TIMES L.A. Lake Ashton Community Newsletter March 2023 Simply the Best! LAPAC PRESENTS ... ONE SINGULAR sensation March 24 & 25 4141 Ashton Club Drive Lake Wales, FL 33859 Get Your Tickets Today! Lake Ashton is a 55 & Older Deed Restricted Community 863.324.6032 863.324.5457 www.lakeashtoncdd.com
NEWSLETTER STAFF Christine Wells Editor cwells@lakeashtoncdd.com 863.324.5457 Valerie McCutcheon Advertising Sales, Layout & Design valerie@lakeashtoncdd.com SUBMISSION GUIDELINES April Issue Deadline: March 13 • Articles can be submitted on behalf of Lake Ashton clubs/ groups/organizations to promote lifestyle enhancing, opportunities, and must be approved by the group leader prior to publication • Email articles to: valerie@lakeashtoncdd.com • 150 word limit. Articles will be edited for length, clarity, and to ensure compliance with districts’ media policies • Include your club contact and phone number • The writing style is third person — avoid using I, me, my, we, our, or personal pronouns Photo Specifications: • All photos must be high-res digital images in “jpeg” format and submitted via email or CD/flash drive • Space will generally allow only one photo per article • The designer and printer will make the final determination as to the print quality of photographs for publication THE LAKE ASHTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT DOES NOT ENDORSE OR SUPPORT ANY PARTICULAR POLITICAL CANDIDATE, PARTY, MEASURE OR ISSUE, OR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Clubhouse Office Manager: Sheila Moreland 863.324.5457 smoreland@lakeashtoncdd.com Clubhouse Operations Manager: Matt Fisher 863.956.6207 mfisher@lakeashtoncdd.com HOA Office (LW) Golf Club - Ron Lavoie, General Manager Matt Auen, Head Golf Professional Eagle’s Nest Vicki Moore, Manager RV & Storage Center 863.325.0065 manager@lakeashtonhoa.org 863.326.1032 863.326.1032 rlavoie@lakeashtongc.com mauen@lakeashtongc.com 863.326.1085 vmoore@lakeashtongc.com 863.326.1304 dholmes@lakeashtonstorage.com Police Non-Emergency Numbers: Lake Wales: 863.678.4223 Winter Haven: 863.291.5858 Polk County Sheriff: 863.298.6200 In case of emergency, dial 911 3 MARCH 2023 Lake Ashton employees are at your service. We want your experiences in the Clubhouse, Golf Course and HFC to be as pleasant and memorable as possible! Do not hesitate to contact any of the below with comments, questions or concerns. Lake Ashton Clubhouse 4141 Ashton Club Drive Lake Wales, FL 33859 Phone: 863.324.5457 Fax: 863.324.5829 Lake Ashton Health & Fitness Center (HFC) LACDD Community Director: Christine Wells cwells@lakeashtoncdd.com Clubhouse Activities Assistant: Caroline Lane 863.324.6032 clane@lakeashtoncdd.com 6052 Pebble Beach Boulevard Winter Haven, FL 33884 Phone: 863.595.1562 Fax: 863.595.1567 HFC Activities Office Manager: Krystle Funk 863.595.1562 kfunk@lakeashton2cdd.com Gate Houses & Security Officers: Thompson Nursery Rd. (LW): 863.324.7290 County Road 653 (WH): 863.318.0237
MONDAY COFFEE Don't miss Monday Coffee with your friends and neighbors at 9 am in the Clubhouse Ballroom. Coffee & donuts are available for $2. MARCH 6 • Birthdays and Anniversaries • Featured Speaker: Neighborhood Watch Presents: Lake Wales and Winter Haven Police Chief Meet and Greet • Featured Vendor: Christine Graves Insurance MARCH 13 • Bite Me Monday - Donations for Humane Society of Polk County • Featured Speaker: Polk County Homeless High School Graduates with SPECIAL GUEST • Featured Vendors: Matt Simpson with Edward Jones, and Tessier Law Firm MARCH 20 — NO MONDAY COFFEE — LACDD BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING Bring your knives and scissors that need sharpening to the Wood Shop (near the construction office/RV storage area off Dunmore Dr.) between 8:30 & 10 am March 20. Wrap in newspaper & identify with your name and telephone number. MARCH 27 • Peanut Butter Monday - Non-perishable food donations for Lake Wales Care Center can be dropped off to the Ballroom Kitchen • Featured Speaker: Lake Wales Fire Department Fire Safety • Featured Vendor: ComForCare There will be a Lake Wales Commissioner Candidate Meet & Greet March 27 after Monday Coffee in the Clubhouse Ballroom. IN THIS ISSUE NEWS 6 LA LOOKS 14 SAFETY 18 MOVIES 20 EVENTS 22 GOLF 28 CLUBS 32 MIND & BODY 40 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS LAKE ASHTON II (WH) CDD Friday, March 17, 9 am Health & Fitness Center LAKE ASHTON (LW) CDD Monday, March 20, 9:30 am Clubhouse Ballroom CIT Y COMMISSION MEETINGS LW: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 6 pm, Commission Chambers, Municipal Administration Bldg., 201 W. Central Ave., Lake Wales WH: 2nd & 4th Mondays at 6:30 pm, John Fuller Auditorium in City Hall, 451 3rd St. NW, Winter Haven POLK COUNT Y BOCC MEETINGS 1st & 3rd Tues. , 9 am, Board Room, 330 W. Church St., Bartow
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HOURS OF OPERATION CLUBHOUSE: 6 am – 10 pm daily CLUBHOUSE OFFICES & ACTIVITIES DESK: 9 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday Photo ID Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Noon to 3 pm (or by appointment) HFC OFFICES & ACTIVITIES DESK: 8 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday HEALTH & FITNESS CENTER: 5:30 am – 10 pm daily EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Alex Fuertes is back with the GMS team at Lake Ashton! He started with us in November 2022 and has recently been promoted to Facility Maintenance Supervisor. He will take over direct supervision of Joseph Payne, our newest Facility Maintenance Coordinator (more on him in the April edition of the LA Times!). When you see Alex be sure to congratulate him on his promotion and welcome him back to Lake Ashton. When Alex is not working at Lake Ashton he can be found fishing with his 2 boys in the local lakes, coaching 2 little league baseball teams or ministering to youth at the local county jail. He is truly an remarkable person and has some great stories. We are lucky to have him back at Lake Ashton! 6 The 30th Annual Polk Senior Games are scheduled to run through March 11 at various sites throughout the county. More information can be found online at polkseniorgames.org. If you compete in the Games, and/or win a medal, you can send a picture and your information to valerie@lakeshtoncdd.com for recognition in the LA Times! Lake Ashton Sign up at the Clubhouse Activities Desk for the following trip with a check payable to Small World Tours: BusTrips MAY 10 — 15: NASHVILLE MUSIC CITY $1599/PERSON INCLUDES R/T TRANSPORTATION, 5 BREAKFASTS, 2 LUNCHES, 3 DINNERS, ACCOMMODATIONS, TOURS, TICKETS, ACTIVITIES & ADMISSIONS, DRIVER GRATUITY. SEE MORE DETAILS AT CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES OFFICE. DEPOSIT: $500 NEXT MONTHLY MARKET: March 8 from 10 am to 2 pm Clubhouse West Parking Lot BAXTER’ S QUAL ITY MEATS Clubhouse West Parking Lot Wednesdays from 10 am to 2 pm BOOKMOBILE March 8 & 22, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (closed for lunch 12:30 to 1:15), Clubhouse West Parking Lot DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME: SPRING FOWARD MARCH 12 Set your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night before you go to bed (some electronic devices such as smartphones and iPads make this change automatically). This is also a good time to check your smoke alarm batteries. 2023 POLK SENIOR GAMES
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LACDD LACDD NEWS BOA R D O F SUP E RVISO R S CONTA CT INF O Lloyd Howison, Chairman 704-302-6555, lhowison@lakeashtoncdd.com Brenda Van Sickle, Vice Chair 863-324-6191, brenda.vansickle@lakeashtoncdd.com Michael Costello, Assistant Secretary 863-875-9228 or 732-718-7431, mcostello@lakeashtoncdd.com Debby Landgrebe, Assistant Secretary 863-268-8193, dlandgrebe@lakeashtoncdd.com Steve Realmuto, Assistant Secretary 863-949-0304, steve.lacdd@gmail.com Office Hours: March 13, 10 am to noon in the Clubhouse Conference Room By Christine Wells, LA (LW) CDD Community Director The first day of Spring is March 20 and soon residents will have more daylight to enjoy the great outdoors in Lake Ashton. Try out a new outdoor activity if you haven't already. There are many outdoor activities available such as Bocce, shuffleboard, outdoor life-size chess, horseshoes, corn hole, tennis, and pickleball. There are also plenty of indoor activities and fitness classes available to residents as well — be sure to check the calendar inserts and the Mind and Body section for dates and times of classes. While the community is at peak population, be aware of extra vehicles, golf carts, and pedestrians on the roads. Road safety is important for all drivers of vehicles including golf carts. Please remember the speed limit throughout the community is 20 mph. With an increase in visitors coming to Lake Ashton during this time of year caution should be used when entering and exiting the community. Please be mindful of the stop sign when entering via the resident gate. This is to ensure a safe speed when entering the community. Under no circumstance should residents access the visitor lane with their gate opener unless the resident side is inoperable. The safety of our Security Guards and all others accessing the gate is of utmost importance. This creates an unsafe environment for everyone. The Board of Supervisors meeting was held on February 27 in the Clubhouse Ballroom. A wrap up of actions taken was sent out via email on February 28. Please contact Christine at cwells@lakeashtoncdd.com if you would like a copy of the report that was sent out. CDD WEBSITE INFORMATION The joint amenity policy is now posted on lakeashtoncdd.com (below right QR code) and lakeashton2cdd.com (below left QR code) for residents to view. To navigate easily to these websites, point your smartphone’s camera at the codes and follow the link. Also on each website residents can find the scheduled joint meetings, regular board meeting dates for LACDD and LAIICDD, agendas, meeting minutes, Supervisor contact information and other documents relevant to each CDD. There is also an option to sign up to receive blast emails from the Clubhouse and HFC, Eagle’s Nest, and Pro Shop. You will need to click on a confirmation link sent to you after signing up to receive emails online. If you cannot receive emails please email valerie@akeashtoncdd.com. 8
