City of Winter Haven
Have you seen it? Take a drive through downtown Winter Haven and search for this beautiful mural being painted by a Polk County artist. This artwork is tucked down Avenue C SW just west of Third Street SW. A special thank you is extended to the property owner and investor whose generosity makes a positive impact on our beautiful community. #WinterHaven #ExceptionallyLocal #WinterHavenLove #OdeToTheLakes #BeautifulWinterHaven #WinterHavenLilyPads
Catapult Lakeland Catapults Local Entrepreneurs and Businesses into Community
by James Coulter
Baxter decided on her current side career path after taking a class at Catapult Lakeland, a non-profit cooperative that assists local entrepreneurs. She had since become a member and started renting kitchen space to help her endeavor.
When not working full-time as a teacher, Teresa Baxter sells her specialty jams and candied jalapenos. She has been teaching for the past 14 years and recently started her side gig with We Jammin.
“I took a class at Catapult, and it changed my life,” she said. “It changed the course of my side business where this could become a bigger thing.”
Thanks to the skills and information she received from her class and membership, she expanded her business by selling her merchandise at local stores and boutiques. Now she can comfortably make a living through her full-time job as a teacher and her side gig.
“Catapult is amazing,” she said. “The people here is amazing. The networking alone is amazing. The business leaders that you meet here in the community are just fantastic, so I recommend catapult to anyone.”
We Jammin was one of many local start-ups that were given a boost through the services provided by Catapult Lakeland. On Monday, the non-profit showcased its 40,000 square-foot entrepreneurial center to the public through an open house.
The open house allowed attendees to tour all three floors of the facility, browse its many workshops and resources, and see much merchandise created by participating businesses and start-ups. They could even sample food cooked in the test kitchen, from rice balls to empanadas and vegan plant-based dishes.
Catapult Lakeland started as a vision by local entrepreneurs, who assembled in an empty basement seven years ago. After touring the country and learning from many other businesses and cooperatives, they decided to start their non-profit cooperative to assist entrepreneurs in their community.
“In 2013, leaders in Lakeland had a vision of what our community could become if they came together to support entrepreneurs,” their website stated. “From traveling to learn from other cities to donating resources, they chased after this dream until it became a reality. They have taught us about uncommon innovation, vision casting, and creating community. For this, we will always be grateful!”
Their facility, located along the scenic shores of Lake Mirror in Downtown Lakeland, offers classes, resources, and rental spaces to allow their members the opportunity to expand their businesses and start-ups. As such, they have helped “catapult” more than 200 aspiring entrepreneurs and 27 businesses into the community and beyond.
East of These is another start-up. This small business works with other businesses to use their current logos and branding elements to design handmade pieces like headwraps, bandanas, headbands, and scrunchies.
“We like to think of creative ways to help people represent their business without it being to overt, something that is still fashionable,” said business owner, Taylor Ard.
Ard started East of These after her friend bought a lot of fabric for sewing. After realizing she couldn’t sew, her friend sought a way to utilize all of the material she purchased. Ard decided to use it to start her own business.
Ard utilizes many of the resources provided at the Catapult Lakeland facility. She has her own office space upstairs and uses the downstairs workshop to develop and design her products.
“Catapult has so many great resources,” she said. “They provide a lot of new entrepreneur opportunities and resources that everyone here is in the same boat trying to grow their own business. It is a great community to be a part of…I would rate it very high. It has been very wonderful. It is very supportive, very honest, and just very creative environment where everyone else is on your team.”
For the past seven years, Catapult Lakeland has been allowing such local entrepreneurs to “catapult” themselves into the community, and they expect to keep those numbers growing, explained Laura, a Catapult representative.
“Our expectations is to grow and attract more companies. We have kitchens,” she said. “We want to attract so many different people with different visions to launch out into our community here and add something new to Lakeland.”
Catapult Lakeland is located at 502 E. Main St., Lakeland, FL 33801. For more information, call 863-940-9660, or visit their website at: https://catapultlakeland.com/
City of Winter Haven
City of Winter Haven garbage, recycling, junk, and vegetation collection services may intermittently run behind over the next few weeks as our Solid Waste team works through staffing difficulties. If your items are not collected on your scheduled date, rest assured they will be collected as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and grace as we work through the hurdles ahead.
Questions? Please email the Solid Waste Division at [email protected]
WinterWhen’s your pick-up? Visit https://www.mywinterhaven.com/government/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste/am-i-serviced-by-the-city-or-county/
Downtown Fort Meade Seeking Wider Sidewalks & Less Vacant Spaces
by James Coulter
If you drive through Downtown Fort Meade, you probably won’t even notice you drove though the sleepy town at all. Not much stands out along the main roads of Charleston and Broadway save a few gas stations and chain fast food eateries, and many vacant spaces exist in the main downtown area.
All of that could change with a vision plan by Main Street Fort Meade to help beautify and refurbish the downtown area. On Aug. 19, the local non-profit organization hosted a workshop to gain input from community members on how to improve their city’s image.
