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Press Release Provided By: Polk State College  A seasonal staple will return to Polk State College this fall. The College will hold its annual FallFest on Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Upwards of 100 locals, businesses, and College clubs will set up booths all throughout the Winter Haven Campus with exciting, seasonal, and innovative homemade arts, crafts, and products.
After a two-year hiatus related to COVID-19, FallFest will be held for the 36th year. The event is free and open to the public with fees from craft booths going to the Polk State College Foundation to benefit the College’s deserving students. The Foundation supports the College’s educational mission in many ways, including establishing scholarships and purchasing equipment for students. “This is an event the community has looked forward to every year,” said Nancy Lozell, Program Manager for The Arts at Polk State. “There’s always such a wide variety of arts, crafts, and things to do.” The event will also feature family-friendly activities such as games, haunted houses, bounce houses, shows, and presentations from local law enforcement and EMS. Polk State College clubs and athletics programs will also participate in the event to raise money for their organizations by hosting different activities and food sales. “The whole campus will be transformed,” Lozell added. “It’s always great fun for the whole family.” There will be live music and other entertainment throughout the day, including Polk State’s Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and the Polk State Choir. Chain O’ Lakes Big Band will also be among the event’s performers. For $60, vendors will be assigned a booth on campus. Limited spots are available inside the Student Center for $70. For business vendors looking to promote their business, the cost is $150. Registration will remain open until Oct. 1. More information, including how to register or volunteer for the event, is available by contacting Lozell at 863.297.1050 or by emailing fallfest@polk.edu. The FallFest office is located in the Polk State Winter Haven Fine Arts Building, room WFA 147A.
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Press Release Provided By: Legoland Florida  The biggest, fun-est (yes, we said it!) party of the year will be even more monstrous this fall at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort when Brick-or-Treat presents Monster Party! Families will be screaming in excitement as they enjoy more candy, more LEGO® characters and more spell-binding surprises than ever before with 12 nights of Halloween fun – each Saturday and Sunday, beginning September 24 through October 30. This Halloween spectacular will bewitch families with amazing NEW experiences, live shows, spooky LEGO® decorations and Monster mischief around every corner – all included with general park admission and select Annual Passes.
NEW! Monster Mania IRL and in 4-D! Monsters are taking over LEGOLAND Florida Resort! Enjoy a host of thrilling meet and greets with never-before-seen LEGO® Monster characters, including Zombie Cheerleader, Plant Monster and Tiger Woman. Then, catch these ghoulish characters on the big screen in the ALL-NEW, hauntingly hilarious, 4D movie “The Great Monster Chase” complete with some sneaky special effects. Press Release Provided By: Polk County Public Schools  Polk County Public Schools is sharing some important updates on back-to-school topics.
The message below (see italics) was emailed to students’ families this afternoon. The information has also been shared on the district’s website (polkschoolsfl.com) and social media. Superintendent Frederick Heid is available tomorrow (Aug. 4) at 1 p.m. for news media seeking comment on these back-to-school topics. He will speak with news media at the school district office, 1915 South Floral Ave. in Bartow. RSVPs are appreciated for planning purposes. News media can RSVP by emailing jason.geary@polk-fl.net. Dear families, It’s hard to believe, but the first day of school is coming up soon on Aug. 10! I hope that you and your loved ones had a great summer break. For our students and families, please know that we missed you, and we’re all excitedly awaiting your return. If you and your child are new to Polk County Public Schools, let me be the first to welcome you. As we get ready to go back into the classroom, I’ve got some important news and information to share. Click on any of the following topics for information: I know this is a rather long update, but I appreciate your patience. We’ve been working hard to get everything ready for classes to resume. We look forward to seeing everyone on Aug. 10! Sincerely, Fred Heid Superintendent Polk County Public Schools Press Release Provided By: Polk County Supervisor of Elections Sample ballots for the upcoming Statewide Primary Election are now available online at PolkElections.gov with the Voter Lookup feature. “Voters are encouraged to study their choices in advance, and bring their sample ballot when they go to vote,” said Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards. Voters may also request a vote-by-mail ballot or update voter information online.