HOSTING FAMILY FOR SPRING BREAK? March is a traditional time for family and friends to escape the cold up north and come to visit those lucky enough to live at Lake Ashton. Remember that when you see a visiting grandchild they are guests of your neighbors so please extend every courtesy possible. Residents, please be tolerant of extra activity at the pool and other Clubhouse amenities. Those hosting family should remind them to be considerate of residents in this 55 and older community. It is helpful if a resident accompanies their guests at any of the amenities. Golf carts should be driven only by those 14 years and older in Lake Wales and 16 years and older in Winter Haven. All drivers (car and golf carts) must observe the stop signs and 20 mph speed limit. Adults should not place young children on their laps between them and the steering wheel as this creates a hazardous condition for the children in the case of a panic stop or accident. JOINT AMENITIES POLICY Each month an excerpt from the newly adopted Joint Amenities Policy will be featured in the LA Times. The full policy can be found on the CDD websites: lakeashtoncdd.com or lakeashton2cdd.com. Listed below is the specific policy that is in place for the Pavilion at the Clubhouse. Recently Staff has noticed the Pavilion being left dirty with trash not properly disposed of in the dumpster (east parking lot) and grills not being cleaned following residents functions. Please be mindful of #5 below. The facilitator of the group or reservation holder is solely responsible for ensuring all of these policies are adhered to when utilizing this specific Amenity. Please reach out to Christine Wells, LA (LW) CDD Community Director via email at (cwells@lakeashtoncdd.com) with any questions. PAVILION (page 21) 1. Reservations can be made through the Amenities Manager’s office. 2. The Pavilion is furnished with tables, chairs, fans, electricity, and grills. If you are unsure how to operate the grills or need assistance with any equipment, please contact the Amenity Manager or Staff for instructions. No grills or smokers are allowed inside the pavilion. 3. If, at any time, the equipment at the Pavilion fails to operate properly, please contact the Amenity Manager or Staff for assistance. 4. Guests must be eighteen (18) years of age and older to operate the grills. 5. Ensure that the Pavilion and surrounding area is clean and free from trash and debris following any function. Patron who reserves and holds a function at the pavilion and fails to clean up and return it to the condition in which it was obtained may be charged a cleanup fee by the Amenity Manager. 6. Room reservations are non-exclusive. At the Amenity Manager’s discretion and depending upon scheduling availability, reservations for multiple groups may be booked at the same time in this room. When multiple group activities are scheduled, please be courteous of others. MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR CITY OF LAKE WALES The Regular Municipal Election for the City of Lake Wales will be held Tuesday, April 4. There are two seats up for election: Seat 3, (currently held by Commissioner Terrye Howell) and Seat 5 (currently held by Commissioner Robin Gibson). These seats are for three year terms. Lake Ashton residents living in Lake Wales can vote in person in the Clubhouse Ballroom on Election Day or contact the Supervisor of Elect ions at 863-534-5888 to request an absentee ballot. The polls are open from 7 am to 7pm. Please be sure to bring a photo ID. To find out more, visit polkelections.com for a sample ballot or contact the City of Lake Wales City Clerk at 863-678-4182. Please note: Due to elections there will be no activities in the Ballroom and no movies shown on this day. The Activities Office will remain open from 9 am - 5 pm.
LAIICDD NEWS By Jim Mecsics, Chairman, LAIICDD Board of Supervisors LA II CDD B O ARD O F SU P ERVISO RS CONTA CT INF O Jim Mecsics, Chairman Public Safety, Security, Amenities and District Support, Public Works, Infrastructure, Wetland Resident Project Office Hours: Tuesdays 9:30 am to 12 pm 863.875.4554, mecsicsj@msn.com Bob Zelazny, Vice Chairman Golf Course, Pro Shop, Eagle’s Nest, Facilities and Field Operation, Transportation System (roads, bridges, paths, etc.) Office Hours: Mondays 1 to 3 pm 863.325.8098, bzelazny@lakeashton2cdd.com Mary C. Clark, Assistant Secretary Budget, Planning 252-503-7087, maryclark725@gmail.com Angela Littlewood, Assistant Secretary Special Projects, Landscaping Area including Pet Play Parks Office Hours: Thursdays 9 to 10:30 am 352.250.9707, alittlewoodlakeashton2cdd@gmail.com Roy Aull, Assistant Secretary Facilities and Field Operation Office Hours: Friday 9 to 10:30 am 973-670-2709, raull@lakeashton2cdd.com photo by David Muller As you all know, Mary Bosman retired from her duties as Community Director at Lake Ashton after a truly outstanding career. The Board is now actively seeking candidates to fill that position. At our recent meeting, the job description for Community Director was reviewed and changes made to best reflect what the position encompasses, along wi th the exper ience and qualifications desired. The Board designated a supervisor, Mary Clark, to work with the District Manager to advertise for candidates as well as doing an initial screening for those best suited. Once that is accomplished, a list of candidates will be presented to the Board for review and selection at a future meeting. The Board is also doing a strategic planning process to define future needs and requirements. The meeting in March will start with a Strategic Planning Workshop followed by a general meeting. We encourage all of you to contact your supervisors to provide any input you might have for the planning process. The Board looks forward to working with the new Community Director as we go into the third decade of Lake Ashton II CDD operations! 10
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RESID ENT SPO TLI GHT: DIANNE MACKO What do you do when you are a city girl who wants to join a county 4-H group? And what do you do when you retire from teaching card making classes at Lake Ashton and have some time on your hands? Well, you go back to your summer home in Crossville, TN, enter five exhibits of jewelry and cards at the Cumberland County Fair and come home with 3 firsts (blue ribbons), a 2nd, and a 3rd. Then as a member of the Taylor Chapel FCE (Adult 4-H Group) you enter a 6th exhibit against your peers and win 1st in the county and 1st in the Regional! That’s what you do with your spare time! Dianne enjoys her card making as she taught monthly classes at the JDC for 11 years. She was also introduced to beading here at the Clubhouse and is a member of that group. Congratulations, Dianne, for these accomplishments! She and her husband Milo Macko live on Dunmore Drive. HOMELESS GRADUATING SENIORS By Doris Reisinger Don’t miss Monday Coffee on March 13 at 9 am in the Clubhouse Ballroom that will feature Vickie Griffith's update and presentation of the homeless high school seniors. The need is even greater this year with prices on everything rising! These students will not be attending the usual graduation ceremony because hopefully by then they will have a job for the summer. But due to your generosity, they will be taken out of school and given their own graduation party! The motivational speaker for that party will also be at Monday Coffee for you to meet and hear. Any donation of items or money will help. There also is a congratulations banner posted at every Monday Coffee for all to sign to express their congratulations. Donations can be dropped off at either Clubhouse Activities Desk or contact Doris at miker0343@yahoo.com or 217-652-6636. 12 CLUBHOUSE PHOTO CONTEST VOTING The photo contest voting is complete and the winners have been chosen! Soon, residents will be able to see these pictures displayed throughout the Clubhouse. Thank you to everyone who participated. There are truly many talented individuals in Lake Ashton! 1st Place, above: Dennis Krupinski 2nd Place, below, 1st row left: Dennis Krupinski 3rd Place, below, 1st row right: Brad Kirwan 4th Place, below, 2nd row left: John Garner 5th Place, below, 2nd row right: Dennis Krupinski 6th Place, 3rd row: Gloria O’Rourke
