2023 Summer Camp Registration Opens April 3

Registration for City of Winter Haven Residents on April 3, 2023. Non-Residents can register beginning April 10. Registration Forms can be submitted electronically or completed paper packets dropped off at the Winter Haven Recreational & Cultural Center (WHRCC) or AdventHealth Fieldhouse & Conference Center between 8:00am-4:30pm. Once your application has been submitted, online or in-person, parent/guardians will be contacted by phone when application has been approved and will receive their amount owed to reserve their space. A camper’s spot is not guaranteed until payment has been made; staff will contact parent/guardians when we are ready to take payments over the phone or schedule an appointment for in-person payment.

Spots fill quickly! Review our Summer Camp Registration Checklist to have all the required documents ready to go before registration opens. 

Camp Off the Chain Information

• Dates: June 5 – July 28
• Days: Monday – Friday
• Time: 7:30am – 5:30pm
• Fees: $150 – Residents and $300 – Non-Residents

Locations

AdventHealth Fieldhouse & Conference Center 

Open to City Residents and Non-Residents.

• Address: 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd
• Phone Number : (863) 268-6733
• Ages: Kindergarten – 8th Grade Graduates

Winter Haven Recreational & Cultural Center 

City Resident Camp Only.

• Address: 801 MLK Blvd. NE
• Phone Number : (863) 291-5675
• Ages: Kindergarten – 8th Grade Graduates

Rotary Park Clubhouse 

City Resident Camp Only.

• Address: 350 6th St NE
• Phone Number : (863) 291-5675
• Ages: Kindergarten Graduates – 6th Grade Graduates

Summer Teen Volunteer Program

The City of Winter Haven’s Teen Volunteer Program, also called Leader In Training (LIT), is for high school students between the ages of 15-17 years old that are interested in earning community service hours. LIT’s earn hours volunteering for our summer camp programs assisting Camp Counselors with crafts & activities. Guidelines & Procedures are listed on the application below. If you cannot fill out the online application, applications are available for pick up at the AdventHealth Fieldhouse (210 Cypress Gardens Blvd.) or Winter Haven Recreational & Cultural Center (801 MLK Blvd. NE). Fill out the application online!

Job Notice

We are currently hiring for part-time Summer Camp Attendants and Camp Counselors. Click here to find out more information and apply.

Are you 15-17 years old and interested in earning community service hours? Apply to participate in our Leader In Training (LIT) program this summer! Volunteers will assist summer camp counselors with activities and crafts.

Apply: http://ow.ly/Q4vS50NqwmE

Winter Haven Fire Department

Recently four of our firefighters completed the Vehicle Machinery Rescue Technician class. This class teaches advanced techniques for large scale incidents, industrial machinery entrapments, and heavy vehicle extrication. Lt. Minard, Lt. Magee, Lt. Ward and FF2 Baumgardner now join several others on the Technical Rescue Team to provide the best service to our community. Congratulations!!!

Floodplain Questions and Map Information Service

The City of Winter Haven can provide map information regarding properties inside the City limits and how they are impacted by flooding, and answer your questions about flood-prone areas that need special protection because of their natural functions. The City can also provide copies of any available Elevation Certificates on buildings constructed or substantially improved in the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). This is a service provided per the City’s Community Rating System (CRS) Program.

This information is used by those who may have to purchase Flood Insurance. The purchase of flood insurance is mandatory for all federal or federally related financial assistance for the acquisition and/or construction of buildings in SFHA. The mandatory purchase requirement also applies to secured loans from such financial institutions as commercial lenders, savings and loan associations, savings banks, and credit unions that are regulated, supervised, or insured by federal agencies, such as the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Comptroller of Currency, the Farm Credit Administration, the Office of Thrift Supervision, and the National Credit Union Administration. It further applies to all loans purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in the secondary mortgage market.

If you want to know if a property is located in a special flood hazard area (SFHA) or interested in learning more about floodplains, please call tel. 863-291-5850 or email the City of Winter Haven Floodplain Administrator at [email protected]. Flood map information is also available at www.polk-county.net. Click on Businesses, then Land Development, then under the Related Links click on County Map Viewers, then click on Flood Zones; or use the following link 

STARTING IN APRIL 2023, PARKING ENFORCEMENT WILL UTILIZE LICENSE PLATE READER (LPR) TECHNOLOGY IN DOWNTOWN WINTER HAVEN.

THIS TWO-CAMERA SYSTEM WILL SCAN VEHICLE TAGS AND RECORD THE GPS LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE.

THE OPERATOR CONTINUES THE ROUTE AS USUAL TO ENSURE THE 2-HOUR LIMIT IS ADHERED TO.

(PLEASE NOTE TIRES WILL NOT BE MARKED ONCE FULLY IMPLEMENTED)

Members will begin testing the system beginning March 22, 2023 for two weeks. Those parking downtown will still see the current enforcement measures with chalked tires during this testing time.

