Dear Editor: Hello, this is Pastor Terry Clark with the River of Life Church here in Starke. I am writing this letter to ask for your partnership in changing the world! Yes, you read that right! Maybe you’re like us and have pondered the questions: How can I solve world hunger? How can I help…

Dear Editor: The best week of 2023 for me was Nov. 13-20:  National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child. Another amazing year of shoebox collection transpired at the drop-off located at Trinity Baptist Church in Keystone Heights.   Unending generosity aptly describes our Lake Area Region.  I clearly saw this through Operation Christmas Child, an…

Dear Editor: My name is Albert Mize, | attempted to talk with Starke city commissioners, concerning the retention of the Veterans Memorial Park as it currently stands on Nov. 7, 2023, at the city commissioners meeting. After three minutes I was told “politely” that my three minutes, were up and to wrap it up. I…

Dear Editor: Thanksgiving season is a time when many Americans gather with their families and reflect upon many blessings. One of those blessings is a nutritious and diverse food supply produced by our farmers and ranchers. We also benefit from other agricultural products that provide clothing, housing, medicines, fuel and other products we use on…

To the Broader Starke Community: Many of you may already know, but as of Nov. 13, 2023, the former Community State Bank has been renamed DLP Bank. What does DLP stand for? “Dream, Live, Prosper,” and that’s the focus of our bank’s vision—a commitment to delivering a banking experience that helps you, our local community…

Dear Editor: Chesed House began its first year in operation in February 2023. At this time we have all six rooms filled with seven women and five children. We anticipate that two of these moms who have jobs will be ready to rent a place of their own in just a few more months. It…

Dear Editor: The third Annual Walk Against Hate will take place on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. at Melrose Heritage Park. This year especially, with controversy surrounding the teaching of Black history and progress toward diversity, equity and inclusion questioned, this walk and program are timely. Please arrive early and bring a lawn chair…

Dear Editor, I am reaching out to share the benefits of reading a minimum of 20 minutes per day to a child. Taking just 20 minutes out of the day to read every day can boost mental health.  Reading improves critical-thinking skills, language development skills, problem solving and reasoning. Reading 20 minutes a day can…

Dear Editor: The first requirement for a perfect day at the beach is not sand — it’s water! Preferably healthy, clean water. Emerald-green sapphire-blue water, not blue green algae. Water with ordinary tides, not noxious red tide.   Unfortunately, Florida ranks number one in America for most acreage of lakes too polluted to swim in…

Dear Editor: I would like to respond to part of the article in last week’s Telegraph covering the regulation of mining in our county. I called out the commissioners for agreeing so easily to a workshop on a proposed new Land Development Regulation (LDR), a workshop requested by one lawyer representing one company. Citizens spent…