For more information, visit PolkElections.gov, or call the Elections Office at 863-534-5888. Governor DeSantis Appoints Polk State President Falconetti to Education Commission of the States8/2/2022  Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Friday Polk State College President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti’s appointment to the Education Commission of the States alongside Florida Department of Education Senior Chancellor Dr. Henry Mack. Falconetti and Mack will represent Governor DeSantis and Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz as an extension of the state’s education policy team.
Press Release Provided By: Polk County Supervisor of Elections Polk County voters have three easy ways to vote in the August 23rd Statewide Primary Election, according to Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards.
Early Voting Locations Bartow Polk Street Community Center 1255 Polk Street Davenport Sheriff’s NE District Office 1100 Dunson Rd Haines City Haines City Library 111 N 6th Street Lakeland Simpson Park Community Center 1725 Martin L King Jr Ave Lakeland Polk County Government Center 930 E Parker Street Lake Wales Tourist Club 205 N 5th St Mulberry Mulberry Civic Center 901 NE 5th St Poinciana Poinciana Community Center 397 Marigold Avenue Winter Haven Gil Jones Northeast Polk County Gov. Center 3425 Lake Alfred Road For more information, visit PolkElections.gov or call the Elections Office at (863) 534-5888. Press Release Provided By: Polk State College  Polk State College is proud to introduce Under Armour as the new official provider for Polk State Athletics. Under Armour will provide apparel as well as uniforms for each of Polk State’s five athletic programs. Athletic teams will begin wearing Under Armour during the 2022-23 academic year. Under Armour will also help Polk State with branding and marketing.
“We’re excited to have Under Armour as part of the Polk State family,” said Stanley Cromartie, Polk State Director of Athletics. “The opportunity to work with a U.S.-based company that offers a high-quality product at an affordable price made this a no-brainer. This partnership will greatly benefit our department, brand, institution, coaches, and most importantly, our student-athletes.” The five-year deal between Polk State and Under Armour runs through June 2027. Under Armour will be the Eagles’ exclusive provider of uniforms, footwear, socks, and headwear. Headquartered in Baltimore, Under Armour contracts with more than 300 NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA programs nationally. Under Armour-sponsored athletes include Tom Brady, Bryce Harper, Stephen Curry, Jordan Spieth, Lindsey Vonn, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson among others. Press Release Provided By: Polk County Supervisor of Elections Polk residents who wish to register to vote in the August 23rd Statewide Primary Election must do so by July 25th.
Eligible residents may register online at PolkElections.gov or on paper application forms, available for pick up at many convenient locations throughout the county including city halls, libraries, and chambers of commerce. Registered voters are reminded to inform the Elections Office of any voter information changes before Election Day. For more information please visit PolkElections.gov or call the Elections Office at 863-534-5888  The Polk State College Start Right Campaign is returning this July to the Polk State JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales to provide free school supplies, haircuts, food, and more to students and their families ahead of the 2022-2023 Academic Year. The event is open to the public at 152 E. Central Ave. on Saturday, July 23, and will start at 9 a.m. with approximately 700 backpacks full of school supplies to be given away to students from kindergarten through college. One backpack will be provided per student while supplies last.
Press Release Provided By: Polk County Supervisor of Elections Polk County voters who have moved or changed their name are encouraged to update their record with the Elections Office before the August 23rd Statewide Primary Election. It’s also important to notify the Elections Office if your signature has changed.
Many changes can be made by calling Election Headquarters at 863-534-5888. Additionally, changes can be made online at PolkElections.gov. “An address change probably means a precinct change,” explained Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards. “If a voter updates their record before the election, we can eliminate inconvenience on Election Day.” For more information, visit PolkElections.gov or call the Elections Office at 863-534-5888. Press Release Provided By: Visit Central Florida BOGO Ticket Special: Buy one Bok Tower Gardens combo ticket and get a second ticket free, for tickets purchased at the visitor center during the event.  Visit Central Florida’s Welcome Center will host a “Back to School Kick-off” event on Saturday, Aug. 6. This free event will take place from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The first 400 students will receive a free backpack (child must be present to receive a backpack). Attendees will also have the opportunity to take advantage of a BOGO ticket special: Buy a one-day Bok Tower Gardens combo ticket and get a second ticket free, for tickets purchased at the visitor center during the event. The event includes a caricature artist and free school supplies and kid-friendly giveaways (while supplies last) from local vendors including Staples, Wawa, Bond Clinic, Posner Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep and more. For more information, call 863-420-2586. In addition to assisting visitors and residents (by providing tourism information about Polk County), the welcome center also sells discounted attraction tickets for many Central Florida attractions (including Bok Tower Gardens and LEGOLAND Florida Resort). The welcome center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week (excluding major holidays), and is located at 101 Adventure Court, Davenport, FL 33837 (along U.S. Highway 27), a half-mile south of I-4 at Exit 55. Press Release Provided By: Polk State College  Athletic events won’t return to Polk State College until August, but nine student-athletes were recognized on Monday for their work in the classroom this past academic year.
