Girls Inc Rings in Holidays Early with Angels Among Us
by James Coulter
Twas the week before Thanksgiving, and all through Venue 650, Angels Among Us was hosted, and the fundraiser was quite nifty. All the angel ornaments were hung on the Christmas tree with care, in hopes that a good donation for Girls Inc would be there. And the attendees with their bao, cheesy grits, and champagne, were carousing away during this holiday fundraising campaign.
Last Wednesday evening, Girls Inc. of Winter Haven hosted their annual holiday fundraiser with Angels Among Us at Venue 650. Despite the rainy weather earlier that evening, more than 200 to 250 attendees turned out for an evening of silent auctions, good food, and lively music and company.
For nearly 25 years, Girls Inc. of Winter Haven has been hosting this annual holiday tradition as a fundraiser for its many services and programs. According to its website, Girls Inc. is a non-profit organization “dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.”
“At Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven, we believe that behind every girl is a truly unique individual. One that needs your time and experience to learn, grow, and succeed,” its website states. “Girls Inc. develops research-based informal education programs that encourage girls to take risks and master physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges.”
Peggy Threlkel, Executive Director, owes the event’s success to its dedicated board members. “That has really helped us with the advocacy they do out in the community wanting to get items and sponsors for us,” she said. “That really helps us grow.”
With the annual event being hosted during the holiday seasons, not only does it allow members like Peggy to celebrate the holidays early, but to also mingle with fellow members and supporters, especially those who only see each other yearly around this time.
“The one thing that I love, and I noticed it a lot this evening, there are some people I only see once a year, and it is here at the event, and it is great to see them,” she said. “Our anticipation for the future of Girls Inc. is to continue to grow our members, and grow our advocacy in the community, and grow our support.”
Carman Rich, Board Chair, concurs with Peggy in that the integral part of the event is the many people who help organize it, from volunteers to other board members.
“I think it is a wonderful event this time of year that brings everyone together,” she said. “We are very welcome to our community and their support, and [I love] being able to see everyone and enjoy the fellowship. I think Girls Inc. will grow and continue to serve the girls in our community.”
For more information about Girls Inc. of Winter Haven, visit their website at: https://www.girlsincwinterhaven.org/
Thanksgiving is around the corner, which means Christmas is following close behind. There’s no better time to start your holiday shopping than right now! But when, exactly, is the best time to start shopping for the holiday season?
You could wait outside the mall or department store on Thanksgiving night, then fight other customers in the rabid rush to grab the hottest Black Friday savings with all your money going to a large multinational corporation.
Or you could keep your money local by shopping local and buying handmade arts and crafts from local vendors, all in a much more laid-back atmosphere by strolling through Downtown Winter Haven during a less busy weekend.
If the latter option sounds better, then feel free to drop by the Annual Haven Holiday Market this Sat. Nov. 18 from 10 AM – 4 PM at Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven.
More than 200 local vendors will showcase their handmade arts and crafts in Central Park, located right across from the Winter Haven Public Library in Downtown Winter Haven. Stroll through a winter wonderland while perusing holiday gifts created locally by local entrepreneurs and enjoying live music, food trucks, and other fun activities.
For nearly a decade, the Haven Holiday Markey has grown leaps and bounds into one of the largest holiday markets in Central Florida. What started with roughly 69 to 72 booths has since expanded into 200 and draws in thousands of visitors each year, explained Sergio Cruz, Event Coordinator with Winter Haven Saturday Markets.
Cruz started his marketplace venue nearly 20 years ago. He wanted to fill a niche that he felt was missing in Downtown Winter Haven, which were monthly and annual markets to help promote local artists and craftsmen as well as draw residents and visitors alike to Downtown Winter Haven.
“I noticed there was something missing in the parks,” he said. “I came to find out that it was the little gem that was missing in our beautiful Central Park located in downtown Winter Haven. We needed something where we could gather community, families, the elderly, the handicapped with their pets, so I decided to co-found Winter Haven Saturday Markets.”
