Our long-time production director, R., died from Glioblastoma — a particular nasty and deadly form of cancer. R was with us almost 30 years. His former career was as primarily as a newspaper accountant up in Pennsylvania.
Pictured is Central Avenue, in downtown Winter Haven, looking east from Fourth Street. Photo was taken circa the 1940/50s.
Our adventure began on the beautiful Banana River, which is part of the Indian River lagoon. This lagoon is said to be the most diversified estuary in North America. The water is brackish, as there is no current, and flows to the Sebastian inlet.
One of the main reasons we live in Florida is the weather, and as the temperatures are on the rise, lots of folks are heading to the beaches, lakes and pools to cool off.
Everything about Southern Hill Farms makes you feel like you’re far away from Central Florida’s main attractions.
I’ve tried to help our readers understand how the state of Florida government managed to cut taxes at the state level every year since 2009.
Pictured is Central Avenue, looking east from Central Park, circa 1912.
Getting out and walking is a good way to stay healthy, and it can be very enjoyable. But it’s good to make an effort to be safe about it.
Experts suggest that little doses of sunshine can be good for people — and, here in Polk County, we like to think weekly doses of our Sun Newspapers are, too.
I'm a new subscriber to the Winter Haven SUN and just read "Viewpoints" in the April 14, 2021 edition (“What does it mean to be a public servant?” by David Dunn-Rankin). I am in so much agreement with it that it's scary. If I am able to vote for any of these seven (7) representatives it will…
ONA — Nestled back in the woods of Ona lies a castle that fairy tales are made of.
April is Animal Cruelty Prevention Month — and a perfect time to remind people what it means to be a responsible pet owner.
The Florida legislature is dramatically changing how public notices work in Florida.
Experts suggest that little doses of sunshine can be good for people — and, here in Polk County, we like to think weekly doses of our Sun Newspapers are, too.
“I don’t even want to calculate the hours of my life over the last 50 years that I’ve spent in public meetings and hearings listening to self-appointed scolds telling the rest of us that we’re not preserving enough of Florida before they return to the comfort of their air-conditioned single-…
Early last month, two of our elderly citizens were scammed out of over $65,000 by criminals who played on their emotions — and I can’t begin to express how angry I am over this. The sad truth is that these victims will likely never get their money back, even if we can identify and arrest the…
Experts suggest that little doses of sunshine can be good for people — and, here in Polk County, we like to think weekly doses of our Sun Newspapers are, too.
No trip to Lake Wales would be complete without a visit to the beautiful Bok Tower Gardens.
“Hey David, I read your note on national immigration. If it is true, as you say it is, that GDP is the sum of productivity growth and population growth, why not focus instead on just productivity growth. Why do we have to grow the pie and then divide it among even more people? If the populat…
An organization called Smart Growth America published a study in early March regarding the most dangerous metropolitan areas in the United States for pedestrians.
Rounding out our recent historical selection of food stores is Lovett’s Groceteria, pictured here in the 1940s.
Safety is a major concern for both parents and childcare providers. It's never too early to start teaching young children about safety.
National Women’s History Month originated on Sunday, March 8, 1857. Several professional women from New York City factories were extremely frustrated about the terrible work environments and protested in the streets of New York. The first Women's Day celebration in the United States was in 1…
“For someone who a few weeks ago complained about how much taxes your company had to pay, you sure make it sound like the Republicans in Tallahassee are all to blame. Yet you think they should raise state taxes to take the ‘burden‘ off local governments. Isn’t that what local governments are…
It goes without saying that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are working from home.
Continuing our grocery nostalgia from past weeks, we share this photo of the A & P Food Store, located on Fifth Street NW at Central Avenue, circa the 1920s.
From shooting hoops to creating jobs in Polk County, one star-studded athlete is part of a new sports-themed restaurant concept that is open for business.
Following the move of the Publix Supermarket that had been located on Central Avenue to Northgate Shopping Center in 1957, many will recall that Morrison’s operated a cafeteria in the downtown building for several years.
This week, we take one final look at the first Publix Supermarket that opened on Central Avenue in 1940.
One of the great things about living in the U.S. is that our city and county governments are required to keep their citizens informed about their actions.
In reading feedback from readers about my column on immigration, I realized many of us don’t have useful information on the subject. Let’s see how much we know about immigration.
This week, we take another look at the first Publix Supermarket when it opened on Central Avenue in 1940.
We last shared a photo of the first Publix store that George Jenkins designed and built from the ground up. That building is still located on Central Avenue at Second Street NW.
Most of us remember these inspiring words on our Statue of Liberty:
Forget the plane ticket — grab your food passport and explore Winter Haven!
You will likely be seeing a lot of Jeeps in the area as February comes to a close.
The pioneers of Black History Month created an impact that has been powerful enough to transcend history. The lives of African Americans have improved throughout time because of the blood, sweat, tears, voices, and hard work of Black men and women around our great nation. I want to take this…
I miss Mardi Gras. I miss being in crowds on Fat Tuesday. I’m hoping for a speedy recovery from the pandemic so we can all congregate again.
Even though I am in my 60s, part of my brain still thinks I am still in my 20s. My 20-year-old self doesn’t want to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
When I began my career with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office 48 years ago, I remember stopping in at the Mulberry police station and watching the dispatcher answer and dispatch calls from a radio room tucked away in a tiny corner of that police station.
A quiet moment of clarity produces the reality of the major concerns 2020 has left for us to work together to resolve. We find in 2021 the need to create and maintain solutions for inequalities, race relations, the judicial system, educational institutions and economic parities locally and n…
What better way to spend a long weekend than at a resort condo, overlooking the beautiful back bay waters of Estero Bay, while sipping a cold beverage from your balcony?
Several readers took me to task when I wrote in a previous column that small business is not being treated fairly.
Every year, traffic crashes kill more than 30,000 people in the United States.
Illustrated is the Realty Commerce Building, as designed to be built during the land boom of the 1920s.
One of my favorite messages in scripture is from Ecclesiastes 3.
Perhaps you look at the political wrangling in Washington, D.C., during the worst health care crisis in 100 years – and you wonder what has become of our great country.
Pictured is the view overlooking Central Park to Fifth Street, NW, in the 1920s.
You may have seen on the news that we had a pretty scary situation happen in the southeast unincorporated part of our county.
Did you dream of owning a flying car when you were young? I know I did.