Check out This Award-Winning Art from Central Park Art Fest

by James Coulter

If looking at Cici McModgle’s artwork feels like looking into someone’s fever dream, that’s essentially what the artists wanted you to feel. With its bright colors and surreal designs, McModgle wanted to portray imagery as though it manifested from one’s deep subconsciousness.

“The inspiration behind my work is more intuition and how your subconscious can guide you,” she said.

Unsurprisingly, her artwork was awarded Best of Show at this year’s Central Florida Art Fest, hosted in Downtown Winter Haven last weekend. The award was most surprising for her, as she only expected to attend and showcase her art. She was encouraged to attend by a previous award winner, who had served as a teacher and mentor for her.

“It is very unexpected,” she said of her award. “It feels good. It feels nice. I wasn’t planning; I did not attend this show expecting to win anything. That is the first thing. You come into it, do it for fun, do it for you, and then success will come with it if you bring good energy and vibes.”

Ron Malone was one of the two artists who won Judge’s Choice. He specializes in portraits. This year’s theme was “Hat Ladies”, themed after the fashion of African-American women who wear big hats. Malone has attended this and many other local art festivals in the past, and he has also won many awards.

“I am very grateful,” he said. “I am surprised, and I am thankful. I owe my success to my mother who encouraged me to paint when I was young. I contributed to enjoying life. If you find something you enjoy, you do it.”

Colleen Williams also won Judge’s Choice for her colored porcelain art. What makes her artwork unique is that keeps her ceramic art unglazed, highlighting the nakedness of raw porcelain.

“It is excellent,” she said about winning. “Why would it not? It is a great honor. I think it is a very different work. It is a cohesive body. So you see the artist’s identity and cohesive execution.”

Presented by Victor Smith Law Group, the Ridge Art Association’s Central Park Arts Festival was once again hosted in scenic Downtown Winter Haven. Nealy 100 vendors congregated in Central Park to showcase their diverse artwork from paintings to sculptures and mosaics.

This year’s event was the first to be supervised by Daphne Manning, the new executive director of the Ridge Art Association. She brings with her 19 years of volunteer experience. Despite the nippy weather on Sunday, the weather on Saturday proved ideal and drew in quite the crowd, she said.

“The weather was perfect yesterday,” Manning said. “We had a lot of new artists show up. A lot of great artists.”

Christy Hemmenway had previously supervised the event for the past 21 years. She was impressed by how her predecessor handled the event this year.

“We have a really strong lineup,” she said. “The weather has been a contender. We had a lot of no-shows because we were supposed to storm this weekend…We hope to have more artists next year and that the weather will cooperate a little bit better.”

For more information about upcoming events through the Ridge Art Association, visit their website: https://www.ridgeart.org/

Tanners Lakeside
Bring the whole family for a day full of fun with our annual Easter celebration and Egg Hunt!

When: Sunday, April 9

Enjoy annual egg hunt & other great activities for the kids!

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Auburndale Lions Club Hosted Inaugural Black Tie Fundraiser Gala

by James Coulter

Live music. Great food. And plenty of people dressed in black and dapper clothing. This was the atmosphere of the very first Black Tie Fundraising Gala hosted by the Auburndale Lions Club.

The formal event had attendees dress up in their finest formal wear (mostly black), enjoy a dinner served by Santiago’s Market, and listen and dance to golden oldie hits performed by Eddie Rivers.

Proceeds from the event will help sponsor and support three affiliates with the Auburndale Lions Club. One of them is the Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired in Daytona Beach, which helps the blind and the legally blind live independently.

These proceeds will also help sponsor children to attend diabetic camp in the summer, as well as provide fishing poles and live bait for the club’s monthly fishing derby.

MinnieGee Hassle received the idea to host the event following a fundraising event last June which raised more than $1,000 for the Special Olympics in Orlando.

“So, we figured if we can do it for Special Olympics, we can do it for our kids,” said Wanda Wiggs, President of Auburndale Lions Club. Wiggs was quite impressed by the turnout, especially with the gala being the inaugural event. “It is a success. We do well and I hope we can continue to receive funding to reach our goal.”

Hassle herself was also impressed by the turnout. She had initially expected fewer people to show up, but the actual attendance more than exceeded her initial expectations, she said.

“It is pretty good,” she said. “We were expecting [fewer] people, but it looks like more people are picking up and coming in here. We have more tickets than we sold…We have a nice and wonderful group of amazing people.”