Six Polk State baseball players and three soccer players were named to the NJCAA All-Academic Team. That consists of one first-team selection, three second-team selections, and five third-team selections. Polk State Baseball was also named an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year for having a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average (GPA). As a team, Polk State Baseball posted a 3.186 GPA. To qualify for the NJCAA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have earned a GPA of 3.6 or greater for the 2021-22 Academic Year. The criteria for each of the three teams are listed below: First team: 4.0 GPA Second team: 3.8-3.99 GPA Third team: 3.6-3.79 GPA Press Release Provided by: Polk Education Foundation  AmeriCorps Polk Reads, a program of the Polk Education Foundation, is currently seeking individuals interested in being tutors in their kindergarten – third grade reading tutoring program. AmeriCorps Polk Reads has opportunities at select public elementary schools throughout Polk County. Members are trained to tutor students who are below grade level in reading, thru one-on-one personalized sessions. This position requires 24 - 35 hours a week and provides a monthly living allowance. Individuals who meet the required number of service hours can also earn a Segal Education Award to help pay for college, graduate school, or, to pay back qualified student loans. Qualifying tutors can also gift the Segal Education Award to a child or grandchild.
The program provides reading tutoring training and opportunity to earn a CPR and First Aid certificate. Tutors are placed in teams of 3 or 4 at local elementary schools to provide reading tutoring during the school day to students who are reading below grade level. This established, grant funded program has partnered with the Polk County Public Schools for 20 years to help young students increase their literacy skills. Those interested who are 18 and older with a high school diploma/GED should contact Steve Chapman, Program Director at steve.chapman@polk-fl.net or 863-534-0519 x208. Press release provided by: Bartow Ford Bartow Ford is sending its event plans into high gear with an incredible Country Music concert that will feature Florida’s own Country superstar Michael Ray.
Bartow Ford is partnering with 97 Country and The Dallas Bull for the November 5 event, which will be held at the dealership. The event features Special Guest Jon Langston. Additionally, a Battle of the Bands (the winner of which will be one of the opening acts for the main concert) is planned for the weeks leading up to the concert. Press Release Provided By: Webber International University  On June 24, thirteen students from Webber International University's FBLA Collegiate Division, formerly known as PBL (Phi Beta Lambda), along with their advisor, Dr. Joanne Muniz, traveled to Chicago, Illinois, to compete at their PBL National Leadership Conference (NLC). Over four days, students from 30 states were connected through competitive events, leadership workshops, and networking opportunities.
