Coca-Cola Relocation Would Bring Attended Funerals a New Building and Continue Helping More Animals
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WINTER HAVEN SUN Wednesday, February 24, 2021 www.winterhavensun.com TAKE ONE IT’S FREE An Edition of the Sun HOLY SMOKE! IN BRIEF INSIDE Theatre Winter Haven navigates tough times Page 2 Carillonneur Crossed Paws at Bok Tower founder recognized Gardens receives by Sonny’s international In celebration of Random Acts of Kindness recognition Week (Feb. 14- 20), Sonny’s BBQ honored Page 7 Stefanie Badillo — the founder of Crossed Paws Pet Rescue in Winter Haven — as part On to state of the restaurant group’s Random Acts of BBQ program. semifinals for “Stefanie runs the dog rescue and does PHOTO BY CHARLES A. BAKER III Winter Haven girls so much good for lost, abandoned, abused basketball team and sick dogs,” announced a release. “It’s Hundreds of area residents drove to Citrus Center representing Belly Bustin BBQ of Winter Haven, her whole life and she puts everything she Boys and Girls Club to enjoy the Fourth Annual Chain work on getting a Green Egg smoker up and running. Page 10 has into it.” of Lakes Eggfest on Saturday, Feb. 20, in Winter Haven. More photos on PAGE 4. To honor all of her hard work, Sonny’s Pictured, Troy Hamric and Mike Ludden, Sheriff: Polk man BBQ surprised Badillo with a barbeque feast! Crossed Paws Pet Rescue’s facility lease is robbed residents almost up, so Badillo and her team are on a while they mission to raise $90,000 in order to move to Coca-Cola relocation would bring attended funerals a new building and continue helping more animals. Learn more about Crossed Paws at Page 13 hundreds of jobs, investment to town February 2021 crossedpawspetrescue.org. By CHARLES A. BAKER III [email protected] Chamber, State eet Success Sw Farm partner to WINTER HAVEN — Coca-Cola Beverages offer scholarships Florida LLC is getting close to investing millions into the Winter Haven economy. The Winter Haven Chamber Foundation has Staff have outgrown their existing space partnered with State Farm Insurance to offer multiple $1,000 college and vocational training in Lakeland and ownership is seeking to pg.6 scholarships to public high school seniors in the purchase a much larger warehouse with Don’t miss this Winter Haven area. This scholarship is intended adjacent land and rail access in Winter to assist students who demonstrate financial month’s edition of Haven. The larger warehouse, near the CSX Polk FWD! need. Applications must be submitted by April Intermodal rail yard and State Road 60, would On Feb. 17, Winter Haven Economic Development Council 2. More information at WinterHavenChamber. INCLUDED cost around $30 million. It will cost at least President Bruce Lyon told the Winter Haven City Commission com. there may be 500 jobs added at the industrial park near State INSIDE COCA-COLA | 4 Road 60 over the next couple of years. CHARLES A. BAKER III Now open Every Sunday for Brunch 11:30am - 8:00pm 863-676-6361 • 802 Henry St., Lake Wales, FL 33853 • www.CrazyFishLakeWales.com Page 2 February 24, 2021 Theatre Winter Haven leadership looking for ways for shows to go on By CHARLES A. BAKER III [email protected] Theatre Winter Haven Producing Director Dan Chesnicka gave the Winter Haven City Commission an update on how things are going on Feb. 17. “I wish I had good news for you – I don’t,” Chesnicka said. Theatre Winter Haven Producing Director With social distancing limiting ticket sales, Dan Chesnicka is asking the community to Chesnicka said that, unless something changes, support the organization by purchasing the theater will run out of money by July. season tickets for next year. The pandemic Income is down 81 percent from last year and has decreased theater income by 81 percent. subscriptions are down 65 percent. CHARLES A. BAKER III “I think those 35 percent who have stuck with is purchasing tickets — preferably season tickets. us are heroes and they are the only reason why Theater staff and volunteers have continued we are continuing to go on right now,” Chesnicka putting on shows but, due to social distancing, said. “Oddly, we have refunded more tickets in this even at full capacity the shows are — at best — Mural painted in Lake Wales fiscal year than we have sold.” breaking even. Ocala artist EJ Nieves — also known as NEHS and C Street over this past weekend. Over the past few years, the theater board “There is no way to creatively manage our way — poses with his assistant, Andres Garcia, on Feb. The mural depicts a lion with names of historic had been saving up money to build a “black box out of this situation,” Chesnicka said. 21. Nieves was recently commissioned to paint Lake Wales business owners surrounding. theater” in the new AdventHealth Fieldhouse. Those