By DONNA KELLY
The Ledger, 5/18/2000

WINTER HAVEN -- Winter Haven residents are invited to Celebrate the Future with food, music and information about the city's future from 6 to 9 p.m. May 25 at Nora Mayo Hall.

The event is a collaborative effort among the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Winter Haven, Community Redevelopment of Winter Haven, Florence Villa, Lakes Management Office and Citi-Center developers Trammel Crow, said Chamber Executive Director Bob Gernert.

Displays and information sheets will cover future plans for various areas of the city, including Florence Villa, downtown, Lake Howard and Citi-Center, the site of the former Winter Haven Mall.

"The first reason people should come is because it is seldom you get a free meal," Gernert said.

A family event, the celebration will include free hot dogs, baked beans, chips and drinks. Live music will be provided by local bands Brassworks and Skinny McGee and the Mayem Makers.

It will also be a good place to obtain information about the community, Gernert said.

"This is more broad based than most events of this type," Gernert said.

Brenda Reddout, interim director of the Florence Villa Community Development Corp., agrees with Gernert.

"This is the first time that I know of that so many people from different groups have come together to plan and be supportive of each other," she said.

Representatives from the Florence Villa CDC will distribute information about services offered by the organization, Reddout said.

Reddout is currently preparing a proposal for participation in Front Porch Florida and plans to have material available for the public to study at the celebration.

"Front Porch Florida is a program started by the governor that directs resources toward neighborhood revitalization," she said.

The Lakes Management Office will display facts about storm management as well as a description of the proposed ecological experience on Lake Howard, Gernert said.

Bob Sheffield and the Leisure Services Department staff will be on hand to discuss Department of Transportation plans for landscaping the widening of Cypress Gardens Boulevard and the overpass on U.S. 17 adjacent to Chain of Lakes Stadium, Gernert said.

Residents will also be able to view plans for Citi-Center and receive information about the work in progress from Trammel Crow developers.

"It's going to be a real festive atmosphere," Gernert said. "We want people to bring their families, have a hot dog and see where this city is going in the next 10 years."