Polk County Community Calendar

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Welcome to the WBF Community Calendar. This page is designed to post announcements of events around the Polk County area.

The announcements are listed according to the date of the event, current events at the top.

Click here, If your club or organization would like to post an announcement on this page.

Supervisor of Elections, June 22

Polk County residents are invited to apply to become election workers during an informational meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 22nd. “These are paid positions working at polling places on Election Day,” explained Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards.

The meeting will be held at 6 pm at the Elections Operations Center, 70 Florida Citrus Blvd., Winter Haven, 33880, and no reservation is required.

Voters who have served as election workers in Polk County in recent years are welcome, but do not need to attend.

For more information contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (863) 534-5888, or visit PolkElections.com.

Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, June 24

The Downtown Farmers Curb Market is designed to serve and bring together all segments of our community. It is a positive force in bringing people downtown to purchase fresh produce, plants and local handcrafted items.

The 11-month market (closed in August) is a showcase for the talents and the work of local artisans and local growers, can be found at 200 North Kentucky Avenue in Lakeland from 8am to 2pm.

Main Street Bartow Farmers Market, June 28

The Main Street Bartow Farmers Market is held every Wednesday at Fort Blount Park, at the corner of Main Street and Broadway Avenue in downtown Bartow, from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

Vendors include produce, plants, blended teas and accessories, handmade candles, skin care products and soaps, specialty cheeses, dips and soup mixes, jams, jellies, honey, and crafts. The park is also a beautiful spot for a leisurely lunch, and food vendors offer Italian sausage, Philly cheese steaks, hamburgers, hotdogs, pulled chicken sandwiches, and other items.

More vendor space remains! Main Street Bartow continues to seek vendors offering top quality fresh products ranging from local produce to seasonal flowers, sauces and other food items, and artisan crafts. The vendor fee for a 12’ x 12’ space is just $10.00.

For further information or a Farmers Market Vendor Form, contact Main Street Bartow at 863-519-0508.

Bartow Adult Concert Band, July 4

The Bartow Adult Concert Band will present its July 4th Concert on Tuesday, July 4th, with a program titled: “Let Freedom Ring”. This one-hour FREE concert will be held inside the Bartow Civic Center, on South Floral Avenue, beginning at 2:30 P.M. Phil Wharton, retired Polk County band director, is the conductor for this 27th concert series.

Bartow Antique Fair, July 8

Main Street Bartow, Inc.’s next monthly Antique Fair will be on Saturday, July 8, from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. along Main Street in downtown Bartow.

Booth spaces are $20.00 each and can be reserved by contacting Irene at 863-646-0644 or the Main Street Bartow office at 863-519-0508. The Antique Fair is held the second Saturday of each month.

Hope Presbyterian Chruch

Cedarkirk and Hope Presbyterian Church will again team together to provide SUMMER CAMP OF HOPE on the Campus of Hope Presbyterian Church at 2110 Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven. Our week of camp begins on Monday, July 10 and runs through Friday, July 14, from 9am to 4pm for 1st through 5th grades. Lunch and snacks will be provided. If you are interested in being part of this study group, please call the church office at 863-324-6382 or email Julie@hopepreswh.org.

Uptown Yard & Flea Market, July 15

Bartow’s monthly Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market will be held on Saturday, July 15, along the 300 block of East Main Street in downtown Bartow. Hours are from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM, with set-up beginning at 7:00 AM. Vendors will be charged a $10.00 fee, and no preregistration is necessary.

For further information call Irene at 863-646-0644 or the Main Street Bartow office at 863-519-0508. The Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market is held the third Saturday of each month, and is sponsored by Main Street Bartow, Inc., Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Bartow.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers

Meals on Wheels needs drivers to deliver hot meals to seniors throughout Polk County. Kitchen volunteers are also needed to help package the meals.

The Meals on Wheels program delivers hot meals to approximately 315 homebound residents.

Service areas include Winter Haven, Lakeland, Auburndale, Haines City and Davenport. Volunteers may choose to work from one to five days a week. For information call 863-299-1616 or visit www.mealsonwheelspolk.com or facebook.com/mealsonwheelspolk.

VISTE's Volunteers

Volunteers in Service to the Elderly is a community-based non-profit organization that was started Lakeland since 1983.

VISTE’s primary goal is to help frail senior citizens continue living independently and safely in their own home. VISTE is a United Way agency.

VISTE, which is a United Way agency, works with schools, churches, civic groups, local corporations and individuals.

To volunteer, attend one of VISTE’s monthly orientations. A volunteer application can be found at http://viste.org/become-a-viste-volunteer.

For more information, call 863-284-0828 or email info@viste.org.

L.E.A.P - Emergency Notification Program for Residents Age 55 and up

Do you have a loved one, age 55 or older, living independently in Lakeland? Encourage them to sign up for Lakeland’s Elderly Assistance Program (LEAP) to ensure you are notified in case of an emergency that involves first responders. This voluntary program is designed to provide a quick resource to public safety entities so they can easily contact family members in case of an emergency.