Since starting the Haven Holiday Market nearly a decade ago, the annual holiday event has drawn in hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors. Last year alone, more than 200 vendors and 1,000 visitors attended. He hopes this year will prove bigger and better than ever, he said.
“It was the best thing we ever done,” he said. “We host it before Black Friday, so it says a lot. The people are ready to shop. The people are ready to look for the personal gift. The people are excited to go on about and people have money to spend. We have this before Black Friday. All of those things combined are why Haven Holiday Market is the most successful event year after year.”
Sergio Cruz appeared on a recent episode of the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss the Haven Holiday Market. Learn more by listening to the episode at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chattinontheridge/episodes/Ep–14-Sergio-Cruz-e2au540
City of Winter Haven to Incur up to $27 Million in Additional Debt to Fund Various City Projects
by James Coulter
Even though the City of Winter Haven will be issuing no more than $27 million in non-ad valorem revenue bonds to fund various city projects, the city’s overall credit rating remains in good standing, as reported in Monday’s city commission meeting.
On Monday evening, Winter Haven City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution for the issuance of non-ad valorem revenue bonds not to exceed $27 million.
As such, the city will incur up to $27 million in additional debt to be paid from non-ad valorem revenues, which the city agrees to budget and appropriate each fiscal year the bond remains outstanding.
These bonds will go towards funding various city projects, including:
• The construction of a new recreation complex consisting of athletic and event fields, pedestrian facilities, docks, and parking facilities.
• The construction of a roadway extension that will provide multimodal trails, sidewalks, and lighting to support the roadway and associated infrastructure.
• The acquisition of approximately 370 acres of land that will house a planned wetland reclamation area, an operations facility, and an unplanned development area.
City Manager Michael T. Starves mentioned that one of these projects will include funding from Polk County. $10 million will go to the redevelopment of Chain of Lakes Park. Half of that funding will be offset through the county through the TVC, as well as a $5 million cash contribution from the TVC, Starves said.
Despite the city expecting to incur no more than $27 million in additional debt, the city’s overall credit rating remains upstanding, Starves said.
In May 2023, the city went through its Annual Surveillance Review with S&P for its credit rating, which was improved from AA- to AA with a stable outlook, Starves reported.
Additionally, upon conducting additional surveillance in anticipation of this bond issuance, S&P found that the higher rating remained unchanged, Starves said.
Finally, within the past week, another surveillance was conducted by Fitch, which improved their rating. That rating remained the same at AA-, but the outlook was changed from stable to positive in anticipation of this issuance.
“I think that is a testament to what we are doing financially to the fact that we are leveraging these dollars with contributions from other sources,” Starves said. “We have sound fiscal policies. We have strong growth. We have conservative operations. And overall we are in a good position for this issuance.”
Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler quipped that “Winter Haven now has a higher rating than the U.S. federal government.” To which, Starves replied, also in a quippy manner, that he might consider going to D.C. after his term ends this December.
Mayor Dantzler then asked when the city would acquire the money, and who would be buying the bonds. Jake Glover, a financial advisor from the Public Financial Management (PFM), answered that the actual bond sale will take place on Nov. 29 and that the city would receive the money on Dec. 14.
“As soon as we get approval today, an offering document will be released to the market later this week,” he said. “Any investment banking firm can take a bid to the bond. Whoever will be willing to pay the lowest bid will be awarded the bonds and they will likely have those bonds placed. At this point, we don’t know who will buy the bonds, but they will be awarded to the lowest true interest cost offer.”
A motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution, and the City Commission voted unanimously.
AED Donated to Veterinary Healthcare Associates by Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation
by James Coulter
Veterinary Healthcare Associates in Winter Haven helps assist our favorite furry four-footed friends and their medical needs. However, sometimes at the hospital, a medical emergency arises for their human friends as well.
Kyle Evanow, Hospital Director, knows full well how important it is to prepare for such emergencies. He once worked as a trauma nurse who helped design trauma programs all over the country. As such, he appreciates the automated external defibrillator that was recently donated to and installed at his facility.