Webber International University, in Babson Park, Florida, received national recognition during PBL's Awards of Excellence ceremony on June 27. Its students, who qualified at their state conference to attend the NLC, traveled from Scotland, Sweden, Mexico, and Florida to compete in 21 events. The students who competed were Andrea Acuna, Natalie Bartek, Caitlin Capozucca, Bryce Gerber, Nicole Greene, Seth Harper, Katy-Rose Hill, Chase Muniz, Emelie Neidenmark, Isaiah Paige, Reynold Rey, Ellora Santiago, and Jonathan Vega. In team events, Andrea Acuna and Bryce Gerber competed in Social Media Marketing, earning eighth place honors. Their presentation focused on expanding a local movie theater to devise creative ways to survive following the challenges and restrictions caused by the 2020 pandemic. Webber's FBLA Collegiate Division executive leadership team of Natalie Bartek, Emelie Neidenmark, and Isaiah Paige presented in the event of Community Service Project. Their presentation, which described the university's annual Trick-Ur-Trunk Halloween event, included information about chapter member involvement and the degree of impact on the community, earning tenth place honors. Emelie Neidenmark and Isaiah Paige rounded out the team events with a presentation in the category of Digital Media. Earning sixth place honors, Emelie and Isaiah were required to create a video promoting the recycling/reusing/repurposing of a new clothing resale shop in our community, including examples and ways to promote the business. Press Release Provided by: LEGOLAND Florida  Two-Day-Only Event Features Out-of-this-World LEGO® Build Stations and Galactic Giveaways WHEN: Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10 WHAT: LEGO® CITY Lunar Launch Camp will blast off this weekend at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort’s MINILAND USA with out-of-this-world LEGO build stations and activities to transport families to outer space. During the two-day-only event families can visit the spaceport to launch a rocket, assemble part of a moon mosaic and help build a giant working LEGO telescope to search for the stars. The event also includes galactic face painting and a stellar photo opportunity. Press Release provided by: BayCare  What began more than a quarter century ago as an untested idea to protect not-for-profit health care for the Tampa Bay region celebrates its 25th anniversary today. BayCare Health System arrives at this milestone as the region’s largest health care provider, nationally recognized for its clinical excellence, financially sound and with the same core mission its founders created: to improve the health of all we serve.
“Our founders’ vision has been realized, but also exceeded,” said Rick Colón, chair of the BayCare Board of Trustees. “Our communities are better off, every day, because of our founders’ incredible collaboration to protect mission-driven, community-owned health care for our region.” Press Release Provided By: Polk State College  One week after becoming the first Polk State player in a decade to win a Rawlings Gold Glove, infielder Dakota Harris has been named the NJCAA Division I
Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Harris will share the honor with Eastern Florida State’s Drew Cavanaugh. A University of Tennessee commitment, Harris boasted a .973 fielding percentage and committed just four errors in 150 chances as a sophomore. Harris also helped the Eagles turn 28 double plays this past season. A first-team All-Suncoast Conference selection, Harris was named the Suncoast Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row in 2022. He was also named FCSAA Defensive Player of the Year. At the plate, Harris had a stellar year as well, hitting .347 with five home runs, 36 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Harris is currently playing his summer ball in the Cape Cod League as a member of the Bourne Braves. "What an honor for Dakota and Polk State College being recognized as Co-Defensive Player of the Year," head coach Al Corbeil said. "He really prided himself in his routine and work ethic. Dakota is as good of a shortstop as I've seen in junior college baseball, and we look forward to watching him continue to excel at the next level." Press Release Provided By: Bond Clinic  Bond Clinic, P.A., CEO Dr. Panagiotis Iakovidis was honored with the Bernie Little Sports Executive of the Year Award during the 2022 Polk County All-Sports Awards on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Dr. Iakovidis was recognized for his ongoing investment in the community through sports and his ownership of the Florida Tropics Soccer Club in Polk County, FL. Panagiotis Iakovidis, MD, is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon practicing both thoracic and vascular surgery in Winter Haven, FL. He joined Bond Clinic in 1996 and assumed the role of Chairman of the Board in 2009 and has served as the CEO and President since then. Although he has had a long history of ownership of various soccer teams, he first became involved with the Florida Tropics Soccer Club in 2016. He quickly invested in ownership and has been instrumental in the success the club has seen as the longest-running MASL indoor soccer team in Polk County. Press release provided by: Legoland Florida  A brand-new, swashbuckling quest awaits families visiting LEGOLAND® Florida when the Pirate River Quest opens on November 2, 2022.