How Does the Program Work?

First, complete a registration form. Forms are available online at http://www.lakelandgov.net/lpd/special-svcs/community-services-section/leap-lakeland-elderly-assistance-program or you can call the number below and request a form be mailed to you. Registration will include requests for emergency contact information. A member from the Lakeland Police Department will enter the information into the LEAP database, making the information accessible only to first responders. Once the resident is registered they will receive a small sticker to be placed in a visible location on the front window or door with a unique identification number. The sticker will immediately notify first responders to check the LEAP database for additional information should an emergency situation occur.

If you have additional questions regarding the LEAP program, call 863.834.6912.

SPCA of Lakeland

Each month SPCA Florida provides over 200 pets in the community with supplemental pet food and supplies through its Ani-meals program. Due to increasing community need, SPCA Florida is asking the community for donations of cat food and litter. Donations can be dropped off at 5850 Brannen Road South in Lakeland, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit spcaflorida.org or call (863) 646-SPCA for more information.

The SPCA, Inc. in Lakeland is in desperate need of cat litter. Any type of cat litter is welcome. Donations can be dropped off from 11am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday. For more information, call the SPCA at 863-646-7722.

New Hazardous Waste Collection Program Available for Small Businesses

Polk County businesses that produce less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month can properly dispose/recycle it the third Wednesday of each month by appointment-only at the North Central Landfill’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility. The first collection day will take place February 16.

Quotes will be based on the quantity and types of waste materials to be disposed/recycled. Participants must complete a registration form and inventory sheet and may need an onsite inspection prior to participating. Waste materials being collected include: paint, solvents, waste ink, fluorescent lamps, used oil, antifreeze and other hazardous waste.

For more information, paperwork and appointment schduling, visit www.polk-county.net or Contact Andrea at (863) 284-4319 ext.203, andreastermer@polk-county.net.

The North Central Landfill is located at 5 Environmental Loop South in Winter Haven.

PCSO and Florida Refuse Partner Together to Fight Crime Through Waste-Watch

Waste-Watch is a partnership between the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Florida Refuse Service workers in which employees of Florida Refuse assist law enforcement by observing and reporting suspicious activity while out in neighborhoods during the normal course of their duties collecting refuse.

The idea for this partnership grew from Operation Bright Eyes, a partnership between law enforcement and Bright House networks technicians. The goal of partnerships like these is to enhance the safety of our communities by training those workers who spend their entire workday in our neighborhoods to be alert to their surroundings and anything that would be considered a crime or suspicious in nature. In a county as large as Polk, it is difficult for law enforcement to be everywhere they need to be. Programs such as Bright Eyes and Waste-Watch expand our public safety resources, resulting in increased safety for those who live, work, and play in Polk County.

So far, 185 Florida Refuse workers have been trained by PCSO to observe and report suspicious activity, through Waste-Watch.

For more information about Waste-Watch, please call the PCSO Crime Prevention Unit at 863.534.6677.

Viewing of Adoptable Pets

The Polk County Sheriff's Office, in an effort to help adopt out as many eligible animals as possible, has added a new feature to their website www.polksheriff.org. The link, located at the bottom of the home page, is titled "Animal Services Section".

The "Pet Harbor" is a brand-new feature offering viewers a searchable database of adoptable pets, in and out of Polk County. Customers can select whether they are looking for a dog or a cat, an age range, a gender and even a size. Photos of the animals are available at the click of a button, and are updated on a routine and timely basis.

The section also has a wealth of information such as laws, rabies, spaying/neutering and is very user-friendly.

American Red Cross

The Polk County Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering Community Disaster Education presentations to the community, free of charge. The Community Disaster Education program teaches people how to prepare themselves, their families and their property for disasters, such as hurricanes or tornadoes.

For more information about the program, or to schedule a presentation, call the Polk County Chapter at 863-294-5941.

Girl Scouts

Adult volunteers can have just as much fun as the Girl Scouts they serve. Adults can volunteer as troop leaders and advisors so that they work with the same girls all year. Volunteer opportunitites also exist for guest speakers, teachers for specific skills and projects, advisory committee members, and a wide range of other volunteer services to girls and Girl Scouting.

To find out more about becoming a Girl Scout volunteer, contact the Lakeland office at 863.688.7648.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The Polk County Board of County Commissioners' Hazardous Waste Section collects household hazardous waste Monday through Friday 7:45a to 3:45p, and Saturday 8a to 5p at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. The facility is located on SR 540 at the North Central Landfill, four miles east of highway 98.

At the facility, the county accepts household paints. aerosol cans, motor oil, gasoline, antifreeze, kerosene, diesel fuel, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, cleaners, polishes, paint strippers, paint thinner, fluorescent tubes, mercury containing devices, household and auto batteries.

All household items are accepted during these times except biohazardous materials, i.e. hypodermic needles or lancets. No explosives or radioactive wastes will be accepted at this location. No waster generated by businesses will be accepted for disposal. For more information call the Polk County Household Hazardous Waste Section at 863-499-2771 or 863-499-2689.