January 2007 Archives
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 31, 2007 at 09:42 PM
Over at the Polk County News Blog Billy writes about the Heartland Parkway. What's that you say? It's a road that will connect Fort Myers to Polk County. The northernmost part would of course be in Polk.
It would be a sort of Super Polk Parkway - linking the existing Parkway in Lakeland to State Road 60 east of Bartow and Interstate 4 east of U.S. 27.
It amounts to a huge loop - 45 miles or more - around most of the populated areas of Polk County, which would also, in theory, tie-in to the CSX distribution center the city of Winter Haven is pursuing.
One theory is managing growth is that you build the roads and the development will follow. This is similar to the 417 Greenway in Orlando. I remember when it was first built and it was nothing but empty land to the airport. Today it's surrounded by growth. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? You decide.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 31, 2007 at 05:11 PM
Former News Chief publisher Robin Quillon left Winter Haven last year to head up a new project in Jacksonville, FL for the Jacksonville Times Union. That project has been announced: My Clay SUN. It's a citizen-journalism/reverse-publishing project for Clay County, FL.
Starting Feb. 15, My Clay SUN will replace The Clay County Line. Along with it will come a new Web site, myclaysun.com, that will do more than offer the same content as the printed edition, according to those behind its launch. It will also give readers a chance to talk about what's going on around them in blogs and other formats.
Home-delivery Clay County subscribers to the Times-Union will find My Clay SUN in their Thursday through Sunday papers. It also will be found in some stores and news racks in the county for free.
"The people of Clay County deserve a good local product," said Robin Quillon, special projects director at the Times-Union. "My Clay SUN will be a real, deep look at the community."
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 31, 2007 at 10:58 AM
First a few disclaimers. 1. I did not write this, it was forwarded to me by a few people. 2. It's not original, a while back there was something similar about Tampa Barbies posted on Sticks of Fire.
All that said; some are funny, some are lame and some are offensive. You've been warned.
South Lakeland Barbie:
This princess Barbie is sold only at Macy’s. She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.
Garden Grove Barbie:
The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately
Continue reading "Polk County Barbies" »
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 31, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Where in Polk County was this picture taken?
If you know, leave a comment.
Update: Nobody got it.....it's Highway 37 outside of Mulberry.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 29, 2007 at 03:54 PM
Over at the Winter Haven Chamber blog, Bob talks about a new shopping center. He asks what store the folks want.
In the comments there is one clear winner: Target. Lakeland has two, we have none.
A while back I wrote about Target nixing plans for Winter Haven because there will soon be two Wal-Mart Supercenters in the area.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 24, 2007 at 08:51 AM
This week's Where in Polk County? should be rather easy since there are only a few Starbucks locations in the area. You know the drill, if you know the location, leave a comment.
Update: Melissa got it, it's the Starbucks at the corner of South Florida and Beacon.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 23, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Have you seen the new Lakeland Chamber web site? Well it's not up yet, but their web developer has a screenshot of the new site up (click on the image for a larger view):
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 23, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Lakeland Local has picked up the 'Polk News Watch' item from The Ledger. For a brief history lesson, Polk News Watch was a section of the Ledger Online that linked to stories in other media that featured Polk County. Barry Friedman at the Ledger has not been able to devote the time to it, so Chuck from Lakeland Local has co-opted the idea so-to-speak. Of course since Lakeland Local is a Lakeland focussed blog, it's Lakeland News Watch and not Polk News Watch.
Speaking of that, I'm really glad to see Lakeland Local taking off. Chuck's been doing a great job and it's good to have somebody in Lakeland to balance my Winter Haven location. Of course we still can't compare ourselves to the Tampa blogging scene.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 23, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Bond rating service Fitch, has rated the City of Winter Haven's 2007 series bonds an A+. That's good news I guess :-)
Fitch has assigned an 'A+' rating to Winter Haven's $23 million public improvement refunding revenue bonds, series 2007. The city's financial position is healthy due to sound financial management and strong growth in property tax revenue receipts, Fitch said.
