Avon Park had a great Christmas Parade last night, thousands of people turned out to view dozens of units making their way down the Mile Long Mall. Experienced parade goers say it might have been the biggest crowd ever for the City of Charm as they kicked off the Christmas Season here in Highlands County.
This year, the event was preceded by the illumination of the newly-decorated Avon Park Gazebo. That was a cooperative effort of former council members, community leaders and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.
Avon Park Mayor Garrett Anderson did the honors.
Officials at the Duke Energy Foundation reportedly have donated another $30,000 to South Florida State College. The money will enhance another, similar donation, made back in September to help build the school’s Electrical Lineworker Program.
Foundation officials say they hope the funds will assist SFSC in increasing the company’s skilled workforce. The program is designed to prepare students of all ages to work as electric line technicians in the construction, maintenance and repair of electric utility systems.
A report from Inspection Support Network has found that an estimated 16-percent of the existing housing in the Sebring-Avon Park metro area has been built since the year 2000.
Only about 1-percent was constructed prior to 1940.
The survey shows that houses built in the last decade are about $50,000 more valuable than units constructed in prior decades. Locally, the survey shows the median age of homes in Highlands County is about 33 years-old. It indicates more than 9,000 homes have been built in the Avon Park-Sebring metro area since the year 2000.