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! 

Two minor flaws in the report … they tag the turnaround here “Lakeland” (our fair sister city to the west). Oh, and LEGOLAND Florida is in Winter Haven with 1100 + jobs and a waterpark on the way!

It’s no secret that LEGOLAND is great for all of Polk and that is outstanding because the MSA for Lakeland/Winter Haven is actually the combined sum of all that happens in ALL of Polk!

So thank you to Realtor.com. That’s great news all around.

You can read the entire CNN Money report here.

Look for a very popular and successful convenience/fuel store named “Wawa” to build a 5,500 square foot store with an eight-island fuel station at 1490 3rd Street SW — former home of Cypress Lincoln Mercury. The site will be cleared and all new construction will occur. Todd Dantzler with Choice-Dantzler Properties has handled the sale of the property.

“Wawa” is a Native American word for the Canada Goose that was found in the Delaware Valley, that’s why the company uses the goose on Wawa’s corporate logo. The company specializes in freshly made sandwiches, salads and its signature coffee. Here’s a few details about the organization …

Core Purpose…

To Simplify Our Customers’ Daily Lives

Core Values…

Value People

Delight Customers

Embrace Change

Do the Right Thing

Do Things Right

Passion for Winning

Wawa offers a large fresh food selection, including Wawa brands like Built-to-Order®
Hoagies which come in four sizes: the Junior, Shorti, Classic, and Two-Footer. We are also proud to offer our award-winning Freshly Brewed Coffee (over 195 million cups sold each year), the Sizzli® hot breakfast sandwich, quality dairy products and Wawa brand juices and teas. All Wawa stores feature a wide selection of ready-to-go salads, and fresh fruits.

Store Example

Most stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Winter Haven location will employ 30-40 associates. The engineering firm handling the project is Stillwater Technologies from Orlando, FL. Construction should begin this spring.

Wawa employs 16,000 associates throughout portions of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia — and now Florida.

Phase I of the project involves the intermodal rail terminal. Phase II will encompass another nearly 1000 acres that will develop as a state-of-the-art warehousing, industrial and office park. Plans for the project were announced in 2006. The state’s recent purchase of 61 miles of CSX tracks from Deland to Poinciana for use as the SunRail Commuter Rail system necessitates the move of the Taft Rail Yard in Orlando. As rail has emerged as the most cost and energy efficient way to move freight on land, the modern intermodal center will become a major hub in Florida’s transportation infrastructure.

Initial estimates peg construction employment at more than 600 jobs. Upon buildout the ILC is projected to employ 2,000 people directly and some 6,000 jobs will be created indirectly.

Read the entire article here.

(Editors note:) We have been contacted by MSNBC looking for companies with plans to hire in first quarter 2012. If your company is planning to hire and you are willing to be interviewed for national exposure, contact Bob Gernert.

Nat Birdsong, City Commissioner and
Florence Villa Community Development Corp.

Julie Dantzler, Psychologist

Frank Fischer, MD, Fischer, Schemmer, Silbiger and Moraczewski

Mike Kingham, Kingham Software, Inc.

Ingram Leedy, Elephant Outlook

Greg Littleton, Citizens Bank and Trust

Dave MacDougall. Winter Haven Hospital

Charles McPherson, Retired

Bonnie Parker, SunTrust Bank

Lauren O. Schwenk, Oakley, Rhinehart and Cassidy

Seretha Tinsley, Tinsley Family Concessions
and Past Co-chair, Our Future by Design

Peter Usinger, Polk State College

Kerry Wilson, Attorney, Peterson Myers

The Steering Committee will proceed to raise the necessary funding to update Winter Haven’s vision plan as the community looks to a future that includes LEGOLAND Florida, an Integrated Logistics Center created by  a subsidiary of CSX Transportation, as well as a rapidly developing technology hub in downtown. It may also serve as a resource to the consultant the city plans to retain to assist with the relocation of community facilities such as Theatre Winter Haven and the Rowdy Gaines pool.

The effort will involve a community survey to determine key issues as well as a series of stakeholder meetings for face-to-face discussions by community members.

