Newspaper Page Text
Horseback riding,
gardens, highlights
of Central Fla. trip
S PARKLING lakes
and fragrant orange
groves provide a natural
paradise for unforgettable outdoor
experiences while culture and
history give visitors lots of oppor
tunities for the perfect vacation.
Polk
County, locat
ed in Central
Florida
between
Orlando and
Tampa, is
home to 554
lakes, beauti
ful gardens
and historic
spots. Add tea
rooms, antique
shopping, horseback riding, spa
time and plenty of fun dining spots
and it makes for a great girlfriend
getaway or family destination.
Start your visit to Central Florida
with a stop at Polk Outpost 27, an
interactive visitors center with full
concierge service. Friendly staff
members will help you map out
your adventure in Polk County.
The center is located at 101
Adventure Court in Davenport.
While in Polk County, be sure
to stop at Davidson’s of Dundee
Candy Factory, which has been
featured on the Food Network.
For more than 43 years, citrus
candy has been produced at the
candy factory. You can watch
the candy being made and hear
about the history of the company
from Alice, who has been with
the candy company for 43 years.
All of the candy is great but I
recommend the honeybell, which
is sweet and tangy. The pink
grapefruit is another good choice.
The shop also includes fresh
fruit and Florida gifts. For more
information or to place an order,
go to www.dundeecitms.com.
A highlight of our five-day visit
was at Westgate River Ranch,
which offers horseback riding,
rodeos and campfire cookouts. It
was my second visit, and this time
around, horseback riding was on
the agenda. It was a first for me
and I was a little nervous, but I
was immediately put at ease and
given “Slow Bo” to ride. As Ray
Duncan, a rodeo rider, helped me
on the horse, he told me, “If you
fall off of Bo, you will have to
jump.” Ray gave us a few tips and
then we were off for a fun one-hour
ride alongside a pond, through a
scenic wooded area and across
fields where cows were grazing.
With all of the lakes, an airboat
ride is a must for visitors to Polk
County. Visitors to the dude ranch
have the opportunity for an airboat
ride on the property. After our
horseback ride, we sped through
the waterway spotting alligators
and birds in a natural setting.
Cabins and a hotel, as well
as camping, are also offered at
the ranch. For more informa
tion on the dude ranch, go to
www.wgriverranch.com.
For some real adventure dur
ing your visit, go by Fantasy of
Flight in Polk City where you
can take a biplane ride or hot air
balloon excursion and get a close
up view of more than 40 vintage
aircraft. A special exhibition on
the Women Airforce Service Pilots
(WASPs) includes videos and inter
views of these amazing women
who served their country during
World War n. It’s a very inspir
ing display and you should take
time to watch the videos. There
is also an interactive children’s
play area. For more information,
go to www.fantasyofflight.com.
GARDENS
Central Florida is filled with
beautiful gardens and one of the
most well known is Bok Tower
Gardens in Lake Wales. Bok
Towers offers sweeping landscapes
and lush gardens. Visitors will
find a peaceful tranquil spot to
stroll through historic landscaped
gardens, hear music from a 60-bell
carillon and view the intricate
architecture of the tower that is
the centerpiece of the property.
Something is always blooming
at Bok Towers and the colorful,
fragrant blooms greet visitors as
soon as they enter the gardens.
Creator Edward Bok’s grand
mother told him to “make the
world more beautiful because
continued on page 2C
angela
gary
Inside: Community spelling bee ahead — page 2C
January 27,
2010
0 The Jackson Herald
Jana Adams Mitcham,
Features Editor 706-367-8760
jana@mainstreetnews. com
Section C
vu,
TROOP 11939
The Jefferson Girl Scout Daisy
Troop 11939 is shown at right. The
girls, all first-and second-graders
are selling Girl Scout cookies, but
are also taking donations to send
cookies to soldiers overseas.
A
%
lx
LJ
slSj
s
Taste of home
Local Scouts help send cookies to soldiers overseas
By Jana A. Mitcham
IRL SCOUT cookie sales are under way
in Jackson County, with orders coming in
for favorites such as thin mints, tagalongs
and samoas.
It’s a money-maker for the girls, giving them the
opportunity to raise funds for special outings and activi
ties.
But it is also the time of year when Girl Scouts and
their community can reach out to troops of soldiers
stationed overseas. Through the Cookies from Home
program. Girl Scouts take donations to send boxes
of cookies as part of care packages shipped out by
Operation Troop Aid. The girls also are able to include
“thank you” cards they made for the soldiers.
There are 14 troops in Jackson County, and the only
Daisy group. Troop 11939 of Jefferson, is one troop
which participated in the Cookies from Home program
last year. Like other local troops, the Daisies are col
lecting donations through the end of February for this
year’s effort. The troop also invites local businesses to
contribute.
“We have 12 girls — 6- and 7-year-olds in first and
second grade - two leaders and two troop moms (help
ers),” said Andrea Joseph, a troop leader.
“Last year the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, which
is our council, sent 8,693 boxes of cookies to soldiers
overseas through a not-for-profit group called Operation
Troop Aid that sends care packages to military men and
women. From that, 120 of the boxes came from Jackson
County troops, and 24 boxes came from our Daisies.”
Joseph explained that the cookies are shipped to the
soldiers through the U.S. Postal Service, with money
donated for shipping.
“Sometimes the cookies are taken to local military
bases to be shipped,” she said. “Some troops ship them
themselves. It really depends on each council, and what
is available in that area.”
While Girl Scout cookies are popular and cookie sales
are often anticipated, the program to send Cookies from
Home program is not as familiar.
“It’s a very common thing to hear, ‘Oh, I didn’t know
we could donate to the soldiers’ when we offer that
option during cookie orders,” Joseph said. “And some
people are confused with the word ‘troop’ when we say
‘donate to the troops.’ Some people think that we are
asking them to donate to our Girl Scout troops when we
say ‘troop.’ So, many people dismiss it right off the bat
if we don’t word it correctly.”
This year, the Daisy troop’s cookie donation goal is
500 boxes.
“We know that is a big jump, but we really feel that
this is an important program that most of the community
continued on page 2C
THANK YOU CARDS
The members of Girl Scout Troop 11939 of Jefferson has made “thank you” cards
to send to soldiers overseas who will also receive Girl Scout cookies thanks to
local donations being taken through the end of February. The cookies are sent as
part of care packages shipped overseas by Operation Troop Aid.
“G/r/ Scout cookies really are one of those few things in life
that truly remind you of home. That's what we want our
soldiers to think of when they are getting a box of cookies."
- Andrea Johnson, troop leader of Girl Scout Daisy Troop 11939, Jefferson
SOLDIERS RECEIVE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
The Cookies from Home program provides soldiers stationed overseas with Girl Scout
cookies and cards and artwork from Girl Scout troops. Here a group of soldiers is
shown with their cookies. The soldiers often send thank you letters back to the troops.
Jackson County Scouts sent 120 boxes of cookies overseas last year, thanks to dona
tions from the local community.
O