The City of Winter Haven Commission voted on Monday night to approve an up to $23.5M non-ad valorem revenue bond to fund public safety, infrastructure and quality of life projects over the next several years. See the list of what is included in the bond below. In addition to these projects, the approval also allows for monies to be put towards additional parking facilities such as a parking garage. Southeast Pocket ParkEstimated cost: $500,000
Bond portion: $500,000 The Southeast Pocket park will be the first playground in southeast Winter Haven as the City of Winter Haven has very little land in this area of the City (versus unincorporated Polk). Its plan includes a dog park, playground, restroom building, and picnic shelters. The timing is estimated to be completed design and construction by Spring 2022.
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Joseph Michael "Mike" Nolen, Sr., age 85, of Winter Haven, FL passed away peacefully on September 30, 2021 at home surrounded by his family. He was born in Birmingham, AL on June 27, 1936 and moved to Winter Haven in 1949. While at Winter Haven High School, he was the editor of the Blue Devil newspaper and began working in the sports department of The News Chief. Mike became the Sports Editor while attending Florida Southern College where he received a BS degree with a major in journalism, a minor in business, and was a member of the fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha. After his college graduation in 1958, while waiting to go into the Army, he decided to take some real estate courses and made 13 sales in 13 weeks. Mike served in active duty as a 2nd lieutenant at Ft. Benning and Ft. Jackson. Following active duty, he served as a captain in the reserve for ten years while pursuing a career in real estate and insurance which was encouraged by his early success. Throughout his long career, Mike displayed leadership as president of Cypress Gardens Realty and Insurance, VP for Poe & Associates (Insurance), president of the WH Rotary Club, president of the WH Board of Realtors & president of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. He served as chairman of the WH Planning Board, chairman of the United Way of Lake Region campaign, and VP of Waverly Citrus Growers. Harrison School for the Arts is proud to present the Fall Orchestra Concert on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the main theatre. Tickets are $12 adults and $9 students/seniors and may be purchased at www.harrisonarts.com. Harrison School for the Arts is located at 750 Hollingsworth Rd., Lakeland, FL 33801.
AdventHealth and Bond Clinic are forming an affiliation that will bring greater access to primary care and specialty options to Polk County residents, with a common goal of providing whole-person care that is easy-to-navigate and convenient for all patients.
Polk County continues to rapidly grow – outpacing both the state and nation with a 20% increase in the past 10 years. Together, AdventHealth and Bond Clinic will recruit dozens of physicians over the next five years in a variety of specialties. “As Polk County grows, it’s important that health care services keep pace. We’re committed to redesigning a health system that’s built around the consumer, and that means bringing world-class and easily accessible health care that’s close to home,” said Brian Adams, CEO of AdventHealth’s Polk market. “Bond Clinic is an esteemed organization with a long history of clinical excellence. This affiliation will allow us to continue our collective great work and extend our mission of whole person care to more areas in Polk County.” Florida Polytechnic University has been ranked the number one public college in the Southern region of the United States by U.S. News and World Report. It is Florida Poly’s first appearance on that list.
In its 2022 Best Colleges list, U.S. News and World Report ranks Florida Poly third among all top colleges in the Southern United States, including public and private. The University was ranked nationally at number 26 among public engineering programs without a Ph.D. The ranking comes only a year after the University’s strong debut in the top of 40 public colleges in this category. Among nearly 240 public and private undergraduate engineering programs, Florida Poly jumped 19 spots to number 53 from number 72 last year, showcasing the University’s booming progress in engineering education. “Our outstanding showing in these rankings is evidence that Florida Poly has matured into a dynamic provider of STEM education, on par with some of the most well-known institutions in the nation,” said Dr. Randy K. Avent, the University’s president. “Our academic programs, which provide a high-touch model with small classes and strong curricular experiences, continue to grow and provide a rich environment that fosters student development and success.” Florida Poly also was ranked among the best value schools – number 31 in the South and second in Florida. Its modest tuition, along with institutional financial aid and scholarship packages, are a strong draw for many talented students interested in an affordable, top-flight STEM education delivered in a small setting. The U.S. News recognition is the latest in a series of recent national and regional rankings Florida Poly has enjoyed. It also comes as the University experiences an academic year of significant growth. The fall 2021 class of incoming students is the largest in Florida Poly’s history, growing 25% over the previous year. “The University’s commitment to student success and our record of producing in-demand graduates ready to excel in high-tech, high-wage jobs is showing great results on the national stage,” said Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, vice provost for enrollment at the University. “Students and families are increasingly savvy about top colleges that are affordable with in-demand disciplines. They are taking notice that Florida Poly offers exceptional computer science and engineering degrees focused on helping them achieve an extraordinary career.” Harrison School for the Arts is pleased to host the Wind Symphony on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the main theatre.
