PRESIDENT'S CORNER: CCT
CAPITAL CITY TODAY
The Bartow Chamber's newest endeavor is the Facebook page that features news of the Bartow Community. Check us out, like and follow for the good news of Bartow!
EMPOWERING WOMEN EVENT SEPT. 8
SCORE OFFERS EMPOWERING WOMEN EVENT
Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, 7:30 a.m. registration - 3:00 p.m.
at Polk State College, Lakeland Campus
3425 Winter Lake Road. Cost $40, Corp. Table, $279
Empowering Women with Leadership Strategies, Powerful Presentations and more. Keynote speaker is Dr. Susan MacManus, USF Distinguished Professor, Columnist, Author & TV Analyst. J Lenora Bresler, President of NAWBO - How Women are Different - with panel participation. Light breakfast and lunch included. Registration required.
REGISTER HERE!
GUEST EDITORIAL: SL FRISBIE
Somebody has the perfect idea
As suggested in the heading of this editorial, somebody has the perfect idea ... the perfect idea for a use for the old Thompson & Co. Cigar Factory building on North Third Avenue.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that the person who has the perfect idea hasn’t come forward.
We have no idea who that person is. Quite likely he or she hasn’t been asked for an opinion, or perhaps figured nobody wanted to hear their idea.
The time has come to speak out.
The cigar factory building is a part of Bartow’s history unlike any other. Its purpose was unique for this community; there are few communities other than Tampa’s Ybor City that have such a building.
Its architecture is described as 19th/20th Century mission or Spanish revival style. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is a three-story masonry building with 18,000 square feet: 11,700 on the main floor and the balance on a basement level and a mezzanine.
Today’s Bartowans of retirement age can remember going on elementary school field trips to the cigar factory, where cigar-makers rolled cigars by hand as a lector read to them to provide a degree of relief from the monotony of the work.
After decades of use for that purpose, the building was abandoned; acquired by the county; and later transferred to the city in a move to save it from the wrecking ball.
Only minimal maintenance has been done while the city has made occasional efforts to find someone who would put it to productive use.
The city commission has scheduled a special meeting for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 to discuss the future of the building.
The Bartow Chamber of Commerce is conducting a poll, asking input from members of the community on what use could be made of the building.
That approach worked many years ago when The Polk County Democrat conducted a poll asking its readers what use might be made of the “skeleton building” northeast of the civic center.
The result of that poll was completion of the abandoned concrete super-structure as the new Bartow Public Library.
The success of that approach gave birth to the idea for a poll seeking ideas for the cigar factory building.
In our opinion, there are two keys to the successful renovation of the building:
(1) Somebody must put a whole lot of money into restoring the building before it can be turned into a community asset.
(2) A viable use — public or private — must be found for the building, once restored.
Both, we believe, are achievable.
There are substantial sums available from both public and private sources to restore historic buildings.
The old Polk County Courthouse — now the History Center — has received multiple grants from the Florida Dept. Of State for renovation.
The long-vacant 1919 school in Lake Wales has been approved for $2.5 million in state grants and has a pledge of another $1 million from a benefactor for restoration.
It might well take an investment on that order to replace the roof, do an industrial-strength cleaning of the interior, install an HVAC system, and make the cigar factory handicap accessible.
It would be cheaper to bulldoze the building and make the property a parking lot, but the loss to the community and its history would be irreplaceable.
The second issue — the one on which the Chamber is seeking public input — is what use would best serve the community.
Public uses could serve civic, recreational, or cultural interests; the array of possible commercial uses is limited only by the imagination.
We hope the community will respond with a number of ideas.
To make a suggestion (or several suggestions):
• Facebook users go to “Bartow Cigar Factory Poll” and click on “About.”
• Send a letter to Bartow Chamber of Commerce, c/o Cigar Factory Poll, 510 North Broadway, Bartow, FL 33830.
Your suggestion could be the one that results in restoring and preserving this icon of community history.