L.A. LOOKS Wildlife Corner Photo & Article By Barbara Ann Comer The Killdeer is a year-round resident at Lake Ashton. This medium-sized shorebird can be seen walking or running along golf cart paths or flying low in open areas. It is brown and white with two black rings around its neck and has a rusty colored tail. It nests on the ground often close to water. A nest can be easily overlooked, but the parent will put on a convincing "broken wing display" when people or predators are too close attempting to draw attention to itself. Killdeer call vociferously "killdeer, killdeer, killdeer," hence the name. Lake Ashton residents have often put markers around known nest sites to help protect them. Shortly after the chicks are born they are wide-eyed and ready to run. They are a precocial species that spends extra time developing in the egg. These adorable fluff-balls resemble the parents, but only have one ring around the neck. LIVING WITH WILDLIFE There are many types of wildlife at Lake Ashton. During the spring many young animals, including sandhill cranes (also called colts), are seen roaming around Lake Ashton. At times residents may see a baby on its own and think it has been orphaned by its parents. Rarely are animals actually orphaned; the parent may be searching for food or observing its young from a distance. Generally, if you find a baby animal it is best to leave it alone — do not pick them up or remove them from their natural environment. Report wildlife you think may be injured or orphaned to the nearest FWC Regional Office at 863-648-3200. Removing the baby could be dangerous for the baby as well as the person removing. Remember, it is illegal to feed wildlife — even throwing some pieces of old bread in your backyard or pond to feed ducks and birds can cause adverse effects. Feeding wildlife can reduce their fear of humans which may result in aggression and the need for the animal to be removed or killed in order to protect public safety. • Cranes fed by humans can become aggressive toward people and have been known to damage window screens and do other property damage such as scratching at windows. • Cranes attracted to people's yards for feed are put at risk as they walk across roads. Many sandhill cranes are killed each year on Florida roads. • The cranes' diets, which normally are quite diverse, are disrupted when they eat one food item (such as corn), consistently. • Heavy pesticide use in urban lawns also is of concern. Young sandhill cranes have died from pesticide poisoning. • Florida sandhill cranes have an abundance of natural foods (insects and small animals) and they do not need handouts from humans. NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS Many Floridanative aquatic plant species can be found in the waters of Lake Ashton. These are the most prevalent plant species: Duck Potato, Bulrush, Pickerel Weed, and Spikerush (pictured above, counterclockwise from top left). For the health of our lakes and ponds, these plants are essential. The roles these plants have vary from shoreline stability to filtering unwanted nutrients in the water that could fuel algae blooms. The Lake Ashton CDD contracts a reliable company for nuisance vegetation management. To protect native aquatic plant life, selective herbicides are utilized. Email Matt Fisher at mfisher@lakeashtoncdd.com with any questions or concerns.
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Native Flowers of Central Florida By Lynn Davis The coontie is the only Florida Native cycad. This “palm-like” shrub is considered the most ancient of plants. A cycad is a seed plant with a woody trunk and hard evergreen leaves. The coontie cycads produce large reddish-orange seed cones. It has stiff-glossy featherlike leaves and a thick stem. They are slow growing and form a mounding cycad shrub. The compact size can be anywhere from one to three feet with a width of three feet. The shrub is not choosy about light and is cold tolerant. It’s best to plant away from foundations and in an area where it has enough room to spread. The coontie attracts a very rare butterfly called the Atala butterfly. This shrub is the only food source for this insect. This is a lowmaintenance plant that adds a tropical look to any landscaping. It grows in the sandy soil found in our area. It can be grown in full sun or shade. A great place to view coonties are at Bok Tower Gardens. LA II (WH ) HOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ( BOD) CONTACT INFORMATION Lake Ashton II (Winter Haven) Homeowners Association Board Members Contact Info Kristy McKibben, President, presidentla2hoa@outlook.com Gary Johnson, Secretary, secretaryla2hoa@outlook.com Ray Rudy, Treasurer, treasurerla2hoa@outlook.com Dave Bishop, VP & ARC Liaison, vparcla2hoa@outlook.com Bill Testa, VP & Asst. Treasurer, vptreasurerla2hoa@outlook.com The ARC in Winter Haven is looking for a couple of new ARC Reps if you are interested please email your name, email and phone number to the ARC at A8Lawharc2@gmail.com. LA ( LW) HOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ( BOD) CONTACT INFORMATION Management Company: Don Asher Michellette Ramos: manager@lakeashtonhoa.org President/Treasurer Bob Prowant president@lakeashtonhoa.org Vice President Nancy Baker vp@lakeashtonhoa.org Secretary 1 Tom Hevel secretary1@lakeashtonhoa.org Secretary 2 David Muller secretary2@lakeashtonhoa.org Secretary 3 Debbie Holmes secretary3@lakeashtonhoa.org
Thornhill Wealth Management Second Opinion Service Exclusively for Lake Ashton residents With the volatility of today’s markets and uncertainty of tomorrow’s economy, you may be wondering if you’re still on track to meet your financial goals. Whether you’re working with an advisor or personally managing your finances, it never hurts to get a second opinion. Our Second Opinion Service can help you, or someone you care about, feel more confident in the future. Conley Thornhill, CFP® What to expect We’ll meet with you for an in-depth conversation to get to know you and your unique situation. We’ll then gather the necessary documents to analyze your financials, including: current investments, risk exposure, tax liability, fees and charges. We’ll then invite you back to share our findings on where you are now, and where you’re headed. From there, one of three things will happen: 1. We confirm you’re on track and advise you to stay the course. 2. 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Or call us at 863-298-3600 to start the conversation. advisors.ubs.com/thornhillgroup In providing financial planning services, we may act as a broker-dealer or investment adviser, depending on whether we charge a fee for the service. The nature and scope of the services are detailed in the documents and reports provided to clients as part of the service. Financial planning does not alter or modify in any way a client’s existing account(s) or the terms and conditions of any account agreements they may have with UBS. Borrowing using securities as collateral entails risk and may not be appropriate for your needs. Please review the Loan Disclosure Statement that will be included in your application package for more information. Depending on your needs we can help you implement your retirement strategies through both our brokerage and advisory capabilities. 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Neither UBS Financial Services Inc. nor its employees (including its Financial Advisors) provide tax or legal advice. You should consult with your legal counsel and/or your accountant or tax professional regarding the legal or tax implications of a particular suggestion, strategy or investment, including any estate planning strategies, before you invest or implement. Insurance products are made available by UBS Financial Services Insurance Agency Inc. or other insurance licensed subsidiaries of UBS Financial Services Inc. through third-party unaffiliated insurance companies. In providing wealth management services to clients, we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services, which are separate and distinct and differ in material ways. For information, including the different laws and contracts that govern, visit ubs.com/relationshipsummary. As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS Financial Services Inc. offers investment advisory services in its capacity as an SEC-registered investment adviser and brokerage services in its capacity as an SEC-registered broker-dealer. Investment advisory services and brokerage services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate arrangements. It is important that you understand the ways in which we conduct business, and that you carefully read the agreements and disclosures that we provide to you about the products or services we offer. For more information, please review the client relationship summary provided at ubs.com/relationshipsummary, or ask your UBS Financial Advisor for a copy. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified Financial PlannerTM in the US. CIMA® is a registered certification mark of the Investments & Wealth InstituteTM and worldwide. © UBS 2022. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. CJ-UBS-1291789742 Exp.: 10/31/2023 17 , CIMA® Senior Vice President– Wealth Management conley.thornhill@ubs.com Nikki Rathbun Financial Advisor nikki.rathbun@ubs.com Doug Rathbun Financial Advisor doug.rathbun@ubs.com Thornhill Wealth Management UBS Financial Services Inc. 295 First Street South Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-298-3600 in the United States of America
