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🌱 Will First Street North get a new gas-and-go convenience stop?
Winter Haven, Florida Patch AM: a 5 min readGood morning Winter Haven! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Will First Street North get a new gas-and-go convenience stop?
- Winter Haven police urgently seek help finding endangered 13-year-old girl
- How new AEDs in every patrol car could save Winter Haven lives
Also on today's calendar: Church Security Team CCW License Qualification Class and 6 more events.
Today's riddle: It takes longer to run from 2nd to 3rd base than between the other bases,why? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Saturday: An afternoon thunderstorm, with a high of 97 and low of 75 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Sunday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 94, low: 75.
- Monday: An afternoon thunderstorm, with a high of 96 and low of 76 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Convenience Store Proposed for First Street North in Winter Haven (winterhavendaily.com) — A new convenience store with fuel pumps is proposed for 2001 First Street North in Winter Haven, but it first needs city commissioners to approve rezoning the parcel to Commercial-Highway. The change would align zoning with three adjacent properties and support redevelopment at a busy intersection near SR 544 and Martin Luther King Boulevard, though commissioners have not yet voted. 
2. Winter Haven Police: Search Underway For Endangered 13-Year-Old Last Seen In Lakeland (tampafp.com) — Winter Haven Police are urgently asking for help to find 13-year-old Janiyah Bright, who left her Cloverdale Road home Thursday morning and is considered endangered after making alarming comments about self-harm. Investigators believe she was driven to Lakeland and dropped near Skyview and Fairway Avenue. Anyone who sees her or knows anything is urged to call 911 immediately.
3. AdventHealth partners with Winter Haven Police Department to strengthen lifesaving response for the community (adventhealth.com) — Winter Haven residents will see every police patrol car equipped with new defibrillators and tourniquets through a partnership between AdventHealth Heart of Florida and the Winter Haven Police Department. The added 40 AEDs are meant to speed lifesaving care during cardiac emergencies, allowing officers to start treatment before paramedics arrive and strengthening overall community safety.
4. Damarius Jamel Taylor and four others accused in armed vape robbery (rollingout.com) — A man walking home in Winter Haven was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by five young men who investigators say took only his green vape pen before fleeing in a silver pickup. Police later tracked the truck to a 7th Street SW residence, detaining several people and arresting five men on armed robbery and petit theft charges, along with two teens on resisting charges.
5. All the 4th of July Events and Fireworks in Polk County 2026 (gottagoorlando.com) — Winter Haven residents have two big options for celebrating the 4th: Rockin’ Freedom Fest at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park on July 3 and LEGOLAND Florida’s Red, White and Boom on July 4. The guide also highlights fireworks and festivals in nearby Polk County cities, giving you plenty of choices for where to watch the sky light up.
📸 Around Winter Haven
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓
Upcoming Events in
Winter Haven
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
A Night of Magic and Sophisticated Buffoonery - Cody's Comedy Cabaret →
Theatre Winter Haven, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven
7:00 pm
Saturday June 27
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
Skinny McGee and the Handshakes w/Hunter Smith @ Grove Roots Brewing Winter Haven Fl. →
Grove Roots Brewing Company, 302 3rd St SW, Winter Haven
2:00 pm -
Twizted Times Call For Twizted Measures →
Caribbean Bay Bait & Tackle, 1004 S Lake Howard Dr SW, Winter Haven
3:00 pm -
Bee My Sunflower →
Painting with a Twist, 6264 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven
3:30 pm -
DOWNTOWN: Family Mystery Bag Challenge →
Winter Haven, FL Calendar, 325 AVE A NW, Winter Haven
10:00 am -
Mulberry - Family Movie
Kathryn L. Smith Memorial Library Mulberry Public Library, 905 NE 5th St, Mulberry, FL 33860, US
10:00 am -
Dundee - Dino Glider Race
Kathryn L. Smith Memorial Library Dundee Public Library, 202 E Main St, Dundee, FL 33838, USA
11:00 am -
DOWNTOWN: Traditional Chinese Mahjong →
Winter Haven, FL Calendar, 325 AVE A NW, Winter Haven
1:30 pm -
Church Security Team CCW License Qualification Class →
In-Gauge of Polk County
1:00 pm
Sunday June 28
Monday June 29
Saturday July 11
📣 Winter Haven Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Homebuyer Lunch and Learn for Teachers →
Harmony at Lake Eloise by D.R. Horton, 1651 Hummingbird Rd, Winter Haven
11:00 am -
Dundee - Dino Glider Race
Kathryn L. Smith Memorial Library Dundee Public Library, 202 E Main St, Dundee, FL 33838, USA
11:00 am -
Lake Alfred - Tasty Tidbits - All Ages Welcome
Kathryn L. Smith Memorial Library Lake Alfred Public Library, 245 N Seminole Ave, Lake Alfred, FL
1:00 pm -
Lakeland Main - The Write Spot
Kathryn L. Smith Memorial Library Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801
2:00 pm
Saturday June 27
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- My dog went to rainbow bridge Tuesday evening..
he was a diabetic...i have his vetslin I refilled fo $83 and only gave him one shot... is there anyone out her who needs it for there animal i am… (Nextdoor Whispering Trails) - Moving job for Saturday 12:45 pm to just load up for $50 it should only take about an hour.
Not allot of stuff and I have 1 person. Dm me . (Nextdoor Eagle Heights)
- Tractor Supply Company posted a job opening for Team Member in Winter Haven. Apply here.
- Ruby Tuesday, Inc. posted a job opening for Dishwasher in Winter Haven. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Winter Haven here.
Ok Winter Haven! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: There is a Short-Stop in the middle (Thank you Dave L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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