Tucker Construction has installed a camera to take photos every ten minutes of the construction progress, including the demolition of the Dome, which could begin as early as Friday and continue for several weeks. Click the link! 

DECK THOSE HULLS!

Marine Supply of Winter Haven is sponsoring the prizes for the best boat decorations:

First Place – $100
Second Place – $50
Third Place – $25

Watch for further details but for now make plans to join all the fun December 3! Remember, you’ll need a boat.

There is no fee or registration but you must follow all boating safety regulations for lighting, floatation and other details. Boats assemble in Lake May beginning at 6 p.m. The parade embarks with Santa in the lead. We do ask not to have other “Santa’s” in the parade as it confuses the children.

Input Assumptions:

Output Assumptions:

This model produces estimates of economic impact based on the methodology utilized by the RIMS model developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The model uses an aggregate of the multipliers for various industries in the Central Florida Region and does not attempt to assign purchases or identify expenditures to specific industry detail. The model is capable of generating economic impacts on a community related to the following types of projects:

- The construction of a commercial facility
- The operation of a business
- Tourism related expenditures

Output Computations:  Summary of Direct and Indirect Impacts

Conclusions:

The overall economic impact of the Landings on the local community is $48.7 million on an annual basis. This figure includes $31.0 million of direct impact at the business site as well as $17.7 million of output created in other industries as a result of operations.

In terms of payroll or earnings, the business provides $18.6 million to workers directly employed at the location and another $5.1 million in earnings are generated across other industries from additional spending in the local community.The facility provides 739 direct jobs at the businesses on site and supports another 220 jobs at other businesses in the community created through additional spending

The magnitude of the retail industry in all of Polk County is approximately $1.4 billion, with annual payroll of about $600 million and 24,000 people employed. Comparing these overall numbers to the estimates generated for the above referenced project indicates that the proposed facility will have a significant economic impact on the local economy.

The development is pending City Commission approval.

Boaters line up and light up Lake May as they embark on the 25th Chain of Lakes Boat Parade. Photo by Marilyn Worthington

It was a crystal clear night — cool but not bone chilling — and more than 30 boaters decorated their launches and provided a two-hour four-lake Chain of Lakes Parade. The winning boat decorations:

$100 First Place – Marty Adams
$50 Second Place – Gordy Anderson
$25 Third Place – Chris Neal and family

The parade featured boats and decorations of every shape and form — there was no shortage of creativity. We appreciate all who participated and invite everyone back next year!

The Chamber extends a big thanks to the Winter Haven Nautical Club for judging the parade, the Winter Haven Police and Fire Departments for leading the parade and providing logistics support. The Polk County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance and Lake Region Lakes Management for canals deep enough to allow the parade to visit Lakes May, Shipp, Howard and Cannon. Thanks too, to our thousands of spectators.

Thanks also to the Ledger Media Group for all the advance publicity in both The Ledger and News Chief.

And finally, a very special thanks to everyone at Marine Supply for providing the Chamber boat and awesome Yamaha generator (so quiet!). Dockmaster Chris Lawton makes sure all the boaters are taken care of by parade time. His service is first class.

With a little luck and a lot of rain we’ll see you next year! And a few more photos …

After consultation with the Lakes Region Lakes Management District (Canal Commission) we believe that the canals will be passable this year. We make two important suggestions:

1.  Boaters should be able to “trim” their outboard motors for the best range of water levels in the canals.

2. Boaters with fixed props should run the parade course just prior to December 4 to determine their ability to participate.

The Canal Commission had deepened the Howard-Cannon Canal and other work has been done to remove debris. Roger Griffiths has noted that his crews will inspect for potential obstructions in the canals.

Lake levels have prevented safe canal passage for the past two years.

Watch for complete information and decorating tips and contest information to be posted in the near future.

Parade will travel counter-clockwise in all lakes as follows:

The parade will form in Lake May and travel into and around Lake Shipp. When it returns to Lake May it will travel past the Winter Haven Nautical Club and on to Lake Howard where it will travel around Lake Howard to the Cannon canal. Proceeding into Lake Cannon it will complete its circuit returning to Lake Howard  traveling to the Lake May canal where it will disperse.

Sunset on Lake Shipp as photographed from the Lulu/Shipp canal on the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes – August 18, 2010

Photo by Nick Gernert

As an update on the lock (Lake Hartridge to Conine), the firm hired to complete phase two – installation of the doors – is again moving forward. They have hired a Lakeland engineering firm to prepare the needed documents to acquire a permit from the City of Winter Haven. That has been a needed next step and is now underway. These documents should be available in another 2 to 3 weeks. They will then apply for a permit and finish the job.

Roger Griffiths, Executive Director of the Lake Region Lakes Management District (often referred to as the Canal Commission) reported at their October Board Meeting that lake levels in the southern Chain of Lakes were 1 foot 4 inches below 2008 levels (and last year’s parade barely made an abbreviated route). With disappointing rainfall levels from this month’s late season tropical storm, it appears certain that the canals will not be deep enough to allow the parade to go on.

Over the years the Chamber has learned that the success of the Boat Parade lies in people being able to navigate their boats through the Chain to form the parade in Lake May. Current levels severely limit boats with only a driver — not to mention fully loaded craft.

The Chamber does not like to disappoint boaters or the thousands of people who watch from shore … but safety is our first priority and shallow canals cause too many problems. The parade will return when lake levels do.

We are making the announcement at this time to allow residents who have “Parade Parties” to plan accordingly.

Photo credit:  Lake Cannon by Sean O’Shaughnessy

1. Chain of Lakes Trail- Lake Howard Connector - The Chain of Lakes Trail-Lake Howard Connector is a 2,800± foot pedestrian trail extending along Avenue B, NW from First Street to the Lake Howard Trail.  The Connector will intersect the Chain of Lakes Trail near Fourth Street, NW (adjacent to the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce) and connect with the Lake Howard Trail on the west side of the intersection of East Lake Howard Drive and Avenue B, NW.  Estimated cost for this project is $840,000.

2.  Chain of Lakes Trail Southern Extension. The Chain of Lakes Trail Southern Extension is a 2,500± foot pedestrian trail extending from South Central Park along Avenue A, SW, Magnolia Avenue and Third Street, SW to Avenue G, SW.  This trail will downsize Avenue A, Magnolia Avenue, and Third Street from three and four-lane roadways to two-lane roadways with a pedestrian trail, landscaping, and on-street parking.  Estimated cost for this project is $845,000.

3.  Chain of Lakes Trail Bridge over Avenue T, NW. The Chain of Lakes Trail Bridge involves the construction of a bridge over Avenue T, NW to provide for a safe pedestrian and bicycle crossing over this four-lane roadway.  The bridge will be constructed on the west side of Martin Luther King Drive on two parcels owned by the State Office of Greenways and Trails.  Estimated cost for this project is $1,800,000.

These distinctive enhancements to Winter Haven’s walking and biking trail system will help maximize the usefulness and connectivity of the Chain of Lakes Trail.

(Pictured above: a portion of the 3.4 mile Chain of Lakes Trail)

Candidates for Seat 4 (Mayor Yvonne Brooks and Jamie Beckett) both pointed to the economic development potential of the Winter Haven Municipal Airport along the US 92 corridor. Beckett noted his view that runway length would not support increased use by corporate jets. Beckett felt the city’s responsibility with regard to the Chain of Lakes required cooperation with the various agencies from the canal commission to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Brooks pointed to the number of lakes preservation goals outlined in the “Our Future By Design” visioning document that the city has accomplished including the urban lakefront design guidelines. Their most divergent views were expressed regarding the Hometown Democracy amendment with Brooks favoring continuing the current regulatory process and Beckett supporting the amendment. (Ed. Note: While candidate Beckett originally stated that he felt comprehensive plan changes should be left to voters, he has since clarified his position and opposes the Hometown Democracy amendment. His clarification is noted in the first comment below. – BG 8/13/09)

Candidates for Seat 5 (Commissioner Mike Easterling, Steven Hunnicutt and Bob Jardine) were in general agreement on most issues. Easterling expressed his continued commitment to the community visioning plan and Hunnicutt and Jardine both agreed it was an important guide for decisions. Jardine noted his interest in representing the needs of sight and physically impaired including his work to secure audible crossing signals for key city intersections. All Seat 4 candidates favor retaining the current regulatory system for changes in comprehensive plans and opposed the Hometown Democracy amendment.

Candidates for Commission Seat 4:

Mayor Yvonne Brooks
Jamie Beckett

Candidates for Seat 5:

Commissioner Mike Easterling
Steven Hunnicutt
Bob Jardine

The Chamber collected candidate information including background, city strengths and challenges, revitalization, top priorities and more. A comparison of that information is available at this link.

The city election will take place Tuesday, September 8, 2009.