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! 

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.

Posner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Join the Mahalak family of dealerships as they christen their beautiful new Posner Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram with special festivities. Here’s what’s in store …

Band Haven Performing Live

Great food and refreshments

Meet the Staff and Tour the Brand New State-of-the-Art Facility

See new Products (including):

1. Jeep Off Road Camper Trailer set up as it would look at a camp site.

2. The Truck Other Trucks Look up To! (a RAM 1500 with the Altitude Package which includes a 6” ProComp Suspension Lift Kit, 20” Custom Wheels, 25” ATX Tires, Side Oval Step Bars, Custom Designer Chrome Grill, Color Keyed Fender Flares, Chrome Package, and a Highline Appearance Package.

4. 97 Country Remote Broadcast

5. Small gifts to everyone who attends.

Grand Opening Week Special (good at any of our 3 dealerships which include Posner Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Winter Haven Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and FIAT of Winter Haven):

Own or Lease any new or used vehicle during grand opening  (now – Jan 24th) and receive:

1. Four FREE Oil Changes*

2. $100 in Mopar/Jeep/FIAT wearable’s and/or apparel*

3. $100 in Mopar Accessories*

*Oil changes and Mopar apparel and accessories valid on vehicle purchased during grand opening week only.

Join your friends for this great Grand Opening Celebration! US 27 Southbound just south of I-4.

The company sells more than 8,000 pet care products, including food, toys, medicine, and clothing, through its website and more than 110 stores in a dozen states, primarily Florida. Stores also offer vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets. They also and a variety of small animals (such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish).  Pet Supermarket works with area organizations to host adoptions and related events for cats and dogs. Customers can take their pets shopping with them. The company was founded in 1973 by Chuck West as Pet Circus, the family-owned company became Pet Supermarket in 1986.

This will be the company’s third location in Polk County.

According to the submitted site plan, Winter Haven Venture-2, a Texas limited partnership out of Dallas is the developer. Once the submitted site plan is approved development may begin.

According to a report on The Ledger’s web site it appears that negotiations are underway between the New York Times and Halifax Media Group involving HMG’s purchase of the NYT Regional Newspaper group which includes both The Ledger and the News Chief.

According to the report, “The Daytona Beach-based Halifax Media Group owns The Daytona-Beach News Journal, five other news organizations in Florida and other newspapers across the south. On Monday morning, the Halifax Group’s Web site listed all of the Times Company’s regional papers as its own, tipping off the media blogger Jim Romenesko.” Romenesko’s blog post is here.

A spokesman with the New York Times has declined comment.

You can read the entire article here.

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.

Add one more option to Winter Haven’s specialty shoppes as the Laughing Owl Market is now open. You’ll find fine wines, wine accessories, elegant crystal, fine chocolates, fudges, cheeses, olives and other unique items in this brand new concept. Anita Strang invites you to visit Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The business is located at 329 Central Avenue downtown (former location of LaVita Dolce). You can also find them on Facebook. Check it out!

Laughing Owl Market joins other fine local shoppes specializing in spirits including Bean & Grape Cafe, Grape Expectations and Tapping the Vine.

Winter Haven:  Discover the Sh-opportunities! Buy Local!

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (November, 28, 2011) – Just six weeks after its official grand opening, LEGOLAND® Florida today released details of its first expansion – LEGOLAND Water Park. Scheduled to open in time for summer 2012, the water park will feature a wave pool, Build-A-Raft lazy river, tube slides, body slides and an interactive water-play structure – DUPLO® Safari.

“We’re very excited to share plans for this amazing new attraction,” said LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian
Jones. “True to our mission, the water park attraction has been designed for families with children ages 2 to 12 and will add hours of water play to an already full day and move LEGOLAND Florida into a multi-day experience for vacationers. The additional also adds another great value proposition for our Annual Pass members.”

Admission to the water park attraction is included with an all-new LEGOLAND Premium Pass, which offers 12 months admission to LEGOLAND Florida and seasonal access to the LEGOLAND Water Park. (Please note: If you currently have an annual pass to the park, you can upgrade to the Premium Pass for access to the water park for the difference in price.) Single-day LEGOLAND Florida guests may upgrade to a water park attraction ticket for an additional $12 per person (children under 3 are $3). The Premium Pass is now available for purchase at www.LEGOLAND.com or select AAA Auto Club Group branches.

Key areas of LEGOLAND Water Park attraction include:

· LEGO Wave Pool – Families can catch a gentle wave or simply cool off in this perfectly sized wave pool where the waves are just big enough for all ages to enjoy

· Twin Chasers – Friends ride tubes 375 feet down an intertwining pair of enclosed water slides before plunging into a refreshing pool below

· Splash Out – The thrill seekers of the family can ascend to the tallest point of the water park attraction and choose from one of three unique slides, then speed down a 60-foot drop and “splash out” into the water below

· Joker Soaker – A fun, interactive playground with various lengths, heights and types of slides that offer something different for every member of the family. Guests can wade in the surrounding pool and be surprised with a torrential spill from a 300-gallon bucket

· Build-A-Raft River – Families can imagine, design and build a unique LEGO vessel and set afloat on a maiden voyage around the 1000-foot-long lazy river, set amongst playful LEGO Friends, flowering vegetation and palm trees

· DUPLO® Splash Safari – Toddlers will rule at this water play area with shorter slides and interactive, larger-than-life DUPLO creatures

“This newest attraction is just one of many ways we will continue to evolve LEGOLAND Florida over the next several years,” said Jones. “Creating a multi-visit proposition for families adds another dimension to the LEGOLAND Florida offering. Adding the water park attraction will fulfill this criteria as well as offering a unique attraction in Central Florida. ”

Honey Baked Ham has opened a franchise at 319 Cypress Gardens Boulevard (in the Wal-Mart Shopping Center). Opened today, store hours are:

Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed Sunday)

The store offers a variety of types of smoked and baked hams, turkeys, turkey breasts and a variety of other food products.

Honey Baked Ham began with one store in Detroit, Michigan more than 50 years ago. There are now more than 400 locations. Welcome to Winter Haven!