PARKING SAFETY SAFETY CAP By Mike Weissberg Since all residents are part of Neighborhood Watch you are watching things around you. Citizens Assisted Patrol does this by patrolling our streets. Our job is to look for things that do not belong in our community. Our presence with our lights flashing while patrolling our streets is our deterrent to help keep our streets safe. Citizens Assisted Patrol (CAP) is always looking for more volunteers to patrol the streets once a week for two hours. Come help be the eyes, ears, and presence for the Sheriff’s department. Applications are available in the Clubhouse and HFC. More information: Mike Weissberg, 863-324-3541 (leave a message). NEIGH B ORHO O D WATCH FORUM By Fay Wood, NW Chief It is time again for your NW all inclusive community Leadership Team to present what is happening in and out of Lake Ashton and throughout Lake Wales and Winter Haven. Special guests include the Lake Wales and Winter Haven Police Chiefs discussing what is happening in their cities. All NW Safety Team Members and other partners are invited to join in this important meeting at Monday Coffee on March 6 at 9 am in the Clubhouse Ballroom. If you have specific questions you would like answered, email them to fswperson@aol.com and these will become the questions of priority during the meeting. If time permits the Q&A will be opened to the audience. Let everyone continue to work together to keep this beautiful community safe and crime free all year long. As our wonderful Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, indicated, Lake Ashton is his safest community in the County! Thanks to all NW Safety Team Members and partners. To keep this community as safe, enjoyable, and accessible as possible for everyone, all residents and guests, in motor vehicles and golf carts alike, should observe and practice the no parking policy under the Clubhouse porte-cochère (the covered portion of the stone paved driveway). Please help to maintain clear traffic lanes at the Clubhouse at all times so that emergency vehicles and neighbors with limited mobility can have quick and easy access for loading and unloading when needed. Loading and unloading is permitted on a limited basis and should be done so as quickly as possible. All golf carts parking elsewhere on the front driveway should only park with both front wheels touching the curb towards the Clubhouse, not parallel to it, to allow as much room as possible for others to park. Do not park at any time on the opposite curb nearest the fountain. Please observe the No Stopping or Parking signs in front of the resales office This applies to all motor vehicles and golf carts on both the street and the sidewalk.This is one of the community’s busiest and highest traffic locations and stopping and parking at this location can create very hazardous conditions for pedestrians and vehicles traversing this area. C RT CERTainly Safe WHAT THE HECK IS “CERT”? COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM Home Safey Tips from Your Lake Ashton Community Emergancy Response Team With so many acronyms to remember these days you may not know what “CERT” is. First, what it’s not: it’s NOT a breath mint. It stands for Citizens Emergency Response Team and our own LA CERT is made up of residents like yourself that have been trained by Polk County Fire Rescue to respond with aid in our community in the event of a local emergency. Go to the web address below to learn more and how to join the Lake Ashton team. https://sites.google.com/view/lake-ashton-cert
MOVI ES MARCH 14 — 16 (NO 7 PM SHOWING MARCH 16) 1 1 AM, 3 PM , 7 PM TICKET TO PARADISE ADDITIONAL CLOSED CAPTIONING SCREENINGS HAVE BEEN ADDED! NOW, ALL MOVIE SHOWINGS ON TUESDAY, AND THE 11 AM SHOWINGS ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & FRIDAY ARE CLOSED CAPTIONED. CINEMA CAPACITY: 55 MARCH 1 — 2 11 AM, 3 & 7 PM TILL 2022 | R | 2H 10MIN When Mamie Till-Mobley's 14year-old son Emmett is lynched in Mississippi, she insists he have an open-casket funeral. Her pursuit of justice became a galvanizing moment that helped lead to the creation of the civil rights movement. MARCH 7 — 9 (NO 3 OR 7 PM SHOWING MARCH 9) 11 AM, 3 & 7 PM SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW 2023 | R | 1H 46MIN Workaholic TV producer Ally (Alison Brie) faces a major professional setback which sends her running to the comforts of her hometown. She spends a whirlwind evening reminiscing with her first love Sean (Jay Ellis) and starts to question everything about the person she's become. Things only get more confusing when she discovers Sean is getting married to Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons) whose confidence and creative convictions remind Ally of who she used to be. . 20 2022 | PG-13 | 1H 44MIN Love is in the air on Bali as recent college grad Lily prepares to wed a local guy and her friend Wren finds herself falling for an island doctor. But Lily's parents (George Clooney, Julia Roberts, now divorced) are speeding to the island to put a halt to the festivities. MARCH 21 — 23 (NO 3 OR 7 PM SHOWING MARCH 23) 11 AM, 3 & 7 PM MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS 2022 | PG | 1H 55MIN London housecleaner Ada Harris thinks her lonely life might turn around if she can become the owner of a Christian Dior gown. Saying goodbye to friends like Archie won't be easy, and neither will be winning over elite people in Paris from Madame Colbert to idealistic accountant André. But Ada's irrepressible charm just might end up saving the whole House of Dior. MARCH 28 — 30 (NO 3 OR 7 PM SHOWING MARCH 28) 11 AM, 3 & 7 PM A MAN CALLED OTTO 2022 | PG-13 | 2H 6MIN Widowed and ret i red, Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) spreads ill will throughout his community by criticizing and judging all those who live around him. But when a boisterous family moves in next door, they worm their way into his life and heart.
MAY 7 CLASSIC & SPECIAL INTEREST MOVIES ARE SHOWN IN THE CINEMA FRIDAYS. 11 AM SHOWTIME IS CLOSED CAPTIONED. MARCH 3 11 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM ERIN BROCKOVICH 2000 | R | 2H 11MIN Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) is a woman in a tight spot. Following a car accident in which Erin is not at fault, Erin pleads with her attorney Ed Masry (Albert Finney) to hire her at his law firm. Erin stumbles upon some medical records placed in real estate files. She convinces Ed to allow her to investigate, where she discovers a cover-up involving contaminated water in a local community which is causing devastating illnesses among its residents. MARCH 10 11 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM GORILLAS IN THE MIST 1988 | PG-13 | 2H 8MIN Lured to deepest Africa by the chance to study rare mountain gorillas, anthropologist Dian Fossey (Sigourney Weaver) learns to communicate with her subjects, but the breakthrough turns her academic interest into an all-consuming obsession. MARCH 17 & 24 — NO MOVIES MARCH 31 AT 11 AM (NO 3 OR 7 PM SHOWINGS) HOOSIERS 1986 | PG | 1H 54MIN High school basketball is king in small-town Indiana, and the 1954 Hickory Huskers are all hope and no talent. But their new coach, abrasive and unlikable Norman Dale (Gene Hackman), whips the team into shape ... while also inciting controversy. 21 TAKE CHARGE OF LIFE’S TRANSITIONS <#$3$* @4311"12 6"7"12 A('#$# 5 )"44# 6&12 A*(0 B3(* C*="/3"= @4311"12 D##*$ @(&$*/$"&1 @(&+3$* 63E* D#F$&1 >*#"=*1$ !"#"$ &'( )*+#"$* ,&( -./&0"12 !"($'34 5 6"7* 8*0"13(#9 :*;# 5 <='/3$"&134 >*#&'(/*#? Denise R. Tessier, Esq. 863.220.7927 Office | 863.225.2244 Direct Info@TessierLawFirm.com !!!"#$%%&$'()!*&'+",-+ 1375 Havendale Blvd. NW | Winter Haven, FL 33881
EVENTS Individual tickets on sale at the Clubhouse Activities Office while supplies last. 5 pm Premium - $35 5 pm Regular - $30 8 pm Premium - $40 8 pm Regular - $35 March 9 Gary Puckett and the Union Gap March 31 The Edwards Twins MARCH MADNESS CORN HOLE TOURNEY This double elimination tournament with two player teams will be held at the HFC on March 3 from 9 am to noon. MARDI GRAS PERFORMANCE By Gina Krall Lake Ashton was well represented at the Lake Wales Mardi Gras parade on February 18. This charity event draws crowds of 8,000 to 10,000 every year. Our crew was one of the largest in the parade, comprising of six men carrying three banners, 16 LA Shakers and 6 Ashtonettes. Entertainer Diana Lynn belted out "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "All that Jazz" from the back our our decorated float truck encouraging the revealers to join her in merriment. Special thanks to this years sponsor, Arts Golf Cars, who made our participation possible. Visit lwmardigras.com to learn more about the parade and the charities supported by the proceeds. LA TRIVIA - TIME CHANGE! By David Fix Trivia will be held March 5 from 4 to 6 pm in the Ballroom. Maximum number of players per team is eight. Individuals can join an open table. $1/person to play with money returned to the top three teams. Three rounds of 10 questions will be played along with one final bonus question. BYOB! BYOSnacks! RELAY FOR LIFE The LA Purple Stars are selling luminary bags and tea lights for a minimum donation of $10 at both Activities Desks. Decorate the bag to remember family members or friends you have lost to cancer or someone still fighting this disease, or a survivor. Return the bags to any LA Purple Stars member or either Activities Desk by noon on March 10. Residents are invited to join the Walk For A Cure at 6 pm on March 10 in the Clubhouse West parking lot to walk around the golf cart path, past the pavilion and back to the Clubhouse circle to view all the luminary bags. Any questions, call David Harrison 863-326-6418. CHILI COOK-OFF WRAP-UP REPORT A good time was had by all at the annual Chili Cook Off January 20 in the Clubhouse Ballroom. There were 17 chilis, cornbread, baked goods and bottled water for all. Over 120 people came to sample the chili and support the LA Purple Stars. Five judges did a blind tasting of the chilis and picked two winners. First place winner George Fetcho received a $50 Publix gift card, and second place winner Dan Freedman received a $25 Publix gift card. Thank you to all who donated, cooked, and helped to setup and volunteered. With your help, $3,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society!
