It’s the end of July and the start of the Caladium Festival in Lake Placid. This is the 31st anniversary for the celebration in the Caladium Capital. It all got underway this morning with the opening ceremonies at the gazebo, which now will host music, dancing and other entertainment for the next three days.
Thousands of people turn out each year to brows the hundreds of booths, exhibits and displays – and of course, to purchase caladiums.
There also will be dozens of bus tours, showing off the colorful caladium fields before harvest. The Highlands Radio Group will have radio remotes both on 99.1FM WWOJ and Lite 105.7FM.
Quick work by Frostproof firefighters kept a commercial fire from becoming a big problem. The blaze at Ferguson Industries started in a trash compactor and enclosed dumpster.
Responders were able to contain the flames, and pull the dumpster out of the building to finally put it out.
Frostproof Fire Lieutenant John Stanton’s airboat was pressed into service so firefighters could ventilate the warehouse and clear the smoke.
The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency has approved funding for a three-year grant agreement worth nearly $1 million for the creation of a small business incubator by the Florida Development Corporation.
The 3500 square-foot business incubator will be located on Lincoln Avenue in the city’s northwest neighborhood.
Staff from BizLINC are slated to provide training and other business-related services. Among those will be strategic planning, financial reporting, technical assistance, ecommerce and office space.
There’s no word on when that facility might open.