Winter Haven Public Safety- Sgt. David Keigan attended the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin! Yes, Berlin! Here’s a recent message from Sgt. Keigan: “The Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 were so energetic, I don’t know if I’ll get to sleep anytime soon. Here are a few pictures of me and my run team, Team USA athletes and a few famous sports guys.” Special Olympics is such a passion for Sgt. Keigan. We are so proud of his accomplishments as we continue to support this wonderful organization with our Annual 5k Run in March to raise money for Special Olympics Florida. It’s only June, but plans are already in the works for our March 2024 5k. Stay Tuned!
Here’s a great way to enjoy some awesome BBQ and support the Winter Haven Police Explorers! Explorers are youth ages 14 – 21 who work alongside Department members at events, train in the procedures of law enforcement and learn everything there is to know about a career should they choose. The most important thing Explorers learn is Teamwork and Leadership! They compete against other Explorer Posts across the State. And there is no cost to the families! This fundraiser will help with the expenses to ensure our Explorer Post continues to be one of the best Posts in the State! For more information, contact Detective Ragusa at 863-291-5694.
The City of Winter Haven is proud to celebrate Juneteenth by partnering with a citizen committee.
June 16, the movie ‘The Great Debaters’ will play at Lake Maude Recreation Park. There will be Popcorn and refreshments for sale; the movie starts at 8 pm. We hope you will join us!
This is part of a 3-day series of events. The city is hosting this 3-day, fun-filled series of events. We want to invite you to come and participate and celebrate with our community during any of our celebrations!
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a traffic crash that occurred this morning on Buckeye Loop Road in Winter Haven that resulted in the death of an adult male pedestrian. His next of kin has not yet been notified. Preliminary information follows:
Around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2023, we received 911 calls reporting the crash and an unresponsive adult male on the grassy east shoulder of the roadway, which is a two-lane road with a 45 MPH speed limit. The driver of a 2006 Toyota Corolla, 25-year-old Gabriel Mora of Winter Haven, was traveling north when he struck the man, whom he did not see. The man was walking just inside the fog line of the road. It was dark at the time and there are no street lights in the area. The tree line blocks most of the ambient light from the nearby neighborhood. We have positively identified the man and are looking for his next of kin to notify them of his death. There are no signs of impairment for the driver.
The City of Winter Haven is proud to celebrate Juneteenth by partnering with a citizen committee.
June 15th, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, the Winter Haven Recreation & Cultural Center will be telling you about Juneteenth’s history, impacts and the significance it still has today. We hope to see you there!
This is part of a 3-day series of events. The city is hosting this 3-day, fun-filled series of events. We want to invite you to come and participate and celebrate with our community during any of our celebrations!
As a part of Flag Day, we have an update on the new American Flag Drop Box on Pontotoc Street. Since June 5, a staggering 550 flags have been collected from the receptacle!
So where do these flags go? There is an update on that as well. The City collects the American Flags and delivers them to Patriot Legal’s office in Downtown Auburndale. From there, a majority of the flags are given to the American Legion Post 8 in Winter Haven to properly retire the flags through a ceremonial burning.
If you stop by the American Flag Drop Box on Pontotoc Street to find the receptacle filled-up with no space left, please do not drop flags outside of the box. You can also deliver unserviceable flags to Patriot Legal or the American Legion Post 8 in Winter Haven.
City of Winter Haven Announces 3-Day Juneteenth Celebration with Official Proclamation
by James Coulter
The City of Winter Haven will be celebrating diversity and inclusion with their three-day Juneteenth Celebration later this week.
At their recent meeting on Monday evening, Bradley T. Dantzler, Mayor of the City of Winter Haven, read an official proclamation declaring Sat. June 17 as Juneteenth Day.
“The residents, businesses, and employees of the City of Winter Haven, Florida, are firmly committed to celebrating and promoting diversity, inclusion, and cultural traditions of our City’s Communities,” the proclamation read.
“The 2023 Juneteenth Celebration Committee has been charged with and worked along with staff to bring appreciation, and recognition of African American history by creating an atmosphere of unity through a modern-day celebration of heritage that educates, engages, the broader community and inspires future change-makers,” it further elucidated.
Juneteenth, as described on the city website, “is the official day of observance to celebrate African Americans and our newest National Holiday! Juneteenth marks the liberation of thousands of enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, on June 19th, 1865. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a tribute to the perseverance, and faith of African Americans.”