“It feels great to have the ability to have it in the event of an emergency,” he said. “I have seen on my side of the emergency department the difference that the AEDs make as far as the outcome of the patients. I know that it makes a huge difference in the community and for the ability to a good event a good outcome in a bad situation.”
That AED was the 25th device donated by the Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, a local non-profit organization run by Melanie Brown Culpepper. She and her team arrived on Thursday evening to donate the device and have it installed at Veterinary Healthcare Associates in Winter Haven.
Melanie Brown Culpepper started her organization three years following the untimely passing of her late fiancée, Michael Culpepper, who passed away from a cardiac arrest. Not wanting others to suffer a similar fate, she now raises proceeds to install and donate AEDs across the county.
Dr. Loren Nations, hospital owner and founder, was truly inspired both by Melanie’s story and by her donation. That Melanie was able to take a traumatic moment in her life and turn it into something good for others is nothing short of inspirational, Nations said.
“I think it is awesome,” he said. “We appreciate people who are looking out for others and want to give back sometimes turning something painful into something positive so we want to support that. Hopefully, we do not have to use it, and hopefully, we can save some lives, too.”
Hope Reed, a client loyalty agent, has been working with Dr. Nations for 27 years. She is proud to have an AED donated to their facility, and she hopes it will be put to good use to help people in case such an emergency that requires it arises–however, she also hopes that no such emergency happens.
“We have a high-stress situation where a lot of people coming into the facility are in an emergency clinic, and a lot of time, people get stressed out easily, and our hospital is a game changer at how we can service our community,” he said.
Since starting her organization three years ago, Melanie has raised proceeds to donate 25 AEDs throughout the county at local businesses and other establishments like The Mission of Winter Haven, Tanner’s Lakeside, and the Winter Haven Boxing Club.
Recently, she had the opportunity to speak during a presentation at the Clearwater Arena. Her presentation about her organization proved so moving that another AED company donated nearly a dozen AEDs to her. She has since been invited to visit that company in Canada this January.
“It is so amazing how much this has been taking off and how much the word is getting out for saving lives matter,” she said. “It is great to get this out here at all these locations and be able to save someone.”
Garden Grove Church Allows Community to Break Your Fall
by James Coulter
Thanksgiving may be around the corner, and Christmas may be following close behind, yet that did not stop Garden Grove Church from celebrating the autumn season with its annual Break Your Fall festival.
Last Saturday, Garden Grove Church in Winter Haven treated residents and other visitors to a good time with bounce houses, carnival games, and even a few rides. Attendees were even treated to free hot dogs, popcorn, and soft drinks, with plenty of other concessions available for purchase.
For more than a decade, Garden Grove Church has been hosting its annual fall festival not only as a way to give back to itscommunity, but also to give their community the opportunity to learn about the Christian Gospel.
The week before, during Halloween, Garden Grove Church set up a booth to pass out to trick-or-treaters gift bags filled with candy and tickets inviting them to the annual fall festival.
John Schreck, Associate Pastor, owes its success every year to the volunteers who help host the event. More than 45 volunteers, most of them church members, helped to put on this event and allowed it to run as smoothly as it usually does.
“I owe it to our volunteers and also God’s faithfulness with how we are able to do this each and every year,” he said. “Seeing all of the families have good quality time together and their interaction with our church family, creating an atmosphere that is safe, and inviting for everyone makes it a real joy to keep doing.”
Kristin McGee, Children’s Church Pastor, loves seeing all of the families and children arriving to enjoy the event. Many attendees were return visitors, while many more were new people arriving for the first time.
“It is great,” she said. “We always have a lot of fun. It is always fun to see repeat faces. We have a lot of people who come back year after year and that is great. Our volunteers are incredible. It is always a great event.”
Pastor Frank Hawley loves being able to host this event year after year and allowing guests old and new to enjoy themselves. Being able to provide the community with a fun time and appreciate the love of God is always a good thing, in his opinion.