According to unaudited financial results for fiscal 2006, a nominal operating surplus increased the unreserved general fund balance to $6.1 million, "equal to a strong 21.8 percent of general fund spending and transfers," the rating agency said in a release.
While the city is still lagging behind Lakeland in infrastructure, you can't spend what you don't have.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 22, 2007 at 09:23 AM
Growth. Three interesting items related to growth.
First up is the MyRegion.org How Shall We Grow? initiative. Over the past year and a half the How Shall We Grow? initiative has been conducting community input sessions and working with local officials through-out the region. All that work culminates in a series of events over the next two weeks. This week a series of documentaries will air on WMFE-TV in Orlando and PG-TV in Polk County. Then starting on Friday residents will be able to vote on the growth plan they want.
You can also check out the PG-TV schedule for this week.
Second, independent of MyRegion.org, Polk Vision is holding a series of meetings on growth in the region:
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 6-8pm - Lake Region High School, Eagle Lake
Thursday, January 25, 2007 6-8 pm - Ridge Community High School, Haines City
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 6-8 pm - Lake Gibson High School, North Lakeland
I will be out of town each of these nights so I won't be able to post any reports. Hopefully Chuck from Lakeland Local will be able to make it to at least one of them.
Third, and not least in any way....Billy Townsend from the Tampa Tribune recently wrote a feature article about growth in Lakeland titled From Our Town to Boomtown. The article and accompanying video is worth the time.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 22, 2007 at 08:18 AM
I moved to Polk County in 1985 and other than the years that I was at the University of Florida I have spent most of my life living in this area. In that time I have never visited the Citrus Festival. That streak came to an end this past weekend. My son really wanted to go so we ventured out on a late Saturday afternoon. It was an experience to say the least.
I guess you need to smoke in order to qualify as a ride operator. I think just about every ride-op I saw was smoking at one point. It's always comforting to see somebody escorting your young child to a seat on a roller coaster while holding a cigarette. I am not sure what's more important, the safety of your loved ones or making sure they don't drop that cigarette.
Those that weren't smoking looked like they were trapped in some sort of indentured servitude. I am not sure who wanted out of their more, the parents or the ride-ops.
The other thing I noticed was the numerous licensing issues. What I mean is the 'borrowing' of brand names on rides, games, etc. From the hand-painted M&M's on one ride to the use of the Earnhardt name on a driving ride. Something tells me none of those are 'official' uses. Then there was Spiderman with a pony-tail.
At the end of the day I just wanted to take a shower.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 18, 2007 at 11:18 PM
This evening I heard a rumor about a 'high-end' Polk County restaurant moving to (or opening another location in) downtown Lakeland. The unusual twist was that this restaurant has some sort of retail tie-in as well. Hmmm.....
The only name that comes to my mind is Chalet Suzanne. That would be something interesting.
Another name mentioned is Antonio's in Winter Haven.
Update: Bob Gernert has confirmed that it is not Chalet Suzanne.
Update 2: It's Arabella's. Billy Townsend has more.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 18, 2007 at 08:20 AM
The little Polk County blogger meet-up is this evening at 8 p.m. at Starbucks in Lakeside Village. See you there.
Update: Chuck, Billy and Vivian have recaps.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 17, 2007 at 07:21 AM
Here is this week's installment of Where in Polk County? Leave a comment if you know where this photo was taken.
Update: Once again Bob has taken the prize. The photos is from the rail museum in Fort Meade.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 13, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Sunday's Washington Post will feature a series on Vanishing Florida. Locations such as Cypress Gardens, Davidson of Dundee and Bok Tower are mentioned in the feature. The primary article is titled 'Florida's Quirky Attractions Try To Stay Afloat'. There are also and five supporting pieces: Of Aquamaids and Giant Sponges, See Them Now..., Before They're Gone, Between Attractions Pause for a Little Orange Aid, Details Old Florida and a map.