Christine Samuel, Diversity and Inclusivity Director and the Juneteenth Celebration Committee, commended the city for hosting the annual event for the third consecutive year.
“We thank you for being so supportive with the Juneteenth event,” she said. “Every time we ask for something, we feel like we are being supported, and we would like to thank you for that. We appreciate your commitment to Juneteenth.”
Kadian Parchment, a member of the Juneteenth Committee, likewise commended the city for its pursuit of furthering diversity and inclusion within the city and local community.
“People have watched that conversation about diversity and equity, and we are thankful that the City of Winter Haven makes sure this is an important conversation that continues to take place here. The City is becoming more and more diverse, and with that comes more cultural events. So we are thankful the City had donated and dedicated funds to the event and partner with the community. We are thankful for that.”
The upcoming three-day Juneteenth Celebration will be as follows (as mentioned on the city website):
Winter Haven Recreation & Cultural Center (WHRCC); 6pm – 7:30pm
Come and learn more about the history of Juneteenth and how it affects our communities today in this town hall event.
Fri., June 16, 2023 – Movies at the Maude
Lake Maude Recreation Park; Movie begins at 8pm
Come and watch the award winning 2007 film, ‘The Great Debaters’ which features Denzel Washington as he depicts professor Melvin B. Tolson, who recruits the first black debate team to challenge Harvard’s prestigious debate champions.
Sat., June 17, 2023 – 2023 Juneteenth Celebration
Lake Maude Recreation Park; 11am – 4pm
This event will enhance each attendee’s understanding of African American culture by strategically infusing the visual and performing arts. The City aims to provide fun and safe activities, community awards, contests, and games while enjoying influential jazz and R&B musical acts.
Winter Haven, June 13, 2023 – The City of Winter Haven is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael “MJ” Carnevale as the new Deputy City Manager. After a nationwide search launched in April 2023 attracted more than 70 highly qualified applicants, Carnevale was selected for his relentless dedication to this community, innovative leadership strategies, and ability to keep pace with the City’s growth and improvement efforts.
City Manager T. Michael Stavres elaborated on the decision, stating, “The role of Deputy City Manager requires a dynamic, highly organized individual adept at managing multiple projects and fostering cooperative relationships across departments, partners, and constituents. MJ has proven himself capable of doing the job over the time he’s been with the City. He has demonstrated professional excellence in navigating complex capital projects, providing proactive problem-solving solutions, and communicating effectively with the public and various community groups. Additionally, his engagement with important diversity and inclusivity efforts and his passion to make Winter Haven the best it can be are outstanding.”
Carnevale’s 11-year tenure with the city, and his current role as the Public Works Director, have equipped him with a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of Winter Haven’s operations and infrastructure. With an impressive background in natural resources and public works and a track record of successful cross-departmental collaboration, Carnevale brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to his new role. Throughout his tenure as Public Works Director, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, working closely with various departments across the City. He has been instrumental in spearheading numerous community initiatives and has played a key role in advancing projects that enhance the city’s infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and overall livability.
Carnevale has been instrumental in numerous community outreach programs, including last year’s launch of CityU and the Access Winter Haven mobile app. Since 2017, he has played a key leadership role in post-emergency response efforts associated with hurricane debris management and roadway operations. He is also actively involved in multiple professional organizations and is a regular speaker at local and industry events. Carnevale’s collaborative approach, innovative problem-solving skills, and dedication to public service make him a valuable asset to Winter Haven as he assumes his new responsibilities as Deputy City Manager. With his diverse expertise and passion for excellence, he is poised to make a lasting impact on the City’s future, working towards its continued success and prosperity.
Beyond his professional achievements, Carnevale’s personal investment in the City of Winter Haven is evident. He shared, “I have been a City resident and employee for more than 11 years and have come to love this community. It has truly become a home to my family. My goal is simply to continue building those memories and experiences while doing good for the community. I want to help keep the City in the relentless pursuit of excellence.”
The City of Winter Haven is excited for this new chapter with Michael “MJ” Carnevale as the Deputy City Manager.
Stop by the library to pick up your Reading with the Rays game card! As you read, track your hours by rounding the bases. For each base, return to the library to collect your prize. Each child who completes their game card by reading 24 hours this summer receives two (2) tickets to a Rays home game!
For more information about the Reading with the Rays program, visit raysbaseball.com/reading.