“It is turning out well,” he said. “People are still coming. It looks like they are having fun. They are eating and playing games. The kids are happy and the parents are doing well. They look like they are having fun. This is a safe place for them to bring the kids. We got people watching and that’s good. It is a good thing.”
By Donna Fellows-Coffey, Publisher, Four Corners Sun Oct 23, 2023
This is a collaboration publishing or an article by the Polk Sun News & Daily Ridge in a joint effort to bring more news to Polk County residents
*The Views and opinions expressed by the author does not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Ridge or its staff
Four Corners Sun Publisher Donna Fellows-Coffey
As many of our readers already know, in addition to my role as publisher for the Four Corners Sun, I also proudly serve my community as a Davenport City Commissioner.
This is my first term as a commissioner, having only been an elected official since April. However, during that time, the same two issues keep being brought to my attention – traffic congestion and neighborhood speeding. What do those two things have in common? Roads and growth.
So, when Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey asked to speak at a recent city commission meeting about the proposed half-cent sales tax effort for roads that he is proposing, I knew that I owed it to my neighbors to listen carefully to his presentation.
Lindsey has spent the past several months making similar presentations to city officials throughout Polk County. Whether you agree with the proposal or not, he deserves an A for effort in getting his message out amongst the decision-makers of the county’s 17 municipalities.
Celebrated poet Robert Frost infamously penned, “I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
As a youngster growing up in Northeast Polk County, roads less traveled by existed. Forty-plus years later, that is no longer the case. There are no longer any roads less traveled. Even our dirt roads and alley ways sometimes fall victim to the congestion.
The fact of the matter is that Polk County is one of the fastest growing counties in the entire nation. Moreover, portions of the county, especially in the northeast region, are ranked among the fastest growing cities in the United States.
And no one realistically expects the growth explosion to stop anytime soon. Projections estimate the Polk County population to reach 1.2 million people by 2044.
While there are certainly exceptions with our more recently constructed roadways, the simple reality is that most of our roads were not built with the expectation of the volumes they currently undertake.
To paraphrase what Commissioner Lindsey keeps all but shouting from the rooftops – if you have a better proposal, I’m all ears, but doing nothing is simply not an option.
For those of you who might be unfamiliar with the proposal, here’s the highlights –
The tax would be limited to 20 years. If approved, it would go into effect on January 1, 2025, and would sunset on December 31, 2044.
The initiative would bring the county’s sales tax rate to 7.5%. Currently 21 of Florida’s 67 counties have a 7.5% sales tax rate.
Over the 20-year span, the initiative would generate more than $2 billion in additional revenue, which would be placed in a trust. Of that amount, 72%, or roughly $1.5 billion, would go to county projects, while 28%, or roughly $581,000, would go to city projects.
Under the current proposal, Lakeland would receive nearly 38% of the city funding, followed by Winter Haven at 15.88%, Haines City at 8.13%, Bartow at 7.95%, Lake Wales at 6.28%, Auburndale at 5.86%, Mulberry at 3.01%, Fort Meade at 2.6%, Davenport at 2.36%, Lake Alfred at 2.31%, Frostproof at 2.29%, Dundee at 1.98%, Polk City at 1.24% and Eagle Lake at 1.14%. The remaining municipalities would each receive less than 1%. (Side note, I’m not sure I agree with this particular allocation model – I think it’s a bit outdated and not reflective of where the current growth, congestion and needs are – but that’s another column for another day.)
The tax surcharge would be used to construct new roadways, as well as to fix and maintain existing roads. The funds would also be used to expand some public transportation services.
Admittedly, I’m probably a bit biased.
Professionally, I spent more than two decades in logistics. I saw firsthand how crucial our roadways are for commercial commerce.
Indulge me for a moment – I’m going to take a quick journalistic detour.