Nearly 30 local residents attended the meeting that evening. Most of them offered their feedback, providing suggestions on widening the sidewalks, filling up the vacant spaces, and bringing high-speed internet.
The main suggestion was to make their downtown area more pedestrian friendly by providing wider sidewalks and narrower roads to help slow down traffic and allow pedestrians to more easily traverse the downtown area.
“That was a huge priority for us,” explained Shannon Curtis, Executive Director of Main Street of Fort Meade. “We have a lot of big trucks that roll through to, and our layout is geared more towards trucks and traffic. So we would like to shift that and make it more pedestrian friendly area.”
Another suggestion was to fill the empty spaces and stores that exists along Broadway Avenue. These empty lots could be converted into public spaces, and the empty storefronts could be housed by new businesses, Curtis said. Speaking of which, they also want to find new ways to recruit new businesses.
Finally, another big recommendation was high speed internet. As it stands, the city does not have great internet coverage, and the lack of quality high-speed internet is a “hole in the entire community” that needs to be filled if they city wants to attract new businesses.
The workshop was hosted last Thursday by Main Street Fort Meade and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, which initially created the original downtown vision plan seven years ago. The plan had since been reintroduced to the public and revised through the feedback provided at the meeting.
“It is a really nice comprehensive 80-page guide…but they have not done a lot with the vision plan,” Curtis said. “We are really trying to apply for more grants, and we have a block grant that was awarded to us…[So we are trying] to get an update on that and get word with the citizens of Fort Meade about the possibilities with the upcoming block grant renovations that will be happening.”
Main Street is a nationwide non-profit organization that helps assist cities and towns through downtown renovation and historic preservation. The Chamber of Commerce applied for a Main Street designation last summer, and Main Street Fort Meade was officially established that fall.
Main Street Fort Meade will be taking the feedback provided at the workshop to revise the vision plan, and they plan on hosting a follow-up meeting within the next month to gain more input.
“I think that the citizens of Fort Meade are excited the Main Street program and the development in that have re-inspired everybody and given them new hope for the possibilities in downtown,” Curtis said. “So I think it was a really positive meeting. Everybody enjoyed themselves, and I think it put everyone on that the same page and gave them hope for the future.”
Jan Bagnall, City Manager Fort Meade, commended the workshop for allowing local residents the opportunity to have a say in how their community is improved. She especially appreciated how the feedback from the workshop allowed the vision plan from 2014 to be updated to better match the “current desires of the community.”
“The city is very happy that we were able to get a good response from the community to update the ideas for a vision for the city,” she said. “We are currently evaluating the responses from the community and incorporating those ideas into an updated vision plan as we start to implement planning and capital projects to improve the city services, infrastructure, amenities, and in general the small-town ambiance of Fort Meade.”
Bartow Feed Store Collecting Donations For Local Youth Who Lost Father To COVID
by James Coulter
Florida Farm And Ranch Supply in Bartow is collecting a feed fund for the show cattle of two local youths after their father tragically passed away from COVID-19.
Tracy Hilleshiem tragically lost his battle against COVID on Aug. 21 after spending nearly a week in the hospital. Both his children, Titus and Trinity, have ongoing cattle show projects that he helped them with before his passing.
“A few years ago when Titus began his journey raising and showing cattle, Tracy was as proud as he could be,” read an online flyer from Florida Farm and Ranch Supply. “He was very involved with the projects. He did all he could have to have their projects be successful. In 2020, Titus was the reserve championin the carcass contest. As a community, we want to take the stress of feed off his wife to ensure these kids are able to finish out the projects and be competitive.”
To ensure these children are able to feed their show cattle and finish their projects successfully, Florida Farm and Ranch Supply in Bartow has set up an account to assist them with their feed expenses. Donations can be made in store, mailed via check, or paid over the phone via card.
“I feel it is something the community should pull together and help out the family,” said
Brad Babicz, general manager for Florida Feed and Ranch Supply. “All the communities are struggling with COVID right now. And it seems to be surging and hitting some people harder than others, and we try to do what we can to help people the best that we can.”
Babicz has known Tracy and his family for a long time. They have been longtime customers at his store, and their children attend the same school and participate in the same youth sports teams as his children. He understands that Tracy had been the breadwinner for the family, so his absence would only make it harder for his children to complete their cattle projects.
“Titus plays balls at the same ballpark as my kids,” Babicz said. “They play baseball, and Tracy was a coach there…as a small community we have all been around the area for the longest time, and it is good family, good people, good kids, and we try to do what we can for them.”
Upon learning about Tracy’s passing, Babicz brainstormed ways to assist his family during their time of need. He decided to set up a fund at his store where people could make donations to cover the feed expenses of his children and their cattle projects.
“It just started a day ago when we announced on Facebook and we had donations,” he said. “It is going well, anything anyone can give will help, small or big, there is nothing too small to help.”