According to the Details Old Florida item, the Washington Post reporter stayed in Lake Wales while surveying the local 'quirky' attractions:
We rented a car and drove a loop from Tampa south to Sarasota, northeast to the Winter Haven-Lake Wales area, northwest to Tarpon Springs and Weeki Wachee and back to Tampa.....In Lake Wales, we stayed in one of the four rooms at Noah's Ark Bed and Breakfast (312 Ridge Manor Dr., 800-346-1613; from $85 a night double). The 1920s Mediterranean mansion is filled with antiques and large portraits of the owners' daughters.
The feature focuses on the old-Florida attractions that existed before Disney and how many of them are vanishing, There are a number of Polk County businesses/attractions mention:
- Cypress Gardens is mentioned in the main article and is featured in the Of Aquamaids and Giant Sponges sidebar.
- Bok Tower is mentioned in the See Them Now... sidebar item.
- Fruitree of Dundee is highlighted in the Between Attractions Pause for a Little Orange Aid along with Davidson of Dundee.
Some of your long-time Polk County residents will notice one other attraction, Circus World. It made the list of attractions that are gone.
We asked Lost Parks founder Robert H. Brown for a list of the most popular closed attractions featured on the site, gleaned from the number of page hits and comments he has received. They include: Circus World, Polk County. Part winter quarters for the Ringling Bros. circus, part theme park with roller coasters and other rides. Closed in 1986.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 12, 2007 at 09:53 AM
Over at LakelandLocal Chuck talks about photography in spaces, specifically museums. Like Chuck, I also have a bit of a photography bug. I've uploaded over 4,000 photos to Flickr and also set up a microsite to feature some of my favorite shots.
In his post, Chuck references the fact that the Polk Museum of Art does not allow pictures to be taken inside their facility without prior approval. In my travels around the US for work I try to stop at museums when I have the chance. Many of the ones that I have visited have some sort of photography ban, but it is not a complete ban. Often they allow photography in some galleries and public spaces, while restricting photography of special or touring collections.
Just recently I visited the High Museum in Atlanta (photoset here) and the Harn in Gainesville (photoset here). In each case I was allowed to use my camera in certain spaces, but couldn't photograph certain collections. Other attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium allow you to photograph just about everything. (The photo below was taken a few weeks ago at the Georgia Aquarium)
I can understand the museum's thinking to some degree. Museums rely upon admission revenue and if everybody was photographing and displaying the works outside of the museum how could they stay in business. Granted a photo of a piece of artwork is not the same as seeing it in person.
From a public space standpoint though, you're free to photograph whatever you want. Noted San Francisco-based photo-guru Thomas Hawk often talks about the public's right to photography. I've only had somebody tell me once that I couldn't take a picture of something. When I asked why, they cited some company policy. I pointed out the fact that I was standing on a public street so company policy didn't a apply there.
I'm always respectful of people's privacy though, I don't take photos of people without asking first. There are a few exceptions to this though, like the old guy clipping his finger nails at Panera Bread in Lakeland. I mean you have to expose that!
As for the Polk Museum of Art's ban? You can always sneak a photo like the one below from time to time. If Dan has a problem with that, he knows how to find me :-)
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 11, 2007 at 04:07 PM
Update: As of April 16th, her sign is gone.
Arriving back in Winter Haven after a holiday break I was surprised to notice a new 'business' in the neighborhood. Psychic, Madam Christine has opened up a storefront on Cypress Gardens Blvd. near St. John's Methodist church. Didn't see that coming. (sorry for the bad pun).
From a community view, her location is at the corner of Valencia Woods. Not really the image we want. I imagine St. John is a bit upset as well.
For many years Madam Christine was a fixture along 92 between Auburndale and Lakeland before disappearing. We'll see how long she lasts at this location.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 11, 2007 at 12:31 PM
The Winter Haven Chamber Blog is reporting that Christy's Restaurant is being sold to James Bronkhorst, owner of Bronkhorst, Inc.
Bronkhorst began his restaurant career as a dishwasher. He currently owns and operates at least three Polk County restaurants including the Reececliff and Harry’s in Lakeland and Harborside in Winter Haven. Initial reports indicate Mr. Bronkhorst will operate the restaurant as Christy’s.
