Posted by Bob Gernert on May 5, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Free Admission! Special Shows! Food and Merchandise Discounts!
Special Discounted Annual Pass for Chamber Members!
Tickets for the Chamber’s May Showcase, “Chamber Family Night” at Cypress Gardens are now available in our lobby while they last. (Limit six per family) The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 22.
Winter Haven Chamber members need only display a Chamber Advantage Card, business card or employee ID card from a Chamber member company. Join your friends at Cypress Gardens for an evening filled with family fun!
| See other entries filed in: Chamber Events, Cypress Gardens, Tourism 
Posted by Bob Gernert on May 1, 2008 at 12:46 pm
The Florida Senate this morning again brought to the floor transportation legislation that includes amendments relevant to Central Florida Commuter Rail. Senators discussed the merits of stripping all amendments from the legislation and sending it back to the House or hearing the full bill — amendments and all. After discussion the legislation was tabled until possibly later today.
For a perspective on the current scenerio read this Orlando Sentinel report.
Plans for developing an intermodal rail terminal in Winter Haven grew out of the negotiations to bring commuter rail to a four county Central Florida area. Long term goals of area leaders would bring the commuter service on from Poinciana through Polk and into the Tampa Bay area. Creation of the first 61-mile section of commuter rail are seen by many as key to future expansion of the service.
Those monitoring the proceedings feel the final decision will come Friday in the closing deliberations of the session.
| See other entries filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Economic Development, Perspective, Political Scene, Transportation
Posted by Bob Gernert on April 30, 2008 at 9:38 pm
In a stunning move late Wednesday, Senate Transportation Committee Chair, Carey Baker, R, Eustis, initiated a “strike all amendments” action that effectively shut down consideration of the question of liability protection for CSX Transportation on 61 miles of tracks Florida Department of Transportation intends to purchase for commuter rail in Central Florida. Senate Majority Leader, Daniel Webster, R, Winter Park (a strong advocate of the project) is quoted as saying, “It would have been a tough vote.” You can read the Orlando Sentinel report here.
Winter Haven officials including Mayor Nat Birdsong are in Tallahassee in support of the commuter rail project and future expansion through Polk to the Tampa Bay area. CSX officials have repeatedly stated that work will move forward on the Winter Haven integrated logistics center regardless of the outcome of the liability question.
While two days remain in the current legislative session, prospects have dimmed for resolution of the liability question.
| See other entries filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Economic Development, Political Scene, Transportation
Posted by Bob Gernert on April 18, 2008 at 9:40 am
Free Admission! Special Shows! Food and Merchandise Discounts!
Special Discounted Annual Pass for Chamber Members!
The Chamber’s May Networking Showcase morphs into “Family Night” fun as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park rolls out an evening of special shows, breathtaking flowers and food and merchandise discounts for Chamber members and their immediate families. The Gardens is hosting members and families from the Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales, Auburndale and Lake Alfred Chambers of Commerce.
Cypress Gardens Adventure Park
Chamber “Family Night” Fun
4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Special 6 p.m. Ski Show
Special All New Animal Encounter Show
Botanical Gardens open until 6 p.m.
More than 40 rides to thrill!
Special “Family Night” Admission Tickets* available May 1 in Chamber Lobby while they last.
To obtain tickets:
Present your Chamber Advantage Card or your business card/or employee identification card with Chamber member company at Lobby Desk. You may only pick up tickets for your immediate family (parents and children). The Chamber reserves the right to limit quantities.
| See other entries filed in: Chamber Events, Cypress Gardens, Parks and Green Space
Posted by Bob Gernert on April 17, 2008 at 8:49 am
The Winter Haven Chamber has two great events scheduled for next week. You can RSVP at the links provided below.
FREE Chain of Lakes Breakfast Forum!