TOUR DE LA By Bob LeMaster Hear ye, hear ye. All bicycle riders (two wheel, trikes, recumbents, ebikes and anything that moves by pedaling) come join the Lake Ashton Pedalers on April 8 at 8 am at the HFC for a group fun ride. There will be ten mile and twenty-mile routes through the neighborhoods of Lake Ashton. Each route ends up back at the HFC. All you need to do is to bring your pedaled mode of transportation to the HFC and join in. Handouts showing the routes will be available plus a Lake Ashton Pedaler guide will lead the way on each route. The guides will ride at a pace that allows everyone to keep up and a SAG (Support and Gear) vehicle will follow the group to help out if someone has trouble or needs a lift. It’s recommended that you bring water or a beverage along to consume during the ride. For your safety, a helmet is required and all participants must sign a waiver. Got questions? Call Bob at 731-514-0628. Cut off date to enter is March 31 and is limited to 50 riders. Pick up forms at HFC or Clubhouse or find them on the LA Pedalers Facebook page. Join the club and complete the registration form prior to race and deliver to ShelleyKnee@gmail.com or 3826 Litchfield Loop. Pictured left: Lake Ashton Pedaler Members Shelley Knee and Don Stites Pictured far left: Lake Ashton Pedaler Members Alan Binkelman, Calvin Eakins and Bob LeMaster 23
PURIM CELEBRATION All are invited to attend March 7 at 2 pm in the Clubhouse Ballroom, sponsored by the Chabad of Lakeland. They will read the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) and distribute hamantaschen and graggers for all that attend. Sign up at the Clubhouse Information Wall. ONE SINGULAR SENSATION By Karen Nelson Lake Ashton's annual Showcase will be only weeks away by the time the March LA Times is available. The Showcase dates are times are: Opening Night: Friday, March 24 at 7:30 pm Matinee (with ASL interpreters, extended intermission): Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 pm Closing Night: Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 pm Tickets are available at the Clubhouse Activities Desk, checks only, payable to LAPAC (Lake Ashton Performing Arts Corporation). The Showcase is created, produced, staged, built, managed, and performed entirely by our talented Lake Ashton residents — an excellent opportunity to support our friends and neighbors, and treat yourself to a unique Lake Ashton experience! ST. PADDY’S DAY PARTY By David Harrison The LA Purple Stars is once again hosting a St. Paddy's Day Party on March 17 from 7 to 10 pm in the Community Room of the HFC. This is a fundraiser for the group, to benefit the American Cancer Society and everyone is proud and excited to bring this party back. Tickets are $10, cash or check payable to LA Purple Stars. DJ Wayne will provide great dance music and some Irish tunes. Tickets are on sale now at the HFC. Don't forget that you can bring your favorite food and beverage. Looking forward to a great evening. Any questions call David Harrison at 863 326-6418. LARGEST SELECTION OF INDOOR & OUTDOOR FANS ANYWHERE! TRADITIONAL MODERN CONTEMPORAR ANS Solar DC Mot WiFi Enabled Damp Ra No ailable Finishes! Design Y an Parts & Services Aailable In-Store Warranes Winer Haen 1104A Cypr d SE (Lampligh a) wancityom (863) 299-2777
BACK TO THE ‘ 80S PARTY AT THE HFC Get your tickets at the HFC Activities Office today! HUMP DAY KARAOKE Don’t miss karaoke with DJ Wayne on March 8 from 6 to 9 in the Clubhouse Ballroom. Tickets are $3 and are available for purchase at the Clubhouse Activities Office. PASSOVER SEDER The Jewish community of Lake Ashton would like to extend an invitation to come and share a Passover Seder at the Eagle’s Nest on April 5 at 4:45 pm. A wonderful menu of garden salad, choice of pot roast or 1/4 roasted chicken, glazed carrots and roasted potatoes accompany each entree. Coffee and iced tea are included for only $22 a person. Matzoh, ceremonial kosher wine and dessert will be provided for each guest. Make an entree choice when signing up at the Clubhouse Activities Office no later than March 24. Make check payable to David Harrison. Call 863-326-6418 with any questions. PUB CRAWL We’re bringing the fun of a Pub Crawl to Lake Ashton on April 14! Crawl your way through the Clubhouse to four differently-themed pubs while enjoying themed appetizers, drinks, games, and music at each stop. The LA Pub Crawl will feature a Biker Bar, an Irish Pub, a Tiki Bar, and our very own Lake Ashton Pub! Of course, we don’t want to give too much away, you’ll have to see this one for yourself. Purchase your tickets for $45 at the Clubhouse Activities Office with a check (LACDD), Visa, or MasterCard on Monday, March 6 after Monday Coffee. SAVE THESE DATES ! • May 6 – Derby Day Party at the Clubhouse • May 19 – Bloomin’ Beauties: LA’s Annual Ladies Luncheon at the Clubhouse • June 2 – Luau at the Clubhouse • July 4 - Rootin’ Tootin’ July 4 at the Clubhouse
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GOLF LALGA By Lydia Fichtman All aboard was the theme of this year’s MemberMember Golf Tournament, held on February 13 and 14. Congratulations to all the winners and of course, a great big thank you to Liz Leigh and Trish Keller for organizing the 2-day event. Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves! February also hosted Beat the Pros. Matt and Ian, as always, did not disappoint. They played exceptionally well as did the members of the LALGA. How much fun was it to play with the Pros? We Care For Kids created 40 hygiene kits, with 20 donated to Lake Wales High School and 20 to Winter Haven High School. From Nancy Zografos: “I want to thank all the girls for the donations. It will make a lot of kids very happy.” And again, thank you to Nancy for continuing to help our communities. Mark your calendars for March 28-29. The LALGA and the LAMGA will be golfing together. It should be a great time. The Pink Ribbon committee would like to thank the following Silver Sponsors for their support: Beauty by Anais, Citizens Bank, Dr. Kevin Henne, Matt Simpson, and Turner Furniture. If you are in need of any of the services they offer please support them. As of February 1 the Red Hoagland Challenge leaders are Kathy Ryan $165.25, “T “Utting $155.00; Beverly Hines - $150.50; and Renee Hicks $144.85. Congratulations, ladies! April 11 is closing day. Please mark your calendars for our year end festivities. Spotlight on Sandra Lancaster Sandra Lancaster recently moved to Lake Ashton with her husband Tim. Sandra is originally from Alabama. She began her college studies in Alabama and finished up in Georgia. She holds multiple educational degrees and taught Middle School English in Georgia. Sandra met Tim on Valentine’s Day 2003. In 2010, Sandra retired and took up golf. Since Tim enjoyed golf, Sandra wanted to learn as well and took lessons. The two joined Canongate Golf that was later purchased by Club Corp which enabled them to play golf all over the country and the world. She also played in many different women’s leagues in Georgia and West Virginia. Although they still own a home in West Virginia, Tim’s birthplace, the two wanted to spend the winters in Florida. They searched in many different communities with golf courses before they drove through the front entrance of Lake Ashton and decided they were home. They bought a home on Aberdeen and settled in. Sandra joined the LALGA so that she could play golf. She is also a member of the Polk County Women’s Association. Sandra enjoys crafting. She does embroidery, quilting, scrapbooking, and painting. The LALGA is excited that Sandra has moved to LA. Welcome! LAKE ASHTON WOMEN’S INTERCLUB GOLF TEAM 2023 Eight women were members of our first Lake Ashton Women’s Interclub Golf Team which competed for a 6 week season against three other clubs in our area: Grasslands, Riverhills, and Eaglebrooke. There were three home matches and three away matches. Although we did not qualify for the playoff, it was a fun and challenging net competition. Women were required to play the white tees since it was necessary to meet the 4700 yardage requirement. Due to the positive experience, Liz Leigh (Captain) plans to field a team again next year.