This November, board a family-friendly boat ride to search for Captain Redbeard’s lost treasure through an all-new hilarious adventure. The quest to uncover the lost treasure unfolds brick by brick as families face a variety of exciting sequences built within lush gardens telling the tales of the rowdy LEGO® pirate crew. Riders will sail through the natural waterways while following the all-new story featuring the newest LEGO pirate friend, Calico Jade, and other exotic LEGO creatures, including a flamboyance of bright flamingos, a troop of mischievous monkeys and even a fearsome kraken. Set on the natural passageways of Lake Eloise and the historic Cypress Gardens, this one-of-a-kind canal tour is an adventure that families can only see at LEGOLAND Florida Resort! Those interested in joining the crew can also keep their eyes peeled on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube as LEGOLAND Florida Resort shares “behind the bricks” moments of Pirate River Quest as it gets ready to set sail 11-2-22! Visit LEGOLANDFlorida.com for more information. Press Release Provided By: Polk State College  The Polk State College Start Right Campaign is returning this July to the Polk State JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales to provide free school supplies, haircuts, food, and more to students and their families ahead of the 2022-2023 Academic Year. The event is open to the public at 152 E. Central Ave. on Saturday, July 23, and will start at 9 a.m. with approximately 700 backpacks full of school supplies to be given away to students from kindergarten through college. One backpack will be provided per student while supplies last. Press Release Provided By: LEGOLAND® Florida  Celebrate Independence Day during the return of Red, White & BOOM! at LEGOLAND® Florida Theme Park! On July 2, 3, and 4, the skies above Lake Eloise will come to life at 9 p.m., with a brand-new firework spectacular, “Touch the Sky”. Complimentary fireworks glasses will be available to transform the vibrant show into bursting LEGO® bricks! Before the sun goes down, families can also enjoy patriotic LEGO® build activities, all included in general admission. Press Release Provided By: Bond Clinic  Members of the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry gathered virtually for their Annual Election. The members, comprised of Neurology and Psychiatry Physicians across the country, voted to elect Shailesh Rajguru, DO, FACN as their 2022-2025 Chairman.
Dr. Rajguru has been involved with the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS) since 2016 and has served on different committees such as Standards Review Committee, Certification Compliance Review Committee, and the Conjoint Certification Oversight Committee. In addition, he has been a member of the AOBNP since August 2013 and the Secretary of the Board since August 2016. When asked about being elected, Dr. Rajguru stated, “I am extremely honored, humbled, privileged to have been elected as the new Chairman. If I can improve the lives of our neurology and psychiatry diplomates through a clear understanding and importance of Osteopathic Board certification and other programs over my term, then I have done my job.” Blog Provided by: Tampa Electric  Our plan for a net-zero carbon future involves upping our use of renewable, zero/low-carbon technologies. We’re happy to report that in 2022, we’re on a roll – a solar roll. We’ve completed the first phase of our solar expansion with four new solar plants powered up and four more coming soon. In early 2020, we committed to doubling our investment in solar by the end 2023. Since then,we’ve added 235 megawatts (MW) of electricity generated purely from the sun at these locations: - Magnolia Solar in south Hillsborough County - Big Bend Solar II in Hillsborough County - Mountain View in Pasco County - Jamison Solar in Polk County To date, our solar projects can produce 893 MW, enough to power more than 140,000 homes.
What’s on our sunny horizon? We have another 200 MW of solar under construction at four more sites, so by the end of 2022, we’ll have more than 1,000 MW of solar. Three other projects will be complete at the end of 2023, when we’ll have 1,255 MW, or enough solar energy to power 200,000 homes. That bright future will reduce carbon emissions by 1.8 million tons. When the near-term projects are complete, about 14 percent of our energy will come from the Florida sunshine – the highest percentage of solar generation of any utility in the state. “Thanks to our strategic investment in solar power, Tampa Electric customers are expected to save about $100 million in fuel costs this year alone,” said Archie Collins, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “At a time when fuel costs are escalating, we know how important these savings are for customers.” Press Release Provided by: Citizens Bank & Trust  Citizens Bank & Trust has received full regulatory approval to open a new office in Plant City. The new office will be the second Bank location in Hillsborough County. The Bank currently operates in 16 locations, including 14 offices in Polk County, and offices in Valrico and Dade City which opened in November 2021.
“We are excited to add a new office in the Plant City market,” said Greg Littleton, President and CEO of Citizens Bank & Trust. “Embracing the Future, While Preserving the Past serves as Plant City’s theme, and it also represents the values we hold close at Citizens Bank & Trust. We look forward to joining this community as we build new relationships and welcome customers.” Construction on the new building, which will be located on James L. Redman Parkway near Johnson Road, is set to begin later this year. A temporary office will open June 21 at 1803A James L. Redman Parkway. |
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