NEW MEMBERS
Retail Stores
Indigo Moon
Mark & Deanine Mulpagano
165 E. Main Street
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 224-7758
Website
Government-County
Polk County Clerk of Court
Stacy Butterfield
255 N. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 534-4525
Website
Child Care Services
C&J Performing Arts Institute & Learning Center
Shayla Jones
301 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 519-0341
Recruiter – US Army
United States Army
Staff Sergeant Richard Williams
936 Eagle Ridge Mall Dr.
Lake Wales, FL 33859
(863) 679-3106
WANT US TO TEXT YOU ABOUT EVENTS?
Free TEXT ME!
Chamber Members:
We are offering a new feature of your membership, absolutely free to you! If you would like to get a text message about upcoming events, call or email Barbara Adamson, Chamber Membership Services Director, today! barbara@bartowchamber.com or 863-533-7125.
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
40 YEARS
Edwards Professional Alarms & Video, Inc.
20 YEARS
IBS at Bartow High School
15 YEARS
American Legion Post 3
10 YEARS
Southern Homes of Polk County, Inc.
5 YEARS
James E. Stephens Elementary
CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP
Reserve your space now in the Fall Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 40,000 readers for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY II
YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER TO ATTEND! SEATING IS LIMITED.
MEMBER PERK FOR YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
More . . .
JOIN ENGAGE & GET A COOL CUP!
SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!
|
AUGUST BUSINESS: TB&K Outsource
Left to right: Chamber Membership Services
Director Barbara Adamson; Lacy Wooten, Branch Office Administrator and Shane Nelson, CFP, AAMS.
August Chamber Business of the Month:
Edward Jones - Shane Nelson
1490 North Wilson Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-6606 • shane.nelson@edwardjones.com
www.edwardjones.com
As an Edward Jones client, you’ll work with a dedicated financial advisor who spends time listening to you, explaining recommendations, answering questions and helping you plot the right course. We know financial decisions can be complicated, but they’re important. That’s why we believe every question deserves a thoughtful answer. Don’t take our word for it. Contact Shane Nelson, your local financial advisor, to see the difference personal attention makes.
WANT TO FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME
THE BUSINESS OF THE MONTH?
Contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Services,
863-533-7125 or email
barbara@bartowchamber.com
NEXT FUN THURSDAY: BARTOW FORD!
Get ready for a great time at Bartow Ford on September 14, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. at the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce Fun Thursday. Bartow Ford is always a terrific host at this networking event, so wear your favorite team jersey and we'll see you then!
2017 DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
Diversity Luncheon To Feature
Dr. Richard Harris
Bartow’s annual C.C. Corbett Diversity Awards are presented yearly during the Bartow Community Relations Committee’s (CRC) Diversity Luncheon on the third Wednesday in September, in celebration of Bartow’s Multicultural Awareness Month. The event begins at noon at Bartow Civic Center. Guest speaker is Dr. Richard Harris of Southeastern University.
Awards are given to a business or organization and an individual who have shown a commitment to diversity in the City of Bartow, or in surrounding communities, through mentoring, outreach initiatives, or other activities that advance the goal of inclusion.
Tickets for the luncheon are $12 each and may be purchased from the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, 510 North Broadway.
The C.C. Corbett award winners are traditionally announced by the CRC Co-Chairs. “Before the passing of our friend and former Chairman, C.C. Corbett, it was his desire and the desire of the Community Relations Committee to recognize an individual and a business or organization that made it a priority to promote diversity in our community,” Mrs. Gloria Washington, CRC Co-chair, said at the last event. “The City of Bartow and the Community Relations Committee will continue to honor C.C.’s dedication to diversity by awarding the C.C. Corbett Diversity Awards.”
Two awards are given each year: one to an individual and one to a business or organization honoring them for promoting unity within the Greater Bartow area.
Past winners include:
2016
Ken Riley and Bartow Police Department
2015
Melony Bell and Church Service Center
2014
J.J. Corbett & TiAnViCa Riding Academy
2013
Joyce Thurman and Mosaic
2012
George Long and Bartow Youth Football
2011
Sharon Casey and Polk County Sheriff’s Office
2010
Fred Murphy and Flanders Precisionnaire
2009
Leo Longworth and Peterson’s Cleaners
2008
Larry Madrid and Fred’s Southern Kitchen
2007
C. C. Corbett (posthumously) and Board of County Commissioners, Clerk of Courts
An online form to sign up as a Sponsor or to get individual tickets available by clicking on the link below.