LAMGA By David Kubissa The 2023 LAMGA season rolled seamlessly from January into February with weekly games, such as the ever-popular “Beat the Board” on Feb. 8. This is a four-player competition of two best nets where teams try to beat a contingent from the LAMGA board of directors. The LAMGA team finished at 18 under par, but that wasn’t good enough to beat two teams of challengers. The winners at 20 under were: Mike Renaud, Tom Murphy, Bob Dupuis and Darrell Reid. Runners-up at 19 under: Mark McDuff, Jim Salb, Tom Schoendorf and Ed Hansen. Each of the eight winning players earned $15 in Pro Shop credits. In other league news, the numbers are in from the January scorecard for the Red Hoagland Hyundai Challenge, a competition that tracks the weekly winnings of LAMGA league players. The top four leaders at the end of the season earn pro shop credits courtesy of Red Hoagland Hyundai. By the end of January, the leaders and their winnings were: Darrell Reid, $41.60; Dan Baun, $35.35; Steve Kettells, $33; Pat O’Neil, $32. Meanwhile, the countdown to the annual MemberGuest Tournament continued with enrollment filling out the 60-team lineup scheduled to tee it up from March 9-11. Sponsorships have been coming in as the board prepares for the games and festivities surrounding this popular tournament. Among those businesses taking a major role in supporting the Member-Guest are: Chris Bruser, reverse mortgage specialist with Mutual of Omaha; Snow Bird Heating & Cooling; Art’s Golf Cars; Amerity Financial (Burris Warner); Red Hoagland Hyundai; and Palmetto Solar. One of the sponsor highlights for this year’s tournament will be an extensive array of golf merchandise offered by Huston Cadillac, GMC and Buick. Huston also will be sponsoring a special holein-one prize. To learn about other sponsors, check out the LAMGA website, Lake Ashton Living and Talk of Lake Ashton. Please remember to keep all these sponsoring businesses top of mind when shopping for services and products in our community. LA NINERS By Marti Schmidt LA Niners and BlueMan Ringer tournament on January 24 and 25 was super fun two-day event with lunch served on Wednesday. There was a great turnout this year and some amazing players. Looking forward to planning an encore in July. While winter season is still in swing, our goal is to have 14 foursomes so we can play the ENTIRE course on Tuesdays. That’s about half our membership — help us make it happen! Golf Etiquette: Pace-of-Play and Ready Golf. After holing your ball, please return to your cart and proceed to the next tee box. THEN record your score. This keeps the course clear and allows for the team behind you continue play. Also, be thinking about what club/s you need for your next shot while driving to your ball. Every little bit helps to keep teams moving on the course and eliminating wait times. Looking for a Treasurer to start the summer season – any takers? Still have questions? Ready to join? Want to be on the Board? Contact Janet at jan.mutz@gmail.com for more info!
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CLUBS CAMERA CLUB By Larry Hillock The March meeting will be held on Monday, March 13 at 10:30 In the Cinema. All members are welcome to bring a few of their photos on a memory stick so they can be shared with the group. We will discus the results of the Fine Arts & Photography Show. Members are encouraged to suggest future outings and possible guess speakers. All Lake Ashton residents are welcome to attend. GARDEN CLUB By Lynn Davis Lake Ashton’s Garden Club’s recent meeting spotlighted the expertise of Gene, the Barefoot Gardener. He demonstrated and explained how to make those holiday poinsettias last and become part of the landscaping. Members were able to choose poinsettias to take home to propagate. The club is excited to announce two events for March. The general meeting will be March 9 at 10 am in the Pavilion. Learn how to propagate poinsettias and other plants. In addition to the monthly meeting, Barb Cassidy, a member of the club, has offered to give a tour of her garden. The tour will be on March 23 also at 10am. Mark your calendars butterfly lovers! Barb has a wide variety of plants that attract these pollinators. Please come to the March meeting for Barb’s address or email Lynn Davis at crladavis@aol.com. The Garden Club’s second “silent auction” is tentatively scheduled for April 13 near National Gardening Day. Plans are underway. A wide selection of plants and garden materials at huge savings will be available. This is the club’s main fundraiser! Members will be on hand to also help with gardening questions. WISCONSIN GATHERING By Dottie Huven Calling all Wisconsonites! Anyone who has worked or lived in Wisconsin, is a Badger, Brewer or Packer fan is invited to a Wisconsin Gathering at the Pavilion on March 12, 4 to 7 pm. Bratwurst, buns, sauerkraut, condiments and wonderful homemade desserts will be provided. Bring a side dish (Native to Wisconsin) to pass, your plates, utensils, and BYOB. Enjoy great camaraderie, games and door prizes! To attend this fun event, please Sign-up at the Clubhouse Activities Desk by March 5. Cost is $5/person, cash only. Hope to see you there! Any questions, e-mail Dottie (dahuven@gmail.com, 920-450-1083) or Valerie Yenor (vyenor@att.net, 414-218-2555). LA BELLES By Gail Guenther, and Donna Dunn Lovely ladies of LA - the Belles will be hosting their luncheon at Lucille‘s American Café, 205 3rd St. SW., Winter Haven, on March 29 at 11:30 am. Please sign up before March 20 at the Clubhouse Information Wall so we can make the final reservations! Can’t wait to see you all!
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MAGIC YEARS CLUB By Rose Crognale Good Morning Lake Ashton! There will be a meeting on March 20 at 7:00 in the HFC Craft Room for all Disney enthusiasts. All Lake Ashton residents are invited to come. The group will be discussing future events and perhaps play a game or two. This month’s activity will be a luncheon at Raglan Road on March 14 at 11:30 am to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. Sign ups will be at the meeting. Only 19 people can be accommodated — first come, first served. Text Rose at 856-217-6676 to see if there are available spots or to be put on the waiting list. Hope to see everyone there! LA SWIM CLUB? By Sandy White Did you know that swimming is the best all-around exercise? I t i s non -we i gh t - bear ing and thus good for all the joints. To help residents, the 4-year-old LA Swim Club continues to provide fitness and competitive workouts three times a week. CONGRATULATIONS to club members Sharon Swanson and Sandy Papineau for completing the Swim Club's 100 Mile Swim Challenge to Daytona Beach. They swam 7,200 lengths of the HFC pool to virtually get from Lake Ashton to the beach. If you would like to participate in this fun challenge, chart your laps on the bulletin board in the bathroom hallway near the pool. CONGRATULATIONS also to Sharon for winning 5 medals (3 Gold) at the recent Gulf Coast Games for Life, where she was the only swimmer from Lake Ashton. Some club members are competing next in either the Polk County Senior Games at the Lakeland Family YMCA on March 4 and 5 or the Lee County Games in Ft. Myers on March 4. We wish all of them fast swims and a fun day. Did you know that people 55 & over compete in age-group swimming? The local, state & national Senior Games swimming includes all of the events one would find in almost any swim meet. If interested in fitness or competitive swimming, contact the club coach at sandyw1994@aol.com. The club members welcome you, no matter what your level of swimming. As you can see in the photo, we enjoy each other's company and hope you will join us, too. LAKE ASHTON PICKLEBALL By Chuck Caesar Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States for seniors. It is a great way to get some exercise, enjoy some fun competition and get to know more of your fellow Lake Ashton residents. Here at Lake Ashton, there are a variety of ways to get involved. If you are new to the sport, Coach Dennis Santino runs a “Newbie” Clinic where you can learn the fundamentals of the game. Register by emailing coachdennis@myyahoo.com if you are interested in attending one of his future clinics. We can even provide a paddle if you want to check out pickleball before you invest in one. When you are ready to get out and play, join us on Monday through Saturday for Open Play from 8 to 11 am or on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 6 to 10 pm. Open Play is for all residents and registered guests. All players rotated in and out to ensure that everyone has a chance to play. Open Play is for players of all levels. If you are just learning the game or haven’t played in a while and want to ease in, we have reserved Court 1 and Court 2 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 am for beginners and intermediate players. Or you can just come out and play anytime the courts are free. In the spring, we will be hosting a Pickleball Social as well as establishing a pickleball league. Please watch for email blasts with details on these activities. Hope to see you out on the courts!
