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Highlands Today

Avon Park speakers series kicks off

At Hotel Jacaranda

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Special to Highlands Today

Published: July 14, 2010

AVON PARK - The Historical Society of Avon Park will be starting the Depot Museum's 2010 Summer Sunday Speakers Series on Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Hotel Jacaranda, once known as the "Queen of the Ridge."

Don Appelquist, dean of resource development for South Florida Community College and executive director of the SFCC Foundation, which owns the Hotel Jacaranda, will be the speaker, and will point out both the hotel's historic features and also its current improvements. Those attending should come directly to the hotel.

On Aug. 8, the program will be a talk and tour of the Avon Park Air Force Range. Attendees are asked to either drive themselves or to meet at the museum at 1:30 p.m., where they will car pool to the range for the 2 p.m. program.

There is no program scheduled on Aug. 15.

A little-known piece of Avon Park High School's history will be explored at the museum at 2 p.m. on Aug. 22, when Lucy Derkman will lead a panel of graduates talking about the school's Red Devil Circus Program of the 1950s.

Former participants in the circus program willing to join the Aug. 22 panel are asked to call Derkman at 453-4117.

The series ends Aug. 29 at the museum, when recently retired Peter Anderson shares his "Tales of a Florida Park Ranger." He has spent 42 years as a ranger, with the last 27 years as manager of Highlands Hammock State Park. The program begins at 2 p.m.

Except for Aug. 1 and 8, the museum will open at 1 p.m. to allow visitors to browse. The public is invited and light refreshments will be served at all programs. Admission is free, although donations are accepted.

For more information, call the Historical Society President Larry Levey at 385-8618.

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