The Auburndale Lions Club will be hosting its annual fish fry on April 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meals are $10 each. For more information, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lionsclubs

Reporting Local Concerns in Winter Haven Made Easy with the Access Winter Haven App

Winter Haven, FL – The City of Winter Haven is excited to announce the launch of the Access Winter Haven app, an app available for apple and android devices that makes reporting local problems easier than ever before.
Whether it’s a code compliance request, a damaged street sign, scheduling a bulk garbage pickup or any other quality-of-life condition that needs attention, the Access Winter Haven app is the quickest and most efficient way to report it. With the app’s GPS function, residents can easily pinpoint their location and select from a menu of common issues. The app also allows users to upload pictures or videos to accompany their requests.
But the Access Winter Haven app is not just limited to reporting potholes and damaged signs. It can also be used for a variety of other requests, such as street maintenance, street light outages, damaged trees, damaged park equipment, water concerns, and more. Residents can track the status of their reports as well as reports submitted by other members of the community.
The Access Winter Haven app is a powerful tool that empowers residents to take an active role in improving their community. By reporting local problems, residents can help ensure that Winter Haven remains a great place to live, work, and play.

So what are you waiting for? Download the Access Winter Haven app today and start reporting local problems with ease!

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/app/access-winter-haven/id6446150125

Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mywinterhaven.seeclickfix&pli=1

CONTACT:
Katrina Hill, Director of Public Affairs and Communication Cell: 863-287-6356
Email: [email protected]
Office of the City Manager

App Store Description:
For those potholes, damaged street signs, and other local problems that need attention, the Access Winter Haven app makes reporting a problem easier than ever. This app uses GPS to recognize your location and gives you a menu of common quality-of-life conditions to select from. The app allows you to upload pictures or videos to accompany your request. The mobile app can also be used for a variety of other re- quests such as street maintenance, street light requests, damaged trees, park equipment, and others. Residents can track the status of reports they or other members of the community have submitted. Residents can also call Winter haven at 863-291-5600 for information on any City service and to report a problem in town or visit us at 451 Third Street NW, Winter Haven, FL for free notary service or general town information.

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat at InnerG Cafe Grand Opening

by James Coulter

What do barbecue, cheeseburgers, loaded nachos, and buffalo chicken pizza all have in common? They’re all food made with meat. So, they’re not exactly food you can eat if you’re on a plant-based diet.

Or can you?

InnerG Cafe in Winter Haven offers various menu items, from “burgers” and “chicken” sandwiches to “barbecue” pizza and “seafood” platters, that will make customers not believe that they were made without meat.

Everything at InnerG Cafe, from the macaroni and cheese to the “steak” tips and “calamari” fritters, is 100 percent plant-based and vegan, with plenty of alkaline-free, gluten-free, and soy-free options to best meet your dietary needs.

“We have so many great options that are healthy and delicious,” said owner Chef Eimi. “I put my heart and soul and all the love that I have into the food that I prepare because my goal is to convert everybody [to a plant-based diet]. I want you to be like, ‘This is vegan? I am coming back tomorrow and bringing back my friends.'”

Chef Eimi is a whole-food plant-based chef who received her certification from Forks Over Knives two to three years ago. She is also a self-published author who released her cookbook “Love Language of Food” last year and her other book “35 Days, 35 Ways” years previously.

Eimi was inspired to start her eatery last year. She was tired of having to travel to cities like Orlando and Kissimmee for plant-based vegan options. So, she decided to start cooking and serving food out of her own house for two months.

There was only one problem: she wasn’t allowed to sell food out of her house.

Still, she remained determined to start her own eatery. Even when she prioritized other matters like publishing her cookbook and hosting courses and classes on plant-based cooking, her dream was to start her own restaurant.

That dream was realized earlier this year when she was notified of a food truck for sale. However, she had also received approval to work as an instructor at the University of Miami. She was stuck with a serious dilemma: work as a teacher or start her own business.

“I prayed and meditated on it,” she said. “I heard God tell me if I wanted to be prestigious or do I want to be powerful. So I never contacted Miami. The next day, I picked up the keys and closed the deal on the food truck…[When I checked it out], I had the same feeling when I purchased my house. It was home. I knew it was for me. I knew it was the time.”

Since February, she has worked tirelessly at her new food truck located along Lake Alfred Road across the street from the Gill Government Building. The surprised reaction from customers learning that all of her food was prepared without meat remains satisfying for her.

She understands the many problems people face today due to their high-meat diets, from high cholesterol and blood pressure to diabetes and colon cancer. She wants to educate the public about the wonders of a plant-based diet and how one does not need to sacrifice flavor.

Their most popular item has been the cheezeburger eggroll, an air-fried eggroll prepared in such a way that it tastes like a cheeseburger. Ever since one customer shared a post that was shared more than 83 times, it has remained the number one requested item, Chef Eimi said.

“A fire has been lit under me, and the goal is to educate people about plant-based food,” she said. “It is good healthy food, an alternative to what you have been used to. It is like comfort food so it does not feel or taste like you are missing anything.”

InnerG Cafe celebrated its grand opening last Friday with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce. Several chamber board members had the opportunity to sample the menu items, including the chickpea salad hummus and buffalo barbecue pizza.

“It was absolutely fantastic,” said Executive Director Lana Stripling. “We are excited for Eimi because the food is phenomenal. She will do very well and be successful, and we are glad she is a chamber member with us.”

InnerG Cafe is located at 3500 Lake Alfred Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33881. For more information, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/InnerGCafe