NEW ENGLANDER DINNER By Marsha Bishop If you are from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts or Connecticut, you're invited to get together March 22 from 5:30 to 8:30 (dinner at 6 pm) at the HFC. Cam’s will be catering a turkey dinner. Sign up at the HFC and purchase your $20/person tickets (checks payable to Marsha Bishop). BYOB. Ticket sales end March 15. Hope to see you there! NEW YORK GROUP By Joyce Notarnicola Greetings to all neighbors from New York! The March event will be held at the HFC Community Center at 5:30 pm on March 23. Bring an appetizer (for about 8 people) and $2 per person for paper products. After appetizers are served and enjoyed there will be some quick ice breaker activities & games followed by Ice Cream Sundaes provided by the hosts (Sandy, Deirdre, Joyce & Jo). Newbies: please send your contact information (name, address in LA, phone number, email and where you’re from/live in NY) to Sandy Fritschi (sandyfritschi@gmail.com). Thoughts regarding future events are welcomed. Hope to see lots of “old” and new faces on March 23 at the HFC! SINGLES CLUB By Maureen Ziegler LA Singles is a social group that plans activities for single residents that meets monthly on the first Sunday of the month at 2 pm in the Clubhouse Ballroom. In February, several new members were welcomed, and the group discussed future events. Carol Corley arranged a luncheon at L’Incontro Italian Restaurant on February 24. Sil Wells offered several fun suggestions including Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland. Suzanne Harris suggested attending the Lake Wales Little Theater Production of Bingo, The Musical. A Living Waters Boat cruise of the Chain of Lakes will be arranged in April. The Single Mingle is held on the third Thursday of the month at 4 pm in the Pavilion (March 16). If you would like to take part in activities with other singles, attend the next meeting on March 5.
GENEALOGY CLUB MEETING By Jane Imparl There will be no formal meeting at the HFC for March 8. For those who signed up, we are going on a "field trip" to the Bartow Genealogy Library. The next regular meeting at the HFC Craft Room will be April 12 at 2 pm. Hope to see you then. TUESDAY PARTY BRIDGE By George Rogers The group had a very enjoyable time this January and February with lively discussions and analysis of a number of interesting hands. The high scorers are as follows, in order: Jan. 17: Elaine Inman, John Sammons, Dee Mayne, and Marge Kniat. Jan. 24: Don Fuller, Liz Leigh, and Dick Dole. Jan. 31: Howard Mayne, Sil Wells, Chris Verges, and George Rogers. Feb. 7: George Rogers, Marge Kniat, John Sammons, and Nancy Golding. All new players are welcome. This party group consists of all levels of bridge players from beginners to experienced. The goal is for everyone have a chance to learn or to improve their play, all while having fun. Contact George Rogers at 419-708-3320, or georgerogers4321@gmail.com if you wish to play. DUPLICATE BRIDGE By Don Fuller A duplicate bridge game is held every Monday in the Clubhouse Ballroom from 12:45 until approximately 3:30pm. Players of all levels are welcome. Advance sign up is encouraged using the duplicate bridge notebook on the Clubhouse information Wall. A partner is required. For help finding a partner or for more information contact Dfuller627@yahoo.com Jan. 16: 1st Mary Lois Teyssier & Marian Oshinsky; 2nd Barb Cassidy & Keith Stevens; 3rd Dana Cunningham & Judy Robertson Jan. 23 North/South: 1st Don Fuller & Karla Gengler; 2nd Marian Oshinsky & Mary Lois Teyssier, 3rd Judy Robertson & Dana Cunningham; East/West: 1st Graham Littlehales & Janice Fleming; 2nd Marge Kniat & Judy Marine; 3rd Pauline Pare & Nelda Sedlacek Jan. 30 North/South: 1st Mary Lois Teyssier & Marian Oshinksy; 2nd Dana Cunningham & Judy Robertson; 3rd Marion Nelson & Roger Nelson; East/West: 1st Ralph Ritter & Karla Gengler; 2nd Chris Verges & Jeannine Connors; 3rd Liz Leigh & Mafie Walker Feb.6 North/South: 1st Don Fuller & James Ford; 2nd Sonny Robinson & Patricia Foster; 3rd Dana Cunningham & Judy Robertson; East/West: 1st Nelda Sedlacek & Pauline Pare; 2nd Marian Oshinsky & Mary Lois Teyssier; 3rd Jeannine Connors & Chris Verges LA DEMOCRATIC CLUB By Paul Ritz The Lake Ashton Democratic Club is holding their monthly meeting March 2 in-person only at the HFC. Social time with snacks will be from 4 to 4:30 pm. Please bring your own beverage. The March speaker is Dr. Wayne Rodolfich, Superintendent of the Lake Wales Charter Schools. He will be reviewing the recent building projects and the strategic plan for the Lake Wales Charter System. He will also discuss the Read 20 campaign, multiple partnerships with businesses and local volunteers, the alignment of the school district, membership in the Lake Wales Charter Foundation, and the path forward. For more information, email lakeashtondemocraticclub@gmail.com. LA REPUBLICAN CLUB By Gary Johnson, President The Lake Ashton Republican Club will hold its annual Spaghetti Dinner on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at the Eagles Nest. Dinner will start at 5:00 p.m.. Menu includes salad, spaghetti, sausage, peppers & onions, garlic bread and an ice cream bar. Tickets can be purchased at the Clubhouse. Seating is limited so get your tickets early. Please make checks payable to LARC. Members are $15 each and guests are $20 each. For more information, please contact Linda Sandel at sandelly7@gmail.com.
LASSO SHUFFLEBOARD RECREATION LEAGUE For those who joined the Lake Ashton Supporters of Special Olympians (LASSO) for shuffleboard on Fridays in February, don't forget that there will be an End-of-Season Cookout March 3 from 1 to 2:30 pm at the Lake Ashton Pavilion. BLACKMOOR/ L ITCHF IELD POTLUCK GET-TOGETHER By Margie Dersham Save the Date for Sunday, April 2 at 6 pm in the HFC Community Center. Bring an appetizer or a dessert that serves eight or more to share, and $2 per household to cover expenses. BYOB. Come gather to get know each other, have some fun, and make new friends. Paper plates/utensils/napkins will be provided. RSVP to Margie Dersham at 352-359-3029 or justrightacres@gmail.com. FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATES! FLOORING - BLINDS - SHUTTERS - SHOWER REMODELS 29710 US Hwy 27, Dundee 863-439-7500 www.jimsfloordepot.com
LAVA AUXILIARY By Chris Graves The LAVA Auxiliary invites you to the March 15 meeting at 6:30 pm at the Clubhouse Restaurant. This is going to be a fun filled evening. At this meeting you will get to experience the behind-the-scenes of several of our fun-filled fund raising activities for 2023. APRIL 15: Mr. Lake Ashton is back! This previous event (pre-Covid) was sold out. Tickets go on sale the beginning of March. The location will be finalized once we hear about the status of the restaurant, but you can begin purchasing tickets the beginning of March. Needed: 10 men to be contestants. Last time the contestants did a line dance (which will be taught to them), answer questions, wear a classy outfit and a funky outfit. Several prizes will be given along with the winner. Five judges will be randomly chosen from the audience. It is already time to begin planning for the Craft Show in October. Residents who want to participate can pick up their applications at the Clubhouse. There are already a number of reservations received. God Bless America, our Veterans, our troops here and abroad. LA ROCKERS By Connie Strassberg This summer LA Rockers will hold a fundraiser at the Clubhouse tied to the culmination of the Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade. The group will be spending a lot of time the rest of the year preparing for this event (don't worry — we will still be hiding plenty of rocks). Thank you all so much for your past support. We are looking forward to the same support we have always gotten from a very generous LA community. The funds raised will enable us to continue painting and hiding rocks for LA residents to find, enjoy, and share. This is in accordance with our mission statement goal that "one message at just the right moment can change someone's entire day, outlook, and life". LA Rockers are settling into a new pattern for"biweekly" meetings — we only meet twice a month, and if there is a fifth Wednesday in a given month that was originally scheduled, that meeting will be canceled. The first meeting of the month will be a "teaching" meeting geared to those who already paint rocks (whether with LA Rockers or on their own). For each "teaching" meeting, a member of the group who knows a specific technique will share it with the rest of us so that we can add to our skill sets. The second meeting of the month will be a "free paint" meeting and hopefully a lot of fund raiser rocks will be completed. Newcomers will be welcome to the "free paint" meeting where one of our administrators will share an orientation to rock painting with them. After the orientation, the newcomers can sit with one of our more experienced painters and try to paint a rock of their own. Newcomers: PLEASE contact either MJ Richards (mjmrichards517@gmail.com) or Connie Strassberg (cbs1949@aol.com) before coming to the meeting so that we know you are coming and can let you know what supplies you need to bring. If you want to enjoy a lovely afternoon with a great group of people, please come to the teaching meeting March 8 and/or the free-paint and newcomer orientation meeting March 22. If a meeting has to be canceled, notification will be posted on the LA Rockers group Facebook page. Residents interested in joining a new group should visit the Clubhouse or HFC Activities Desk to obtain the contact information for the facilitator of the club, group, or organization they are trying to join. Thank you to all the club, group, and organization facilitators who work very hard to ensure there is a robust activities schedule for all residents to enjoy. Lake Ashton is lucky to have a large number of residents willing to volunteer their time in one way or another for everyone to live their best retired life. Be sure to view the calendar inserts in this issue for a list of recurring activities held at the Clubhouse and HFC.