The Wind Symphony will be performing selections including Second Suite in F (Holst), Shepherd’s Hey (Grainger), Song for Lyndsay (Boysen), as well as other standards from the concert band repertoire. The group is comprised of wind and percussion students from the Orchestra and Jazz Departments and includes members of other departments as well. Starting on October 2, don’t miss the spookiest, kookiest trick-or-treating party of the year Saturdays and Sundays through Halloween! Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort returns with BOO-tastic fireworks and extended hours every event night. This kid-friendly event is the only time of year guests can meet exclusive classic LEGO® monster characters, enjoy Halloween shows and go trick-or-treating to collect loads of candy during the ultimate kids Halloween celebration– and, it’s all included with regular day admission. Fueled by the generosity of Wawa, Healthcare Heroes can enjoy the healing power of nature with complimentary admission for themselves and a guest at Bok Tower Gardens from October 1-31. This offer is being extended in gratitude for the hard work and sacrifices Healthcare Heroes have made to keep our communities safe and healthy. The complimentary admission offer is open to all employees of healthcare providers in the US with an employer-issued photo identification badge. The last day to register to vote for the November 2nd Municipal Election is Monday, October 4th, and the Polk County Elections Office will be offering voter registration services in Fort Meade, Lakeland and Winter Haven to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to register before this important deadline.
Mobile registration units will be visiting each of the cities on Monday, October 4th. City residents who have not yet registered can sign-up to vote, and voters may update their information if it is not current with the Elections Office. Winter Haven City Commission Recognizes Winter Haven Optimist Club for 50 years of Service9/28/2021 On September 27, 2021, the City of Winter Haven Commissioners acknowledged the Winter Haven Optimist Club for its 50 years of service to the youth of the community. They presented a Proclamation to the Club for those years of service. Former Optimist member and current City Commission JP Powell is shown presenting the Proclamation to Club President Perry Albritton. Polk State College’s District Board of Trustees elected Ashley Bell Barnett as Chair and Greg Littleton as Vice-Chair for the 2021-2022 Academic Year on Monday during the DBOT’s annual reorganization meeting. The role of Chair was previously filled by Cindy Hartley Ross and the role of Vice-Chair was previously filled by Barnett. The Board also includes members Dan Dorrell, Teresa V. Martinez, and Mark Turner. Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti expressed her gratitude to Ross for her service as Chair and congratulated Barnett and Littleton on their positions for the new year. Last night we gathered at Nora May Hall to celebrate the wins in Winter Haven, the Citizen of the Year Banker's Cup Awards, Small & Large Business of the Year and much more. We also passed the gavel from current Chamber Board Chairman Robert Loftin, to incoming Chairwoman Jennifer Fasking. We had a wonderful evening celebrating together, in-person, with great food from The Catering Co. of Central Florida, a cocktail reception provided by Citizens Bank a wonderful program and networking.
LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is commemorating ten awesome years with a party-packed month that will feature a new attraction opening, a birthday celebration day, the reopening of MINILAND and the return of fireworks at Brick or Treat! 2021 has been a yearlong party that kicked off with the debut of Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show and continued with a calendar of unforgettable events, including the all-new PirateFest Weekends, LEGO® Friends Weekend, LEGO® NINJAGO Days and AWE-Summer. Now, this October will include even more reasons to party at the Theme Park built for kids! One of the biggest lifestyle brands in the United States is staking a claim in Polk County. Margaritaville, based off the fabled hit beach-bum song by Jimmy Buffett, is coming to Auburndale. The Cabana Club Resort will, in early 2022, become Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Cabana Cabins Auburndale, and bringing the brand’s iconic experiences, fun and escapism to Florida’s Sweetest Spot. “From the onset, our vision has been about creating a complete sports and entertainment cluster here in Auburndale around Lake Myrtle,” said Mark Jackson, the director of Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing. “With the addition of the stadium and ski lake, plus this, we’ve come a lot closer to that original vision in a short period of time.” AdventHealth wants to celebrate two incredible first responders (firefighter, paramedic, EMT, law enforcement) in Polk County who have risen to the continued challenges of this year with a two-night stay at LEGOLAND Florida Resort and four LEGOLAND® Florida Theme Park tickets. How To Enter For A Chance to Win: 1: Fill out the form below with your first responder’s name and tell us what makes them heroic and amazing! 2: Submissions close on September 30, 2021. Nomination Form: https://bddy.me/3zceTUp AdventHealth is proud to be the Official Medical Partner of LEGOLAND® Florida Resort. Polk County residents are invited to apply to become election workers during an informational meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 23rd. “These are paid positions working at polling places on Election Day,” explained Supervisor of Elections, Lori Edwards. The meetings will be held at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm at the Election Operations Center, 70 Florida Citrus Boulevard, Winter Haven and no reservation is required. Voters who have served as election workers in Polk County in recent years are welcome but do not need to attend. For more information, contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (863) 534-5888 or visit PolkElections.gov In celebration of LEGOLAND® Florida Resort’s 10th birthday, LEGO® MASTERS official winning LEGO® model, along with the second and third place models, from Season Two will be on display at the theme park built for kids. As show host Will Arnett and his alter ego “Will Puppet” revealed with the contestants in their final, nail-biting build moments during Tuesday night’s season finale airing on FOX, the top three models will be on view for park guests to enjoy alongside ongoing birthday surprises around the park. Main Street Winter Haven hosts Ladies Night, a Downtown tour of shopping, dining and drink specials!9/15/2021 Winter Haven, September 15, 2021 – For its sixth year, Main Street Winter Haven will bring a whole new meaning to “Ladies Night!” On September 30th from 5:30-8:30PM, over 30 participating businesses in Downtown Winter Haven will host shopping, dining and drink specials. Attendees will have the opportunity to get a kickstart on Holiday shopping, or simply enjoy an evening on the town with loved ones. This year’s Ladies Night will be themed PRETTY IN PINK as a kickoff to Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. Attendees and businesses alike with be adorned with their prettiest pink outfits as we join the campaign to bring awareness to breast cancer.
The NBA G League released its 2021-22 schedule today and announced the defending champion Lakeland Magic will open their season on Friday, November 5 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida against the Texas Legends, NBA G League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks. The Magic and Legends will play again the following night on a back-to-back with both games scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Each NBA G League team will play a 50-game regular season: 24 home, 24 away, and two neutral site games at the annual Winter Showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lakeland will play a total of 12 home games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this season. The 2021-22 Magic schedule also features seven back-to-back contests (three home/home back-to-backs, and four away/away back-to-back). When discussing excellence in service or design, The DiamondPlex Softball Complex and AdventHealth Fieldhouse & Conference Center are at the top of the list. Each year, The Florida Recreation & Park Association highlights the phenomenal facilities that serve its residents while bringing innovative designs and opportunities to their communities. The City of Winter Haven is thrilled to announce that two of our facilities will be presented the Excellence in Sports Tourism Award. The City of Winter Haven is hosting a Public Open House for residents to learn more and offer comments regarding the South Lake Howard Trail Nature Park Enhancements Project. The in person open house will be held on Tuesday September 21 from 5 -6:30 pm at the South Lake Howard Nature Park, located at 1570 Lake Howard Drive SW. The Open House will be set up near the picnic areas. Staff will be available to show renderings of proposed recreational improvements to the expanded site, take comments and answer questions. If iinclement weather occurs, a backup site will be the Florida room at Nora Mayo Hall. On Monday, August 23 the City Commission approved a bid award to Chamber member Tucker Paving to commence on planning for the Downtown Streetscape Enhancement project. This project, totaling $1.6 million, will tie the streetscaping elements of the downtown core to the improvements made in the northern portion of downtown to include projects at MLK Park, the Tennis Complex, South Lake Silver Drive, and Trailhead Park among others. Truly, it helps to improve one of the last City-owned parking lots downtown that has not been updated since the early 2000's downtown streetscaping projects.
It achieves this by reconstructing the City owned parking lot east of the Chamber of Commerce using a piazza approach similar to the parking lot renovation in South Central Park, and by adding brick paver sidewalks to the block of 4th Street between Ave. C NW and Ave. D NW.It should be noted that these improvements beyond enhancing the aesthetics, will also bring this area up to modern standards in terms of drainage and ADA accessibility. |
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