an elephant, as it was one of his very first art pieces.

His watercolor painting of an elephant, which he painted using several photographs as a reference, was created three years ago when he first started painting. That painting earned him third place at the Lakeland Art Show.

Having experimented in his art for the past three years, what inspires his artwork the most is being able to see other people respond to it.

“I think what inspires me the most is getting a reaction from someone when they see something they like, and it causes a reaction from them,” he said.

Malone’s watercolor painting was one of several hundred pieces offered during an art raffle at the Ridge Art Association on Thursday evening.

At least 165 pieces were raffled off during the fundraiser, which managed to raise $3,000 overall, though more paintings were still being sold over the weekend, explained Christy Hemenway, Executive Director of the Ridge Art Association.

Most of the pieces were donated by local artists and their families, while others were those that had been collected by the art association over the years, she said.

As the Chain of Lakes Complex, where their main art gallery is located, is currently receiving renovations, Hemenway decided that now would be the best time to clean their closet of old art pieces and raise money for the association.

“With the addition of the building and things that are changing around here, there is a lot of closet space that we needed to open up,” she said.

Before and during the event, guests donated $100 each to enter themselves into the art raffle. If called upon during the drawing, they then had the opportunity to obtain an art piece of their choice.

Many participants had donated by proxy that evening, as they donated their money beforehand and chose several paintings from the gallery that they would want to receive.

Though the turnout that evening was light, mostly likely due to other local events such as Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese being hosted that evening within the area, the overall event proved quite successful in their endeavors.

“It could always be better,” she said. “It is about having a fun event for our members. We want to give them the opportunity for them to own a piece of artwork that they would otherwise not be able to afford to purchase outright, so that is a good option for them.”

One such member, Bob Doyel, a politician who had previously run for Florida Senate district 22, participated that evening to help show his support for local artists within the community.

“I think it is a good way to showcase the talent that we have here that would not be showcase otherwise,” he said. “We have a lot of people who are capable artists in a lot of way, and this is a way to draw attention to these great artists.”

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