MIND&BODY AMATEUR RADIO EXAMINATION The Lake Ashton Amateur Radio Association is trying to assess the resident’s interest in earning an entry level Technician license by taking an exam preparation class given here at Lake Ashton. Upon successful completion of the written multiple choice test (35 questions) the student will receive a 10 year renewable license and will be authorized for transmission privileges on specific amateur radio bands. The student will also be able to participate in disaster communications and other radio activities if desired. The class will be given once a week for six weeks for two hours per class. Class would be offered in midSeptember and after completion of the class the local ARRL Volunteer Examiners would set up a test session to allow the participants and any others interested to take exams for all classes of Amateur Radio Licenses (Technician Class, General Class and Amateur Extra). If you are interested in taking this class please contact David Bishop N1FCW at DBishop1867@gmail.com. Give your name and email address and indicate what days and times you would prefer. You will be advised if there is sufficient interest to hold a class and if there is when and where the classes will be given. Class size will be limited to 12 students and they will be permitted on a first come first serve basis. LA SOCIAL TENNIS 8 to 10:30 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the HFC or Clubhouse courts. No need to sign up, just bring your tennis racquet, tennis balls provided. Contact Debbie Grabb at 863-324-0600 with questions. There is a ball machine stored at the Clubhouse courts; to use, please contact Phil Hines at 863-294-8884. YOGA SHARE Facilitator: Sally Winfrey (863.875.8134 or 316.516.2815) Wednesdays at 8:45 am in the Clubhouse Ballroom. GENTLE YOGA WITH GINA Instructor: Gina Krall Thursdays at 11 am in HFC Sports Court. Yoga positions are shown for every level including first time practicers. Participants are encouraged to honor their bodies at all times. Practiced regularly, yoga improves posture, balance, flexibility, anxiety, stress, and provides a host of other benefits. Chair yoga will be offered if requested. COUNTRY LINE DANCING Instructor: John Moore Beginners: Tuesdays at 7 pm, Thursdays at 9 am in the Clubhouse Ballroom Beginners Plus: Tuesdays at 8 pm, Thursdays at 10 am in the Clubhouse Ballroom IMPROVER LINE DANCING Instructor: Ann Ludwick Thursdays at 1 pm in the HFC Community Center LA DANCE CLASSES Instructor: Connie Wilkinson (Certified DVIDA instructor — 863.875.6728) Learn the Night Club Two Step Mondays in March from 4:30 to 5:30 pm in the HFC Community Room. FREE! No Partner needed! FAMI LY ELDER LAW 2023 BOOT CAMP Next Class: March 27 at 10 am in the Clubhouse Cinema Topic: “Who will protect my assets and pay my bills?” April 24: “Who will receive my assets when I die? Will my family have to probate?” May 22: “What is the best way to avoid probate?” June 26: “Should I have a Trust? What does ‘Funding Your Trust’ mean?” Sign up at the Clubhouse Information Wall.
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TAP JAMMERS Facilitator: Julie Bombard A fun group of tappers who gather weekly on Fridays at 10 am at the Clubhouse Stage to practice steps and combinations. If you tap or have tapped in the past and have knowledge of tap dance, come join the fun! Classes are free. These classes are not intended for the beginning tapper. For more information, contact Julie at jbombard73@gmail.com. FUSED GLASS CLASSES Fused Glass Garden Stake Create a beautiful 9” x 3” glass garden stake March 10 from 10 am to 1 pm in the Clubhouse Craft Room. $35, paid at class. Pre-registration required at the Clubhouse Activities Office. Fused Glass Wind Chime March 16 & 23 from 9 am to noon at the HFC Craft Room. $35, paid at class, pre-registration required at the HFC Activities Desk. All materials are included as well as kiln firing. BOB ROSS OIL PAINTING Instructor: Kay Lenherr March 11 at 1 pm Clubhouse Craft Room Salt Water Cowboy $35 (payable at class) Sign up at the Clubhouse Information Wall by noon on March 10. CERAMIC CHICKS Wednesdays, 8 am to 1 pm, HFC Craft Room Bring your ceramics or purchase in the room. A kiln is available to fire your ceramics. WATERCOLOR WORKSHOPS Instructor: Freddie Combs Subject matter will be still life, florals and beach related items on March 10 from 9 am - 3 pm in the HFC with a break for a sack lunch. Those attending should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to class start time to allow time for prep work before class begins. Students will create two watercolor paintings per session. Price per session is $50. All new students should contact the artist at 864-307-1244. A sign-up sheet will be at the HFC Activities Desk. CREATE A CARD Please join the group on March 21 at 10 or noon in the HFC Sports Court to create your own lovely greeting cards. A guest expert will provide instruction, from beginner to expert, all supplies and equipment, and three beautiful cards to take home. No experience needed. Cost is $10. Sign up for a time slot soon at the HFC as reservations go quickly. Join the group for some creative fun! Call Karen at 262-497-3272 with questions. CRAFTING WITH CARMEN Carmen is coming back with another fun, creative craft to decorate your home, pizza pan door hangers! Yes, you read that right, you will be using a pizza pan (provided) to make a simple yet cute welcome sign for your door. Join in on the crafting fun on March 30 at 11:30 am in the Clubhouse Ballroom. All supplies and instruction will be included for $10. Sign up with a check payable to LACDD, Visa, or MasterCard at the Clubhouse Activities Office. DIY BEADED DAISY CHAIN Celebrate spring by wearing an adorable beaded daisy chain created by you! Join the Art of Beading in the Ballroom on April 12 at 12 pm to learn how to make either a bracelet or necklace. All instructions and supplies will be included for only $10. You don’t want to miss this class, come sign-up at the Clubhouse Activities Office with a check (LACDD), Visa, or MasterCard today!
TRASH TO TREASURE SALE SPONSORED BY BLANKETS OF LOVE AT LAKE ASHTON (BOLLA) LAKE ASHTON FRIDAY, MARCH 17 4 TO 8 PM RESIDENTS ONLY SATURDAY, MARCH 18 9 AM TO 2 PM GENERAL PUBLIC CLUBHOUSE BALLROOM Free, no ticket required, but a limited number of ‘FAST PASS’ tickets will be sold for residents wishing to enter the sale via a priority line Friday for $5. Purchase tickets at the Clubhouse Activities Office with check only, or cash/check accepted after Monday Coffee. RESIDENT DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED AT THE CLUBHOUSE BALLROOM TUESDAY, MARCH 14: 10 AM TO 1 PM & 5 TO 8 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15: 10 AM TO 1 PM & 5 PM TO 8 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 16: 11 AM TO 4 PM TRASH TO TREASURE, held every two years, is the major fundraiser for BOLLA. Donations of clean, gently used items are needed. BOLLA does NOT sell clothing, electronics, TVs, computers, printers, phones, books, or Christmas decorations. All donations are tax deductible. 100% of the proceeds go directly into buying materials and supplies to make blankets for children in crisis in Polk County. Unsold items are given to the Lake Wales Care Center. There will be a Lottery Tree Raffle with $100 worth of assorted lottery tickets. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase after Monday Coffee. You do NOT need to be present to win. BOLLA has consistently donated over 1,000 blankets per year to children in crisis in Polk County including Guardian Ad Litem, Boys and Girls at Risk Groups, Pregnancy centers, 10 schools and more. PLEASE NOTE: BOLLA CAN ONLY ACCEPT CASH OR CHECK AT THE SALE
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