The chamber blog is only a few weeks old and it's already breaking news. Of course a chamber is usually in the know about a number of business dealings in the community.
If you remember there was much speculation about the sale/closure of Christy's last year. Looks like it's finally happening.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 11, 2007 at 08:18 AM
One of my RSS keyword searches provided me with a link to this blog about elderly abuse. It's an extensive journal about the case of Clara Fernandez along with other resources about elderly abuse.
What's the Polk County connection? Apparently Clara was moved to Polk County without consent and the family had problems working with the local authorities.
If you look over the entire blog it's amazing to see the level of documentation and detail this is provided about Clara's case.
Update: This has got to be one of the more interesting stories posted on EP since I have been contact by parties on both sides of the 'Clara' case. Both of them called me on my cell phone :-)
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 10, 2007 at 08:11 AM
After a bit of an extended break, Where in Polk County? is back. The last edition was won by Bob G. if you know where this picture is from, leave a comment.
Update: That's two in a row for Bob. It's the cafeteria at the Publix Corporate HQ in Lakeland.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 9, 2007 at 08:53 PM
Chuck from Lakeland Local, Vivian from Mama Need Java and I are planning a little Polk County blogger meetup next Thursday, January 18th in Lakeland. We'll be gathering at the Starbucks at Lakeside Village at 8 p.m. Feel free to join us.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 9, 2007 at 05:34 PM
Over at the Winter Haven Chamber Blog, Bob Gernert comments on the feasibility of a development moratorium. Like Bob, I agree that a ban on development is a very bad idea.
No offense to Fort Meade, but look at that town. There is very little development going on and the town is suffering because of it. What is the economic outlook of Fort Meade? Any major businesses looking to move there? Any additional tax base to improve infrastructure? Nope.
Fort Meade has been begging for a Publix for years, they even rolled out the red carpet when Clayton Hollis made an appearance at an event a few years ago. Does Publix have a plan to open a location in Fort Meade? Not that I've heard.
I don't mean to rail on Fort Meade too much, it is a quaint little place with some great small-town charm, but maintaining a standard of care for the infrastructure is difficult when funds are limited. If you want to see what no economic growth will do to a community visit Fort Meade.
Placing a moratorium on growth is like a business saying they're not accepting any new clients. Sounds like a good idea at the time, but then you slowly watch your opportunities dry up.
There is another major issue, when you ban growth you can't control it. What I mean by this is that if we ban growth in a city like Winter Haven what is stopping a developer from going outside the city limits and building there? Nothing. Now we begin to get squeezed from the outside-in.
On the flip side unbridled growth is not the answer either, just look at the Four Corners. In that case the county has not been able to keep the infrastructure up to speed with the development. As more and more land is developed it becomes harder (and more expensive) to purchase lands for public use. Just ask the school board about that.
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 9, 2007 at 08:21 AM
Now that the University of Florida Gators have won the national championship in football and also hold the title for basketball there is only one question.....will non-Gators be able to live with their gloating-Gator friends?
Posted by Josh Hallett on January 7, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Last week I read with interest a Ledger item that mentioned a photo contest for Bartow. It seems that the Bartow Chamber and city government are looking for a good photo to use in promotional materials. I checked out the Bartow Chamber site for the contest details (PDF).
Thinking of creative campaigns like Nikon's Stunning Gallery and numerous others I was looking forward to finding an upload tool/process to allow people to share photos from the area. Instead I found just the opposite, photo submissions must be prints in 4x6 format, how Web 0.0.
Why not just ask people to upload photos to Flickr or Zoomr and tag them Bartow or BartowFL that way we can all see the submissions and help select the winner?
Doing a quick search on Flickr finds some interesting Bartow photos, a few, like the one below are some great historic shots.
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A hyperlocal blog about Imperial Polk County, Florida. It is written by local residents that wish to provide an alternative to traditional media sources. The focus is commentary and open discussion of the issues that face Polk County, FL.
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