BLOOD DRIVE DAY AT CHAMBER
BLOOD DRIVE DAY AT CHAMBER IS SEPT. 8
The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Spath Jewelers and the Bartow Police Department to offer a OneBlood BLOOD DRIVE DAY. All donors will receive a FREE OneBlood T-shirt and a wellness checkup including blood pressure, temperature, iron count and cholesterol screening.
Spath Jewelers is offering a beautiful men's Fossil watch for a drawing that day. Anyone who attempts to give blood will be entered in the drawing. Call the Chamber to RSVP, 533-7125, or email virginia@bartowchamber.com.
HELLO BARTOW! MEMBERS PARTICIPATE FOR FREE
ROI ALERT TO ALL MEMBERS!
We've established a new perk to your membership. Now, as a member of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, you may include a promotional item for your business in the HELLO BARTOW! welcome baskets for new residents. PARTICIPATION IS FREE OF CHARGE! If you are interested, contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Director, (863) 533-7125, or reply to this email.
DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR SEPT.!
This is a great time of exercise for the whole family! Marie Wilmot, local fitness guru, has designed a program for the Chamber to help the community get fit! Find out what types of exercise suit your needs by coming out to Fort Blount Park on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m., beginning in September, 2017. You can experience a different kind of exercise in each class. It's a blast!
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 9 – Marie Martin Wilmot (Fun Workout)
Oct. 14 – Kelly Epley (HIIT Bodyweight Workout)
Nov. 11 – Darwin Manzueta (Fit Camp and Fit Dance)
Dec. 9 – Marcus Flournoy (FloFitness Circuit Training)
Jan. 13 – Greg, Rick & Krissy (UFC Box & Burn)
Feb. 10 – Tammi Green (Empower Fit Dance)
Mar. 10 – Mariah Andressen-Otten (Yoga)
Apr. 14 – Juanita Pullum (Boot Camp)
May 12 – Jude Dauphin (Uptown Fitness)
MEMBER MICRONEWS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
FOOD TRUCK RALLY AT BAYCARE
BARTOW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Wednesday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
2200 Osprey Blvd, Bartow
This tasty food truck rally will be rolling your way soon! Enjoy a wide variety of delicious treats, and all the eating you do will help support the Polk County Heart Walk. Ten percent lof all food truck proceeds will be donated to the American Heart Association! read more...
TOUR DE TOW COMING UP!
TOUR DE TOW
HALF METRIC, FAMILY, METRIC CENTURY
Saturday, September 16, 2017, 8:00 a.m.
Scenic road tour featuring a family fun ride, 35 mile and 65 mile road tour. Ride along and experience our home town cycling hospitality here in Beautiful Bartow. Registration is at 7am with an 8am ride start.
Main Street Bartow, Inc. and Bartow Cycling Events is dedicated to promoting the quality of life in Bartow using various cycling events which currently include the Bloomin' Bike Ride in March and the Tour de Tow in September.
Our objective is to promote Bartow as a community that fosters and encourages a healthy living lifestyle through cycling.
Congrats to our Artistic Motion winner, Connie Sweet, from last year who is this years featured cyclist on the shirts and all media materials.
T-SHIRTS run large. Order 1 size down unless you like them to run big on you.
Lets don't forget our Power Pedalers.
We will be giving away new bikes again to kids who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford one in an effort to cultivate a healthy lifestyle and a love
of cycling. So far we have provided 128 bikes to kids in need.
RIDE SUPPORT! Yes, every route has a SAG vehicle following to be there in case you need us. It will have drinks, snacks, tubes and a pump. Everyone will receive a ride map that will have a number on it for emergencies or problems.
Food? Absolutely! I love trying to get you guys the best food from some of our favorite restaurants here in Bartow. You will have plenty to eat to help you recover from your ride.
