LA GETAWAYS By Shelley Brodka LA COMMUNITY GARDEN By Lynn Davis and Karen McLemore As we welcome 2026, the Lake Ashton Community Garden is thriving, thanks to our amazing members! Our “Harvest Time” system is in full swing: look for yellow craft sticks marking beds ready for picking. In December, kale, arugula, and beets were all ready to enjoy, and our “Herb Lovers – This One’s for You!” initiative ensures fresh herbs are available to pick for flavoring your winter recipes. December’s Holiday Craft Night was a festive success, with members creating garden-inspired soaps, planting fresh seeds, and making charming candles—a joyful way to celebrate together! We’re also excited about our new partnership with Kevin Baker of The Eagle’s Nest, who will occasionally feature our garden harvests in his monthly menu, starting this month with a delicious sweet potato and herb recipe. Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, January 21 at 1 p.m. in the HFC Craft Room, and start the year inspired, creative, and connected! GARDEN CLUB By Pam Klawinski The December Lake Ashton Garden Club Meeting had everyone enjoying hot cider, fruits, sweet treats, camaraderie, and a fun Plant Swap to end the year. The January meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 14 at 10am in the Pavilion if the weather cooperates, or if too chilly it will be in the Clubhouse Ballroom. We will have a Master Gardener Presentation from the UF/IFAS Extension of Polk County (University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) on “Gardening for SnowBirds and New Florida Residents”. We will all be able to gain knowledge from this presentation whether we are new or established residents. Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month. No membership fees or green thumb required. 32 Come and join your friends and neighbors and become a member of Lake Ashton Getaways. Join the hundreds of Lake Ashton residents who have already become members to receive discounts on trips and priority sign up. The next meeting will be in the Clubhouse on Saturday, January 24 from 10.30 am to 1 pm. It will feature updates on all trips, Small World Tours and a presentation by Royal Caribbean cruises. Passport photos for $5 will be avail to members at the meeting. Contact shelleyb4336@gmail.com as space is limited. Trips for 2026/27 include local and regional bus tours, trips to national parks, Italy, and a 2026/27 New Years Eve cruise. This is a great way to meet your neighbors and make wonderful memories! The binder in the Clubhouse Media Center includes trip and membership sign-up information. Online registration for membership and trips is available with this QR code. For more information contact lakeashtongetaways@gmail.com. Bus trips are no longer facilitated by the LACDD but a registered club. LA BLACK HERITAGE CLUB By Pamela June Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to nonviolence was shaped by faith and philosophy. He was inspired by Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience and later by Gandhi’s teachings, which transformed Christian love into a powerful tool for social change. King first experienced the strength of nonviolent action during the Montgomery bus boycott, where he chose compassion over retaliation even in the face of violence. He called nonviolent resistance the “guiding light of our movement. Christ furnished the spirit and motivation while Gandhi furnished the method.” King’s vision remains vital. Our world still wrestles with inequality, financial hardship, health disparities, and intolerance. His example reminds us that lasting change begins with love and care for our neighbors. By removing hatred and extending compassion to the disadvantaged, we honor his legacy and continue the work of building a just and humane society. Join us: MLK Day of Service Food Drive, January 19, 10 am to 2 pm.
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