The Show Cattle Feed Fund for Titus and Trinity is being hosted at the Florida Farm and Ranch Supply Store, located at 2975 FL-60, Bartow, FL 33830. Donations can be made at the store, over the phone via credit or debit card, or by check via mail. For more information, call 863-533-1814, or visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/FloridaFarmandRanchSupply/
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
Around 5:08 p.m. on Sunday, August 29, 2021, the ECC received a 911 call from the area of US Hwy 17-92 north of Bates Road in Davenport. The driver of a red 2020 Honda Civic, 23-year-old Kevin Rivera of Orlando, was declared deceased on-scene. Evidence and witnesses indicated that Rivera was heading south on 17-92 and attempted to pass the vehicle in front of him – when he went into the northbound lane, he struck a white Ford E250 van being driven north by 29-year-old Juan Juarez Cedillo of Haines City head-on.
Cedillo suffered critical injuries and is in a local hospital. He is in stable condition. The investigation is ongoing.
Polk Sheriff Press Release
Around 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, August 29, 2021, the ECC received a 911 call from the 4200 block of Timberlane Road in Lake Wales, in reference to a crash between a pickup truck and a car. When first responders arrived on-scene, they located a blue 1994 Acura Integra underneath a white 2016 Dodge Ram 2500. The driver and sole occupant of the Integra, 20-year-old Logan Rodriguez of Winter Haven, was deceased.
Rodriguez was heading south on Timberlane Road when, for unknown reasons, he partially ran off the roadway then overcorrected and began to spin, entering into the northbound lane and into the path of the Dodge Ram, being driven north by 73-year-old James Barnwell of Lithia. Barnwell had minor injuries, and was treated and released from a local hospital. The roadway in that area was closed for approximately six hours during the initial investigation. The investigation is ongoing.
Summerpalooza Gives Free Food & School Supplies to Over 3,000 People
by James Coulter
More than 3,000 Lakeland locals received free groceries, school supplies, and other items during the annual Summerpaloozaevent hosted by New Beginnings High School (NBHS).
On Saturday, hundreds of cars lined up as early as 7 a.m. outside the RP Funding Center in Lakeland to receive free supplies from local businesses and organizations, including Walgreens, Citrus Connection, and the Lakeland Police Department.
For the past several years, NBHS has hosted the annual charity event to give back to the families and children in the local community. Unfortunately, their event was postponed earlier this month due to these uncertain times.
To help protect public health and safety during the ongoing pandemic, this year’s Summerpalooza was hosted as a drive-through event. Attendees registered for the event beforehand and drove through the RP Funding Center parking lot to receive their items.
Ashlee Wright, CEO of NBHS, owes the success for this event and previous years on her dedicated staff and volunteers. Without them working tirelessly, especially during these uncertain times, none of this would have been possible, she said.
“So it is exciting to be out on this beautiful day servicing the community of Polk County,” she said. “I am amazed at the Polk County community, not only at the volunteers who have volunteered their time, as well as the new beginning staff who have come out to help, but also the community as a whole.”
Summerpalooza was hosted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, hundreds of cars lined up as early as 7 a.m. waiting for the event to open to the public. Overall, the turnout was phenomenal, and NBHS stepped up to the plate to assist people in their local community.
“Our donors are just the backbone of this event,” Wright said.“If it were not for them who make this event a reality, we would not be here, so for them, much praise.”
Dr. Stephen Hinson has served as a principal for 14 years. This was his first year serving at NBHS, and his first year participating in Summerpalooza. He appreciated being able to assist with such a tremendous service to the local community, and he was impressed by the overall turnout, especially during these uncertain times.
“I think this was a great event, that we are able to give back to the community,” he said. “We have hundreds of cars running through. We are trying to be as COVID friendly as we can, and safe as we can, to be able to provide this service to the community. So to give back to such an awesome feeling, especially as an educator for so long. So we are super excited about that.”
Dr. Hinson was most pleased at the efficiency of the event. With so many volunteers giving their time to provide local families and children with free groceries and school supplies, the overall endeavor proved NBHS to be a shining exemplar for the local community.
“I think it was very successful,” he said. “The vision of Ms. Wright, wanting to be part of the community. As an educator, we are about wanting to be part of the community. That is why we are community based, that is why we support education to support the community and give back all we can, to serve as leaders.”
Winter Haven Police Department
Swapping an old bike for a newer bike, without permission, from a garage? Okay, I think we can get someone to identify this person. On Aug. 29, a bike was taken from inside of a garage of a 22nd St. N.W. home with the old one left behind.
Uncertain of whether a male or a female, the subject (blonde hair piled on to of the head) is seen on the homeowner’s video sitting at the end of the drive with another person on a green bike. They sit for a couple of minutes, then the subject rides into the garage, leaves the old pink bike and took off with a child’s black Hyper Spinner Trick bike. When the child who lives at the home went to go for a bike ride, he found a bike that obviously was not his.
Recognize this person? Please call Detective Cobb at 863-837-9459.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a fatal crash between a truck versus car. The accident took place around 11am this morning on Timberlane Road in Lake Wales.
According to Carrie Horstman, Public Information Officer, with Polk County Sheriff’s Office the driver of truck did not suffer major injury. The driver of the car succumbed to injuries at the scene.
This is a developing story and we will update as more information is made available.
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