who know Chesnicka know he rarely the second mural in Lake Wales in recent weeks. “To me a lion represents strength, courage, “We have now diverted all that money into our focuses on negativity for long. Gillian Fazio, of Lakeland, also painted a mural pride,” Nieves said. “Lions have been a significant survival,” Chesnicka said. “Everything is three times harder when you give downtown recently. part of my work for the past five years.” Theater staff will be applying for federal aid up,” Chesnicka said. “We are on it.” Nieves was commissioned to paint a mural on when it becomes available. Check out the Theatre Winter Haven website the pavement at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue Word and photograph by Charles A. Baker III Winter Haven City Commissioner Brian Yates — theatrewinterhaven.com — for information on suggested city staff return with a plan on possibly upcoming shows. Music tribute acts are scheduled reducing rent to assist in the matter. through May on the outdoor stage. Starting this Chesnicka said that there is something the week, “Avenue Q” opens on the main stage and Winter Haven community can do to help, and that runs for the next three weeks. COMMUNITY HISTORY Winter Haven moment in time 5K ‘heart awareness’ walk set for Saturday Melanie’s Cutting Edge owner Melanie Brown Each participant receives a t-shirt and a “swag Culpepper, center, Rhona Bryan and Terica bag” and there will be medals for best-dressed Moore are hosting a 5K fundraiser for Culpepper’s superhero or best-dressed first responder. Cardiac Foundation on Saturday, Feb. 27, in Lake The event is a 5K walk and not a run, according Hartridge Park. to organizers. DJ Red will keep the music beating We last shared a photo of the first Publix store the upper wall. This was Jenkin’s dream store and “This is for heart awareness, in honor of Michael and the event is sponsored by Mannix Pools and that George Jenkins designed and built from the he felt at the time there would never be a finer Culpepper, to help benefit first responders,” Brown Grills, Caribbean Bay and Imperial Roofing. ground up. That building is still located on Central establishment. Culpepper said. Avenue at Second Street NW. Opening in 1940 it would be five years before Pre-register for $35 by stopping by the salon. Words and photo by Charles A. Baker III Pictured is the interior of the store as it was Publix began to expand its market beyond Winter Cost is $40 on the day of the event. ready for opening day. The era of small, dark Haven. grocery stores was coming to an end. Note the multiple checkout lanes and shopping carts — Bob Gernert Jr. is a local historian and the LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! new innovations in the industry at the time. founder of the Museum of Winter Haven History. You also see the mass quantities of product, Keep up with the museum on Facebook at facebook. facebook.com/WinterHavenSun bright interior and the glass block windows on com/WinterHavenHistory. facebook.com/PolkNewsSun 3 February 24, 2021 Page 3 Home Solution Lenders, Inc. OUR FAMILY’S NEW STORY STARTED WITH A KEY The safety and security of our Mortgage Solutions community, our team, and our customers is a top priority. FHA • VA • USDA • Conventional • Bond Our advanced technology allows you to start and complete the entire Construction • Refinance Loans mortgage process from the comfort of your home or wherever you are. Making Dreams Come True Our Team is always available to answer questions and Since 2008 off er support. Visit Our Website 863-607-HOME (4663) • HSLenders.com 1445 E Main Street • Bartow, FL 33830 NMLS: 327291 • Lic Florida MLD954 4 Page 4 February 24, 2021 COCA-COLA Percy Wells is Vice President of Corporate Affairs, to government picking winners and losers,” Combee said. Government Relations and Communications for Coca- “Rather than giving selective breaks to individual companies, FROM PAGE 1 Cola Beverages Florida. Wells was asked when the land deal I think it is more appropriate to work hard at keeping $10 million, officials say, to get the existing warehouse ready would close. everyone’s taxes as low as possible. That job is made harder to meet their needs. “This is a sizable investment, but the incentive package when government is handing out tax abatements. If the company decides to make the investment, once made it very advantageous for us to proceed,” Wells said. “I actually prefer Coca Cola over all other colas,” Combee built out, 182 soda distribution employees now working in “We are hopeful to close in March.” continued. “With that said, this is a fine example of the Lakeland will start working in Winter Haven. An additional If this goes through, it will be the second major real estate questionable need for the program at all.