Imagine a restaurant that so quickly folds into a town’s local tapestry that it finds its future and embraces the spirit of the past while offering a little something for everyone.

Ovation Bistro & Bar Restaurants in Polk County – Davenport, Winter Haven and Lakeland, is a family-owned business operated by brothers Joel and Fernando Rodriguez. 

The grand opening of Max's Ace Hardware, 11C Street, Haines City, will be May 21-22. There will be door prizes and giveaways also. For more information, call 863-422-1631. 

You could say The Shake Shoppe is a bit of a landmark in the heart of downtown Auburndale.

A local Greek family has made a name for themselves with their popular restaurant Egg Haven in downtown Winter Haven.

 A new Winter Haven restaurant is focusing on one of the biggest trends in the food industry – custom charcuterie boards. Let’s Wine About It: Featuring Cured Charcuterie opened last month in downtown and it’s already gaining popularity. From a quick grab and go for downtown businesses to a …

The City of Haines City is proud to announce that Erica Sanchez has been promoted to the position of Deputy City Clerk.

The city of Haines City has welcomed Veronica C. Hairston as human resources director.

The city of Haines City has announced the promotion of Brandi Lane to public records manager. Lane has worked for Haines City since 2019, and previously served as secretary to the City Commission and City Clerk’s Office. During her tenure, Lane has been involved in city elections, as well as…

CHAMPIONSGATE — Like so much else during the pandemic, the work of the Four Corners Area Council and the "Four Corners, One Vision" initiative it is spearheading had to pause and adapt.

An entrepreneurial team of Florida Polytechnic University students has earned thousands of dollars in funding for the development of an innovative gesture-control device for electric longboards.

WINTER HAVEN – Last year, an incredible 798 dogs got a second chance with forever homes thanks to Stefanie Badillo and her Crossed Paws Pet Rescue.

Legoland Florida Resort staff recently applied for a permit to build a shade structure that is more than an acre in size. The shade will be used to cover a portion of the theme park called “Miniland USA.”

Publix pharmacies have administered 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to people across the state, the grocery chain announced March 18.

From shooting hoops to creating jobs in Polk County, one star-studded athlete is part of a new sports-themed restaurant concept that is open for business.

HAINES CITY — The new, $7 million location for McMaster Concrete Products — a concrete and paver manufacturing plant — is ahead of schedule for completion, officials say.

Randy Haffner has been named president and CEO for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, effective Feb. 1.

On Feb. 12, world-renowned daredevil Nik Wallenda will “walk the plank” as he walks across a high wire five stories — or 60 feet — above park guests to celebrate the debut of Legoland Florida Resort’s all-new Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show and PirateFest Weekends.

HAINES CITY – The taste of Jersey has come to town.

HAINES CITY – Like many teenagers, Reanna Brown has a busy life.

On Dec. 12, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Legoland Florida Resort in Winter Haven may be transforming around four acres of what is currently parking lot space into a new section for its park in 2021.

JLL and Intram Investments announced Dec. 14 that Intram’s affiliate, Martni Posner II, LLC has signed a lease with Hobby Lobby, represented by Katz & Associates, for a new 55,000-square-foot store to anchor Phase II of Posner Village — a 265,000-square-foot shopping center developed by …

Two new board members are joining the new chair, vice-chair and secretary/treasurer to work with the Central Florida Development Council as it continues its mission to attract new industries to the area and help ones already here grow.

Production of Florida oranges is now forecast to be about 17 percent below last season’s output, while the industry has seen a surge in demand linked to people staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic and rediscovering breakfast.

Florida’s vital tourism industry could start to experience an uptick midway through 2021, although foreign travel will continue to lag for several years, according to information posted online Nov. 24 by state analysts.

The private passenger-rail service Brightline announced an agreement Nov. 23 with Walt Disney World to build a station at Disney Springs as part of expansion plans from South Florida to Central Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has extended a September executive order aimed at preventing business shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legoland Florida Resort is hiring!

More than 11,400 workers at Walt Disney properties across Central Florida will be laid off on New Years’ Eve, as tourism remains sluggish from the coronavirus pandemic.

Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center held its “Mr. Central Florida” event Oct. 29, with Polk County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jim Ostojic claiming the honor. According to a social media post, Ostojic raised more than $80,000, which broke all previous records.

The grandson of citrus magnate and philanthropist Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. has only been at the helm of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. for a few months since his father passed, but Ben Hill Griffin IV is already making waves in Frostproof.

First-time unemployment claims in Florida continued to slow during the week that ended Oct. 24, though a survey indicates small businesses remain concerned about a sluggish recovery during the coronavirus pandemic.

Davenport resident Henry Kebabjian said he is going to fight the City of Lake Wales in court over the city’s attempt to foreclose on the historic Seminole Hotel in downtown Lake Wales.

HAINES CITY — Passersby on U.S. Highway 27 can easily spot the turquoise blue building that is home to Sisters Junktiques Vintage Market.

Supporters of the Central Florida Development Council celebrated more than $700 million in various capital investments in Polk County over the course of the past few years during the organization's annual meeting Oct. 15, held at the Polk State College Center for Public Safety in Winter Haven.

WINTER HAVEN – One of the city’s best-kept secrets, Mann Lake-Stromberg’s is tucked away among warehouses and commercial buildings in an industrial park on Lucerne Park Road.

HAINES CITY – The 38th Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally, hosted by the Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce, will be held Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. at Balmoral Resort.

Over the last six months, COVID-19 has been life-changing for many business owners at the Cagan Crossings Town Center, located in Clermont in the Four Corners region of Lake County.

Staff for AdventHealth say the healthcare provider invested $1.2 billion in Central Florida in 2019, furthering its commitment to caring for the region’s most vulnerable and addressing key issues like food insecurity, mental health and overall access to care.

POSNER PARK — A new First Watch restaurant opened in Posner Village on August 31.

HAINES CITY – A proposed partnership between the City of Haines City and the Feltrim Group to redevelop three parcels of city-owned property downtown took another step toward reality Sept. 3.

LAKE COUNTY — On August 11, the Lake County Board of County Commissioners unanimously proclaimed September 8, 2020 as “Orlando Cat Café Day” in Lake County. September 8 also marks the fourth anniversary for this unique concept, which is located in the Cagans Crossing Town Center in southeast…

CLERMONT – When the opportunity to open an Irish pub presented itself, it seemed like fate. After all, the couple had been in the restaurant business for most of their adult lives and both sides of the family could be traced back to the Emerald Isle.

Florida’s vital tourism industry suffered an estimated 60.5 percent drop in visitors as the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard during the year’s second quarter, with international travel off more than 90 percent.