LA DEMOCRATIC CLUB By Howard Mayne This year we honor the 100th birthday of Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” She dedicated her life to campaigning for recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth is a moment to reflect on the past, honor resilience, celebrate freedom, and a call to continue the work of building a more just and inclusive America. The next meeting of the Lake Ashton Democratic Club (some members pictured above) will be held on Thursday June 7 at the HFC at 6:30 pm, with social time starting at 6. The speaker will be Victor Sims, candidate for Polk County School Board, District 3, election to be held August 18. All are welcome to attend. Contact: lakeashtondemocraticclub@gmail.com. LA REPUBLICAN CLUB By Bud Colburn The Lake Ashton Republican Club will host speaker/ author Brad Bennett, who wrote Valor: Uncommon Courage in a Pit, in the Clubhouse Ballroom on June 24 at 4 pm. Guests are welcome. Check-in/socializing will begin at 3:30. LA BLACK HERITAGE CLUB By Pamela June Juneteenth commemorates the abolition of slavery in the U.S. Although the Emancipation Proclamation became effective January 1, 1863, freedom did not happen in one day. Freedom came to different places at different times. Florida recognizes May 20, 1865 as Emancipation Day, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read in Tallahassee. Freedom finally came to Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, sparking the first Juneteenth Celebration. Juneteenth, now a national holiday, is widely recognized and has become the symbolic date for a collective celebration of freedom. 31 LA PEBBLES & PINES SOCIAL CLUB By Jill Groves The Kentucky Derby Party was a success! We would like to thank everyone who attended and/ or supported our First Kentucky Derby Party Fundraiser on May 2 at the HFC. The charity is www.aheartforheros.org at the Rockin’ W Ranch in Bartow, which is located 15 minutes from Lake Ashton. The ranch, led by Kathy & Cowboy Everly, trains Special Olympians in horsemanship. https:// www.specialolympicsflorida.org/our-mission. We had cake walks, mini horse races, a best hat contest, horseshoes, trivia and a 50/50 with all donations in support of the ranch. At the end of the party, we all watched the exciting Derby win by Golden Tempo. You can still support the cause by donating directly to the ranch through the link above or by dropping off a check to “A Heart for Heroes, Inc” to our treasurer, Jill 419-902-7966. The ranch is always looking for volunteers. You can contact them through the website or call them at 863-205-1494. We will be making the check presentation in June. Look for a picture in the July Issue of the LA Times & on Talk of Lake Ashton. KNIFE & SCISSORS SHARPENING The Lake Ashton Woodworkers continue to sharpen knives and scissors as a fundraiser. Contact Fred or Shelba Powell if you are in need of their services at 863-280-6546.
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