Giving Kudos

Standing ovations

The Dallas Brass received several standing ovations during their concert on Wednesday, Dec. 3, on the SFCC campus. The stellar performance of this fine group comes as no surprise.

The surprise comes from the treatment of the Panther gymnasium by Bil Kovacs and his staff. The walls were draped from floor to ceiling with heavy curtains. The lighting was up to par with any theater and the comfortable seating added to the ambience of the evening.

Doug Andrews, director of cultural affairs, invariably brings high caliber entertainment to SFCC for our enjoyment. Don't let your conception of a gymnasium deter you from attending any or all future events on this beautiful campus.

Vic Anderson

Director Highlands

County Concert Band

Sebring

Sebring High School Band

I just wanted to say I am pleased with all the support in Sebring for the Sebring High School Marching Band. The following businesses contributed to the success of our Golf Ball Drop-Yard Sale Fund Raiser: Highlands Today newspaper for advertising, Lockwood Aviation, Four Seasons Sheraton, Olive Garden, Spring Lake Golf Course, Ruby Tuesday's, Fairmount Movie Theater, Beef O'Brady's, DQ Grill and Chill, Papa John's Pizza and Linda's Books for prizes, SweetBay's for help with the concession stand food and Harder Hall Golf Course for all the golf balls we used.

A big thank you to all these businesses and everyone who bought a ticket and-or attended the yard sale. We used the profits to pay for Annett Buses to go to the regional Competition in November. The rest will help pay for other transportation costs and budget items.

Angie Thompson

Band Booster President

Sebring

Kudos to winners

On Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the morning service of the Lake Placid Christian School on Interlake Boulevard, several members of the Ladies Auxiliary of Lake Placid VFW Post 3880 presented certificates and money gifts to some essay winners. The topic for this year's Patriot's Pen essay was "When is the right time to honor our Military Veterans." We congratulate all the students who entered and appreciate them taking the time to enter this contest. They are all winners in our hearts.

The winners for this year were Royce Abela, first place; Kyle Dolak, second place and Jake Penergrass, third place. Thanks for the great essays fellows. We hope that you can encourage more students to enter this essay next year. We were pleased that we had 17 entries this year and it was a difficult choice for the judges to pick the winners. We thank them all for taking the time and effort to put their thoughts on paper. We love you all for your patriotism.

Royce Abela also won on the district level and was presented with a certificate and money gift by District 23 President Linda Robinette at a dinner held at the VFW Post 3880 in Lake Placid. His essay will be sent onto the state for judging. We wish him the best. Thanks again to all.

Suzanne Krueger

Lake Placid

Kudos to Dan Murphy

Kudos should go to Dan Murphy, executive director of the Highlands County Economic Development Commission for recommending to his board that the Highlands County Commission place a tax abatement referendum on the ballot next year for the voters to consider.

Whether one agrees or not, philosophically it is a known fact that in our current business environment such incentives are absolutely necessary, at some level and terms, to attract employers that pay salaries that are above the norm for this county.

Abatements would be considered, approved or denied by the commission on a case-by-case basis. For the Economic Development Commission to do its job and be successful in attracting desirable industries to Highlands County it needs tools and this is certainly one of the best.

Al Moretz

Lake Placid