Parking is in the Oaks Parking lot just south of the staging area. GPS address is 220 S. Central Avenue, Bartow, Florida 33830
CHAMBER EVENTS
(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)
SEPTEMBER
Wednesday, September 6, Noon
AMBASSADORS / DELEGATES MEETING
Friday, September 8, 11:30-4:30 a.m.
CHAMBER/BPD/SPATH JEWELERS
BLOOD DRIVE AT CHAMBER
Wednesday, September 13, 7:30 a.m.
HEART LED LEADERSHIP
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
Polk State College
Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center
Wednesday, September 13, 1:30 a.m.
DIPLOMATS PARTY
Wednesday, September 13, 6:00 p.m.
CARVER RECREATION CENTER NEW GARDEN AREA RIBBON-CUTTING
520 S. Idlewood Ave., Bartow, FL 33830
Thursday, September 14, 5:00 p.m.
BARTOW FORD FUN THURSDAY
2800 US 98 North, Bartow
Friday, September 15, 6:00 p.m.
FRIDAY FEST
Downtown Bartow
Saturday, September 16, 8:00 a.m.
TOUR DE TOW CYCLING EVENT
Main Street Bartow
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 3:45 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
3:45 p.m. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
4:00 p.m. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, September 20, 11:30 a.m.
DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
Bartow Civic Center
Thursday, Friday, September 21, 22
LEADERSHIP BARTOW XVII 2nd YEAR RETREAT
Harborside Suites, Ruskin, FL
Wednesday, September 27, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
MEET AND GREET WITH ARMY RECRUITER
Chamber Boardroom, Staff Sergeant Richard L. Williams will be available to answer questions on opportunities with the US Army.
OCTOBER
Wednesday, October 4, noon
AMBASSADORS / DELEGATES LUNCHEON
Friday, October 6, 1:00 p.m.
CHAMBER GOLF SCRAMBLE
Bartow Golf Course
Saturday, October 7, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
UNITY DAY FESTIVAL
MOSAIC PARK & BANDSHELL
Wednesday, October 11, 7:30 a.m.
DE-STRESS THE MESS
Professional Development Academy
Polk State College Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center
Thursday, October 12
LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL DAY
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 3:45 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
3:45 p.m. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
4:00 p.m. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tuesday, October 17, 6:00 p.m.
CHAMPIONS CUP AWARDS DINNER
Bartow Civic Center
Thursday, October 19, 4:00 p.m.
US ARMY RECRUITING CENTER RIBBON-CUTTING
936 Eagle Ridge Mall Dr.
Lake Wales, FL 33859
SEE OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON YOUR CHAMBER WEBSITE
TAKE THE CIGAR FACTORY POLL ON FACEBOOK!
Chamber poll asks cigar factory ideas
(Reprinted from The Sun & Democrat)
Ideas from the public on possible uses for the old Thompson & Co. Cigar Factory in Bartow are being sought by the Bartow Chamber of Commerce.
The Bartow City Commission has scheduled a special meeting for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 on the fate of the historic building, located at 235 North Third Ave.
The building, vacated decades ago by the Tampa-based cigar company, has fallen into disrepair. Historical preservationists saved it from demolition in 2010.
The city commission acquired the building from the county commission.
The three-story masonry building has 18,000 square feet, of which 11,700 is on the main floor and the balance in a basement and a mezzanine.
Jeff Clark, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, said the concept of seeking public input on use of the building is patterned after a similar survey conducted by The Polk County Democrat years ago seeking ideas for what to do with the concrete superstructure east of the civic center — a structure dubbed “the skeleton building.”
That project, which was to have become the Polk County Genealogical Library, was abandoned after plans fell through for lack of funding. The genealogical library is now housed in the Polk County History Center.
One idea offered by several newspaper readers was to complete the skeleton building as a new city library. The idea was adopted by the city, and today Bartow’s two-story library building ranks among the finest in Polk County.
To make a suggestion (or several suggestions) for use of the cigar factory building:
• Facebook users go to “Bartow Cigar Factory Poll” and click on “About.”
• Send a letter to Bartow Chamber of Commerce, c/o Cigar Factory Poll, 510 North Broadway, Bartow, FL 33830.
Results of the poll will be submitted to the city commission and published in this newspaper.
|