I was born at Winter Haven Hospital. At three days old, my parents brought me home to our home in Davenport, where I lived until my early 20s when I moved to an apartment in Haines City. From there, I moved to Winter Haven, where I lived for about five years until I moved back to Davenport. I say all of that to say this —
In less than a month, I will turn 47 years old. And I have NEVER not lived in Polk County.
So believe me when I tell you that I know what Polk County used to be. I’ve watched the evolution of our wonderful county for nearly half a century.
I actually think that growth is a good thing. I loved the Polk County of my childhood, but I love the Polk County of today even more. I can’t imagine ever living anywhere else, but if I ever do leave, there’s no doubt in my mind that my heart will always be in Polk County.
Y’all, I’m going to be perfectly blunt in typical Polk County girl style – We live where everyone else vacations. Why can we fault others for wanting to do the same?
Polk County was a hidden gem, a local secret, for many years. But the secret is out now, and like it or not, we have to share its glory with others. This may not be a popular sentiment, but we have to welcome the outsiders and help them acclimate to our culture and become one of us.
Okay then, so back to the topic at hand –
The math is actually surprisingly simple. More people equals more cars. More cars overwhelm our outdated roads.
We can complain, or we can do something about it.
Up until now, we haven’t kept up with the growth. Since we haven’t been proactive, we have no choice but to be reactive, and to hopefully learn from our mistakes and take a more proactive approach to our roadways going forward.
Not to mention, by using a sales tax approach to help fund our roadways, as opposed to a different taxing option, we are sharing the burden with those who don’t live here. Let’s take advantage of the tourism base at our fingertips. Everyday, vacationers travel our roads, eat at our restaurants, shop in our stores and visit our parks. Simply put, they come here and spend their money. The sales tax allows them to temporarily help pay for the roads that they temporarily use while they’re here.
Soon, in the coming weeks in fact, Lindsey and his fellow county commissioners will decide whether or not to allow the half-cent sales tax for roads initiative to be placed on the November 2024 ballot.
Residents will be among those driving the roads. Residents will be among those paying the increased tax amount. So the residents should be the ones making the decision.
Polk County Commission – I urge you to allow the half-cent sales tax to be placed on the ballot and put the decision in the hands of the people, for better or worse, who will be affected most. Let’s let the voters decide.
What do you think about the sales tax proposal? Have thoughts about our roads? I want to hear from you. Email me at [email protected].
Mulberry, Florida – The Polk County Fire Rescue is currently working a structure fire at 3810 Hwy 60 in Mulberry. The call came in at 7:44pm. According to the initial call it was an explosion and thus now a fire. It appears the building is an older dilapidated structure. At this time it doesn’t appear anyone was inside the structure.
We believe it may affect a lane of Hwy 60 Eastbound.
We will update if further information becomes available. Currently 7 units are on scene and others are being told they may stand down. The battalion chief is asking for the fire marshal.
Donnie Johnson, owner of Christian Brothers Automotive, knows personally the sacrifices people have made serving in the military. His cousin was a Sgt. Major in the Marine Corps, and now he teaches the ROTC at Lake Region High School.
During these politically charged times, Johnson knows that many people remain unaware of the service these brave men and women in the military have made. Wanting to show them his support, he hosted a Veteran’s Day lunch last Friday.
Several dozen local veterans and their families arrived for a luncheon catered by Johnson and his staff at Christian Brothers Automotive. The event included the Presentation of Colors by the Honor Guard, the singing of the National Anthem, and the setting of the empty chair for POW/MIA officers.
The luncheon was hosted in the parking lot of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, located right next door to Christian Brothers Automotive. Jordan Spencer, one of the church pastors, was more than honored to have his church facilitate such a momentous occasion.
“Donnie asked if we could share the parking lot with him when he threw this event,” Spencer said. “We want to do what we can for our community. We want to open our parking lot for them. I am just glad to be a part of it and thankful for what they have done, how they served, and to give back just a little bit.”
Johnson, as someone with family members in the military, wanted to show his appreciation for the local men and women who gave all to serve their country. He was pleased and honored by the turnout that day, and he expects to host similar events in the future.
