Silent Auction Set to be Latest Event to Benefit Meals on Wheels

Tickets are now on sale for Meals on Wheels' Lights, Camera, Action! themed silent auction and dinner fundraiser this Friday at the Cypresswood Country Club in Winter Haven.

In addition to buying tickets, individuals and businesses can help raise money for Meals on Wheels by donating items for the silent auction.

MOW will use proceeds from the silent auction to carry on its mission of providing nutritious, freshly cooked meals to homebound people in the Winter Haven and Haines City areas.

"We encourage everyone in the greater Winter Haven area to help raise funds for MOW by purchasing a ticket and, or donating something for bid at the silent auction," said MOW President Jeff Hayes. "Of course, we also welcome direct contributions."

MOW Director Lorilee Mitchell said tickets are $65 each, with a special discount available for businesses and others who buy a table of eight.

The ticket covers a full course meal, the silent auction and entertainment by a local disc jockey.

Mitchell thanked the family of Cypresswood developer John Wood Sr. for donating the use of the clubhouse and MOW board member Paul Wood for chairing the silent auction committee.

Other committee members are Jeanette Nickson, Ken Nelson, Bob Connell, Ellie Connell and John Wood, Jr.

The first MOW dinner and silent auction, staged in the fall of 2006 at Cypresswood, raised $10,000 for the Winter Haven-based charity.

The silent auction is MOW's second major fundraiser in May.

On May 3, Winter Haven lawyer Brandon Rafool orchestrated the annual Meals on Wheels Offshore Fishing Tournament at the Pirate's Cove Marina in Stuart.

Since its inception in 2002, the fishing tournament has raised more than $10,000 for MOW.

Meals on Wheels also was the recent beneficiary of a $5,000 cash donation from parishioners of St. Matthew Church in Winter Haven.

The money was raised through a second collection after all Masses on Easter Sunday. The donation was recently presented to MOW by the Rev. Charles Viviano, pastor of St. Matthew Church.

To buy tickets or donate items for this year's dinner and silent auction, call Lorilee Mitchell at 863-299-1616.

People with an interest in volunteering to cook, drive or serve Meals on Wheels in any other way, including as a board member, should call this same number.

The nonprofit organization is based at 620 Sixth St. N.W. in Winter Haven.

During the past year, Meals on Wheels' 350 volunteers prepared and delivered more than 62,000 nutritious hot meals to homebound people in Winter Haven, Lake Alfred, Auburndale and Haines City.

On a typical day, 65 volunteers are involved in preparing and delivering 200 meals.

STUDENTS HONORED

Middle and high school students were honored at the Polk County School District's recent About Face Awards ceremony for making improvements in grades, attendance, behavior, disposition and attitude toward school, themselves and others.

The event at the Bartow Civic Center was attended by students, their families and mentors, School District staff and administrators, School Board members and community members. The About Face Awards are sponsored by Tampa Electric.

The awards were presented to Amber Pope of Auburndale High School, Ashley Lawrence of Berkley Middle, Gary Richards from East Area Adult School and Dylan Willey of Stambaugh Middle School, in Auburndale.

In Eagle Lake, the winner was Anthony O'Neil from Lake Region High School, and from Winter Haven, Vonkrisha Lawrence of Chain of Lakes Collegiate High, Terel Farlow of Denison Middle, Kevin Rouleau from Jewett Middle Academy and Derin Harris of Westwood Middle School.

WILDLIFE AREA TOUR

At 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Paul Fellers will lead a hike looking for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, singing Bachman's Sparrows, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Carolina Chickadee and spring wildflowers

Anyone interested in joining this excursion can meet at two different locations and times for car pooling.

The first group will meet at 6:30 a.m. at the Street Nature Center, 115 Lameraux Road, Winter Haven, while the second will meet at 7 a.m. at the McDonalds Restaurant, just off U.S. 27 and north of State Road 60 in Lake Wales.

Fellers says be sure to gas up, bring lunch, drinks and insect repellent.

All are welcome.

For more information, contact Fellers at 863-293-0486.

This trip is sponsored by the Lake Region Audubon Society.

WHHS BAND REUNION

Former Band Members from Winter Haven High School have planned a reunion for the classes of 1972 through 1978.

The reunion will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. May 24.

Band members and their spouses are invited share their memories at this social time that will also include a meal.

For more information, contact Carole at 863-875-0005 after 6 p.m.

FOUNDER'S DAY

More than 50 members from five sorority chapters attended Founder's Day hosted by Preceptor Iota Upsilon at Spring Haven in Winter Haven recently.

City Council President Brenda Simpson introduced each chapter president, who announced their Woman of the Year and presented each with a yellow rose.

Chosen were Janci Hurt, Xi Nu Omicron; Sue Peters, Preceptor Iota Upsilon; Isobel Hubbard, Laureate Gamma Rho; Nancy Martin, Preceptor Alpha Lambda; and Linda Cooper, Alpha Sigma Master.

Simpson announced the new theme for 2008-09 as Rekindle the Torch of Friendship.

Joyce Catogni of Winter Springs, member of Preceptor Iota Xi, had the winning ticket for the hand-crocheted yellow rose afghan from Alpha Sigma Master.

[ Send your news regarding civic groups, social clubs, religious organizations, special events and community news to Paula Stuart at pstuart@peoplepc.com or to The Ledger, 455 Sixth St. N.W., Winter Haven, FL 33881. Fax is 863-401-6999. Photos welcome. ]