Posts filed under 'General Announcements'
Posted: June 6, 2008: 1:46 pm
Bonnie Parker, immediate past-president of the Chamber has been promoted to City President for SunTrust’s Winter Haven area operations. Ray Sandhagen, Chairman, President and CEO for SunTrust Bank Central Florida made the announcement.
Parker is based at the Winter Haven office as a client advisor in Private Wealth Management. As city president her new responsibilities include community development in the Winter Haven area.
In addition to her role at SunTrust, Bonnie serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. She is active in the Rotary Club of Winter Haven, United Way of Central Florida and Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven. Parker is a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven Class XI.
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Financial Industry, General Announcements
Posted: June 4, 2008: 2:05 pm
Winter Haven will have a new option for dining on the Chain of Lakes as Dockside Restaurant opens tonight (June 4, 2008) on Lake May. Many will remember the locations as “Sally’s Shrimp Boat” and later “Autumn’s Anchor.”
The steak and seafood restaurant features a game room for the kids, stage for musical performances, big screen televisions, pool tables, two bars and outside decks and docks. Owners include Jim Staples, Brian Mallory and Chris Blagg.
The new operation is in its shakedown cruise opening with an emphasis on food quality and a neighborhood type of atmosphere. (Be sure to try their fabulous yeast rolls basted with butter and honey.)
Dockside features an expansive lakefront setting and with a little rain there will be a growing focus on summer events and outdoor activities such as volleyball. It is located at 1006 S. Lake Howard Drive. Hours are Monday - Thursday from 4 p.m. to Midnight. Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays from Noon to Midnight. Phone 297-1926.
Welcome!
| See other posts filed in: Chain of Lakes, Dining, General Announcements
Posted: March 25, 2008: 8:38 am
This Winter Haven Chamber blog has become a very popular communications tool for the business community. It also attracts many readers from the general public. The blog is the single most visited page on our website after the home page — attracting more than 50,000 page views in the past year. Readers often visit individual previous posts resulting in thousands more views each year.Now, up to 10 businesses can brand their companies with a web banner like the one that appears below this post. The banners will also appear at the end of individual posts. The advertisements will rotate with each new visit so each business involved will be on screen for one tenth of the total views.The banners also offer a “click-through” feature to your businesses Web site enhancing your connectivity. Advertisers can lock in exclusivity within their business category with a one-year contract. Act now. First come-first serve. For complete details just click on the banner below and email your contact information.
| See other posts filed in: General Announcements
Posted: March 10, 2008: 3:52 pm
The Winter Haven City Commission will hear the first reading of an ordinance this evening that entails the voluntary annexation of 11 parcels generally located south of State Road 60 and east of County Road 655A. The area covered by the request is approximately 523 acres. (Stokes property). This City will ultimately consider the annexation of a total of 3,500 acres of Stokes property within four years.
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, General Announcements
Posted: February 26, 2008: 2:02 pm
We are pleased to announce the return of a fine dining establishment as Arabella’s has opened in the historic Times Square building. Seven months of renovations have returned long-hidden architectural features most notably the arches that graced the building when it was known as the Snell National Bank. Diners will find exposed brick walls framing the elegant decor. The restaurant also has a private dining area (shown below) with private entrance.
Arabella’s and its adjoining Avenue Bar is now open to the public. The restaurant features Mediterranean cuisine including both French and Italian fare. For now the restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 - 9:30 p..m. It is contemplated that at some point, plans call to open for lunch as well. (Note: The restaurant opened for lunch beginning March 20, 2008) The restaurant is owned by Brian Rich and Franco Basalone.
Reservations are not required but suggested. 293-1797. Welcome them back!
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Dining, Downtown, Economic Development, General Announcements
Posted: February 22, 2008: 3:01 pm
Construction is underway on a new Kohl’s Department Store located on US 27 south of the intersection with Cypress Gardens Boulevard. The retailer will be located between Home Depot and the present Shoppes on the Ridge. The store plans a December 2008 opening.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, General Announcements, Real Estate
Posted: February 14, 2008: 10:23 am
Downtown’s Central Park area will be home to the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition for 2008. For the past two years both Winter Haven and Lakeland have hosted ten sculptures but the 2008 competition will be held in Winter Haven alone as Lakeland has chosed to exhibit works by a single artist. The ten sculptures range from small and delicate to massive and imposing and include a bronze work, “Reach” by Winter Haven artist Albert Kriston (pictured below). The Outdoor Sculpture Competition is a project of the Polk Museum of Art in cooperation with the City of Winter Haven. Winners were selected by a committee of Winter Haven residents.
The individual works will be installed in the three sections of downtown’s Central Park by early March in time for inclusion in the Central Park Art Festival March 15 and 16. The City will join with Main Street Winter Haven and the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce to announce the winners of the competition and “People’s Choice” at the Central Park Stroll on April 10.
You can view all of this year’s selections here.
| See other posts filed in: Cultural Arts, Downtown, General Announcements, Parks and Green Space, Tourism
Posted: February 13, 2008: 11:21 am
Holiday Inn Lobby
The ribbon has been cut and it’s official, the new six-story Holiday Inn has opened on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. The hotel features an expansive lobby, impressive Board Room available to rent, lounge area and restaurant open for breakfast and dinner.
Shown above is the fully equipped Board Room and room with King bed
The hotel offers a variety of accommodations from a standard room to suites. Guest rooms feature a 32″ flat panel television. The lobby and restaurant areas offer wireless internet access. A cascading waterfall is the lobby focal point. The Holiday Inn will host the Chamber’s April 24th Networking Showcase. The 112 room facility is owned by Lakeville Partners, LLC.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, General Announcements, Real Estate
Posted: January 18, 2008: 12:31 pm
George “Red” Hoagland Sr. brought his Hyundai Automobile Dealership to Winter Haven celebrating their grand opening this week. The brand new location is operated by Hoagland, son George and Justin Hoagland is General Manager. The family has owned various automotive dealerships for more than 60 years.
In addition to great new and used automobiles you may have noticed a large LIVE red bull in the pen out front. Stop by before 3:30 p.m. Saturday, January 19th and guess the weight of the bull. If you are correct you could win $3,000 — NO BULL! The winner will be announced live on WPCV 97 Country at 5 p.m.
Red Hoagland (center with scissors) is flanked by Mayor Nat Birdsong (left) and son George (right) as he prepares to cut the ceremonial ribbon to the new dealership Thursday, January 17.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, General Announcements, Transportation
Posted: January 17, 2008: 8:56 am
Precision Collision Auto Body Repair and Painting is a Winter Haven-based business. While they do regular collision and insurance work, they also have a great reputation for restoration work on old classic cars and hot rods.
This month’s issue of the national magazine Mopar Enthusiast features a cover photo of a sweet 1971 Dodge Charger owned by a Polk County high school student who is probably headed to Harvard after graduation.
It is quite an accomplishment to have a car featured in a story in a magazine let alone make the cover! Congratulations to Chamber members Rob and Lynn Keenan.
Note: You can see the magazine cover at the link provided but unfortunately the article is not available on line. You’ll have to buy the magazine. You can see fabulous examples of other Precision Collision work on classic autos at their link provided above.
| See other posts filed in: General Announcements, Success Stories
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