There are eight elements to a good neighborhood, said Debbie Love. Washington Heights used to have them all, but they've disappeared as this community has disintegrated over the years. ...more

July 21, 2008

SEBRING — The 9th Annual Sebring Juneteenth Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., June 21, in the Washington Heights Neighborhood, on Lemon Street, from Railroad Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard. The family-fun multicultural block party will feature music, vendors and entertainment. Tim McGahee, pastor of Bountiful Blessings Church of God, is ready for the day-long celebration. "Not only does it talk about the issue, but Juneteenth brings the community together," said McGahee. "It brings people of different races and cultures together, which is very important. "It's not something government can do, only communities can do that." Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. Twenty six states observe June 19 as an annual holiday or holiday observance. ...more

June 17, 2008

SEBRING — Since Washington Heights got a $1.3-million sprucing-up, soaring expectations by some suggest a brighter future for the struggling neighborhood. Antoine Lenton, 27, was putting the finishing touches on the streetscapes project Monday. The lifelong Washington Heights resident said it felt good to work on the neighborhood project where he grew up. "I'm glad to be on the job and give back to the community," said Lenton. "You've got to start somewhere," said Lenton. "You've got to believe it's going to improve things. It looks good, feels good, but takes time to improve." ...more

June 9, 2008

SEBRING — So much for the April showers. Heavy downpours came early last month to bring more rain than Highlands County would see all April long, and a brief shower dabbed Avon Park last weekend. But the National Weather Service reported not a single drop of rainfall since April 9 in its two gauges at Avon Park and the Archbold Biological Station near Lake Placid. ...more

May 6, 2008

SEBRING — For 10 years now, Lynn McCray has been putting food on the tables of hundreds of families for Thanksgiving dinner. ...more

November 1, 2007