The refresh of the vision plan is estimated to cost about $45,000 — less than the original $70,000 spent in 1999 – 2000. That visioning document has served as a blueprint which the City Commission and Administration used in areas such as downtown redevelopment, library and public safety facilities, lakefront development standards and more.

While the effort to update the plan is being initiated by Cheryl Beckert as a priority of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, the actual visioning effort will represent every facet of the community and its many neighborhoods. That will include government, cultural groups, human services organizations, medical facilities and others. Working with Beckert from the Chamber are Joel Thomas, Winter Haven Hospital and Deric Feacher, City of Winter Haven.

Watch for further information on how you can become involved.

Seat #1: Mayor Pro Tem J. P. Powell faces candidate Debra Ogzewalla.

Seat #2: Commissioner Nat Birdsong faces candidate Macy Butler.

Seat #3: Mayor Jeff Potter faces candidate Peter Chichetto.

Your vote can make a difference in the future of our community.

Deric C. Feacher

Deric is a native of Winter Haven and attended Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach. While there he received the United States Achievement Academy All American Scholar Award in addition to the National Collegiate Minority Leadership  Award. After graduation he was employed by the Florida Democratic party and later worked as Community Relations Coordinator for Keiser College in Daytona Beach.

After eight years in Daytona he returned to Winter haven as Director of the Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center. Soon he became the city’s first director of public information and his career has continued to evolve through a variety of municipal responsibilities to his present role as Assistant to the City Manager/Director of Support Services.

Having the ability to serve as a senior level administrator in his home town is among his proudest professional achievements. His work with the city has helped him to grow as an administrator  gaining experience in budgeting, financial management, personnel administration and policy implementation.

His strengths are team building, community relations, strategic planning and policy formation.

As an emerging leader he feels his greatest accomplishment outside of his profession was being selected as the first non-legionnaire to be Director of Florida’s premier youth leadership program, Boys State.

His other community involvement includes the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, graduate of Leadership Winter Haven, Board member of Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, Focus on Leadership Advisory Committee, Polk Vision Executive Committee, Polk State College Corporate College Board of Advisors, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the NAACP, United Way of Central Florida Board and now as Board Chairman of the New Beginnings High School.

When thinking of those who have made and impact on young professionals in Polk County he points to George and Seretha Tinsley who, in his words, “have transformed the very fabric of this city through their work with young people.”

Congratulations Deric C. Feacher, 2011 Polk Emerging Professional Award recipient

Ann and Jim Stafford at Ritz announcement

Winter Haven native and nationally known comic-genius and musician Jim Stafford announced today that he will be performing at the newly restored Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven. His first production, “Jim Stafford — Home for Christmas” will run December 15 through December 18, 2011.

Stafford also announced that he will bring his show to the Ritz from February 2 through March 17, 2012. Shows will be Thursdays at 3 p.m. and Friday and Saturdays at 7 p.m. Naturally, Stafford will call his show “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”  Sharing the stage with Stafford will be his two children, 18 year-old Shea and 14 year-old G.G. who are both accomplished pianists and performers. Complete show schedules and tickets are available at JimStaffordFlorida.com and by calling 1-800-677-8533.

Welcome home Jim!

Three seats on the Winter Haven City Commission are up for election this year.

Seat 1:  Mayor Pro Tem J. P. Powell is being challenged by Debra Ogzewalla

Seat 2:  Commissioner Nathaniel Birdsong is being challenged by Macy V. Butler

Seat 3:  Mayor Jeff Potter is being challenged by Peter M. Chichetto

The election will take place on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. Join us at what is certain to be an informative discussion.

We are also gathering questions for the candidates. The best and/or most frequently asked questions will be compiled and sent to the candidates in advance. Their answers will be published on this blog prior to the breakfast. Send your questions through the link below NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 AT 4 P.M.

City Commission Candidates Forum Breakfast:

Wednesday, August 31
7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Second Floor Coleman Auditorium
Seating is limited.

Breakfast Catering by Fred’s Southern Kitchen:
$15 per person. Register here.

To send your question, click here.