Tuesday, April 22, start your day with a free breakfast in one of Winter Haven’s most beautiful settings … at the Lake Hartridge Nature Park (pictured R at sunrise). Sponsored by Killebrew, Inc. and presented by Mike Britt and Rashelle Selser of the City’s Department of Natural Resources the breakfast is complimentary to the first 100 people who RSVP. Continental Breakfast will be served starting at 7:30 a.m. in the main picnic pavilion. The program will outline the our water resources and the City’s plans for a new aquatic and nature center to be built at the park. It’s one more step in the City’s quest to become a green community. Learn also how the nature park serves as a stormwater filtration marsh for Lake Hartridge. The program is open to Chamber members and the General Public. Free with your RSVP here.
Holiday Inn Hosts April 24 Showcase!
Join your friends at Winter Haven’s newest hotel … The Holiday Inn (200 Cypress Gardens Boulevard). Thursday, April 24 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. you can tour the beautiful new facility, impressive lobby (pictured below), restaurant and more. Enjoy great food, too! Shake the hand of the “Mystery Guest” and win $25. If you are this month’s “Name Dropper” chosen at random from our database you will win $200 — but you have to be present. Free to Chamber members and a guest with your RSVP here.
| See other entries filed in: Chain of Lakes, Chamber Events, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Parks and Green Space
Posted by Bob Gernert on April 14, 2008 at 9:12 am
No, we’re not speaking of corporal punishment … but the best way to win the Second Annual Chain of Lakes Challenge Canoe & Kayak Races is to paddle your boat better than anyone else in the competition.
Bring your canoe or kayak to the Lake Summit Boat Ramp Park this Saturday, April 19. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. and the races start at 7:45 a.m. There are four divisions:
Professional Kayak (under 26″ wide)
Recreational Tandem or Solo Kayak (more than 26″ wide)
Professional Canoe (single bladed paddles)
G-2 canoe or kayak encouraging two generations to participate together (i.e. parent/child or grandparent/grandchild)
The first three categories will depart Lake Summit and travel along the shoreline of Lake Eloise clockwise and into Little Lake Eloise back into Lake Eloise continuing in a clockwise direction to the Eloise/Lulu canal. Paddlers will travel directly across Lake Lulu to the Lulu Shipp canal and back across Lulu into Eloise and on to Lake Summit and the Boat Launch Park finish line. (Approximately 7.7 miles.
The G-2 race will depart Lake Summit shortly after the above divisions and travel through the Cypress Gardens ski show circle, on around the tire breakwaters and back to Lake Summit Boat Launch Park.
Entrants must bring their own canoe or kayak. All crafts must be manually paddled. All participants must wear flotation throughout the race. All participants must finish or report out of the race at a check point to account for whereabouts. Checkpoints will be located at Little Lake Eloise and Lulu/Shipp Canal (east end).
First Place winners in each division get Cypress Gardens Passes and $50 cash awards. Second Place finishers receive $25 and Cypress Gardens Passes. Registration forms available at Andy Thornal Company and the Winter Haven Chamber Lobby. $20 registration fee per boat. All entrants receive Challenge T-Shirts.
The Chain of Lakes Challenge is sponsored by Andy Thornal Company, The News Chief and The Ledger. It is the final event in the 2008 Chain of Lakes Festival. The Chain of Lakes Challenge is organized by the Winter Haven Chamber Foundation and the City of Winter Haven Department of Natural Resources. Course Checkpoints courtesy of Marine Supply - The Boating Center.
Pictured at left, Don Nettlow noses between the finish line buoys to win the inaugural Chain of Lakes Challenge Professional Kayak division in 2007.
| See other entries filed in: Chain of Lakes, Chamber Events, Cypress Gardens, Sports
Posted by Bob Gernert on April 11, 2008 at 10:24 am
The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has organized a fact-finding visit to Alliance, Texas for Polk County leaders. The group will tour the BNSF intermodal rail terminal and also the surrounding business park developed by Hillwood.
Participants include Polk County Commissioners, County Manager Mike Herr, Winter Haven City Commissioner Jeff Potter and City Planning Officials, Winter Haven Chamber leaders, Ron Morrow with CSX, East Polk Committee of 100 executive, Jack Barnhart. The City of Lakeland and Chamber have been extended an invitation to participate to get first hand knowledge of an operating integrated logistics center.