“So many people forget what they do. If we can give back a little bit of what they do, give back a little bit, it’s what we can do for them,” Johnson said. “I think our veterans have been forgotten, to be honest with you. They have done so much. They have given so much for our country. If we can give a little bit back, even if it’s just lunch, I would be glad to do that.”
Come Break Your Fall at Break Your Fall at Garden Grove Church
by James Coulter
Halloween may be over, Thanksgiving may be right around the corner, and Christmas may be following close behind it, but it’s never too late to celebrate autumn–or at least the best you can celebrate fall in this Florida weather. (Fortunately, the temperature has fallen to a “crispy” 70 degrees, which, around these parts, is considered jacket weather!)
What better way to celebrate fall than at a fall festival like the annual Break Your Fall at Garden Grove Church in Winter Haven? This Saturday, Nov. 11, starting at 4 PM, the church will be offering a festive array of fun and games including carnival games, bounce houses, live music, and free food including popcorn, hot dogs, and soft drinks.
For more than a decade, Garden Grove Church has been hosting this annual fall event to give back to their local community. Every Halloween, they host a vendor booth outside their church to hand out gift bags filled with candy and invitations to their big event a few weeks later.
Pastor Jon Schreck, Associate Pastor at Garden Grove Church, has been serving at the church for 16 years. He loves being able to plan and organize this event, and he especially appreciates being able to use it as an opportunity to reach out to their local community and share with them the love of Jesus Christ through the Gospel message.
“This is our biggest event of the year,” he said. “We participate in various outreaches throughout the year. This is our biggest event on campus. The fall festival we host in November gives us an opportunity for the church to show the love of God in a tangible way by creating this family-friendly event for families to have a fun time with each other and have an interaction with the church and hopefully with God’s love as well.”
Pastor Jon Schreck recently joined us on our Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss his church’s event. Learn more by listening to our recent episode at: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/p8qRJwVaxEb
Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese Served at Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese Downtown
by James Coulter
What goes better with casual conversation than wine? And what goes better with wine than cheese and chocolate? Last Friday evening, residents and visitors were able to enjoy it all during the Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate event hosted in Downtown Winter Haven.
With glass in hand and a wristband around their wrist, attendees were able to stroll through downtown, visit various participating shops and eateries, and sample wine, cheese, and chocolate, all while spending quality time with other residents and business owners.
Lindsay Lane, owner of the Haven Shop, participated in her new storefront, which opened earlier this year. She had participated in events years before at Haven Roasters, but this was the first time she engaged with the event at her new location. She served aged cheddar and Hutt 3 Carbine.
“The turnout is wonderful,” she said of visitors perusing her shop of Winter Haven-themed merchandise. Being able to attend allowed her to open up her shop and showcase its merchandise to new potential customers. “The turnout is wonderful. I love seeing everybody out and about and people we don’t normally see.”
Mike Lee, local comedian and owner of Laugh Out Lounge, likewise participated to help showcase his comedy club. This year was his first participation at the event. With more than 1,000 tickets to the sold-out event, he was able to mingle with many newcomers who had never visited his venue.
“It has been a fantastic turnout,” he said. “We have been swamped all this evening. Everybody is having a great time. There are a lot of people here who did not know we were here. So, for events like this, it is the way to get people involved and let them know we are here downtown.”
Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate is one of the many annual events hosted by Downtown Winter Haven and Main Street Winter Haven to help draw locals to the downtown area and peruse its many shops and eateries. This year’s event was sold out once again, and the turnout proved phenomenal, said Anita Strang, Executive Director of Main Street Winter Haven.
“I am excited to have another sold-out event. Absolutely, it hit it out of the park,” she said. “Wine, chocolate, and cheese: these are wonderful pairings and I love seeing people going in and out of the businesses downtown. We have a great partnership with the city of Winter Haven as well as the downtown businesses. They are so welcoming to opening up and allowing people to come in and shop and do the tastings.”
For more information about upcoming events, visit their website at: https://www.mainstreetwh.com/