The group will depart Sunday, May 18 from Tampa. Monday, May 19 officials will meet and tour at the BNSF intermodal rail facility in the morning and Hillwood developer of the surrounding office park in the afternoon. An evening return to the rail terminal and office park area is planned to observe lighting and sound levels.
Up to twenty people are expected to participate. The Alliance integrated logistics center is much larger than ILC planned for Winter Haven and it involves a “reliever” airport as well. But the overall project has a proven track record for job and business park development and other economic factors that can be projected to the Winter Haven facility. Winter Haven also has the opportunity to plan its site in much the same way as the Alliance, Texas experience.
| See other entries filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Chamber Events, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted by Bob Gernert on at 10:21 am
The Third Annual Central Park Stroll was held April 10 amid picture perfect weather, beautifully manicured parks and ten new outdoor sculptures. This year’s Stroll was unique in that for the first time, one of the ten sculptures was created by a Winter Haven artist. Perhaps most exciting is the fact that Albert Kriston’s “Reach” sculpture (pictured at left) was selected as “Best of Show” by the judges and “Peoples Choice” winner from Thursday evening’s guests.
Reach was inspired by the astronauts who lost their lives on the shuttle Challenger.
The Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition is organized by the Polk Museum of Art in conjunction with the City of Winter Haven. This is the eighth year for the competition and the third time it has been in Winter Haven’s downtown parks. The City of Winter Haven provides both financial backing for the exhibition and the logistical support to install and maintain the sculptures. The sculptures are selected by a committee of area residents. This year’s judges included Carol Mickett, Ph.D., and Robert Stackhouse, Ph.D Artists.
The Central Park Stroll was sponsored by Cartlon Music Center, CSX Transportation, Food Partners, Haskell Corp., Peterson Myers, P.A., Publix Supermarkets, Inc., Raley Downtown Properties, Richards Fine Coffees, Tampa Electric Company and the Winter Haven Chamber Foundation.
The Chamber joins with Main Street Winter Haven and the City to present the Central Park Stroll. Those who voted for the sculptures last evening received a coupon book good for discounts at downtown restaurants and retailers.
| See other entries filed in: Chamber Events, City of Winter Haven, Cultural Arts, Downtown, Main Street Winter Haven, Parks and Green Space, Success Stories, Tourism
Posted by Bob Gernert on April 7, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Marine Supply … the Boating Center has been selected as 2007 Boat Dealer of the Year in the $5 to $10 million revenue catagory by Boat and Motor Dealer Magazine. In recognizing the dealership Peter J. Gallanis, Editor-in-Chief noted the company is a third generation dealership founded 55 years ago by Gerald Emry. His daughter Tricia and son David now handle the day-to-day operations.
Gallanis noted, “What we find so compeling about the fine dealership is its adaptability to market conditions. Tricia Gurr told us the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes is suffering from a severe drought. In fact, the sales manager mentioned that his is among the worst droughts he’s seen in the areas. However, instead of complaining abou this predicament, the dealership changed its offerings and started promoting saltwater boats. They told me that Pathfinder is now among their best sellers and the dealership is doing well.”
This is the third Haven-based business to make a national magazine cover so far in 2008 joining Precision Collision Auto Body Repair and Painting and A Ward Design Custom Cabinets on the cover of their industry publications. Congratulations!
| See other entries filed in: Success Stories
Posted by Bob Gernert on at 3:02 pm
Winter Haven-based cnp_studio this week launched the official eBay Corporate Blog (eBay INK) as well as the eBay Insider Blog (both of which are cnp_studio/Voce joint ventures). Voce Communications is headquartered in Silicon Valley.
cnp_studio has developed a niche for blogs customized on the WordPress platform and this is their third project for a nationally known company such as ebay. The ebay launch joins blogs developed for PlayStation (PlayStation.Blog) and Yahoo! (Yodel Anecdotal) - all Voce projects and all designed and built here in Winter Haven. cnp_studio is a division of Clark/Nikdel/Powell Advertising.
Winter Haven has a growing technology sector developing products from software to off-site data backup and web design.
| See other entries filed in: Success Stories
Next Posts
Previous Posts
The Official Website of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce
